How To Bring In More Money From Writing
Posted on 12 January 2008 by Sharon
I’ve been reading a lot about freelance writing and money this week. Yuwanda Black’s post on How to Set SEO Writing Rates to Make $250-$500+/Day matched the direction my thoughts were taking. As she points out:
You have to make a decent wage to feel good about yourself. While we may all occasionally take on projects we wish paid more, there’s no reason to do it day in and day out. So, if you’re working in a sector that doesn’t pay well, don’t be afraid to stop doing it and look for work in other – better paying – sectors.
Agreed, and Yuwanda outlines strategies that anyone can follow. Also worth checking out is All Freelance Writing’s tip on finding high paying gigs.
On Freelance Writing Gigs, two posts caught my eye. The first was a post about paying for writing work (as if!), while the second gave advice on how to deal with clients who pay monthly.
The Hidden Writer has a great post on ghostwriting success, and where it’s at (or not at) for ghostwriters in 2008:
For new ghostwriters Elance is definitely not going to be the place to be anymore. There was a time (up until December 2007) when I would have encouraged all wannabe ghostwriters to sign up with Elance but not anymore.
I left Elance behind some time ago, in favour of a combination of a DIY approach and some of the other freelancing jobs sites (FWJ being the best, IMO).
Freelance Parent talks about how not to be intimidated by getting paid what you’re worth:
Most good freelance writers I know consider themselves worth every penny of $50 an hour. Many of them really are worth that much. Not very many of them actually hit that mark. So when we landed this job, Lorna and I were obviously ecstatic.
Freelance Switch talked about professionalism, including having a good pricing structure. Mason Hipp’s advice is:
Set up your pricing structure early, and know it completely before pitching to a prospect.
Have you recently written a post on freelance writing and income? If you have, please leave a link in the comments. I’d love to do an update on this topic in a few weeks.
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January 12th, 2008 at 9:30 am
Here’s a link for you: Setting Writer Rates
A comment:
I disagree highly with Hidden Writer’s comment that Elance isn’t the place to go any more. It’s still the top dog out there, membership fees aside, and good writers are making plenty of revenues. Because one person had a bad experience gaining work doesn’t mean the site is to blame - many other factors could be involved.
Other sites, however, like RAC and GAF, are terrible, because all they offer are crap rates in general. Period.
Writers should explore all work opportunities and find which one works *for them*.
January 12th, 2008 at 11:42 am
I guess you can only go on your experience, James, and my experience with Elance has not been good. I now get most of my work via my own websites, but I also check out the Problogger Job Board, Freelance Writing Gigs and a couple of other sites. I’m glad Elance is working out for you - if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.
January 12th, 2008 at 4:32 pm
Hey Sharon,
I don’t know if a month old is “recent” enough, but if so, I’d love a link to “Negotiate Your Way To More Money” http://rkaufman.wordpress.com/2007/12/11/tuesdays-tools-negotiate-your-way-to-more-money/
And just a quick note–that first link should be “writing RATES,” right? It’s a tongue-twister to be sure..
January 12th, 2008 at 5:04 pm
Hi Rachel
Yes, I’ll add it to my new post. Thanks for the link.
Yes, it should be ‘rates’ - thanks.
January 13th, 2008 at 2:36 pm
Thanks for the link love Sharon.
FYI, everybody, Sharon has humbled me by agreeing to be intervied for the next issue of Inkwell Editorial’s freelance writing newsletter, which comes out on 1/16. Be sure to check out her words of wisdom.
Best,
Yuwanda Black, Publisher
InkwellEditorial.com
InkwellEditorial.blogspot.com
January 13th, 2008 at 8:05 pm
This topic has been on my mind as well. I recently took on a project that has been a lot of work. Basically, I misjudged it, and my rate is set. I’m making pennies.
This doesn’t happen often, and when it does, I tend to read articles on “getting paid what you’re worth” … that kind of thing. But, I know that with trial and error and knowing where to look for quality clients, I’ll get the hang of it eventually!
January 13th, 2008 at 9:37 pm
@ Yuwanda - Check out http://www.writers.ca for suggested industry rates. It’s a Canadian site, but the rates are very, very comparable to the U.S. market as well. That should help put rates back in perspective
Misjudging a job happens, so don’t feel bad. It can be our misjudgment of time or effort or the client’s guidelines that lacked in specifications. You may want to talk it over with the client (politely, openly and diplomatically). Sometimes it’s surprising what the end result might be.
January 13th, 2008 at 9:38 pm
@Katherine:
If you’re feeling gutsier than I (actually–about once a year I’m struck by these delusions of irrational grandeur) you can always try asking for more. “Hey, I know we negotiated X, but this is turning out to be more work than I anticipated–if you like my work, could we add Y to the total?”
Again, this is the kind of thing where maybe the moon has to be in the right phase for it to work, but it can’t hurt to ask.
January 15th, 2008 at 7:27 pm
@ Katherine. I always read posts on getting paid, just in case I learn something new.
@ James: Another good recommendation. I’ve used that site myself.
@ Rachel: it never hurts to ask - all they can do is say no, right?
January 15th, 2008 at 9:52 pm
Very interesting post, and a lively discussion going on here, I am more than likely to bookmark this site.I am a freelance writer, and I feel word-of-mouth is important…some of my clients have stuck to me for years now, and they are the ones who sometimes bring in fresh clients.Good luck to you Sharon, and all the visitors on here…may we all make the money we deserve!:)
January 16th, 2008 at 2:28 pm
Thanks, DG. It’s true that existing clients can do a lot for you. I have even had referrals from a client who was no longer with me.
July 5th, 2008 at 11:36 am
Thanks a lot to a friend who pointed out this blog to me. I too am a freelance writer, albeit relatively new. I have started writing since January 2008. What I find amazing is how clients keep on asking for 5% keyword density in a 1000 words article, which translates to 50 keywords. I doubt whether Google will accept it or treat it as spam.