How to Set and Negotiate Your Freelance Writing Rates
Many factors come into play when you are setting your freelance writing rates. Negotiating your freelance writer rates with clients requires you to adhere to proven strategies. In this post, we’ll talk about both. But before that we want you to know about different types of freelancing rates independent writers can set.
Types of Freelancing Rates That Independent Writers Can Set
The following are different types of freelancing rates that independent writers can set:
Project-Based
Project-based rate is exactly what it means. That is a flat rate (fee) for a project. Charging clients in this manner lets freelance writers specializing in different industries know in advance what they will earn.
Hour-Based (Hourly)
It is a much more popular choice to charge clients based on the hours you work. The reason for this is that hourly rates guarantee you no unpaid work hours. What’s more? In addition, you get compensation for clients’ meetings, revisions, and scope creep. Besides the scope creep means modifications and changes clients ask for outside their original agreement.
Word-Based
Another way freelance writers can charge clients is based on words. Word-based rates are helpful for writers to charge in certain scenarios, like the following:
When a Project Demands Strict Word Counts
Or When Rates Are Difficult to Quote for Writing Jobs, Such as Web Content Writing
Moreover, experienced writers can charge clients higher rates per word. Or when writers become more specialized in their field. Content writing, for example.
Page-Based
A good practice to charge clients for prolonged writing projects is based on pages. As an example, you may need to create an eBook to sell, comprising a certain number of pages. A 50-100 page-long for example. In this scenario, it is a good idea to set your writing rates based on page count.
Client-Based
Freelance writers can establish relationships with certain clients over time. In that case, they may consider setting a “retainer,” to charge clients for their work. Besides, a retainer is an ongoing contract between a freelance writer and a client. Based on this contract, writers need to submit an assigned amount of content to clients in exchange for regular payments.
However, there are two potential drawbacks of setting retainers, including the following:
Renegotiating Rates
Encountering Scope Creep
Considering these drawbacks, writers should set retainers with clear communication with clients and a well-defined scope for projects. Doing so can help them establish a mechanism for adjusting their rates fairly as needed. At the same time, it will establish good work relationships with their clients.
How to Set Your Freelance Writer Rates
When setting your freelance writer rates, you need to consider average rates. That is the rate freelancers charge for writing based on their expertise. It will help you set your own based on your expertise. However, there are various other factors you need to consider when setting your writing rates as a freelancer. We have talked about those factors below:
Experience
The more freelance writing experience you have, the higher rates you can charge. Still, it does not mean beginner writers should underprice their services. You can still set reasonable rates as a beginner to make a living based on your writing expertise.
Writing Time
The more time the writing project demands, the higher rates you can set. As an example, you will certainly take more time writing web copies compared to generic articles. So, it makes sense that you charge higher rates to clients for complex projects, such as web content writing.
One-off (One Time) or Ongoing Projects
Of course, you will charge clients slightly higher rates for one-time projects, unlike ongoing projects. How? You may build good relationships with clients over time for ongoing projects. In that case, you may like offering discounts to long-term (returning) clients to retain them when you increase your rates. Or keep your rates lower for them to keep them happy and continue working for them.
Project Requirements
Project requirement is another factor that will come into play when setting your rates. For example, your client may require you to have regular meetings with you for the project. Or ask you for revisions multiple times and require you to submit deliverables within a certain deadline. Considering such requirements in advance, you can effectively set your freelance writing rates.
Project Complexity
The more complex the writing project, the more you can charge for your freelance writing service. For instance, you may need to do loads of research for the writing project, spending a lot of time and energy. So, you should charge higher rates for such a writing project as a freelance writer.
Moreover, you should know the minimum rates you can charge as a writer for fixed-priced (word-based) or hourly projects. We have shared below two tables in this respect to help you set your rates based on your expertise and experience:
Minimum Rates You Can Charge Clients per 100 Words for Different Writing Services
Minimum Rates You Can Charge Clients per Hour for Different Writing Services, Assuming You Write 250 Words in an Hour
How to Negotiate Your Rates (Freelance Writer Salary)
There are negotiation strategies you can take advantage of and negotiate your rates with clients. We have shared those strategies below to help you effectively negotiate your freelance writing rates:
Build a Strong Portfolio
You need to build a portfolio as a freelance content writer or an academic writer to ask clients to pay you more. As a matter of fact, you need to build a strong portfolio, serving as proof of your writing skills and expertise. This is one strategy to negotiate your rates.
Make an Official Contract
During discussions about the project with clients, you may come to a written or verbal agreement. When you do, you must make an official contract about the writing project with the client. Here are two reasons to create an official contract with the client to negotiate your writing rates:
It allows your client to know all the work you will deliver for the agreed price.
In addition, it allows you to charge an additional fee to your client for extra work.
Consider Meeting in the Middle for per Word Rate
You may ask your clients to pay you for the writing assignment per word. For example, you may ask your client to pay you 15 cents per word for a large order. However, the client may want to pay you 10 cents per word. Then, you can tell your client that you are willing to meet in the middle. That is 12.5 cents per word or $12.5 per 100 words.
Consider Negotiating per Hour Rate with Past Clients
It is hard to negotiate hourly rates with the clients. The reason for this is clients do not know exactly how much time writers spent on the project. Therefore, consider negotiating hourly rates with clients who you have worked with in the past.
Double the Time to Lower Your Rates
Suppose a potential client wants to pay you less than what you want. And you still want to take the job to build your freelance writing career. However, you cannot deliver the project in the time that the client wants. In that case, you can state that you are willing to lower your rate but take more (double) time for project delivery.
Stick to Your Original Rates
Let’s suppose your original rates are 10 cents per word or $10 per 100 words. And you may tell your prospective client for any reason that you are willing to work for 8 cents per word. Yet, you’d love your original rates. Please, do not do that, as it will open the doors for your client to lower your rates. So, stick to your original rates.
Explain Your Rates When You Need to
It is possible that your prospective clients may not understand why you are charging specific rates as a freelance writer. Then, you can break things down for clients to help them understand your rates. As an example, you can explain how much time, dedication, and research you will need to complete the project. This is another excellent strategy for negotiating your freelance writing rates.
Set up a Professional Business Email
You may work as a freelance writer but do not have a professional business email. Please, avoid making this mistake to effectively negotiate your rates with clients. The reason for this is that people at times think freelancers without professional business emails are students. And they think those students look for extra work to earn money as a freelancer. So, prospective clients can take advantage of that fact and ask freelance writers to lower their rates.
On the other hand, having a professional business email conveys a level of professionalism to clients. It also shows that you are a credible person as a freelance writer.
Accept Lower-Paying Jobs Initially to Get Better Opportunities with Time
When you are beginning your freelance writing career, you have to take lower-paying jobs. If you do, it will let you build a strong portfolio over time. Not to mention, you can negotiate your rates with time when you have more experience and a strong portfolio.
Wrapping up
Various factors will come into play and impact your freelance writer rates. Average rates, your experience, and writing time, to recapitulate some of those factors. Besides, you can set your writing rates as a freelancer in different ways. Project-based, hour-based, word-based, page-based, and client-based, to reiterate these types. Lastly, here is a recap of nine proven strategies to negotiate your freelance writing rates:
Build a strong portfolio.
Make an official contract.
Consider meeting in the middle for rates based on words.
Consider negotiating hourly rates with past clients.
Double the time to lower your rates.
Stick to your original rates.
Explain your rates when you need to.
Set up a professional business email.
Accept lower-paying jobs initially to get better opportunities with time.
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