Asking 'how much?' in the first email

Asking 'how much?' in the first email
You open with 'do you accept paid posts and what's the rate?' Now you're a transaction, and they'll quote you the tourist price — or auto-reply with a $400 menu.

Lead with the content, not the wallet:
— Pitch a genuinely good topic first
— Let THEM raise money if it's a paid site
— When they do, you've got leverage: 'I'm bringing original data, can we talk rate?'

I've knocked quoted fees down 30-50% just by being the writer they want first, the buyer second. Money talk comes after they like you. Slow down.