<b>Today's term: the counter-offer (and why you go high)</b>

<b>Today's term: the counter-offer (and why you go high)</b>

A counter-offer is your price after the brand names theirs. New folks counter too low because they're scared. Here's the quiet math.

Why it matters: deals settle near the <i>middle</i> of the two numbers on the table. If you lowball your counter, you've pulled the middle down yourself.

Example: brand offers $500. You actually want $800. If you counter at $600, you'll likely land around $550. If you counter at $1,000, you land near $750 — much closer to your real goal.

Your move: counter above your true target, calmly and with a reason ("that reflects the usage rights and posting window"). Aim high so the middle lands where you want.