How much is my writing worth?

Discussion in 'Copywriting' started by cowsgonemadd3, Nov 30, 2008.

  1. #1
    Just so the article does not get indexed I will post it as a image.

    How much is my writing worth? I have a guy who is buying a lot of articles from me. I have learned a lot since I have started writing last month. I know it has only been a month but I am much better at writing than when I first started. I have very few grammatical errors and with my spell checker usually there will be no spelling errors.

    The thing is he is paying me a fixed rate. 3 bucks per 300 word article. The thing is sometimes I go over and so I do not get paid for those extra words.

    I am an American typer and can type well.

    I hear of people getting like 4-5 cents a word but how can I get more. I mean 1 cent a word is dirt cheap. My articles are unique and not copy and past type.
    Here is a example of one I wrote for him.

    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]
     
    cowsgonemadd3, Nov 30, 2008 IP
  2. Sims2

    Sims2 Active Member

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    #2
    Your content is worth whatever you value it at in my opinion.
     
    Sims2, Dec 3, 2008 IP
  3. Photoshopdesigns

    Photoshopdesigns Banned

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    #3
    Yeah i agree
     
    Photoshopdesigns, Dec 3, 2008 IP
  4. demman

    demman Active Member

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    #4
    You should dictate your value upfront. If your writing is worth $10 per 300 words then charge that. And nothing less.

    How much do you think JK Rowling would charge for a 300 word article?
     
    demman, Dec 3, 2008 IP
  5. snarke

    snarke Peon

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    #5
    This is one of the fields where the client is not always right. In terms of tone, amount of research, content then you want to keep the customer happy no matter what. In terms of reasonable price--that is all you. You don't need to agree to a lower rate just because the client wants one (unless you really like the client and want him/her around). It took me a long time to learn to be firm about my rates and it has (no pun intended) really paid off. If the client really wants to work with you and really values your product, he/she will pay what you ask.
     
    snarke, Dec 3, 2008 IP
  6. Matt1611

    Matt1611 Peon

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    #6
    A couple points for you to remember when you are writing these $3 articles.

    Make your sentences longer and tell a story with your words instead of just giving 5 short facts to make up your paragraph. You will find that you can add some BS this way and actually do less work in reaching your 300 word count.

    Secondly, use the bullet point button when making a list.

    If you go to an article directory and check out some of the work that is supplied by the many Asian writers, you will notice that the majority of them write in the same manner as your opening paragraph.

    4-5 short factual statements make up their paragraphs. Now, because English is your first language, not that you have it mastered calling yourself a typer, your 5 short facts can flow a little better than the Asian writers, but in essence, your work is no better than theirs.

    You need to learn how to tell a story and not just give some facts if you want to get paid more than the 1c per word you're currently getting.
     
    Matt1611, Dec 4, 2008 IP
    tajo likes this.
  7. S3vEn

    S3vEn Active Member

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    #7
    I agree with demman.
     
    S3vEn, Dec 4, 2008 IP
  8. cowsgonemadd3

    cowsgonemadd3 Well-Known Member

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    #8
    But the people want the facts right? I mean why would they want a story when they want to know "how to lose weight by eating ------??
    Actually I have since that article been writing longer sentences but I was just worried I was doing too much bla bla words to get to the word count and not enough facts.
     
    cowsgonemadd3, Dec 4, 2008 IP
  9. Y.L. Prinzel

    Y.L. Prinzel Peon

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    #9

    I don't think it's so much about a story as it is about giving your article some flow. Think about how stilted a conversation would be if conducted that way.

    Ultimately, just like stocks, antiques, or sports memorabilia...your writing is worth what someone will pay for it. Tell the person you've been working with that you are going to increase the rates and see how they react.
     
    Y.L. Prinzel, Dec 4, 2008 IP
  10. Loren Woirhaye

    Loren Woirhaye Peon

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    #10
    You have some bad writing habits. You need to READ more
    published writing like decent magazines so you see how professional
    writers create prose and tell stories.

    Honestly I would consider this an unusable article.

    Get Stephen King's book "On Writing" and READ IT. He deals
    with all the major issues that are holding your writing back.
     
    Loren Woirhaye, Dec 4, 2008 IP
  11. cowsgonemadd3

    cowsgonemadd3 Well-Known Member

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    #11
    Yeah I see now that I read it that the sentences are too short.
    I will try and improve on that.
     
    cowsgonemadd3, Dec 4, 2008 IP
  12. rthompson00

    rthompson00 Peon

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    #12
    Maybe $5 for 500 words
     
    rthompson00, Dec 4, 2008 IP
  13. frankanderson

    frankanderson Peon

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    #13
    I think it is important to understand the reason of the article and what message the Author wants to convey and the rest should be according to that.
     
    frankanderson, Dec 5, 2008 IP
  14. frankanderson

    frankanderson Peon

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    #14
    I do agree with Loren Woirhaye. Most of the times content/article writers dont read other articles because they find it boring, but they expect people to read their articles with interest.
     
    frankanderson, Dec 5, 2008 IP
  15. lightless

    lightless Notable Member

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    #15
    There can be a thing as too much facts. The reader's reading experience is all that matters.

    IMHO your writing currently doesn't flow too well and is disjointed. It's like bare bones with no skin. Mesh everything together better and try to breathe some life into your articles.
     
    lightless, Dec 5, 2008 IP
  16. cowsgonemadd3

    cowsgonemadd3 Well-Known Member

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    #16
    This article actually was for a marketer so it's not meant for much other than a PPC campaign but yeah I bet flowing better would help.
     
    cowsgonemadd3, Dec 5, 2008 IP
  17. adminworld

    adminworld Well-Known Member

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    #17
    So false. Your content is worth what someone is willing to pay for it. If no one wants to pay more than 2 cents per word than its worth - 2 cents per word. Business 101
     
    adminworld, Dec 5, 2008 IP
  18. Matt1611

    Matt1611 Peon

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    #18
    You've got this backwards.

    Your content is worth what you are willing to sell it for. Nobody can buy it unless the price is right for the seller.

    You say, "sorry but no sale". Seller replies with, "No problem".

    Bottom line is the buyer must now put crap on their site. Now eventually the "buyers" or "wannabe entrepreners" will come to the conclusion or is it realization, that they have all these websites that they have to get rid of, (all full of crap) not unlike all the sites for sale that you see in the sites section.

    Got a great idea, lets build a credit card site on wordpress, make 5-10 credit card articles and dominate the search engines, whooooooooops, this requires lots of work.........Credit card website for sale, unique template, Adsense ready, high paying niche, bid increments $5, Bin $45. Anyone? lowering bin to $35 must sell today.

    You can go check em out, day after day. They are the people writing the $1-3 articles. Good luck with your site, I can only hope you spend another 5 yrs of your time on it.
     
    Matt1611, Dec 5, 2008 IP
  19. adminworld

    adminworld Well-Known Member

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    #19
    LOL i am sure that you guys have it backwards. I am not going to teach economics on this forum but... well, i guess some things you need to learn by yourself.

    P.S. hey my pc is worth 100000000. want to buy it ? NO?????? well, ok i will sell it for 1000. Anyone else give me more ? NO ? ok, 1000 sold.

    MY PC IS WORTH 1000

    sorry could not help it to say it lol
     
    adminworld, Dec 5, 2008 IP
  20. tajo

    tajo Peon

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    #20
    That may be true, however sellers that place a premium on writing that the market has priced differently, are unlikely to sell very much or any at all, thus, they eventually need to lower their prices to match the going market rate. So it is more correct to say that "Your content is worth what the market is prepared to pay"
     
    tajo, Dec 6, 2008 IP