1. Advertising
    y u no do it?

    Advertising (learn more)

    Advertise virtually anything here, with CPM banner ads, CPM email ads and CPC contextual links. You can target relevant areas of the site and show ads based on geographical location of the user if you wish.

    Starts at just $1 per CPM or $0.10 per CPC.

What is the going rate for writing articles?

Discussion in 'Copywriting' started by slickazsilk, Jun 9, 2009.

  1. jhmattern

    jhmattern Illustrious Member

    Messages:
    8,909
    Likes Received:
    794
    Best Answers:
    2
    Trophy Points:
    455
    #21
    I don't waste time on article marketing often, and when I do it's never the traditional "ezinearticles route" anymore. I found it ineffective when compared to more direct approaches (like using those articles in virtual blog tours as guest posts with hand-picked and highly relevant blogs).
     
    jhmattern, Aug 7, 2009 IP
  2. dr.faizan

    dr.faizan Peon

    Messages:
    14
    Likes Received:
    0
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    #22
    Is that a JOKE? 200$ for 500 words..?
     
    dr.faizan, Aug 13, 2009 IP
  3. jhmattern

    jhmattern Illustrious Member

    Messages:
    8,909
    Likes Received:
    794
    Best Answers:
    2
    Trophy Points:
    455
    #23
    No, it's not a joke. I'm assuming you're asking because you think it's too high. On the other hand, I have colleagues who constantly tell me it's too low. Those are rates for general Web content or blogging. I charge closer to $500 for a 500 word feature-style article (such as those going in trade magazines or on their websites). While it seems high to some people on DP, in the professional writing game those rates are mid-range (and there are plenty of clients paying them who keep me busy - so much so that I don't even have time to take on new clients).
     
    jhmattern, Aug 13, 2009 IP
  4. infofreek

    infofreek Peon

    Messages:
    317
    Likes Received:
    10
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    #24
    This matter has been discussed here over and over. It is not essential that all the writers from India are writing crap articles. You may get better writers than those native English speaking writers. A little patience is all you need to find a gem from India or other non-native countries. And Harry, assuming you as a writer, could you please check your spelling before submitting the post?
    Wow Jenn! Could you please share some of your experiences of earlier days and give us useful tips?
    Personally, I believe there is no such 'ongoing rate'. The rate varies from writer to writer and subject to subject. I am a doctor and writing medical topics @ 10-15 USD per 500 words article. But I am also writing other subjects at a cheaper rate. I fixed my compensation for the medical niche higher because I know the subject. I can guarantee better articles than my fellow freelancers. I have seen many freelancers are writing crap medical articles simply because they don't understand the subject. They accumulate some facts from various resources and come up with an unique article, which I am afraid, far from reality.

    For a better price, you will get more than SEOed article. You will get an informative and useful article for the viewers. That's what the Big G needs.
     
    infofreek, Aug 13, 2009 IP
  5. gocali2009

    gocali2009 Active Member

    Messages:
    504
    Likes Received:
    3
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    58
    #25
    If I had a business that sold an actual product I would happily pay $500 for a sales letter. The same is true for an affiliate business model. I can't believe people only think about the price! In an online business, your website serves as the real world equivalent of both your shop, interior decorating and sales staff. It truly amazes me to see that some people are not willing to pay even the price of one affiliate commission for quality work.
     
    gocali2009, Aug 13, 2009 IP
  6. jhmattern

    jhmattern Illustrious Member

    Messages:
    8,909
    Likes Received:
    794
    Best Answers:
    2
    Trophy Points:
    455
    #26
    I run two blogs where I share those experiences and tell people how to do the same. AllFreelanceWriting.com (link in my recent blogs here) and QueryFreeFreelancer.com is a newer one where I give writers free tools (like some new WP themes) to help them build better visibility to make clients come to them. I also sell an e-book on getting started in Web writing without taking on the really low-paying work, and will be releasing the second in that series (a marketing workbook for freelance writers) as soon as I finish the editing and formatting which I haven't had time to do.

    If you're a doctor, you should be making at least what I am. People don't pay more money because someone can string sentences together. They pay more for specific expertise. You obviously have that. Personally, I'd say to start by pitching a trade magazine or a larger website. For example, if you wanted something regular, you could look at About.com. It doesn't work out great pay-wise (and I can't stand them personally), but just doing it to have the NY Times Co. on your resume will help you network and get better gigs if you know how to use it to your advantage. I wouldn't consider it a worthwhile permanent gig though, as they've been known to cut Guides who have been there for years with no real notice (so just don't get comfortable with the regular income coming in). Unless they've changed things, they do look for doctors to handle their medical sites, so it could be a start - would get you out of the lower webmaster game at least. It would still be better to work for a variety of separate clients pay-wise though.
     
    jhmattern, Aug 14, 2009 IP
  7. Y.L. Prinzel

    Y.L. Prinzel Peon

    Messages:
    412
    Likes Received:
    27
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    #27
    I find it interesting that people are so surprised by the disparity in rates. As a business owner, one of the things you all should be doing is comparing the rates of professionals in one specialty or another. Obviously, there is no one rate for all freelancers, but you should be familiar with the range and shouldn't be so surprised when it's presented to you.
     
    Y.L. Prinzel, Aug 14, 2009 IP
  8. ravex

    ravex Peon

    Messages:
    79
    Likes Received:
    1
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    #28
    I would say that writing rates is like going to a restaurant. If you enjoy lower quality food, you pay less. If you enjoy higher quality food, you pay more. There is not really a "fair" price.

    "You get what you pay for. " is a general rule of thumb.

    As a writer, i am always developing my resume and profile to command higher rates in the future.

    I believe just like in the real world, people will pay you as long as you provide the service to justify the cost. This is how an open market works.
     
    ravex, Aug 14, 2009 IP
  9. charumakhija

    charumakhija Peon

    Messages:
    8
    Likes Received:
    0
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    #29
    I charge like $10 per article of around 300 - 400 words
     
    charumakhija, Aug 15, 2009 IP
  10. Yasinta

    Yasinta Member

    Messages:
    134
    Likes Received:
    0
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    26
    #30
    Just go to the market and give your offer. Writer will bid their prices and you can choose. However, I believe it is $0.7 - $1/100 words.
     
    Yasinta, Aug 15, 2009 IP
  11. totaltalli

    totaltalli Peon

    Messages:
    76
    Likes Received:
    0
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    #31
    The rates would increase from a re-write --> an intelligent re-write --> a researched general topic --> a researched niche topic --> a KILLER article.

    By KILLER article, I mean, people get addicted to your writing. They wait for your new articles to get published and pounce on them the moment they are out.
     
    totaltalli, Aug 21, 2009 IP
  12. PadPaws

    PadPaws Greenhorn

    Messages:
    77
    Likes Received:
    0
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    16
    #32
    I have what I call "real" work - articles on history and space exploration, which is my specialist topic - which are printed and published in recognised, affiliated websites and magazines. You won't get that stuff on the cheap.

    However, I pick up cheap stuff online. I find SEO articles quite relaxing to do; simple, basic, no calculator required, no deep intense knowledge of history required - and it keeps money tipped up. So while if someone wanted something on my specialist subjects they'd be looking at $0.45 a word, I'll happily trip off SEO stuff for Google for $0.1c/word.

    Way I look at it is I make my living off my speciality, and the rest is pin and eBay money. I don't think this is common, though. If anyone is entirely trying to make their living off $0.1c/word, they're going to have problems with quality.

    Basically, if anyone is going to charge you $1 for a 500 word article, 9/10 it'll be garbage - but, that doesn't mean you have to pay ridiculous money to get something that makes sense. I think $0.1c/word is reasonable for SEO, as for any usual working writer, it's easy.
     
    PadPaws, Aug 21, 2009 IP
  13. Vichu1988

    Vichu1988 Member

    Messages:
    42
    Likes Received:
    0
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    41
    #33
    I think, A good and professional writer would charge you $2/100words. However, the most excellent writer would charge you anything between $10-15 per article of 500words.
     
    Vichu1988, Aug 22, 2009 IP
  14. Zabrina

    Zabrina Peon

    Messages:
    71
    Likes Received:
    3
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    #34
    Writing rates obviously vary tremendously even in the same niches -- I've heard of copywriters who make magazine rates for web content, and copywriters who make just a few dollars per article.

    You pay for what you get, in my experience! Webmasters who are serious about their site tend to pay more. The search engines love natural, quality content, not keyword-stuffed, poor-quality writing. :)
     
    Zabrina, Aug 22, 2009 IP
  15. infofreek

    infofreek Peon

    Messages:
    317
    Likes Received:
    10
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    #35
    On which ground you had come to this conclusion? Jenn has mentioned she gets 200$ per 500 words :eek:??? There must be many others who charge more than that (and clients are more than happy to pay them).
     
    infofreek, Aug 23, 2009 IP
  16. Vichu1988

    Vichu1988 Member

    Messages:
    42
    Likes Received:
    0
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    41
    #36
    No offense, but I havent encountered any client in my life, who pays even $20 per article even the writing style and everything is acceptable.

     
    Vichu1988, Aug 23, 2009 IP
  17. Zabrina

    Zabrina Peon

    Messages:
    71
    Likes Received:
    3
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    #37
    $20 for a 400-word article? That's on the low side where my rates are concerned. I have never sold articles to clients for as low as $2, and would consider it an affront to my writing skills.
     
    Zabrina, Aug 23, 2009 IP
  18. Y.L. Prinzel

    Y.L. Prinzel Peon

    Messages:
    412
    Likes Received:
    27
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    #38
    Then you need a new marketing plan.
     
    Y.L. Prinzel, Aug 23, 2009 IP
  19. xyour925job

    xyour925job Active Member

    Messages:
    65
    Likes Received:
    0
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    61
    #39
    I think you will get what you pay for. I have tried this before and I must say be careful. There are some good writers out there. I have tried a few and can not recommend any one at this time.
     
    xyour925job, Aug 23, 2009 IP
  20. Vichu1988

    Vichu1988 Member

    Messages:
    42
    Likes Received:
    0
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    41
    #40
    Thanks, certainly I would do this to earn $50-$100 per article in future ;)

     
    Vichu1988, Aug 23, 2009 IP