Going Rate For Freelance Writing: How Not To Get Underpaid
Most freelancers want to control their earnings and their schedule. Many will leave the profession in a huff because they have failed to reach their goals. This is because they have not discovered the secret on how not to get under paid.
In freelance writing, three main considerations should be made when setting the price.
- Level of work
- there are different categories of work ranging from academic to web content, press releases, product descriptions and blog posts, among others. Each requires unique research input, compiling and formatting, among other requirements. Such considerations are important when determining how much to charge.
- Number of pages
- this can be flipped to mean the number of words since spacing will lead to more pages. More words means that you need to provide more content through research. You should charge more for a higher number.
- Deadline
- some clients will require the work completed within a shorter time. This means that you have to rearrange your schedule to fit their short deadline. This should only be done if the pay is higher considering that you might fail to meet other deadlines and ask for extensions.
How do you ensure that you get value for your freelance writing?
- Set Earning Goals
Earning goals direct your level of activity and the search or pitching for more work. Without earning goals, you will be under no pressure and neither will you be motivated to work. This will assign value to your time ensuring that you charge the right amount that will help you meet your targets.
- Be in control
Despite the fact that most freelance writers claim to be in control of their work schedule and charges, they have an employee mentality where you take what is offered by the client. Certain factors will give you control over your work.
- Quality
- this is an incredible negotiating power for any freelance job. A client is willing to pay the highest price for quality. Working on your quality will make you competitive and therefore offer control.
- A better package
- this includes additional services like proofreading, formatting and editing.
- Availability
- meeting deadlines makes you a reliable freelance writer. This will always bring clients back after you complete their assignment.
- Specialize
Specializing allows you to understand the area and thus offer better services. It makes your work consistent since you do not have to switch between clients and work areas. You can study new trends in the area and offer the latest to your clients.