Pricing your work

by EllesBelles

Posted: 12 years ago 15 replies

COPY WRITING

Hi everyone

As a brief introduction, I'm Elle and I've been writing for about six and a half years. I started with web writing, then SEO, and I often copywrite now too. My problem is that my work is done for about four big household name companies - which is great, but it means I can't use their testimonials, as I need to be confidential.

I'm paid monthly from my big clients, and that includes a variety of different works, so I'm confused about how to price myself. I'm considering opening a thread in the Warriors For Hire section to get testimonials, but I'm unsure how successful I'll be against the other warriors who have offered huge discounts but do have testimonials.

If anyone has any other advice on getting more clients, that would be appreciated too. I'm glad to have found this forum!

E x

#pricing #work

Angel Anderson 12 years ago

Hi, depending who you ask it might have a different opinion. You can price your work to be competitive but in mi experience it will cause you to work more to get to were you want to be or earn.

Have a realistic goal in mind, then do the math from there. How much I can generate as far work delivered, etc. and then you will know how much you should charge per hour.
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QualityCopywriting 12 years ago

I used big discounts to GET testimonials, then gradually raised my price. It worked for me.
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angiecolee 12 years ago

I agree with Angel - different copywriters have different goals and different pricing strategies in order to reach those goals.

In the end it's about deciding how much you want to make, and what makes the job worth it for you to take on.

I know that didn't really offer any semblance of guidance. I worried about pricing a long time too, and then when I started asking myself what would make each job worth it, I stopped questioning my prices as much.
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remega 12 years ago

You have to know the value of your own time! If you don't value your time...no one else will. Don't price yourself on what you think the market will pay. Price yourself at what you know you are worth.

"If you're not invested...It has no value." ~ Chris Harris
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EllesBelles 12 years ago

Thank you all! Plenty to think about now. What a great sub-forum

E x
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Flyingpig7 12 years ago

Hi Elle,
Nice website, I see your obviously very experienced in social marketing and have quite a few articles published in some offline media publications.

I agree with regmea;

know the value of your own time! If you don't value your time...no one else will. Don't price yourself on what you think the market will pay

Please bare in mind that most writers here on the forum are not really your competitors as most of them are not trained Journalists . Also you probably know how do proper research, write up SEO optimized articles & ebooks all unique original content which good buyers will recognize and willingly pay for even if your prices start from $25 upwards to $350 or more. There will be some customers here for your work you just have to be confident about what you offer and stick to your guns.

Hope that helps answer your question or gives you direction Elle.

Keren
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- joeyreyes 12 years ago
  
  You can set your own pricing based on the packages you offer. Give discounts to customers as a trial. Once your customers like the quality of your work they will stick to you.
  
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  ewenmack 12 years ago
  
  Hi Elle,
  From your samples on your website it appears to me
  that you are best suited to woman's mags.
  
  Knowing this, it would seem to me that both online and offline women's interests publishers would be your target market.
  
  Having testimonials for them would be less important,
  it will be your samples that will pull more weight.
  However, I would still make the most of you having worked for household names.
  
  Hooking up with Indeed and Craiglist will open up a big new world of opportunities for you.
  
  Best,
  Ewen
  
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  Steve The Copywriter 12 years ago
  
  Hi E,
  
  I wouldn't worry about not having testimonials.
  
  They do help - and when you get them - use them if you want.
  
  I've got files of them, but can't use then.
  
  Because all my work is (c) for the clients with a non disclosure agreement.
  
  Over the years lots of my stuff has been swiped and this helps protect it.
  
  New clients understand this - and to make sure I say -
  
  "To be honest, you couldn't care less about my other clients - because it's YOUR copy that counts"
  
  They always nod in total agreement.
  
  Steve
  
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RnGWriter 12 years ago

Arranging samples for clients is a big issue but then I figured that I talk a lot about writing on my website, so then why shouldn't my own sales pitch act as a testimonial on its own? It more about creating a buzz about your business and giving your clients a deal they can't overlook. Giving discounts or working on a trial run will give your prospective clients the final push.
As for pricing; there are a lot of people giving lots of advise and good ones too, I might add but the truth is, I have done a lot more for a lot less than a lot of the writers here in the TWR. Your rates should reflect what you think of yourself. If you think you deserve to be at the top of the food chain......then go for it!!
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KimboJim 12 years ago

Pricing is difficult for copywriters, or anyone else who provides a service.

What you first want to do is gauge how good you are. Your experience is great (6 1/2 years), but how good are you? Better writers command more money, or at least they make clients think that.

Next, what are you writing? For example, charging $1,000 for an SEO article meant for link building is outrageous. Charging the same amount for a sales letter is normal to somewhat cheap.

Just think about what you are writing for and look for other copywriters on your field of expertise. Then, emulate their pricing.
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Steve Hill 12 years ago

For industry-based pricing guidelines, the 2012 Writer's Market book does have a comprehensive pricing guide, as well as a section titled "How Much Should I Charge?"

This pricing guide has hourly high, low, and average fees for many specific projects, such as advertising copywriting, direct mail copywriting, email copywriting, ghost blogging, white papers, and so on. It is a compilation based on member surveys of many professional writing and business associations.

(This is in the deluxe edition; you'll want to check if buying the standard edition.)
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knish 12 years ago

Think about what's your hourly rate, how long do you estimate it will take to complete the work... and then do the math.
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- RRG 12 years ago
  
  Originally Posted by knish
  
  Think about what's your hourly rate, how long do you estimate it will take to complete the work... and then do the math.
  
  That's exactly how Dan Kennedy prices his copywriting services. Of course, his fee is based on his $18,800 per day consulting rate.
  
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VickiLee 12 years ago

..When you do that math, be sure to figure in taxes and health insurance.. :-0
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