How to Set Freelance Writing Fees

Discussion in 'Copywriting' started by jhmattern, Dec 27, 2007.

  1. webgal

    webgal Peon

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    #21
    A toddler on a plane. You have to have been experiencing a different state of mind when you made those plans. :D Nice of you to find the gushing link and post it for a fellow writer.

    And bluewriter, writers are notoriously bad accountants. I picked up photoshop and powerpoint in mere hours. My quicken software still makes me insane after 3 years of using it.
     
    webgal, Dec 29, 2007 IP
  2. cd928

    cd928 Peon

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    #22
    I'd like to thank jen for writing this really helpful article. Goes beyond the per-word cr*p when you're writing to earn a living. And that's what I'm doing now (working as a freelance writer) and what jen has written is a godsend (or make that 'jensend' :D). :)

    Webgal, I agree that writers are generally bad accountants. I've flunked my math subjects a number of times when I still went to school. Never thought the numbers game would haunt me later on. :D
     
    cd928, Dec 30, 2007 IP
  3. WriteResults

    WriteResults Peon

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    #23
    On a lighter note...since reading Jens site, my husband has become totally fed up of hearing about 'billable and unbillable hours' :) On a different note, Ive found that by applying this, there are some clients who I charge more for work, simply because they cause me too many 'unbillable' hours eg., emailing me at 10pm because they cant open a file - as in need instructions on how to do it. However, when I have clients I 'like' I tend to charge them lower...its wrong I know - I need a good talking to! Does anyone else do this? The business side of writing is not my strong point, and I will readily admit to being someone who does a lot of writing for writings sake - but Im getting there slowly.

    Ive printed off the original posting, and my new years resolution is to get a grip on the business side of things :)

    Christine
     
    WriteResults, Dec 30, 2007 IP
  4. sbtemp

    sbtemp Peon

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    #24
    Thanks for such a useful post; yes, this is something I plan to study and make an essential part of my working life in the New Year. Thanks once again.
     
    sbtemp, Dec 30, 2007 IP
  5. Love2Write

    Love2Write Well-Known Member

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    #25
    Thank you for this post Jenn...

    Happy New Year!
     
    Love2Write, Jan 1, 2008 IP
  6. WriterMLH

    WriterMLH Peon

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    #26
    Jen, thank you so much for this great article. I am going to have to do the figures and see exactly what I want to be charging this new year.
    I am also happy to see that my current rates are not absolutely ridiculous and that I could even charge more. Thanks for giving me that extra motivation!
     
    WriterMLH, Jan 1, 2008 IP
  7. shkad14

    shkad14 Well-Known Member

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    #27
    WOW You are awesome. I was just turned on to freelance writing last week here on DP. Since then I have written about 40 articles for peoplet on DP. I am only making $3-$4 per 400 word article. I love the work and it was fun in the beginning but the money isnt that good.

    I noticed your article was geared more to "real" freelance writing... I guess. Looking around DP for the past two weeks at the freelance writing rates in the buy, sell, and trade forum, I have come to the comclusion that I am not going to make more than $100 a week. I would have to write 20 articles a day just to make OK money. That isnt easyh when there are guys writing for $1 per article. Volume would be difficult.

    My question- Can I take this off DP and make money in the internet world? If so, where do I begin, how long will it take to build my business, how much am I going to put out in advertising?

    Any secrets or tips on building my freelance writing business would be great from scratch would be great.
     
    shkad14, Jan 1, 2008 IP
  8. Tudi

    Tudi Peon

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    #28
    Bumping this because it's way too useful to be left for dead. Thanks a lot Jhmattern.
     
    Tudi, Jan 4, 2008 IP
  9. OSWebMaster

    OSWebMaster Guest

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    #29
    Hi JHMattern -

    Excellent post -- glad you made reference to it from our other discussion here (http://forums.digitalpoint.com/showthread.php?t=626475).

    Of course, I agree. If you follow the "professional blogging" employment market, however, you will see persistent postings wanting "professional" blog writers for $5 - $10 per 300 - 500 word post. This, when you do the math, works out to about $5 - $7 per hour. And, in my experience, there are a number of half-experienced writers that actually will work at that rate. How can they afford to?

    Your post here goes a long way towards opening eyes so that people can see what they need to charge to make a decent and respectable living. But I would like to see some discussion about the persistence of underpaying blogging and writing jobs that are out there today. Is education the only way to address the issue?

    Yours -
    Scott Frangos, Managing Editor - WebHelperMagazine.com
     
    OSWebMaster, Jan 4, 2008 IP
  10. Tudi

    Tudi Peon

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    #30
    Scott, I addressed the same issue in this thread:
    forums. digitalpoint.com/showthread.php?t=633755

    With all the raised eyebrows and angry fists I might cause amongst content buyers, yes, they need to be educated to respect the writer and ultimately, themselves.
     
    Tudi, Jan 4, 2008 IP