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What Should You Charge for Your First Freelance Writing Job?

Do you ever wonder what should you charge for your first freelance writing job? Is there an average price range for a freelance writing job?

The short answer is no – there isn’t a standard rate for a freelance writing job. That said, there are some basic guidelines you should follow to ensure you get paid what you are worth. So here they are:

1. Start At The Lowest Possible Price.

One of the best things you can do for yourself as a new freelance writer is to start at the bottom. That means you should always begin your search for clients with free blog posts, quick article pitches or any other type of free content you have available. You should also expect to negotiate a discount for yourself if you are in need of some editing or rewriting help. Believe it or not, starting at the bottom can actually save you money in the long run because you aren’t overcharging for your services. This is especially beneficial if you are trying to build a client base and portfolio.

2. Don’t Take On More Than You Can Handle.

One of the biggest mistakes new freelance writers make is to agree to write for clients they have never heard of. Believe it or not, this is a very common mistake because so many people think that by agreeing to write for a well-known brand they will automatically get gigs. In reality, being a well-known brand doesn’t mean you will necessarily get any work – it means you will have to negotiate a higher rate to even get started. In some cases, brands will outright refuse to work with you if you haven’t ‘branded’ yourself yet. So many new freelancers think that getting a job is as easy as putting in a few application forms and waiting for the check. Unfortunately, that is not how things work in real life. Even if you are perfect for the job, if the client doesn’t need your services or you could do the same work for a lower rate, they won’t always choose you. Don’t fall into this trap – it will only hurt you in the long run. Start small, work your way up, and focus on building a portfolio of published work rather than just looking for work.

3. Don’t Be Fooled By Offers Of Zero-Grazing.

Getting paid to write is great, but it doesn’t mean you have to take every job that pays you. Many freelance writers are willing to work for very small clients or one-off projects because they want to keep the variety and challenge of their work. When you get paid to write, especially for small businesses and individuals, there is always the possibility you could end up doing the same thing over and over again. It is very easy for a freelancer to get stuck in a rut when you are constantly throwing off new projects and clients, but this can also lead you to make a lot of unecessary income if you aren’t careful. If you are looking for a new challenge and like the idea of getting paid to do something new, you should definitely take these opportunities because they can be very rewarding. Just make sure you are careful not to overcommit yourself and end up doing too much work for too little pay.

These tips will help when it comes to getting your first freelance writing gig. Just remember to keep your rates low at first and build up your clientele. It is always better to start out with a few small jobs and grow your business slowly than to go for the big fish and end up drowning in a sea of red ink. Good luck out there!