Freelance Writing Rates Stats To Know

How much will it cost to hire a freelance writer podcast

For a detailed analysis of the Freelance Writing Rates Benchmark Report, listen to the podcast. Christoph Trappe and I sat down to discuss things like:

• How freelance writers price their projects

• Whether or not it makes sense to set hourly rates

• Whether or not a higher education degree is critical for writing and marketing

• And more!

How much will it cost to hire a freelance writer report and infographic

If you’re interested in reading the full 34-page report about how much freelance writers charge, you can find it here.

Helpful note: The infographic has an embed code if you would like to share it on your own website.

Top 10 freelance writing rates stats all writers and marketers should know

1. The most popular highest form of educational degree for freelance writers was a bachelor’s degree (69%), followed by a master’s degree (20%), and, finally, a doctorate (1%).

The majority of freelance writers have a bachelor’s degree. While it’s helpful to have a master’s degree, it’s not necessary for success in freelance writing and marketing. Online writing and marketing trainging will service you well and be much more affordable.

2. 40% of freelance writers price per project

The most popular way freelance writers price their work is per project. Forty percent of participants indicated they price work on a per-project basis. Considering website copy was the most popular type of content, this isn’t surprising.

3. Only 18% of writers price per word

The data also showed the least popular way to price work was per word (18%), even less popular than hourly pricing (38%). This did surprise me, considering the second most popular type of content was blog content, which seems to be the easiest type of content to price per word.

4. 66% of freelancers find new work via client referrals, 57% through referrals from their freelance colleagues, and 46% through networking sites

Sixty-six percent of freelance writers said they find clients through client referrals. The second most popular way to find clients is through referrals from freelance colleagues (57%), and the third most popular method is via professional networking sites (46%).

The power of a freelance writer’s network can not be understated, as the qualitative data in this study showed.

Here is some advice about building a network from top-earning freelance writers in this study:

• “Former bosses and coworkers have been my #1 source of future clients. If possible, work full time before freelancing so you can begin building a solid network.”

• “Connect with other freelancers who do what you do or serve similar clients differently (e.g., a designer, business coach, etc.). Get to know them on a personal level and look for ways to support them genuinely. Often, referrals will grow organically from there.”

• “Network like crazy and cultivate good relationships with clients once you are working on a project. You never know where it might lead. Look for interesting opportunities that will help you produce strong work samples.”

5. The top 5 criteria freelance writers use to determine per project prices are hours required to complete the project, research involved, total word count, scope or scale of the project, and the complexity of the product

The top 5 criteria freelance writers use to determine per project prices are:

• Hours required to complete the project

• Research involved

• Total word count

• Scope or scale of the project

• The complexity of the product

If you are new to freelance writing or are considering switching to a per-project pricing model, consider these factors when putting together your proposals.

6. The largest group of freelance writers that charge per hour charge over $100 per hour

While the freelance writers that charge per hour, charge different rates, there is good news. The most popular hourly rate for freelance writers was over $100.

7. Over 60% of freelance writers charge over $50 per hour

Slightly over 60% of all freelance writers that charge per hour are charging at least $50 per hour.

8. Freelance writers with 8+ years of experience are charging over $100/hour

Freelance writers with over 8 years of experience are charging over $100 per hour, which is much more than people with less experience are charging.

9. The majority of freelance writers that price per word (only 18%) are only charging up to .35 cents per word and 49% are only charging up to .25 per word

First off, these rates are low, and less experienced writers are charging per word. Most participants (49%) that charge per word are only charging up to .25 per word, and the majority (over 69%) are only charging up to .35 per word.

10. Freelance writers with more experience are charging over $1 per word

While freelance writers, overall, are charging less per word, the data shows that freelance writers with more experience are charging much more per word than those with less experience.

For more information about how much freelance writers charge, download the full report now!

Hopefully, these 10 stats provide insight into how much a freelance writer will charge you and how much you should charge as a freelance writer. For more detailed information, including average and median prices for how much freelance writers charge per project for different types of content, check out the full report.

How much should I charge my freelance writing clients?

How Much Do Freelance Writers Charge?

A Study To Help Freelance Writers Benchmark Their Rates

When I first started freelance writing, I scoured all the popular copywriting blogs and books to answer my two most pressing questions:

• How much should I charge for my services?

• How much do other freelance writers charge?

While there were some available resources, they weren’t comprehensive or had such wide ranges that the information wasn’t helpful.

My goal in conducting this research was to reach out to a network of successful freelance writers to get detailed insights and numbers on:

• How people price their projects (e.g., per project, per word, per hour)

• What criteria freelancers use to set rates

• How much freelance writers charge for different types of content

With the help of this data, I put together the following report so that other freelance writers can benchmark their rates.

As you read this study, keep in mind these findings aren’t hard and fast rules, and you’ll still find a lot of variation. However, these results will provide insight into where your prices fall in relation to other freelancers, and whether you need to ask your clients for more money (you do).

You can see the full report here or the TL;DR infographic is below. Feel free to use the embed code that appears after the infographic to share the infographic on your own website.

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The Results-Driven Approach to Creating Articles

The Results-Driven Approach to Blog Content Creation

It’s no wonder that 70% of marketers are actively investing in content marketing, and that 72% of marketers said having a strong content strategy was key to success.

Content marketing works. Plain and simple. 

In fact, stats show that content marketing gets three times more leads than paid search advertising, and marketers who prioritize blogging efforts are 13x more likely to see positive ROI.

But, here is the deal.

Not all content is created equal, and getting results isn’t just a matter of putting pen to paper. Every piece of content you publish should address the five following goals:

1. Rank in the search engine results pages (SERPs) for a target keyword

2. Elicit clicks from people that fit your ICP (ideal customer profile)

3. Engage readers long enough to get them to stay on your website

4. Encourage website visitors to convert

5. Generate backlinks (aka be interesting enough that people want to share your content)

Let’s take a deeper dive into how writers and content marketers can fulfill these goals.

1. Create content that ranks organically on Google

In terms of content marketing, it doesn’t matter if you crafted the most gorgeous piece of modern literature known to man and posted it to your business blog. If Google doesn’t understand what your blog post is about, then the only person who will read your web-based work of art is your mom.

To give you a better understanding of how to get Google to read and return your content in the search results, let’s quickly review how Google’s algorithm works.

The goal of Google: Google’s objective is to return the most relevant website pages when Google users type in a keyword. 

For example, if someone types in “best hot chocolate,” Google will return a list of delicious hot chocolate companies. Google won’t, however, return a list of websites about orange juice or coffee. 

But, how does Google know which web pages (out of the millions on the web) are the most relevant? 

The answer: Google’s algorithm.

In short, Google’s algorithm looks at 200+ different factors to determine a page’s relevance in relation to specific keywords. 

By this mathematical magic, when someone enters a specific keyword into Google’s search bar, Google will comb through the wonderful world of websites and return pages that its algorithms deem the most relevant. 

All this is just to say if you want your hot chocolate website to rank when someone types in “best hot chocolate” (or something similar), you have to strategically let Google know that your page is about hot chocolate. 

Otherwise, you risk Google overlooking your page or ranking it on page 158 on the search engine result pages (SERPs) for who knows what keyword.

There are several strategies involved in getting your website or blog post to rank in the SERPs. The first part of the strategy is the job of the SEO consultant involved in the project. The SEO team lead will research keywords to determine:

• Relevant keywords (primary and secondary)

• Keyword search volume

• Keyword difficulty

• Competition

• And more!

Once you have solidified a keyword, you, as a copywriter, can conduct basic on-site optimization for that keyword.

On-site SEO optimization checklist

Here are the steps you can take as a copywriter to make sure you are telling Google what your page is about:

• Identify a primary keyword

• Use your primary keyword in your title (H1 tag/Heading 1)

• Include your primary keyword in the first 100 words of your blog post

• Make sure your primary keyword is in the URL

• Include your primary keyword in one of your subheadings (H2 tag/Heading 2)

• Name one of your pictures your primary keyword (this is called an alt tag)

• Include a few links to credible external websites that are relevant to your blog topic

• Make sure to include internal links to pillar pages of your own website 

• Add long-tail variations of your keyword, or long search queries that usually take the form of a question (e.g., Where is the best place to buy hot chocolate in Chicago?)

These are the basics of SEO optimization. When you know this and apply it to your blog writing, it’s invaluable to your clients (and you can charge big bucks).

You may be wondering if onsite optimization really is as important as I’m making it out to be. The answer is a resounding yes! Seventy-five percent of all of Google’s clicks go to websites on the first page of the SERPs.

2. Get more clicks from your target audience

The next goal a good copywriter should have is to get people that fit your target audience to click through to the page.

While you definitely need to optimize your website content for Google’s search algorithm, you also need to write for people, specifically your ICP.

Here’s how to write for both Google and people in a way that leads to clicks.

Optimize your title tag for search and people

Your title tag is the headline or main link that appears when people search for a keyword. For example, if I type in “best Netflix shows,” here are some title tags (underlined in pink).

You’ll notice these title tags all include the primary keyword I searched “best Netflix shows,” and they are also self-explanatory to a reader. Title tags are not the time for a catchy headline. Instead, write something that includes your keyword and is straight to the point.

Write an informative meta description

Your meta description is the short blurb of content under the title tag that tells your readers what the blog post is about. Meta descriptions should be between 155-160 characters (not words) long. They should include your primary keyword and a short description of what the reader will get when they click through to your blog post. I also like to add a quick call-to-action (CTA) in the meta description to entice readers to click. Remember, readers like to be told what to do.

3. Engage readers so they stay on your website

Another way to build website credibility is to engage your readers and get them to stay on your website.

Believe it or not, most users only stay on a website for 10-20 seconds. I know, sad. Your job as a top-notch copywriter (especially for your high-end clients) is to employ copywriting tactics that will get visitors to engage with the website. 

Here are some ideas on how you can keep your readers on your website.

Don’t be boring

That’s all.

Write for the internet

Writing for the internet is nothing like writing a novel, a school paper, or a review. When you write for the internet, you write how internet browsers read. This means:

• Cut the fluff and get straight to the point

• Put the most important information first

• Make it easy to scan your content by including headings, subheadings, and bullet points

• Write in short paragraphs

• Highlight your call-to-action (CTA)

Internet readers skim. Make it easy for them to scan your content and glean all the important insights.

Include internal links

You don’t necessarily need visitors to stay on a particular blog post, but you do want them to stay on your website.

A good way to do this is to include internal links to your website when it makes sense.

For example, if you are writing a blog post about freelance writing and you have a section where you talk about services, include a link to your services page (see what I did there?).

4. Get website visitors to convert

Content marketing is all about using content to capture more customers and eventually boost sales. The end goal of your post should be to get your website visitors to do something. (Quick note: this means you should always ask your clients what their content marketing goals are and what the purpose of the blog post is).

There are so many strategies for increasing conversions through your blog posts. Let’s talk about a few ideas.

Create a free digital asset

You can include an in-text offer, side-bar offer, or even a pop-up offer that you include in your content. Usually, the deal is the internet reader provides their email address, and you give them a free download in return.

This is a great way to build your email list. And we all know the power of email marketing. Oh you, don’t? Email marketing has the highest ROI of any other marketing strategy.

Include a call-to-action (CTA)

Don’t be afraid to tell your readers what you want them to do. Include a CTA at the end of your post with a link to your website, your services, or a special offer.

Writing a CTA can feel awkward at first, especially if you’re promoting your own content or product. Here is a an awesome blog post with 8 types of CTAs you can try out on your blog post.

Show off your knowledge

A blog post is different than a landing page or a sales call, but it is still a powerful conversion tool. The approach is just slightly different.

When people search for blog posts, they are usually looking for some sort of expertise. Don’t be afraid to go into depth on a particular topic, offer your expertise, and then invite browsers to learn more about how you and your smart self can help them.

5. Generate backlinks to your website

The last important goal of your website content is to generate backlinks.

As a quick review, a backlink is when another website links back to your website from their blog. In this blog post, for example, I have several links to other credible sources. If you click on one of these blue links, it will take you to another website.

Why do you care about generating quality backlinks for yourself and your clients? Google uses backlinks as one of its ranking factors. In other words, the more credible backlinks you have to your website, the better chances you have at ranking higher in the SERPs (search engine results pages).

As a copywriter, the best thing you can do is write detailed, long-form (in most cases), helpful, insightful content—content that is unique and that other industry leaders will want to link to and share. 

Remember, always include a shareable picture on your blog posts. This helps with SEO and also generates a photo when someone shares your page on social sites.

Wrap Up

It is true content is king, but not all content is created equal. The content that will stand out to Google and to your target audience is the content that is goal-oriented.

For more information about content writing services, contact me (Ashley R. Cummings) today! If you’re a copywriter that’s interested in SEO strategy, check out my SEO guide for copywriters.

Questions for the first client call

What Questions Do Freelance Writers Ask on The First Client Call?

Have you ever experienced this? You land a new client (hooray!), and during your first client call, you realize that your client doesn’t have a clue how to communicate what they want you to write.

Unfortunately, this scenario is typical for freelance writers, and it can be frustrating when you waste hours trying to get on the same page.

Here’s the good news. 

You can avoid this situation entirely by taking the reigns and leading your first client call. 

Here’s what to ask in your kick-off call:

• Who is your target audience?

• What tone do you want to convey?

• Will you give me a keyword and bullet points on what you would like to highlight?

• Will you send me 2-3 articles you like on this same topic?

• Can we start with one article, review it together, and go from there?

What questions do freelancer writers ask on their kick-off call?

1. Who is your target audience?

Before you write your article, you need to learn everything you can about your client’s target audience. Is the audience...

• SaaS professionals?

• Young women with a sense of humor?

• Educated business owners?

• Moms?

• Dads?

• Financial gurus with PhDs?

• Doctors?

Once you know who the audience is, also ask:

• What the audience already knows about the industry and topic

• What the audience’s primary pain points are

• How your client’s business solves those pain points

Learning everything you can about your client’s audience will inform the structure of your piece, the stats you use, the voice of the article, and more.

2. What tone do you want to convey?

Just as it’s important to understand the audience, it’s vital to understand the tone your client wants you to convey.

I usually juggle 10+ clients at a time, and all of them have different preferences for how articles should sound. Some want the articles hurried and to the point. Others want the articles to sound cheeky and fun. Some want an academic and professional tone.

I have no way of guessing how they want their articles to sound, so I always ask them.

It’s also helpful to ask clients to send a few articles that match the tone they are striving to achieve. This way, it’s easy to hit the tone nail on the head from the get-go, and you don’t have to spend time editing the tone of your post.

3. Will you give me a keyword and bullet points on what you would like to highlight??

When your client provides a broad topic with no direction on what you are supposed to focus on, you really could take the article in a billion different directions. 

Save yourself a headache, and ask your client to provide you with a few short bullets on key points they want you to hit. 

This will help you create a stellar outline that will blow your clients out of the water.

4. Will you send me 2-3 articles you like that are on this topic

It never hurts to double-down on finding out what the client really wants in an article. Asking the client to send 2-3 articles they like on the same topic will help you understand what type of content they like without the client having to work too hard to communicate it to you. 

5. Can we start with one article, review it together, and go from there?

I am not sure if every freelance writer asks this question on their first call, but I always do. I like to work on one project together to make sure the relationship is a good fit before committing to long-term projects. 

Focusing on just one article provides a low-pressure environment where you can work together, take feedback, and iron out any kinks before moving on to other assignments. 

It’s also a good way to ensure you’re not working with a PITA client and to make sure they are the type of client that likes to pay their bills on time.

Last word: Now that you know what freelance writers ask on their first client call, it’s time for some follow-up work. After chatting with your client, email them a more comprehensive content brief where they can fill out all relevant information.