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What is the normal rate for professional writer?

Discussion in 'Copywriting' started by axlarry, Jul 14, 2007.

  1. #1
    Hello,

    As the title said, I'd like to know the normal rate for a professional writer.
    Let's say I wanted to find regular writer for one of my project, how much should I pay him/her?

    Thanks in advance.

    axlarry
     
    axlarry, Jul 14, 2007 IP
  2. marketjunction

    marketjunction Well-Known Member

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    #2
    The question is too open-ended. What type of project is it?

    What do YOU mean by "professional?"

    If it's an article, are you looking for magazine-quality work?

    Will there be interviewing or traveling required for the project?

    And so on.
     
    marketjunction, Jul 14, 2007 IP
  3. axlarry

    axlarry Notable Member

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    #3
    I've been hiring some writers/bloggers from DP and other forums for quite some time and to be honest, most of the times I kinda disappointed with the articles/posts.

    What I mean by "professional" maybe something between magazine-quality and "regular writer from forums". Basically I need the writer know exactly what he's writing about, done some researches before writing some topics, and so on.
     
    axlarry, Jul 14, 2007 IP
  4. marketjunction

    marketjunction Well-Known Member

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    #4
    Of course you'll be disappointed. Most of the writers here are SEO-type writers.

    For that type of writing, there are many that are fine. But they are not good enough to entertain an actual audience for a site that has a purpose other than getting people to click AdSense quickly.

    If your budget is somewhere around 5-7 cents or less, plan to be disappointed for the rest of your life.

    Your best bet is to ask for samples and then negotiate when you find someone. Always ask for their rates. If they won't give them to you, move on.

    ADDING: I'm just going by the work I've seen. If I haven't seen your work and you feel that you're a super writer, don't be offended.
     
    marketjunction, Jul 14, 2007 IP
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  5. Hamish Jones

    Hamish Jones Peon

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    #5
    You really need to define professional.

    I am a university qualified writer (Public Relations and Professional Writing) and my rates vary dramatically depending on the project- from articles to reports or ekooks etc.

    Are you looking for writing for SEO, or are you looking for writing that people will want to keep readinging?

    Are you looking for blog posts or 70 page books?

    Are you looking for topics that only require general knowledge, or topics that require specialised research?

    These are things you will need to answer yourself, then you can find suitably qualified writer's and you know how much you will need to spend.
     
    Hamish Jones, Jul 14, 2007 IP
  6. internetauthor

    internetauthor Peon

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    #6
    To piggyback on the others, there is a wide range of rates for a huge variety of writing styles.

    The simplest answer is a "professional" writer (or at least one who can write at a professional level of quality) will charge you anywhere from $0.08 - $2 per word.

    Blog posts and simple articles run $0.08-$0.20 per word, and high-quality copywriting or magazine style articles run closer to $1-$2 per word.

    Rebecca
     
    internetauthor, Jul 15, 2007 IP
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  7. ZeroInfinity

    ZeroInfinity Banned

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    #7
    The rates vary since it depends on the following elements:

    - specialized writing skills (ie. If you need technically accurate quality content about modern genetic technology, you need a genetic engineer, and these people earn enough from teaching that you'd have to pay them more to make them write something substantially interesting about this particular medical field.);

    - researching skills (You don't need someone who has a habit of Wiki-researching and calling it a day whenever you need professional content.);

    - writing approach (ie. A geneticist can create original technically accurate quality content on the genetic industry, but if you need the content to be SE optimized without compensating reader-directed value, the geneticist should at least be capable of identifying the most important aspects when it comes to SE content tweaking together with having the skills to write content directed towards any audience demography - be it British genetic engineers, Australian med students, weed-smoking English-as-a-second-language intellectuals in various Western-cultural nations, English-as-a-second-language scientists, etc.);

    - working habits (You don't need someone without self-disciplinary impositions that could prevent them from getting too drunk, too high, or both whenever they have deadlines to beat the following morning.);

    - writing and industry-specialized experience (The cliche "Experience is the best teacher" applies on the specialized writing niche since the elements above will be satisfied.);

    - and the wages imposed by both the government and the economy of their countries (ie. New York minimum wage rates are pegged at $7.50/hour, and you usually get thrice as much if you're working as a professional in the most viable industries, so this gives a proficient New York-based writer (an entry level employee) a $22.50/hour wage rate with additional cash incentives for traveling and other research-intensive activities. But a Philippine-based proficient writer with specialized know-how on any particular industry (entry level employees), for instance, usually go for a $15/hour rate since the minimum wages of this country are pegged at $9/8-hour day.).

    The most minimal research time for a 500+-word write-up would probably be an hour - given that the writer is well versed in the particular niche of the content, and the most minimal writing time would also theoretically be an hour. This means you get a write-up on a particular niche worth 500 words of original quality content, and you need to pay a New York-based entry-level proficient writer specializing in the specific industry $45 for the write-up since the writer dedicated at least 2 hours of his/her time on the overall production of the write-up. This also means that this writer charges $0.09/word (basically the entry-level rates for New York-based magazine writers is $0.08/word, right?).

    A 500+-word write-up that requires moderately intensive research, particularly one that needs the writer to travel, conduct interviews, attend conferences, experience minimalistic hell, etc., would probably take an entire week at minimum - given that the writer is well versed in the particular niche of the content, and the travel time is not included in the 5-day-week 8-hour/day overall research time. After conducting such intensive research activities and collating the necessary details for the write-up, the most minimal writing time would theoretically be 10 hours (of course including the reading and analysis time of the collated materials). This means you get a write-up on a particular niche worth 500 words of original quality content, and you need to pay an experienced New York-based proficient writer specializing in the specific industry $1125 for the write-up since the writer devoted at least 50 hours of his/her time on the overall production of the write-up. Furthermore, you need to pay the writer the travel, food, lodging, and other expenses incurred from his research activities. This also means that this writer charges $2.30400/word (this type of writing project cannot be entrusted to the hands of entry-level writers, and basically the rates for experienced New York-based magazine writers is $2.50/word, right?). Of course, add to the $1125 cost of the write-up the various expenses involved in the research and production of the write-up, and you probably get a $2500 500+-word article on average.

    Now do the math and you'll know how much proficient writers who specialize in a given industry, particularly entry-level and experienced writers living in developing countries, should be paid for their work at a per-word rate. If you need to be as accurate as possible, conduct some research of your own on the highest-paying industries of the world, and you'd be capable of determining the specialized niche writer per-word rates - both the per-word rates for writers living in developing countries and those in highly industrialized countries.
     
    ZeroInfinity, Jul 16, 2007 IP
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  8. DMarton

    DMarton Peon

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    #8
    I'll throw my 2 cents in here - I am a copywriter, but I don't do anything by the word or by the hour. We'll talk about what it is you are trying to accomplish and then we'll discuss some ways to achieve that goal. The consultation is free, your current website (or current marketing medium) critique is free.

    If we determine that you need a new long copy sales letter it will run you between $1800 and $2500. If you need a new short copy landing page it will be around $1200 more/less. If you need an auto-responder series they are $100 each or 10 for $850.

    Space ads, post card lead generation and other types of offline copy varies accordingly.

    Hope this helps. Let me know if I can be of service :)

    DonnaMarton@gmail.com
     
    DMarton, Jul 16, 2007 IP
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  9. chatterboxwriting

    chatterboxwriting Peon

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    #9
    I don't think there really is a "normal" rate. As mentioned above, there are so many types of writing out there, we can't just give a rate for a "writer."

    Do you want a copywriter or a Web content writer?

    Are you concerned with getting quality writing that will inform or persuade readers, or are you just concerned with getting as many keywords as possible into each piece?

    Will you be using the final product as a sales/marketing piece?

    Where do you live? Living in NYC, $650 a month bought me a studio with a bathroom, bedroom, and common area (no kitchen!). In PA, I have a 2-BR with full kitchen, hardwood floors, bathroom, etc. for $450. If you're in NY, CA, or other high cost of living areas, you should expect to pay more.

    How many articles/e-books/marketing pieces, etc. do you need? Some writers will negotiate a discount for several projects.

    What is your topic? A writer who is writing about legal, medical, or technical issues will charge more than someone writing a general article about keeping the house clean or picking out the best shoes.
     
    chatterboxwriting, Jul 16, 2007 IP
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  10. KeywordsandCopy

    KeywordsandCopy Peon

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    #10
    As mentioned above, rates will fluctuate based on a number of different reasons. This can include anything from project size to experience and much more.

    I have some clients that pay me more than $.25/word, but others that offer much, much less. It all depends on what you are looking for I guess. I just posted about this on my blog; see my recent blog post link under my name!
     
    KeywordsandCopy, Jul 16, 2007 IP
  11. latoya

    latoya Active Member

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    #11
    Based on your description, I'd say you should expect to pay from around $.08/word to $.35/word.

    Before you hire a writer, take a look at their portfolio and decide if it's what you're looking for. If their samples don't meet your expectations, don't hire them.
     
    latoya, Jul 16, 2007 IP
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  12. denniss

    denniss Well-Known Member

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    #12
    My suggestion would be to find some university students to do that work for you.... When I used to work as North American editor for a games news site we mostly used college/university (sometimes even high school) kids for writing and they were paid the very minimum (say a free game that they need to review and may keep/sell later and $10 extra for a 2 pager article). Mostly it was rather efficient, even if they weren't that good in the beginning... But they did get better over time.

    Why students? They need some cash and probably have some decent writing skills, but yet they don't have enough time for full time jobs. So a situation like this is win-win for both - they're getting paid while gaining writing experience.
     
    denniss, Jul 17, 2007 IP
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  13. SFTech

    SFTech Banned

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    #13
    Proffesional? That can mean so many things if you want someone who went to collage for writing maybe $25-30 an hour just someone around here who's good at writing $5 for 200 words I would say that's what I have seen.
     
    SFTech, Jul 17, 2007 IP
  14. axlarry

    axlarry Notable Member

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    #14
    Thanks a lot for all the replies.
    Okay, so professional might mean a lot, let me re-define it again :
    what I'm trying to find is actually someone who can write about some topics that regular users would love to read. More on the quality than the keyword junk. I expect the articles could convert first time visitors into regular readers.

    Where can I find this students? This might be the best solution after all :D

    Thanks again ppl :)

    axlarry
     
    axlarry, Jul 17, 2007 IP
  15. uniqueasitis

    uniqueasitis Peon

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    #15
    Around $20 to $50 per article
     
    uniqueasitis, Jul 17, 2007 IP
  16. marketjunction

    marketjunction Well-Known Member

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    #16
    Um, at a university? ;)

    Seriously, if you have a college in your city (I'd hope so), create some flyers, go down there and plaster them up.

    See if the college has a journalism department. You could target flyers there. Another option would be to contact the professors and see if they will tell their students about you. This happens often with print start-ups.

    I can't tell you how many times my journalism professors would pass on info about some new or very small publication that was looking for j-students for cheap. :)

    One key would be to offer a byline. Some professors will see it as a way for their students to build a portfolio.
     
    marketjunction, Jul 17, 2007 IP
  17. axlarry

    axlarry Notable Member

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    #17

    THANKS A LOT!!!!!!!!!
    You guys have been so helpful.

    Yeah, I guess I should try to find some students first.

    Thanks again.
     
    axlarry, Jul 17, 2007 IP
  18. denniss

    denniss Well-Known Member

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    #18
    Bingo :)

    Also you can try university forums and usenet groups if you don't have a big university/college nearby or don't feel like doing that in person.

    Good luck! :cool:
     
    denniss, Jul 18, 2007 IP
  19. latoya

    latoya Active Member

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    #19
    Don't forget about the English department. Sometimes they can write too... ;)

    Computer labs and places where student of all majors congregate are good places. I know some people who are pretty good writers, but don't have traditional writing backgrounds.

    If you're trying to hire college students, you might not be so strict on the writing sample. College students won't really have a portfolio built up, but they will have papers they've written for school.
     
    latoya, Jul 19, 2007 IP
  20. denniss

    denniss Well-Known Member

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    #20
    Well, the best way to do it, is give them a "test run" -- just ask them to write something that won't take more than 20 minutes of their time, but ask them to write it to the best of their ability (tell them to spellcheck it as well, etc..), and make sure that it's exactly what you need them to do... Considering that you're offering them a job, they will gladly do that (writing a decent resume takes much longer than 20 minutes :p).

    Because it's one thing to write a dry 20 page essay on history that only the prof has to read, and it's another thing to write something that say 10,000 people with short attention span (which is what most internet users have :p) will actually find useful and entertaining.
     
    denniss, Jul 19, 2007 IP
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