Negotiating placement price: the 5-move sequence

Negotiating placement price: the 5-move sequence
First quotes run a median 40% above closeable price across 250 paid placements. The discount lives entirely in how you anchor the second message.

— Move 1: never accept the opener; reply with 'what's your rate for 3-5 placements?'
— Move 2: ask for the rate sheet, not a per-post quote (sheets are lower)
— Move 3: counter at 55-60% of opener, cite 'our internal cap'
— Move 4: trade on terms, not just price — dofollow guarantee, 12-month no-removal, contextual placement
— Move 5: walk-away anchor: 'we run 4-6 of these monthly' signals repeat volume

Close price lands at a 35% median discount off opener when you bundle 3+ vs single-buy.

Sample: 250 paid placements negotiated, 2023-2024. Discount range 20-50%.
Always ask volume rate first; the single-link quote is the tourist price.