Four Reasons Why Your Writing Is Worth More
Posted on 22 July 2008 by Sharon
A recurring issue with freelance writers is how much to charge for writing services. Even if you get that worked out, you still have the tricky issue of deciding when it’s time to up your rates. However, there are four good reasons why you should charge more for the work that you do.
Experience And Expertise
If you have specialist knowledge of a subject, then you will write a better informed and researched article than someone who has none. Promote your experience and expertise in writing about certain topics, add a couple of examples and clients will see why they should pay you a bit more rather than cheaping out on someone with less experience.
Degree Of Difficulty
OK, so you don’t have specialist knowledge, but you’re an excellent researcher who will tackle any topic. Make that work for you. Some topics are difficult to research, so if you have to go the extra mile, build that into your project costings. Provided the final product is what the client wants, your fee will be justified.
Speed
Some clients want their writing job yesterday. If you need to change your schedule or work unusually long hours to accommodate their request, then you have the right to charge more. Most clients I have worked with are happy to pay a bit extra to get the job when they want it. Let me make it clear that I always try to fit the job into my normal schedule so that the client pays the usual rate, but occasionally a client asks me to work through the night to finish a job and is happy to pay more.
Cost Of Living
Inflation affects work at home writers as much as anyone else. If you were drawing a paycheque, every so often you would get more money so you could manage the rising cost of everyday items. When you freelance, you have to provide that cost of living increase yourself, by increasing your prices from time to time. Printer ink, paper products and items in your home office all cost more today than they did two years ago, and the same goes for the food you eat. Raising your rates is not only advisable, but essential, and provided you’re reasonable, no-one will object.
What other reasons can you think of for raising your rates?
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July 22nd, 2008 at 4:42 pm
Here’s one - when your free time is more precious to you than your work hours. True, you have to be moderately successful to pull this one off, but putting yourself first can often allow you to price yourself a bit higher - and relax more.
Thanks for the link, Sharon!
July 22nd, 2008 at 4:45 pm
You’re right, James. It gives you a more balanced life, too.
July 22nd, 2008 at 8:14 pm
The more value (in terms of quality) you provide to your customers, the more you can charge. I think as long as you keep the client’s needs in mind rate increases are definitely justified.
Another reason to raise rates is if you provide an additional service, like keyword research, formatting, article submission, Squidoo lens creation..etc.
With regards to free time, one simple way I’ve found to raise my rates is to calculate my desired weekly income in five days, instead of seven. I don’t always take weekends off but it’s nice to have the option.
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July 22nd, 2008 at 8:34 pm
Assessing the degree of difficulty is an excellent point. That’s where I went wrong in the beginning. I had set prices for all types of content…big mistake. While familiar subjects required little or no research, difficult or unfamiliar topics may have required more than two hours. In the end, I didn’t make any money.
July 22nd, 2008 at 10:05 pm
I have read that you should charge triple what a job actually costs you, once you figure in office expenses, amount taken out in taxes, and the cost of your health insurance, since we pay this out of pocket as freelancers!
July 23rd, 2008 at 12:28 am
Actually, I think a lot of writers will develop specialized areas of expertise over time. You gravitate toward projects you enjoy writing about, and the more you research that topic, the more knowledgeable you become in that area. And if you become known for being a great writer on that topic, you are worth a premium to clients looking for work in that niche. Why would they want someone who can muddle through it when they can have someone who really knows their stuff?
While you don’t necessarily want to be typecast, it’s okay to become known as *the* specialist on a certain topic. Experts are worth a lot more. Sort of the difference between a brain surgeon and a general practitioner.
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July 23rd, 2008 at 10:29 am
Thanks for chiming in, everybody. I think many of us have had the same experience as Valencia, especially early in our careers. It’s a hard lesson, but one you don’t need to learn twice.
I’ve heard similar calculations, Carrie, though I’m not sure I could do that on all jobs.
Lindsay, you’re right about developing expertise. I have some areas in which I’m an expert and others where I have the skills to get the knowledge I need.