Are your freelance writing rates entirely too low? If so, you are not alone. There is one main reason that many writers keep their rates on the low end of the scale: they think that this allows them to garner more business. And while this is true with some clients, others want to hire the best of the best even if it means paying more.
Believe it or not, low freelance writing rates can be a bad thing. Not every buyer shops with price in mind. When I am hiring a web designer I always look at their portfolio and experience first. After that, I then take a closer look at their rates. Just because your rates are lower than the industry average does not mean you are going to obtain more work than those charging more.
What do you think of yourself as a freelance writer? Take this for example. If you charge $2 for a 500 word article potential clients are going to think one thing: the quality must not be that good. You need to think more of yourself, and have confidence that you can get paid a decent rate for what you offer.
You can change your freelance writing rates at any time, but you need to be careful when doing so. Staying with the example above, if you are currently writing at $2 for 500 words it is going to be difficult to begin to charge $15 for the same project. If you attempt to spring this on your client there is a good chance that they are going to cut all ties and move on. You need to slowly increase the rates that you charge current clients.
On the other hand, with new clients you should start out at a higher rate. This will give you the chance to earn what you are worth, and eventually ask for more in the future when you feel comfortable doing so. But even if you never receive a “raise†you will still be earning a nice income.
Increasing your freelance writing rates is never easy. This is something that most freelancers dread because it means a major change to their business model. If you are currently working for pennies and are at the bottom of the industry, you need to make a change. The most important thing to remember is that writers with the lowest rates do not always win. Informed buyers shop for writers with experience and quality samples, and then consider project rates.
I was asked an interesting question yesterday: do freelance writers really have as much freedom as it appears on the surface? This was interesting to me because most people simply believe that freelance writers have tons of freedom, and never really think about whether or not this is the truth.
In my opinion, freedom and freelance writing go together hand in hand. If it were not for the freedom of this career it would not be nearly as enjoyable. I think most freelancers agree that freedom is a big benefit, and many of them may say that it is at the top of their list.
Here are three ways freelance writers can experience freedom:
1. You do not have a direct boss. Sure, you have to answer to clients because they are paying you, but you are not an employee but instead a contractor. This means that you can more or less terminate a relationship with a client at any point for any reason. It is nice to know that you don’t have direct report, and don’t have to worry about a boss breathing down your neck.
2. Freedom as a freelance writer means working your own hours. This morning my workday started at 5 am. This is not normal, but I decided to bump my day up a couple hours to get an early start. Of course, this means that I could quit early for the day but I will probably stick around to work on a few projects of my own. The point is that you can start and stop when you want, and work as many hours as you please. If that isn’t freedom I don’t know what is.
3. You have the freedom to work with clients you enjoy. As a freelance writer you and you alone are in charge of your business. I only like to work with clients that treat me right and are easy to get along with. This is not always possible, but it is what I strive for. As you know, when you work an office job you are told what to do and who to speak with.
This is how I answered the inquiring party yesterday, and I am positive that 99 percent of you will agree that freelance writers have tons of freedom within their career.
I try to practice what a preach, but every so often this escapes me. Most recently, I fell prey to a client who promised more work if I could complete his current project in a short period of time. Since I had a few extra hours and had spoken with the client on the phone, I figured that he was telling the truth. Was I right? Of course not. The project was completed on time, early in fact, and that was the last that I heard from the client. Luckily, I requested payment upfront so at least I didn’t lose out in that regard as well.
Time after time, clients will tell you that they have plenty more work if you can just do them one huge favor right now. In my case, the favor was a rush job. In many other circumstances the client will ask for a lower price since they are going to be sending you so much work. Of course, this is nothing more than a ploy to get what they want. This is not to say that every client is lying, because that is not the case. I have had clients tell me that they would send more work after the first job, and then follow through promptly. But in my experience, most people who want special treatment in return for future work have no intention of ever working with you again.
If you plan on doing business with a client that is promising future work and you are skeptical in the least bit, it is important to get paid upfront. Remember, if they are dishonest enough to attempt to trick you, they are dishonest enough to not send payment after the project is complete. If they refuse to pay you upfront for your services, you will then have to decide how to proceed. At the very least, you will not want to accept anything less than 50 percent of the agreed upon price.
If you are like most freelance writers you want to hear from clients that can offer ongoing work. But remember, promises of future work mean nothing. Protect yourself against this scam by only accepting projects that meet your terms, and of course, receiving payment before you begin.
