If you’re looking to make a full-time living as a writer, it’s important to know how much ask for writing articles. While the exact number of words you need to charge is hard to predict, you can get an idea of what to expect by calculating your hourly rate, estimating how long it takes you to write and researching the market.
Typically, writers who want to attract clients and grow their portfolios choose to charge by the word, which can be helpful for clients with strict word counts or when writing content in batches. It also helps you estimate the cost of a specific piece or batch of pieces without worrying about overcharging the client.
The most important factor in your per-word rate is your experience. The more experience you have, the easier it will be for you to find clients and generate consistent income. It’s also a good idea to list your writing credentials on your resume, so potential clients can see that you have the experience and education they need to produce quality work.
Another important factor in your pricing is your writing skill. If you can write well, have good grammar and punctuation skills and are able to meet a deadline, your price should reflect that.
Your price should also take into account any time spent on editing and proofreading the article. A good rule of thumb is that it takes you about an hour to write a 500-word article, but that may be higher or lower depending on your skill level and the complexity of the topic.
Some articles may need to be rewritten multiple times before they are publishable, which will increase the amount of time it takes you to finish the work. This is why it’s a good idea to charge for extra hours if you need to.
If you’re a freelance writer with a steady clientele, consider reducing your hourly rate to match the volume of work you’re taking on. This will help you create a predictable workflow, which is one of the best ways to earn a full-time living as a freelance writer.
It’s a good idea to calculate how much you need to earn in order to meet your minimum monthly income goal. For example, if you want to make $2,000 a month, figure out how many hours you need to spend writing each week. Then, divide this number by the hourly rate you need to earn in order to reach your goal.
Aside from that, be sure to include any fees you might be liable for, such as the website’s hosting fee or domain registration, in your pricing. This will give your potential clients a more accurate picture of the costs involved and make them more comfortable hiring you.
You can also consider charging your clients a flat rate for a certain number of articles, which will help you to secure more work. This can be a great way to attract repeat business and build a reputation for reliable work that will pay off down the road.
