How much is a 500 word article really worth?

12 years ago

Hi Griffin,

Unfortunately, your observations are one hundred percent correct. Most website owners are simply unwilling to pay more than $1 per 100 words, from what I have seen.

Do you really expect people to write properly worded 500 word articles for $1? I would never, and I doubt most other people would, anywhere in the world.

If you are lucky, you can find website owners who actually care about the quality of content. They might be willing to pay a little bit more. But as for earning a good income online via writing, you must be able to write quick (and be able to compromise on the quality slightly).

Thanks
1 reply

Signature

>>>Get your websites ACTUALLY ranked by checking these out: Quantum SEO Labs, Home Page Link Building & SERP Ability. Want to get rid of negative listings? Check out Reputation Enhancer.

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[5539331].message }}

Martin Avis 12 years ago

How much is a 500 word article really worth?

The only answer that makes any sense is ... it depends.

It depends on the writer, the article and the buyer.

A crap article from an unskilled writer being sold to an uncaring buyer might be 'worth' $1 for 500 words.

A great article from an experienced writer being sold to a motivated buyer who knows how to profit from it could easily be 'worth' $1 per word.

The article writing services like iwriter, seogenerals and textbroker are training the market to think that $5-$10 is the norm. They perform a service and often the stuff you can buy at that price can be above average. But really good writers and the people they write for know that real quality costs more than that.

Martin
- [ 3 ] Thanks
- 1 reply
Signature
Martin Avis publishes Kickstart Newsletter - Subscribe free at http://kickstartnewsletter.com
{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[5539493].message }}
- Frank Donovan 12 years ago
  
  How much is a 500 word article really worth?
  
  How much is a 36" x 24" painting really worth?
  
  If it seems absurd to value a painting by the size of its canvas, why would you similarly commoditize your writing? You'll only be likely to attract the online equivalent of a buyer with a stain to cover.
  
  Frank
  
  [ 13 ] Thanks
  
  Signature
  TOP TIP: To browse the forum like a Pro, select "View Classic" from the drop-down menu under your user name.
  
  {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[5539502].message }}

SumikoW

12 years ago

Great question: Time is money. If you have time and you can write good quality and no money then do it yourself. If you don't have time and you have money and can't write good content pay someone to do it for you.

It's a process of finding a good writer. Not so much as it is the price, just like anything you can pay alot for bad quality as you can spend the same amount for good quality...try Article Underground...google it, good resource, been around for years.

Thanks

Signature

Give Your Affiliate Campaigns A Free Instant Shot Of Adrenaline! Get it For Free Here Go Here ~> Click

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[5539445].message }}

Kay King

12 years ago

So what is worth to you, the website owner that wants valuable, quality, unique content?

And what is it worth to you, the writer that slaves in front of her laptop to passionately create an awesome article?

You are asking the wrong questions. There is no "right price" as different buyers need articles for differing purposes. How hard you "slave away" is not the buyer's problem.

You don't need to compete with $1, $2 and $5 writers unless you choose to (and why would you?). There's plenty of buyers in that price range - but also many buyers in higher price ranges.

The "500 words" is an IM length that many site owners want - and usually want cheaply. Top buyers today are asking for 800+ words. Truth is - they are also much better to work with than low end buyers. They know what they want, they recognize quality when they see it - and they are willing to pay for it.

The only person who sets your pay scale...is you. Position yourself to attract better buyers.

kay

[ 14 ] Thanks
1 reply

Signature

Saving one dog will not change the world - but the world will change forever for that one dog.

I'm going to work on being less condescending

(Condescending means to talk down to people)

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[5539456].message }}

Asante

12 years ago

Originally Posted by Kay King

The only person who sets your pay scale...is you. Position yourself to attract better buyers.

I really appreciate this mindset. I've recently launched into independent freelance writing after working for several article mills. Upon reading a number of posts on WF about setting fair prices, I decided not to be the cheapest around.

I completed my first assignment today, and I charged my client $35 for a 850 word article. That's a bit of a bargain, because I want to get testimonials from satisfied customers for my site, but it's still not rock-bottom pricing. Although my client said it's almost twice what he's use to paying for an article of comparable length, he was willing to give my services a try.

After accepting my article, my first client gave me a glowing review stating that my work was well worth the money! Now I feel more confident to charge a fair price for my great work.

I hope this helps you as you navigate pricing your work.

[ 6 ] Thanks
3 replies

Signature

Asante George
Quality Content that SIZZLES!
TheArticleAuthor.com
AsanteGeorge.com

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[5540425].message }}

rob1123 12 years ago

PLR content tends to be cheaper for a higher quality... of course it isn't unique
- Thanks
Signature

derp.
{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[5540591].message }}

kindsvater

12 years ago

It depends on the purpose of the writing.

Much article writing, especially sought in places like this forum, is likely worth nothing. Yes - zero. That is why you see prices keep dropping and dropping.

You are not going to be happy reading that, but much of this is throw-away content for SEO purposes. Or the buyer only wants something cheap and generic for what is already piss-poor website experience.

On the other hand, I have informative articles that have brought in six-figures over the years. You, however, are not qualified to write them, and I would never dream of asking you to write them.

But I will hire someone to write "content" if I am looking to add emotional impact or a different perspective.

For example, I would write the article about non-compete agreements, their legality, how to use them, etc.

You could write an article about the devastating effect a non-compete agreement would have on your life.

For a buck I would hire someone to write whatever comes to mind, not worrying about grammar (if anything, that can show authenticity) and using it for SEO.

As you can see, the "value" and potential pricing for content varies wildly depending on its purpose.

My suggestion is to locate buyers who are likely wanting something other than SEO-type content. This forum is probably not the best hunting ground for those people.

.

[ 2 ] Thanks
2 replies

Signature

Use Elf Links to Stop Google's Affiliate Bans - Brian Kindsvater IM Help

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[5540631].message }}

Griffin Smith

12 years ago

"My suggestion is to locate buyers who are likely wanting something other than SEO-type content. This forum is probably not the best hunting ground for those people."

Great Idea...What are other types of content that are in demand besides SEO?
I guess we can exclude legal

Thanks
2 replies

Signature

=====> GSwriting <=====

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[5540695].message }}

LindseyRainwater 12 years ago

I'm sorry to hear you're dealing with this. I know it sucks.

And if you stay in freelance writing, you will ALWAYS have the occasional day where you hate almost every other writer and client in the whole world. I used to write as a freelancer, and I thought that was just me - but I've got friends who still freelance (writing, photography, graphic design, etc.) and they have those days too.

So you're not alone there.

When I was at my "peak" with writing, right before I headed off to become an IMer, I was working with Need and Article, which was my low-paying-but-easy work, and I had a couple private clients. But I was also on elance.com and guru.com.

I had many people respond to my bids (both on the bidding sites and in personal referrals) who told me that 5 cents a word was too much - that I needed to lower my prices. I politely but firmly told them that wasn't going to happen, and that when they actually wanted quality content, to let me know.

About 2 out of 3 got pissy and walked away. Oh darn. (You don't want to work with them anyway.) The other third . . . well, they decided they wanted someone who had more than a couple blog posts and a piece of paper saying they could write on their resume. At that time I had almost four years experience writing for the web, and had started at .20 a post on forums.

My friends who freelance have all been through this. One of them, a highly talented artist, almost threw in the towel a year or so ago because she had one too many people try to grind her quote down to nothing. I stood behind her, as did many of our friends, and now she's selling prints of her work, and has almost more commissioned projects than she can handle!

I know this may not be EXACTLY what you were looking for, but I say hang in there, and stick to your guns as far as your prices go. People are quick to tell you what your work is worth, but you are the one who controls that - not them. You can still get plenty of writing jobs that pay really well. Keep looking, you'll find them.

Good luck with everything!
- [ 2 ] Thanks
- 1 reply
Signature
Limited Time: Grab the "Pay Your Way" option, and get a complete website with content created - without having to pay the full amount up-front! Pay what you can today, and make payments from there! Click HERE for more info!
{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[5540790].message }}
- affhelper 12 years ago
  
  You need to choose who you work with. I actually paid today my writer
  $30 for a 520 word press release.
  
  I paid as much as $150 for a 1300-1600 word blog posts.
  
  [ 1 ] Thanks
  
  {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[5540854].message }}

kindsvater

12 years ago

Originally Posted by Griffin Smith

"My suggestion is to locate buyers who are likely wanting something other than SEO-type content. This forum is probably not the best hunting ground for those people."

Great Idea...What are other types of content that are in demand besides SEO?

The most popular WSO keyword alert is PLR. Every day new PLR offers are made on the forum.

Some of the demand for PLR is just for SEO content. Not not all of it. Quality PLR writers do quite well. What they offer is not always just 500 articles, but sometimes much longer works.

Many PLR writers also limit the number that are sold. Real limits. I saw an email claiming only 1000 would be sold. What a hoot. Needless to say there have been more emails (guess it didn't sell out) and probably a few more for decades to come.

One reason quality PLR is popular is because it gives people something to sell. That is, something that can make money from.

Ultimately, that is what you are doing: making someone else money and the vehicle is what you are writing.

.

Thanks
1 reply

Signature

Use Elf Links to Stop Google's Affiliate Bans - Brian Kindsvater IM Help

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[5541289].message }}

Griffin Smith

12 years ago

Originally Posted by kindsvater

The most popular WSO keyword alert is PLR. Every day new PLR offers are made on the forum.

Some of the demand for PLR is just for SEO content. Not not all of it. Quality PLR writers do quite well. What they offer is not always just 500 articles, but sometimes much longer works.

Many PLR writers also limit the number that are sold. Real limits. I saw an email claiming only 1000 would be sold. What a hoot. Needless to say there have been more emails (guess it didn't sell out) and probably a few more for decades to come.

One reason quality PLR is popular is because it gives people something to sell. That is, something that can make money from.

Ultimately, that is what you are doing: making someone else money and the vehicle is what you are writing.

.

Thank you again...this has helped me enormously! I started to research PLR and I got a WSO on it and it looks very interesting. I think I'm going to really focus in that arena..One question that is nagging me in the back of my mind however:

With the Panda updates and demand for quality original content, when you sell PLR to multiple webmasters and they place it on page won't google penalize them for using dupe content?

Thanks
1 reply

Signature

=====> GSwriting <=====

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[5550741].message }}

Alexa Smith Banned 12 years ago

Originally Posted by Griffin Smith

when you sell PLR to multiple webmasters and they place it on page won't google penalize them for using dupe content?

No. That isn't "duplicate content". It's "syndicated content". Article Marketers - Lay the Duplicate Content Myth To Rest Once and For All | Internet Marketing and Publishing

In any case, the terms of sale of much PLR requires users to re-write it before publishing.

That has nothing at all to do with the Panda updates, Griffin.
- [ 2 ] Thanks
{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[5550750].message }}

Oliver Hart

12 years ago

Originally Posted by kindsvater

On the other hand, I have informative articles that have brought in six-figures over the years. You, however, are not qualified to write them, and I would never dream of asking you to write them.

.

Exactly. You beat me to it. OK, and you write better too

Nevertheless, I think you are spotted on.

There are a lot of people complaining over the low rates, even they will not be able to write for clients who pay well because their writing quality is not high enough. And probably not at any time will be.

Some of those who complain comes from countries were English is their third languish. It is not easy to become a high-quality article writer when you hardly know the languish in the first place.

Wanting to be paid well is not good enough. You have to deliver in the same range as the payment goes.

This reminds me of a true story some years ago when I was in the marked for a used car. I found one that was appealing, but the owner had a price-tag almost twice as the rest of the similar cars with same age and other qualities. I called him up and asked about the car, and at the end of the conversation I asked him why his price was so high when all the other cars he competed against was a lot cheaper? His answer I will never forget because he said; - Because I need the money.

I assume you all know how that sales went without me telling you.

- Oddvar.

[ 1 ] Thanks

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[5544929].message }}

John Coutts 12 years ago

Originally Posted by Asante

I completed my first assignment today, and I charged my client $35 for a 850 word article. That's a bit of a bargain ...

I like your attitude. Most people here would see $35 for 850 words as really great pay, and it isn't bad at all, but when you consider it a "bit of a bargain," you're on your way to much better things.

Good luck!

John.
- Thanks
Signature
Write System - superior web content
{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[5543408].message }}

TiffLee

12 years ago

Go read this post from John Coutts:

http://www.warriorforum.com/main-int...ml#post5485884

Then read it again. And then again.

If you want to find high-paying customers, there may be no better outline to follow.

[ 2 ] Thanks
1 reply

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[5539472].message }}

Alexa Smith Banned 12 years ago

^^^^ What Tiff said (post #5).

Also, see if any of this stuff helps?

First, if you read through the following recent threads, you'll find many helpful observations and suggestions.

http://www.warriorforum.com/main-int...g-pricing.html

http://www.warriorforum.com/main-int...g-service.html

http://www.warriorforum.com/main-int...e-writing.html

http://www.warriorforum.com/main-int...ng-career.html

http://www.warriorforum.com/main-int...ml#post4218809

http://www.warriorforum.com/main-int...les-money.html

Secondly, if you want to think a little more about "the markets in which ones chooses to compete, as a writer", you might find some of these resources helpful/interesting (and most of the recommendations in them for "further reading" will also be pretty reliable ones, I think), and very relevant both to your express question of "how much people will pay" and to your implicit one of "how to find people who will pay more" ...

Jennifer Mattern's blog

Carol Tice's blog

Freelance writing jobs (minmum payment requirement of $50 per article to be listed there)

Free report on how to attract new freelance writing clients during a recession

The Renegade Writer Blog

The "Irreverent Freelancer" blog

The Well-Fed Writer: Lucrative Commercial Freelance Writing - Land Lucrative Freelance Writing Jobs

Words on the Page.
- [ 4 ] Thanks
- 1 reply
{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[5539519].message }}
- Griffin Smith 12 years ago
  
  Thank you everyone...I really appreciate your Input
  
  Thanks
  
  Signature
  
  =====> GSwriting <=====
  
  {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[5539977].message }}

laurenceh

12 years ago

Griffin,

I feel like I've been beating my head against a wall lately, trying to make a living writing quality content for people all over the world.

I urge you to grab yourself a tea/coffee, a note pad and pen, and read the following thread whilst taking notes furiously!

http://www.warriorforum.com/main-int...r-clients.html

I'd also strongly suggest you download the free report Dr Mani kindly offered.

It's full of gold, and should steer you from the murky waters of $5 article writing!

In regards to how much an article is worth?

It depends on how the buyer is going to use it. If it's SEO Keyword stuffed fodder they want, probably not very much.

A marketer who knows how much revenue a well crafted article can bring them, sometimes $100's

[ 3 ] Thanks

Signature

Find me on Linkedin HERE

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[5539497].message }}

TopClass

12 years ago

There exists different markets, the $1 articles are for those people who are looking for only backlinks while the hire $10 market is for those who really want quality content.
There is no point in slogging it out by writing quality content for peanuts.
There are lots of people out there who are really looking for quality content, you just need to find them.

Thanks

Signature

Cheapest Backlinking BMR Posts- Only $0.85 Per Post

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[5540666].message }}

cjbmeb14

12 years ago

As you have probably seen I offer an article writing service.

I am in the area 500 words for $5 and yes; I would love to charge more, but that is impossible! People just will not pay more or can't.

We see writers offering writing services for $1 or $2 for 500 words. However, to charge this, for us is not worth the time, and we could not afford to do it.

Thanks
2 replies

Signature

EXPLODE your Offline sales!!!! My unique methods of selling are all revealed. I went from writing $5 articles to selling Mobile Websites that convert like CRAZY!!!!!!

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[5540773].message }}

John Coutts 12 years ago

Originally Posted by cjbmeb14

I am in the area 500 words for $5 and yes; I would love to charge more, but that is impossible! People just will not pay more or can't.

You really are quite wrong. People can, will and do pay more than $5 for 500 words.

I am not by any means the highest paid writer on this forum, far from it, but I am regularly paid $35 per 100 words. That works out at $175 for 500 words, though that client usually orders 800 to 1,000 word pieces - and he pays the PayPal fees too.

I confess much of my work is paid at a level below that, but still well above the $5 for 500 words level.

However, if you truly believe it is impossible for you to charge more than $5 for 500 words, then you are right.

On the other hand, if you start to believe you can charge, and get paid, $25, $50, $100, or more, for 500 words, then you will also be right.

You can choose whichever one you prefer.

John.
- Thanks
Signature
Write System - superior web content
{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[5541518].message }}
Alexa Smith Banned 12 years ago

Originally Posted by cjbmeb14

yes; I would love to charge more, but that is impossible! People just will not pay more or can't.

You keep saying this (and very similar things) in thread after thread, on this subject, Chris, but it's simply not so.

You're apparently not reading the replies in which experienced, successful writers are explaining this to you.

Such as this one, and this one, and this one, and this one, and this one, and this one.

One of the points that you're missing, here, is that it's terribly difficult to make a living writing $5 articles, not because people won't pay more (huge numbers of people will, and do, every day) but because the $5 clients tend to be people whose own businesses don't flourish (they often don't know how to use the articles because very often they think of "article marketing" only in SEO terms so they often don't survive for long at all), and therefore these writers need permanently to advertise for new clients, to allow for this. The reason you don't see writers of $100/$200 articles advertising all the time isn't (as some wrongly imagine) that they don't exist because "people won't pay that": it's mostly the fact that their clients know how to use their work, with the result that their own businesses do well, and they keep returning for more. I was "there", and know this from personal experience. Others who reply to your posts are there now, and doing that now, and attracting those clients now. In that market, one simply doesn't have the "client generation problem", to anything like the same extent. These are writers who are often as fully booked up as they want to be. Does that help?
- Thanks
{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[5544749].message }}

celente

12 years ago

I think the price is irrelevant.

Its about getting the right results.

Would you pay $50 for an article that goes viral and puts in 1000 extra subscribers or makes you $500 in sales.

I think the answers are clear there.

Thanks
1 reply

Signature

Create a $5000 USD a month Business. 1-on-1 Coaching. By 6 figure marketer! - CLICK HERE

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[5541162].message }}

John Coutts 12 years ago

I think we are poised to witness an interesting development in article writing.

I have watched prices drop lower and lower over the past few years, to a point where some writers are practically giving them away.

I heard the other day that someone on Fiverr was offering 25 articles of 500 words each for - yes, $5.

The trend seems obvious to me. Soon the value of articles will dip into negative value, and writers charging mere pennies for 500 word articles will start paying buyers to take them off their hands.

Give it another few years and you will be able to get paid $5 or $10 per article you order.

We are set for great times! All you will need to do each day is make an order of say, 100 articles every morning, and by lunch time you will have $500 in your PayPal account.

Of course, there's always the chance I could be wrong. Maybe common sense will prevail, and writers will be valued once again. Unexpected things do happen sometimes ...

Oh look! There goes a flying pig!

:rolleyes:
- [ 1 ] Thanks
Signature
Write System - superior web content
{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[5541283].message }}

perfectlovehere

12 years ago

I guess it would depend on a lot of factors like how much traffic you could generate, how popular the topic is, and if the funnel is setup properly etc.

Thanks

Signature

=> $7 Price W/ 95% Commission!!! CLICK HERE TO SELL!
=> Perfect Love Here I Come: Have a dream marriage!
=> List Building On Steroids: ELITE Click Here

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[5541268].message }}

Sandi Valentine

12 years ago

I regularly write SEO content for $1-2 per 100 words. However, I write quickly and accurately, and I find that I can still make an excellent hourly rate doing so.

On the other hand, if someone wants feature style content that's of magazine quality, with multiple journal articles cited, etc., I charge more per article.

In order to make a living as a writer I've had to adapt and provide various levels of quality for various prices. It's served me well.

Thanks

Signature

http://sandililly.contently.com
High Quality Content for .03/word. Order by PM.

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[5541310].message }}

AmandaT

12 years ago

Its worth how much people are willing to pay. The key is to not try and compete with those $5 writers.

I charge $20 for a 500 word article and that will likely be going up soon because I still get more clients than I can handle sometimes and I don't even advertise my service often.

You just need to be able to establish yourself as a great writer and show samples of your work. Build up a portfolio of testimonials and samples.

[ 2 ] Thanks
1 reply

Signature

Newest PLR Pack: Tumblr PLR || Learn how to profit with PLR! || Free PLR

Join me on an Online Marketing Adventure.

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[5543496].message }}

trevpen

12 years ago

Originally Posted by AmandaT

Its worth how much people are willing to pay. The key is to not try and compete with those $5 writers.

I charge $20 for a 500 word article and that will likely be going up soon because I still get more clients than I can handle sometimes and I don't even advertise my service often.

You just need to be able to establish yourself as a great writer and show samples of your work. Build up a portfolio of testimonials and samples.

I agree with you. However, the word "just": in your last paragraph implies that it is simple to do, which I question. It takes time, and one does need to have financial resources to draw on while building a reputation and gathering testimonials, while at the same time learning to write faster, all of this usually by writing for $5 per article. I tried it, and after a while decided that it was not for me. But hey, we are all different,and it does seem that persevering can be worthwhile in the long run, judging from other posts in this thread! Good luck in your endeavour.

Thanks
2 replies

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[5543591].message }}

trevpen 12 years ago

The "good luck" part was meant for Griffin Smith!
- Thanks
{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[5543597].message }}

AmandaT

12 years ago

Originally Posted by trevpen

I agree with you. However, the word "just": in your last paragraph implies that it is simple to do, which I question. It takes time, and one does need to have financial resources to draw on while building a reputation and gathering testimonials, while at the same time learning to write faster, all of this usually by writing for $5 per article. I tried it, and after a while decided that it was not for me. But hey, we are all different,and it does seem that persevering can be worthwhile in the long run, judging from other posts in this thread! Good luck in your endeavour.

Well, I suppose that is because it was pretty easy for me. I was never a $5 writer.

My first writing gig on WF was from a fellow writer who offered me $20 to write 2 500 word articles. I was to use that money to post a Warriors for Hire thread. I charged $15 per 500 word article, $10 for bulk orders. I posted up samples and offered a few review copies to get my first few testimonials.

From there the orders were flying in. I started posting in the forums, participating and getting to know people on here while advertising my thread in my sig. In no time I had more article orders than I could handle.

Basically, I started out positioning myself as a great writer, worth way more than $5 per 500 words. From there, I started participating and making my name known. From there, everything kind of went on its own.

The more clients I got, the more testimonials I received and the more clients I started getting from word-of-mouth.

[ 1 ] Thanks
1 reply

Signature

Newest PLR Pack: Tumblr PLR || Learn how to profit with PLR! || Free PLR

Join me on an Online Marketing Adventure.

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[5543619].message }}

Kevin Marshall

12 years ago

Originally Posted by AmandaT

Its worth how much people are willing to pay. The key is to not try and compete with those $5 writers.

I charge $20 for a 500 word article and that will likely be going up soon because I still get more clients than I can handle sometimes and I don't even advertise my service often.

You just need to be able to establish yourself as a great writer and show samples of your work. Build up a portfolio of testimonials and samples.

Originally Posted by AmandaT

Well, I suppose that is because it was pretty easy for me. I was never a $5 writer.

My first writing gig on WF was from a fellow writer who offered me $20 to write 2 500 word articles. I was to use that money to post a Warriors for Hire thread. I charged $15 per 500 word article, $10 for bulk orders. I posted up samples and offered a few review copies to get my first few testimonials.

From there the orders were flying in. I started posting in the forums, participating and getting to know people on here while advertising my thread in my sig. In no time I had more article orders than I could handle.

Basically, I started out positioning myself as a great writer, worth way more than $5 per 500 words. From there, I started participating and making my name known. From there, everything kind of went on its own.

The more clients I got, the more testimonials I received and the more clients I started getting from word-of-mouth.

Amanda...it is so great to see how far you have come! This is awesome! You are seriously an inspiration to me now! I have helped a few people here in the past, but I don't think I have ever seen anyone come so far as fast as you have! You have a drive and determination unmatched by most people in this forum.

As for myself, I finally decided to get out of the $10 article game, and I am so glad that I did. I finally came to the realization that my work is worth way more than $10 per article for 500 words.

For everyone else reading this thread, let me say this:

Amanda hasn't been on this forum very long. You don't have to be here over three years like myself to charge higher rates for your work. If you have the skill, drive and ambition like Amanda, you can raise your rates pretty fast once you have the portfolio and testimonials to support your professional rates!

Thanks

Signature

Confused about SEO? Facebook? Adwords? Send me a PM to apply for your free 30 minute consultation today!

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[5544869].message }}

Promocodeinn

12 years ago

Quality writing needs time as well as knowledge therefore, i think that cost of article should depend upon the topic you are writing for and what quality a writer can provide in his material.

Thanks

Signature

latest party dresses
Promo codes and deals

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[5543623].message }}

aushaun

12 years ago

Quality produces better results at the end of the day - if someone's paying the absolute minimal for shoddy work, this (ideally) should be outperformed by the higher quality content.

If someone's only willing to pay $1 per 500 words, you probably wouldn't want to be working for them in the first place.

Thanks
1 reply

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[5543684].message }}

John Coutts 12 years ago

Originally Posted by aushaun

If someone's only willing to pay $1 per 500 words, you probably wouldn't want to be working for them in the first place.

Probably? No, definitely!
- [ 1 ] Thanks
Signature
Write System - superior web content
{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[5543882].message }}

CreativeFlair

12 years ago

'How much is a 500 word article really worth?'

However much it makes the owner.

I currently charge £27 (around $42.60) per 500 words, and I'm about to put my prices up again because I have more work than I want to do.

As someone already said, it's about the positioning. And if you have a record of working with good companies and writing great stuff, you can charge more.

[ 1 ] Thanks

Signature

Professional SEO, blogger and social media expert | Personal site: Blossom.nu

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[5544898].message }}

sidcandid

12 years ago

It depends on the person who is ordering the articles. Some people will just not pay more than $1 per 100 words, but some people will not compromise on quality and will pay more for their articles.

I also think as an article writer you should know your worth. You should not price yourself too cheap just to get work. Getting quality work from high paying clients is worth your time and effort rather than getting tons of work from clients who don't pay you well.

Thanks
1 reply

Signature

Anti Aging PLR || Click here to get 10 PLR articles for free

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[5544978].message }}

Oliver Hart

12 years ago

Originally Posted by sidcandid

It depends on the person who is ordering the articles. Some people will just not pay more than $1 per 100 words, but some people will not compromise on quality and will pay more for their articles.

I also think as an article writer you should know your worth. You should not price yourself too cheap just to get work. Getting quality work from high paying clients is worth your time and effort rather than getting tons of work from clients who don't pay you well.

LOL. That remark goes very well together with your Sig file.

Thanks
1 reply

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[5545011].message }}

Kay King

12 years ago

In my view the way to create a lucrative, continuous income from writing articles/copy/content comes down to two simple principles:

1. Work hard to find those buyers willing to pay what you are worth

2. Keep the repeat buyers in that range coming back to you by producing stellar copy for them and building trust

That was my goal when I began writing for others (after years of writing experience in other fields of work and for myself). In the past year+ I have written for only three clients. They have enough work to keep me as busy as I want to be.

Don't make it harder than it is. Be honest with yourself about the quality of your work - and charge accordingly.

kay

Thanks
1 reply

Signature

Saving one dog will not change the world - but the world will change forever for that one dog.

I'm going to work on being less condescending

(Condescending means to talk down to people)

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[5545203].message }}

deejones

12 years ago

Threads like this are an inspiration to me.

Like many, I've decided to charge what I really think my writing is worth. It's frustrating starting out, but I know it will be worth it.

[ 2 ] Thanks
1 reply

Signature

Quality Article Writing Services. Get content people will actually want to read.

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[5545386].message }}

John Coutts

12 years ago

Originally Posted by deejones

Threads like this are an inspiration to me.

Like many, I've decided to charge what I really think my writing is worth. It's frustrating starting out, but I know it will be worth it.

It's certainly worth it, and not just financially either. You gain a lot of self-respect in the process, and you can never put a price on that.

John.

[ 1 ] Thanks

Signature

Write System - superior web content

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[5545845].message }}

solado

12 years ago

I know how you feel OP.

I just started writing as well and the 500 word articles for under $3 I just cant compete with in terms of pricing, My content will be much better and researched but many people still seem to like the $1 wonders.

Thanks

Signature

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[5545410].message }}

HarrieB

12 years ago

when it comes to writers from asian countries like india, pakistan as well as philippines, there are a large number of people/freelancers who write good quality content and since the standard of living is not so high, they tend to write a article upto 500 words for $2-3!!
So, just keep on writing and increasing your knowledge about different niches, so that if you get a project, the client doesnt has to look anywhere else but you!!

Thanks

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[5545469].message }}

bulldogzg

12 years ago

Perfectly written article on the topic is worth a lot - like 10$ per 100 words IMO. It can get your visitors to stay longer, share your site/link on social networking sites, make them come back for more and think of your site like an authority one!

On the other hand poorly written content can make them (and me when looking for info) make avoid that site for good.

So hard to put a price on that

Thanks

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[5545510].message }}

lukemosse

12 years ago

I agree with the policy of charging what you're happy to work for, even if it means you have to look harder for work. I run a teaching business and I see lots of teachers start up who charge very low rates. All it means is that it's not worthwhile for them to teach those people so they put little effort in, and also the person they are teaching treats them with less respect because of their pricing. So their numbers never rise because they have to devote more time to other activities which will pay the bills. I'm fully booked now and I'm sure if I put my prices up it wouldn't affect my student numbers.

Thanks

Signature

Guitars for beginners

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[5545570].message }}

JeanneLynn

12 years ago

The quality of these low quality writers is astonishing. The articles I've seen are nothing more than spun gibberish. Why would someone even pay $1 for some of these articles? It's like throwing your money away. Who would put up an article like that on their website?

[ 1 ] Thanks

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[5545594].message }}

Sandi Valentine

12 years ago

I'm currently charging low rates, but I disagree with Luke above that this automatically means I'm undervaluing myself. I'm currently in the process of rebuilding my business after the chaos of a move and a divorce. However, that doesn't mean I'm going to be charging $1 per 100 words forever. It just means that I know that I have to prove myself before I can get back to where I was a few years ago - charging $25-30 per 400-500 word article.

I'd rather think to myself "**** happens", suck it up, and move on with building my business, than sit here moaning about all the clients I used to have and the rates I could charge. Instead, I'll work for lower rates. I'm still making $13-20 per hour, which allows me to care for my family and feed my children - I'll take that any day

If you provide high quality content, the clients will come, they'll come back, and the higher pay will come along with them. It's all a numbers game.

[ 4 ] Thanks

Signature

http://sandililly.contently.com
High Quality Content for .03/word. Order by PM.

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[5545629].message }}

Switzerland

12 years ago

You are correct. It depends on the quality. But people do pay a lot for great content. Articles at ConstantContent sell for as high as $100. Most of the articles sells for above $25.

Thanks
1 reply

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[5546485].message }}

Benjamin Ehinger

12 years ago

Originally Posted by YasirYar

Hi Griffin,

Unfortunately, your observations are one hundred percent correct. Most website owners are simply unwilling to pay more than $1 per 100 words, from what I have seen.

Do you really expect people to write properly worded 500 word articles for $1? I would never, and I doubt most other people would, anywhere in the world.

If you are lucky, you can find website owners who actually care about the quality of content. They might be willing to pay a little bit more. But as for earning a good income online via writing, you must be able to write quick (and be able to compromise on the quality slightly).

Lucky? I think not! You just have to look in the right places. Remember, new marketers that cannot write are working on a budget (in many cases) and simply don't know the garbage they are going to deal with by going with the cheapest articles.

I think you are lucky if you can find a GOOD writer for a SUPER low price, but you still cannot expect them to put the time and care into your article as it really needs.

Your observation may be true, but consider the writers and the marketplaces you are observing. I know of many very busy writers making at least 5 cents per word and they would not be that busy if webmasters were not willing to pay it.

Originally Posted by TiffLee

Go read this post from John Coutts:

http://www.warriorforum.com/main-int...ml#post5485884

Then read it again. And then again.

If you want to find high-paying customers, there may be no better outline to follow.

and again, and again, and again....it is simply a great thread.

Originally Posted by laurenceh

Griffin,

I urge you to grab yourself a tea/coffee, a note pad and pen, and read the following thread whilst taking notes furiously!

http://www.warriorforum.com/main-int...r-clients.html

I'd also strongly suggest you download the free report Dr Mani kindly offered.

It's full of gold, and should steer you from the murky waters of $5 article writing!

In regards to how much an article is worth?

It depends on how the buyer is going to use it. If it's SEO Keyword stuffed fodder they want, probably not very much.

A marketer who knows how much revenue a well crafted article can bring them, sometimes $100's

Yes, yes, yes.....I love that thread and it is full of GOLD!!!

I also agree with your assessment about how much an article is worth to a buyer. Those willing to spend the money are taking a larger financial risk, but they usually know exactly how to use the content to make much more than they spend.

Think about it this way.....if a client pays me $100 for a 1,000 word article, posts it to his/her blog, syndicated it to hundreds of publishers, posts it to many directories, and get it in front of as many eyes as possible, they will make much more than $100 over the life of that article.

Buying a well crafted article is an investment in the future of a business. One high quality article used the right way can literally pull in thousands of dollars with a residual income for years and years. I still have articles I wrote 5 years ago that produce traffic and sales every week for me.

Originally Posted by Switzerland

You are correct. It depends on the quality. But people do pay a lot for great content. Articles at ConstantContent sell for as high as $100. Most of the articles sells for above $25.

That is just one example, too. The Text Broker model should give you some idea about quality. If you want a 5 star article from a writer that has been approved to write at that level, you will pay much more for it than a 2 or 3 star article.

Benjamin Ehinger

Thanks

Signature

FREE GUIDE - How to Start a Blog that Makes Money: 12 Easy Steps to Blogging Success
FREE GUIDE - How to Get Paid to Write: 100+ Websites That Pay Writers

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[5549694].message }}

NicoleBeckett

12 years ago

The better question is, "what is my client getting out of this article?"

I just finished a long piece of content for a client yesterday. He had actually paid someone a few pennies to write the original version - but it was awful. He told me to start over from scratch. Yes, it was pricey for him, but it's going to help him sell his newest affiliate product (and he knew the garbage he got from the first writer wasn't going to fetch him any sales). Once he sells 2 or 3 of these products, he will have broken even on what he paid me. From there, it's pure profit for him!

How much would you spend to reach "pure profit" status that easily? That's what most content buyers don't think of... they only look at the initial expenditure and want to keep it as low as possible. It's like cutting off your nose to spite your face.

[ 1 ] Thanks

Signature

Sick of blending in with the crowd? Ready to stand ahead of the pack? The right content writing services can get you there...

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[5546566].message }}

CDarklock

12 years ago

Originally Posted by Griffin Smith

So what is worth to you, the website owner that wants valuable, quality, unique content?

$17.50 an article (3.5 cents a word) is about the cutoff for anyone that buys articles in bulk. If your articles are worth more than $17.50, you have three choices:

1. Sell them for $17.50 anyway.
2. Stop selling them and use them yourself.
3. Stop writing articles.

And what is it worth to you, the writer that slaves in front of her laptop to passionately create an awesome article?

I charge ten cents a word, but this is largely academic because I don't like writing for clients and will probably not write for you no matter what you're paying. If I personally know you, and you bring me an interesting topic, and I happen to have time on my hands, then I might write for you. But in general, I only write for myself.

As far as the average writer, anyone sufficiently fluent in the English language not to make spelling and grammar errors should be charging at least two cents a word ($10 a 500 word article), and if you can actually write something interesting you should be charging that $17.50 mentioned above.

But articles on the internet are not where any real writer makes their money. It's just where they meet the clients who recognise their talent and hire them to do other, more important, things that pay a lot higher rates.

[ 1 ] Thanks
2 replies

Signature

"The Golden Town is the Golden Town no longer. They have sold their pillars for brass and their temples for money, they have made coins out of their golden doors. It is become a dark town full of trouble, there is no ease in its streets, beauty has left it and the old songs are gone." - Lord Dunsany, The Messengers

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[5550120].message }}

Tony Marriott 12 years ago

An article is no different than any other commodity or product in the business to business market.

Basically it is worth what the buyer can create in profit from it.

Of course no-one pays what something is worth, there would be no profit in that!

If you can show that your article can generate $x profit for the buyer then your selling price is something under $x.

As in the above posts, people paying $5 for an article are expecting to make more than $5 from it. People paying $35 an article are expecting to make more than that. All that will depend in their own success, skill and system they are using the articles for.

How much would a good salespage cost you?
$500, $1000, $5000, More? After all is it not just a big article? It's worth is not defined by the number of words but by how much it will likley make.
- [ 1 ] Thanks
Signature

My Affiliate Marketing Plan Is Now Your Affiliate Marketing Plan (Free)
{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[5550239].message }}

Martin Avis

12 years ago

Originally Posted by CDarklock

$17.50 an article (3.5 cents a word) is about the cutoff for anyone that buys articles in bulk. If your articles are worth more than $17.50, you have three choices:

1. Sell them for $17.50 anyway.
2. Stop selling them and use them yourself.
3. Stop writing articles.

You are correct up to a point, but you missed out the most important choice:

4. Find a better buyer.

Martin

[ 2 ] Thanks
1 reply

Signature

Martin Avis publishes Kickstart Newsletter - Subscribe free at http://kickstartnewsletter.com

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[5550296].message }}

CDarklock 12 years ago

Originally Posted by Martin.Avis

you missed out the most important choice:

4. Find a better buyer.

This is very difficult in the bulk article world, because the people who need ENOUGH over-$17.50 articles to be worth pursuing also have enough writers that, statistically, several of them are worth more than they think... so the client gets better articles, but continues to pay $17.50 for them. And most of these clients are smart enough to rotate new writers into the pool continually, so they never have enough need for higher-priced articles.

Basically, the game changes over $17.50 and instead of finding clients who need enough articles, you're looking for enough clients who need articles. And once you're doing that, it's just a lot smarter to switch your focus and stop writing 500 word articles at all. Longer content becomes more lucrative much faster than it becomes more difficult.
- [ 4 ] Thanks
Signature

"The Golden Town is the Golden Town no longer. They have sold their pillars for brass and their temples for money, they have made coins out of their golden doors. It is become a dark town full of trouble, there is no ease in its streets, beauty has left it and the old songs are gone." - Lord Dunsany, The Messengers
{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[5550367].message }}

mosthost

12 years ago

Most of the 500 word articles I read aren't worth sh*t

Thanks

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[5550259].message }}

situ08

12 years ago

well that depend upon the quality of article. According to my experince, I used to submit articles to ezinearticles.com which only approve high quality articles. And That articles cost me $5 per 500 words.

Thanks
2 replies

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[5550498].message }}

Oliver Hart

12 years ago

Originally Posted by situ08

well that depend upon the quality of article. According to my experince, I used to submit articles to ezinearticles.com which only approve high quality articles. And That articles cost me $5 per 500 words.

The challenge with this discussion is that we all have a different opinion on the definition of "high-quality" articles.

I have to admit that I don't agree on your statement that EZA only approves articles of high quality.

They have a much higher standard then article's directories that have auto approval systems, but I have found a lot of articles there I wouldn't have submitted to my website.

Not even if they paid me to do so.

Let me ask you some questions according to your experience of submitting articles to EZA, that your outsourced for the price of $5.

1. Did those articles bring in some traffic to your site?
2. Did any website owners publish your articles on their website?
3. And finally and most important of all, if "yes" on question 1 or 2, did the traffic convert into sale or leads?

- Oddvar.

[ 3 ] Thanks

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[5550708].message }}

Alexa Smith Banned 12 years ago

Originally Posted by situ08

I used to submit articles to ezinearticles.com which only approve high quality articles.

I don't agree with this at all: their database is full of dreadfully low quality articles which I wouldn't allow anywhere near any of my sites.

It's true that they're a little more rigorous in their acceptance criteria than most article directories are, and that there are plenty of terrible articles listed there which wouldn't necessarily be accepted under today's guidelines, but the average standard is still shockingly low. They've accepted and published many thousands of useless articles, even over the last few months.

Bear in mind that the "average EZA author" doesn't understand the difference between "article marketing" and "article directory marketing". Most of them are still trying to use EZA for a purpose totally different from the one for which it exists, understandably finding very little benefit in doing so, and wrongly assuming that that's because "article marketing doesn't really work any more" or even blaming Google's "Panda updates". :rolleyes: :p

http://www.warriorforum.com/main-int...ries-work.html
- [ 3 ] Thanks
{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[5550736].message }}

braincandy7

12 years ago

I have one great contact who writes 800 word articles/reviews for me for $5 but then that is because we have a long standing relationship and we always follow the same format.

I would say though that a fair price for a 500 word article which is unique and well researched is $8-10. If you are lucky you might find some great writers who will do the work for $5 but they are really selling themselves short.

Regular repeat business does change things though.

I would be very dubious about ordering any articles from someone at $1 for 500 words. Most likely expecting spun and crap articles.

Thanks

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[5550873].message }}

Sandi Valentine

12 years ago

Caliban makes a great point, too, that most of earning an income online as a writer is about the contacts you make. Impress the right clients with your writing and they'll keep you very, very busy. Screw over the wrong people by providing them with poor quality, rehashed content, and you'll quickly find your schedule empty.

Thanks

Signature

http://sandililly.contently.com
High Quality Content for .03/word. Order by PM.

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[5551222].message }}

RatRaceWatch

12 years ago

I've dealt with a lot of writers, however, the only quality ones I have found typically are $10-$15 per 500 words.

Thanks

Signature

At Manifest Income our mission is to Help You Build A Business That Matches Your Passion.

We offer: Free Business Plans, Web Design, Online Marketing Training, Mentorship, & Support!

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[5551492].message }}

sentinelsoft

12 years ago

Many people are looking cheap writer based on price without caring too much about quality and that is the problem.

Thanks

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[5551652].message }}

Genycis

12 years ago

Some people just don't get that when they pay for something, they may not get the quality that they think they should get for less. It's sad but it's true. Some people expect to get this GREAT article or sales copy written for them for dirt cheap... so guess what, when your article is dirt cheap in terms of content, now you wind up spending more to fix your problem.

I go through this same issue with my instrumentals. I get people that want to buy exclusive custom instrumentals from me but that want to pay under $10.00 as though I'm going to give that to them. So, they tend to find another place that may do it, but then they wind up complaining about how the quality is horrible, yadda yadda... same applies with most of these cheap article gigs.

The grammar is usually horrible, you have to go through extensive editing and rearranging and what not, so in the end, it costs you either more money for better ones, or costs you much more time to clean up someone's mess that you bought dirt cheap, thinking you'd get a great deal. Some people want WAYY too much for a buck or two, and then want to cry recession, like we NEED to accept whatever comes our way.

Thanks

Signature

Genycis
-- Absorbing & implementing. Need hip hop beats for your business needs? Hit me up!
-- Posting my experiences and so forth with my own blog.

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[5551889].message }}

gillw254

12 years ago

At the beginning its really tough to get customers at a very good rate.. very few will come for $1/100 words..

Thanks

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[5551981].message }}

CharismaticMannequin

12 years ago

Originally Posted by Griffin Smith

I feel like I've been beating my head against a wall lately, trying to make a living writing quality content for people all over the world.

It's not that the competition is fierce or there is a lack of work by any means, there is such a wild swing in pricing.

I see services offered as low as $1 or $2 for 500 words. I've bought a couple just to see what they look like and Jeeesus Christ, they are terrible. I mean ostentatious grammar mistakes, mixed up verbs and just a horrible level of piss poor content. I can't imagine any intelligent online marketer that would put that on their page.

Then you move up to the $5 for 500 words game, and the quality gets a little better but IMHO to write a good article it takes research, writing, formatting, editing, proofreading, proofreading, proofreading (I wrote that 3x on purpose) then finally submission to the client.

So what is worth to you, the website owner that wants valuable, quality, unique content?

And what is it worth to you, the writer that slaves in front of her laptop to passionately create an awesome article?

Please share your thoughts.....

If you hire me, it's 25 dollars.

A few of my beliefs...

1.) You're worth what you BELIEVE you're worth. NEVER undersell yourself. If you truly think you're worth charging 5, 10, 50 or a hundred bucks for an article, then do it.

It's your job to instil that same confidence in your clients.

2.) You get what you pay for. People (like me) are able to charge what we do, because we are great writers; that sounds bigheaded, sure, but not if I can back it up with proof. I've been charging my 'high' prices' for ages now, and had plenty of happy clients.

Put simply, if clients are willing to shell out a little more, they get superior quality.

Not to sound further bigheaded, but because of my skill, I'm asked not just to write articles, but to create books (ghostwrite, basically) for clients, and I have people very often asking me for JVs.

A lot of it comes down to skill. Most people think writing is easy. After all, if you know English, you can write...right?

Wrong.

There's writing, and there's writing.

If you can't do the latter, you'll plateau at a certain point, and charge only so much before it gets ridiculous.

That being said, what are you charging? I'd be interested to know.

Ben.

Thanks
1 reply

Signature

50% converting squeeze pages, 12% converting WSO's, and more...
BenPalmerWilson Copywriting

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[5552057].message }}

Griffin Smith

12 years ago

Originally Posted by CharismaticMannequin

If you hire me, it's 25 dollars.

A few of my beliefs...

1.) You're worth what you BELIEVE you're worth. NEVER undersell yourself. If you truly think you're worth charging 5, 10, 50 or a hundred bucks for an article, then do it.

It's your job to instil that same confidence in your clients.

2.) You get what you pay for. People (like me) are able to charge what we do, because we are great writers; that sounds bigheaded, sure, but not if I can back it up with proof. I've been charging my 'high' prices' for ages now, and had plenty of happy clients.

Put simply, if clients are willing to shell out a little more, they get superior quality.

Not to sound further bigheaded, but because of my skill, I'm asked not just to write articles, but to create books (ghostwrite, basically) for clients, and I have people very often asking me for JVs.

A lot of it comes down to skill. Most people think writing is easy. After all, if you know English, you can write...right?

Wrong.

There's writing, and there's writing.

If you can't do the latter, you'll plateau at a certain point, and charge only so much before it gets ridiculous.

That being said, what are you charging? I'd be interested to know.

Ben.

Great Post Brother...I would actually be hyper embarrassed to publicly say what I was charging (1c per word) But after some really good advice on this forum and some soul searching, I'm gonna stand my ground and work at a price that is conducive to my abilities and will also keep me in the lifestyle that I am accustomed to......

Thanks
1 reply

Signature

=====> GSwriting <=====

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[5553691].message }}

CDarklock

12 years ago

Originally Posted by Griffin Smith

I would actually be hyper embarrassed to publicly say what I was charging (1c per word)

My first article writing gig in the IM market was at 1.5 cents a word. There is no shame in charging insanely low rates to start. You should charge low rates to start. But don't be afraid to raise them, either.

Thanks
1 reply

Signature

"The Golden Town is the Golden Town no longer. They have sold their pillars for brass and their temples for money, they have made coins out of their golden doors. It is become a dark town full of trouble, there is no ease in its streets, beauty has left it and the old songs are gone." - Lord Dunsany, The Messengers

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[5555418].message }}

John Coutts

12 years ago

Originally Posted by CDarklock

You should charge low rates to start.

Sorry, I can not agree. Too many people make this mistake. Start out as you mean to go on, or as close to it as you can. There is no good reason why you should charge low rates to start with that I can think of.

Originally Posted by CDarklock

But don't be afraid to raise them, either.

Yes, absolutely.

John.

Thanks
1 reply

Signature

Write System - superior web content

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[5555591].message }}

CDarklock

12 years ago

Originally Posted by John Coutts

There is no good reason why you should charge low rates to start with that I can think of.

Would you recommend that someone just out of college ask for a six-figure salary immediately?

Talent is nothing. Experience is everything. If you want a lot of experience fast, work cheap.

[ 2 ] Thanks
2 replies

Signature

"The Golden Town is the Golden Town no longer. They have sold their pillars for brass and their temples for money, they have made coins out of their golden doors. It is become a dark town full of trouble, there is no ease in its streets, beauty has left it and the old songs are gone." - Lord Dunsany, The Messengers

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[5555690].message }}

John Coutts

12 years ago

Originally Posted by CDarklock

Would you recommend that someone just out of college ask for a six-figure salary immediately?

Talent is nothing. Experience is everything. If you want a lot of experience fast, work cheap.

That may be one way, but it isn't the only way.

Thanks
1 reply

Signature

Write System - superior web content

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[5555835].message }}

CDarklock

12 years ago

Originally Posted by John Coutts

That may be one way, but it isn't the only way.

I never said it was the only way. I said it's nothing to be ashamed of, that I did it, and that other people should do it too.

If you'd like to make some other recommendation, feel free, but complaining that you don't like mine isn't doing squat for anybody.

[ 1 ] Thanks
1 reply

Signature

"The Golden Town is the Golden Town no longer. They have sold their pillars for brass and their temples for money, they have made coins out of their golden doors. It is become a dark town full of trouble, there is no ease in its streets, beauty has left it and the old songs are gone." - Lord Dunsany, The Messengers

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[5556426].message }}

John Coutts

12 years ago

Originally Posted by CDarklock

I never said it was the only way. I said it's nothing to be ashamed of, that I did it, and that other people should do it too.

If you'd like to make some other recommendation, feel free, but complaining that you don't like mine isn't doing squat for anybody.

I already did in an earlier reply. Perhaps you missed it: "Start out as you mean to go on, or as close to it as you can."

Thanks
1 reply

Signature

Write System - superior web content

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[5557717].message }}

CDarklock

12 years ago

Originally Posted by John Coutts

I already did in an earlier reply. Perhaps you missed it

No, I just thought it was horrifically bad advice. Maybe you missed that: Would you recommend that someone just out of college ask for a six-figure salary immediately?

Thanks
1 reply

Signature

"The Golden Town is the Golden Town no longer. They have sold their pillars for brass and their temples for money, they have made coins out of their golden doors. It is become a dark town full of trouble, there is no ease in its streets, beauty has left it and the old songs are gone." - Lord Dunsany, The Messengers

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[5557773].message }}

John Coutts

12 years ago

Originally Posted by CDarklock

No, I just thought it was horrifically bad advice. Maybe you missed that: Would you recommend that someone just out of college ask for a six-figure salary immediately?

We obviously disagree on this, so I am simply going to respect your point of view, and leave it at that.

Thanks

Signature

Write System - superior web content

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[5558736].message }}

Benjamin Ehinger

12 years ago

Originally Posted by CDarklock

$17.50 an article (3.5 cents a word) is about the cutoff for anyone that buys articles in bulk. If your articles are worth more than $17.50, you have three choices:

1. Sell them for $17.50 anyway.
2. Stop selling them and use them yourself.
3. Stop writing articles.

I charge ten cents a word, but this is largely academic because I don't like writing for clients and will probably not write for you no matter what you're paying. If I personally know you, and you bring me an interesting topic, and I happen to have time on my hands, then I might write for you. But in general, I only write for myself.

As far as the average writer, anyone sufficiently fluent in the English language not to make spelling and grammar errors should be charging at least two cents a word ($10 a 500 word article), and if you can actually write something interesting you should be charging that $17.50 mentioned above.

But articles on the internet are not where any real writer makes their money. It's just where they meet the clients who recognise their talent and hire them to do other, more important, things that pay a lot higher rates.

Completely, 100% wrong. The worth of an article cannot be determined. I have articles from 6 years ago still making me money and showing me how valuable they are. If I were to try to put a price on how much they are worth, I would spend countless hours trying to figure this out.

A well written 500 word article can be priceless as it can make money for the owner year after year.

The only time an article has a specific value assigned to it is when it is sold. In that case, if you are good at convincing clients that a 500 word article and literally make them thousands of dollars over the life of the article, then you can sell them for much higher than $17.50, even with bulk orders.

Originally Posted by CDarklock

This is very difficult in the bulk article world, because the people who need ENOUGH over-$17.50 articles to be worth pursuing also have enough writers that, statistically, several of them are worth more than they think... so the client gets better articles, but continues to pay $17.50 for them. And most of these clients are smart enough to rotate new writers into the pool continually, so they never have enough need for higher-priced articles.

Basically, the game changes over $17.50 and instead of finding clients who need enough articles, you're looking for enough clients who need articles. And once you're doing that, it's just a lot smarter to switch your focus and stop writing 500 word articles at all. Longer content becomes more lucrative much faster than it becomes more difficult.

This is a very pessimistic approach and the writers that take this advice will certainly never see more than $17.50 per 500 word article

I do agree, however, longer content is more lucrative and many writers don't know their full value. I know I didn't at first, but had an SEO client tell me I needed to charge more. As soon as I got the hint (6 months later) I went from writing 15,000 words of low quality content for my daily earnings to about 3,000 to 5,000 a day of much higher quality.

Originally Posted by situ08

well that depend upon the quality of article. According to my experince, I used to submit articles to ezinearticles.com which only approve high quality articles. And That articles cost me $5 per 500 words.

EZA does not approve only high quality articles and much of what they approve is garbage. In addition, many of the articles submitted to EZA are submitted for the wrong reasons. Sure, backlinks are nice and a little bit of direct traffic is nice, but the point of any good article directory is syndication.

The idea is to submit HIGH quality content (longer than 500 words) for others to use on their blog, website, or for their newsletter. This can create hundreds of backlinks along with many more traffic sources than just EZA.

Did you know EZA gives more clout to articles over 750 words? They approve them faster and rank them higher in their categories.

Originally Posted by ODA Marketing

The challenge with this discussion is that we all have a different opinion on the definition of "high-quality" articles.

I have to admit that I don't agree on your statement that EZA only approves articles of high quality.

They have a much higher standard then article's directories that have auto approval systems, but I have found a lot of articles there I wouldn't have submitted to my website.

Not even if they paid me to do so.

Let me ask you some questions according to your experience of submitting articles to EZA, that your outsourced for the price of $5.

1. Did those articles bring in some traffic to your site?
2. Did any website owners publish your articles on their website?
3. And finally and most important of all, if "yes" on question 1 or 2, did the traffic convert into sale or leads?

- Oddvar.

Agreed! Most of the articles I have seen the best results from are at least 800 words and I wrote myself. I have one writer I use that provides me with great 800 word articles that do well there, but it is hard to find a writer for less than 5 cents a word that can do more than just get the article approved by EZA.

Originally Posted by CDarklock

Would you recommend that someone just out of college ask for a six-figure salary immediately?

Talent is nothing. Experience is everything. If you want a lot of experience fast, work cheap.

Talent is everything.....experience is not. Experience is important, but not everything. In my experience those with the seniority are lazier and don't care nearly as much as those with talent.

If you want a lot of BAD experience and you want to learn how to write low quality really fast.....work for cheap and starve.

Talent is God given and when we use our talents for good we work with passion.

READ THAT AGAIN!!!!!!!!!

Passion is important, especially in a creative field like writing. If you are not writing with passion and you don't love what you do, I suggest you find something new to do.

If more talented college graduates asked for more money out of college maybe it would change the corporate job market that pays less than peanuts currently.

Benjamin Ehinger

[ 1 ] Thanks

Signature

FREE GUIDE - How to Start a Blog that Makes Money: 12 Easy Steps to Blogging Success
FREE GUIDE - How to Get Paid to Write: 100+ Websites That Pay Writers

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[5558916].message }}

gojiberryman

12 years ago

Hey Griffin, in my opinion trying to take the easy way out as an internet marketer is virtually impossible. Just like every other situation in life, the best results come from the hardest work. There's absolutely nothing wrong with a 500 word article but the best results come from dedicated keyword research and total knowledge of the desired niche. I hope this helps

Thanks

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[5552179].message }}

hotwebwords

12 years ago

I charge $50 per 500-word article, and I simply laugh to myself when I hear someone balk at my rate as high. My clients are mainly Internet marketers, and they find my rate highly affordable for the value they receive.

Sure, some low-priced writers are diamonds in the rough. But soon they will start charging what they are worth, and you'll have to start the search all over again. Why not just invest in quality?

[ 1 ] Thanks

Signature

Do you have Hot Web Words earning you $3,000+ a month?

Build your website rank this week with SEVEN BMR posts for $5.

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[5552507].message }}

LyndaL66

12 years ago

I had one person that I gave a review copy to tell me in no uncertain terms that I would never get anyone to pay me $25 per 500 words in this economy. I am a registered nurse who focuses on the health niche, so I feel quite confident that I can command at least that much for my writing.

I replied that I actually usually charge my clients $50 per 500 words and choose to charge the reduced rate on this forum to pick up clients to "plug holes" in my schedule. It just made me laugh that he was so sure no one would pay for quality content because he wouldn't.

Quality articles pay for themselves. I have read some $5 articles, and they were nightmares. Unfortunately, I don't think this forum is really the place to find clients who pay the higher rates. I haven't been here too long, though, so maybe I am wrong. Most people here are business start-ups without the money to pay for quality writing. I find that established businesses pay the best.

Lynda

[ 1 ] Thanks
1 reply

Signature

Looking for top notch medical copy?

http://www.lyndalampert.com

My Special Offer for Warriors Here

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[5553529].message }}

AmandaT

12 years ago

Originally Posted by LyndaL66

I had one person that I gave a review copy to tell me in no uncertain terms that I would never get anyone to pay me $25 per 500 words in this economy. I am a registered nurse who focuses on the health niche, so I feel quite confident that I can command at least that much for my writing.

I replied that I actually usually charge my clients $50 per 500 words and choose to charge the reduced rate on this forum to pick up clients to "plug holes" in my schedule. It just made me laugh that he was so sure no one would pay for quality content because he wouldn't.

Quality articles pay for themselves. I have read some $5 articles, and they were nightmares. Unfortunately, I don't think this forum is really the place to find clients who pay the higher rates. I haven't been here too long, though, so maybe I am wrong. Most people here are business start-ups without the money to pay for quality writing. I find that established businesses pay the best.

Lynda

Especially when you have a lot of knowledge in your specialty, they aren't just paying for your time. They are paying for your experience and knowledge. You have years of experience learning and dealing with the issues you are writing about and they are paying you for that as well as the time spent writing the article.

Now, I do order $5 articles from time to time, but I haven't come across one yet where I would put the writing directly on my site, that just isn't my style. I order $5 articles when I need to save time but can't afford to pay for a high quality article.

I take these articles and edit them. I rewrite sections. I add my own style. Basically, they are like more specialized PLR.

Too many people think in bulk. Why buy 3-4 crappy articles no one wants to read when you can buy 1 article that will actually draw people in and make them care about what you have to say?

Thanks

Signature

Newest PLR Pack: Tumblr PLR || Learn how to profit with PLR! || Free PLR

Join me on an Online Marketing Adventure.

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[5554119].message }}

vlada111

12 years ago

It really depends on quality. The cheaperst you can find is around $2 but that`s the crappy ones ussually. The price goes up to $20+

Thanks

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[5553699].message }}

Michael Fied

12 years ago

Honestly a 500 word article is worth $5 not more and not less. I pay $5 for high quality English articles with seo done on them

Best of luck

Thanks
3 replies

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[5553704].message }}

TiffLee 12 years ago

Originally Posted by Michael Fied

Honestly a 500 word article is worth $5 not more and not less. I pay $5 for high quality English articles with seo done on them Best of luck

Good thing my clients that pay me $100 per 1,000-word article don't take your advice.
- [ 4 ] Thanks
{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[5553716].message }}
John Coutts 12 years ago

Originally Posted by Michael Fied

Honestly a 500 word article is worth $5 not more and not less. I pay $5 for high quality English articles with seo done on them Best of luck

You have a very blinkered view, and I agree with Tiff above; it's a good thing my clients don't take your advice, but then, they wouldn't be my clients if they did.

John.
- [ 1 ] Thanks
Signature
Write System - superior web content
{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[5555215].message }}
Alexa Smith Banned 12 years ago

Originally Posted by Michael Fied

Honestly a 500 word article is worth $5 not more and not less.

Ok, if you say so. But in that case ...

Let's have a think about all the regularly returning clients of all the article-writers here who are writing for $100+ per article. (There are many!). Now, what is it, with those clients, do you think? :confused:

Are they all people who just don't know that an article can't be worth more than $5?

Are they all losing money, hand over fist, again and again, and still buying more of those articles that cost at least 20 times the price they could buy them for?

Or is it just possible that they may know something you don't?

Puzzling, isn't it? ...

The reality is that you're using the word "article" with a different meaning from many people in the thread, Michael: you're thinking of it as a 500-word chunk of keyword-rich text to which backlinks can be attached. If that works for you, then fine (though apparently it does for very, very few others, these days) ... but it has absolutely nothing to do with "article marketing" at all.
- Thanks
{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[5555381].message }}

dndoseller

12 years ago

Dude, in my ft job we pay $40 per article. You are in wholesale, you need to go retail. Get on elance and get real clients.

Thanks

Signature

DanoSongs.com - Royalty Free Music for Marketing Videos

No sign up required to try my music in your video.

Just click to listen and download. No cost to try, only pay when you publish.

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[5554170].message }}

Paperchasing

12 years ago

People who say you can't make real money writing articles are looking at things the wrong way. You choose the market you want to compete in. They sell purses at Walmart, but I don't see Gucci going out of business...

[ 3 ] Thanks
1 reply

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[5554647].message }}

Victoralexon

12 years ago

Originally Posted by Paperchasing

People who say you can't make real money writing articles are looking at things the wrong way. You choose the market you want to compete in. They sell purses at Walmart, but I don't see Gucci going out of business...

I'm starting to learn this now.

I've been given great advice here on the Warrior forum.

Once I start working for those higher-paying clients, I will surely pass on the knowledge myself.

Thanks

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[5554670].message }}

Randall Magwood

12 years ago

You'd get better results if you wrote them yourself. Not hard to do.

Thanks

Signature

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[5554947].message }}

Oliver Hart

12 years ago

I like to see it in another way.

The question should rather be "What are your customers and potential customers worth to you?"

I assume that's ultimately what we write for, our website visitors?

I also suppose we have a goal and a purpose for our web site?

I assume that we want to create confidence with our clients and present ourselves as knowledgeable, and also being known as a webmaster who strives to help the reader to find answers to their questions, or to become more knowledgeable in the field.

I, myself, am a person who has English as my second language, and for that reason I had my focus on buying articles from others who are better writers than me.

My challenge has actually been to find someone to write articles that both captivate the reader and also teach the reader something new.

At least, I have not found someone in the price range of $3 - $ 5 per article that can do this.

Not that they necessarily are bad English writers, although there are plenty of those too.

No, the reason is probably that they are writing in all genres, and spend no time to put themselves into the subject.
They don't ask themselves what the potential reader wants to know before they start to write.
Naturally enough, when the payment is this small.

I can see clearly after reading several threads on this subject that I have to find writers who are experts in the field, and pay them what they are worth.
If the niche I've chosen not tolerates this cost, I have to drop that niche, and find another niche instead.

I also realize that I have to write more myself.
It is perhaps easier to get someone to review my material and correct it, to get a better flow, then to get someone to understand from the beginning what I really want to convey on my side and with my article.

I am after all the webmaster, and I know my purpose

.

Thanks
1 reply

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[5555482].message }}

John Coutts

12 years ago

Originally Posted by ODA Marketing

My challenge has actually been to find someone to write articles that both captivate the reader and also teach the reader something new.

... I have not found someone in the price range of $3 - $ 5 per article that can do this.

... the reason is probably that they are writing in all genres, and spend no time to put themselves into the subject.

Yes, I was there once too. When you accept low rates, you have to churn out the articles to make any money at all. This means you cannot devote the time necessary to write the kind of quality you mention. The writer may be capable of it, but spending three or four hours for just $5 return is not very profitable, so quality suffers.

John.

[ 1 ] Thanks

Signature

Write System - superior web content

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[5555614].message }}

Martin Avis

12 years ago

As is so often the case, Alexa is spot on. The question shouldn't be what an article is worth because we have no clear definition of what is meant by the term article.

When I talk about articles that I have sold for $1000 or more, I am talking about authoritative, educational, inspiring and sometimes amusing pieces of writing that my clients have been very happy to publish in their premium-priced offline journals.

I am not talking about a collection of hastily thrown together paragraphs that are more accurately defined as 'content' rather than articles.

Martin

Thanks

Signature

Martin Avis publishes Kickstart Newsletter - Subscribe free at http://kickstartnewsletter.com

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[5555636].message }}

The Copy Warriors

12 years ago

I think most people who pay $5 or less for their articles are mostly just looking for the keywords, for SEO purposes. There may be some people who think that they can get readable content for that price, but they're just mistaken. If you buy 20 articles at $2 an article from 5 different suppliers, that's 100 articles, which makes your total purchase $200. Out of those 100 articles, you might accidentally turn up 5 or 6 that are okay, but that's $200 you've spent on 5 articles that you could have paid less than $100 for if you were willing to actually pay $15+ for them up front.

[ 1 ] Thanks

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[5555700].message }}

Sandi Valentine

12 years ago

I don't think it's necessarily bad to work cheaply at first, work quickly, and take several months to build up a client portfolio before raising rates. It allows a writer to build credibility with clients, gain testimonials, etc. Sure, I don't recommend it long term, but it works decently well if you're just starting out.

It's only logical to charge higher rates once people see the value you offer. You may even get offered higher rates when people see the quality of your content. Once you've established yourself, both on the forum and financially, and you have a decent idea of what you're doing, how to write a proper marketing article, etc., it only makes sense to increase your rates - otherwise, your calendar will be booked out weeks in advance.

Thanks

Signature

http://sandililly.contently.com
High Quality Content for .03/word. Order by PM.

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[5556277].message }}

anahita56

12 years ago

There's a host of good answers here. I think the question is a little on the vague side though! " how long is a piece of sting?".

Different writers charge different prices, and different marketers pay different rates. Writers from some countries charge as little as $5 because the exchange rate makes it a good price for them. But I think you get what you pay for. A $5 dollar article, sometimes is worth just that! $5.

Thanks

Signature

Do you want to get from Newbie to Savvy Internet Marketer? My Brand New book will help you:

http://babystepstoseasonedstride.com

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[5556318].message }}

AnnaSEO

12 years ago

To be More clear,An Native english writer charges $5-$8 per 500 word article While others charge $2-$5.But As everyone in this thread says,It depends.

Thanks

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[5556585].message }}

Ashley Redcliff

12 years ago

If you write in the $5-$10 range, it's important to learn to be able to research and write REALLY fast. Clients shouldn't be too difficult to get at such a rate, and you should do your best to secure repeat business.

I write for $7.50 per 500 words. I write very fast without compromising the quality, and most of my orders are done within 24 hours. I'm making a good enough living from it right now.

Thanks

Signature

High Quality Articles In LESS THAN 24 HOURS - 50% OFF!

^^ Unique articles, reviews and rewrites | Native English | Copyscape pass

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[5558759].message }}

NddS777

12 years ago

It has become clear to me personally that people have very different opinions on what high-quality content is, exactly, which can be frustrating.

Many agree that high-quality writing is whatever the client perceives it to be, however, most seem to be able to recognize a quality piece when they see it. Is it not fair then to say that all decent writing has something in common?

I really wish there was a 'holy bible' of writing, or something, to eliminate the confusion. The first commandment should be:

1. Don't write unless you can sell it for more than $10 a page.

Thanks

Signature

The Content Boss

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[5558894].message }}

keblack

12 years ago

Each money producing site you make should be thought of as a business in itself, since you can sell it later on.

Truth be told (Shhh ... told tell anyone), for an adsense site, you need around 15 pages of content and for an affiliate site, around 25 pages. But, each of those pages should be 1,000 words or more (especially your 2 main keyword pages - home page and another page), unless the keywords you are competing for are easy. Google wants relevant content and around 1,000 or more words, if you want a jump in rankings, that is ...

So, do you want 1,000 mixed up words meaning nothing, or do you want excellent content that people will want to read ?

It costs money to build a really good site and you will find that more true now and in the future with Google. Just a guess ...

I know that needanarticle.com will now charge around $15-20 or more for a 1,000 - 1,250 word article, but it will be good if you give them the info they need and ask them to include 3 or more headings in it (with your keyword in the first one and your secondary keyword in the other 2).

Anyway, you get what you pay for, but down the road your return on investment (ROI), should make it worth your while, if you picked the right keywords of course. Hmmm - another subject in itself - did I mention SEMRush ?

Have a nice week. Profits and abundance for you are on their way ...

Thanks

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[5559856].message }}

How much is a 500 word article really worth?

Trending Topics

Sudden Traffic Drop in Medical Billing Services Website

Can google crawl a password protected pdf linked to from your site?

Anyone Tried/Tested "The Negative Sell?"

Grand entrance!

How can I make YouTube videos without showing my face?