how much should you get paid for writing articles?
How much does a 500-word article cost? This question has been ringing and wringing in my head for awhile now.
These days, I have been writing articles for a client that I’m catering to in my freelance job. I am tasked to write 500 to 700-word informational and persuasive articles with certain keywords and key phrases inserted in the write-up. After I finish the whole article, I send it to them. Somehow my client is happy.
Initially, I wrote informative articles that would pass Ezine Article, Buzzle, Isnare and other article submission directories.
I was given feedback my my employer that since they are a Search Engine Optimization (SEO) company whose projects deal more with selling their customer’s products, I was advised to change the tone to have a little more sales-talk-like approach. Luckily, after I wrote the next article, they were very much satisfied with the output.
I get paid through PayPal after I am done with the batch for the week. Somehow it makes me wonder: How much should an employee be paid for writing articles?
I get confused at time because I do not really know how much is the rate for writing an article. It overall depends on the quality of the work and other factors.
But let’s just say that the quality is more than satisfactory, should I charge more? As of the moment, the range is around $1 for every 100 words. It seems pretty much fair to me knowing that for a 500 word article, I can get $5.
There are other employers in the freelance world that pay freelancers a cheap price – I remember when I was starting out in Odesk, I got paid $10 for 15 350-word informative articles about health topics. That’s about 60 cents per article! I was still new in oDesk then and although the articles were of good quality, I felt that I shortchanged myself. That is usually the trend in freelance sites especially when you’re still a beginner and you rely on good feedback. I even heard somebody tell me that sometimes you even have to work without getting paid just to get a feedback!
Anyway, my employer sometimes asks me if it’s already suitable for me to get paid $1 for 100 words. But I can’t really tell if it’s already enough or not. For now, I’m still building a relationship with them.
What do you think? How much should you get for writing articles?
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Although it also depends on the person’s writing skills, I say $1 per 100 words is low.
I am just an average writer but my rate is AT LEAST twice as much when I started out. A good peg would be a local online magazine website which pays $2 for a 100 word article.
(and that’s a local publisher!)
now this guy is earning big! makes me wonder as well how much should you get paid for designing logos and banner. hmmm.. go master ed! keep writing and keep rocking!
This is an informative column you have here. Aside from your passion in writing, it helps you build client relationship while earning. Just one thing – dollar-peso exchange rate… you might wanna consider that.
@nomnomclub: thanks for the information. I guess I just have to find a good employer but then I’m already happy with the rate for now since I don’t have any other extra jobs. Ey, do you have any openings good local online magsites? hehe thanks for the info!
@verge: haha, I wish I was earning a lot. doesn’t it make you wonder if you’re salary is good or enough or could’ve been better? thanks! keep designing verge!
@bilyotoy: yeah, i wrote this when i was tasked to write the articles, just wanted to get a reference in case other freelancers are paid more for the same work. maybe i’ll request for a bonus after some time.
How much should you get paid? I think only you can answer that. But one thing I would say is, don’t leave it up to the hirer to determine how much you should get paid. It’s up to you to decide how much you think you’re worth in terms of your skill, experience and your relationship with money.
For me, I wouldn’t look at any gig that offered to pay me anything less than $0.03 cents a word, but that’s just me (and it would have to be really easy for me to do at that rate).
@misseb: thanks for the tip. that’s $15 per 500 words!
I would be wary demanding for a raise after doing a very good job if you intend to working long term for that employer. You’ll never know what’s on the other end. What if it turns your employer off and he will look else for much cheaper? What if the business is not doing well and your client can’t afford it?
I am a free lance writer and my typical pay is from a low of $25 for a 200 word article to over $200 for a 500-700 word article. It mostly depends on the customer and how much they are willing to pay.
$5 for 60 words is the current rate for most short ads.
most likely, you’ve established yourself as a credible writer which is why your rate is way higher. thanks for sharing your thoughts.
that’s the problem for now, i still have to establish credibility before i can demand for a raise.
Actually, Ed, it is more about finding the right places to work for. It is more about networking with people. People are more likely to hire you for a job if they know you first. Most people know me before they know I am a writer so that gets me my jobs. I am also active on many message boards that are hobby related and people ask me to write a blog post for them or a press release about their hobby or business. It is all about networking with people, both online and off.
I have discovered that if you have good enough feedback/portfolio examples you can bid as high as you want and win the contract. I started working for peanuts on oDesk and got fed up of it pretty quick- if you are working for 50 cents an article then you don’t value your time enough!!
My technique, when I find a job I fancy doing, is to contact the employer and explain why my fee is higher(because I offer high quality work and spend time fully researching anything I write). One occasion when this was particuarly successful was when a employer contacted me with a budget of $20 for a job. I told then $50 would be more appropriate and they selected me from a list of more than 20 applicants. They even said on my feedback that they’d hate to bid against me!
Give it a go, you can’t lose anything by trying, and you could increase your earnings considerably.
Good Luck!