Countered a lowball offer with actual comp data instead of a gut feeling number and they moved 9 percent same day

First offer came in under what I'd read for the role and level, so instead of picking a number that felt fair, I pulled a small comp spreadsheet with public ranges for the title and location and sent it over as context, not a demand. Recruiter came back same day with 9 percent more, no drama. I think the data did more work than my tone ever could have.