Most freelancers know that they can’t charge what they’re worth, so they charge a rate that’s reasonable for the work that they do. But what if you want to charge a specific amount for a specific task? How do you go about establishing a price for copywriting?
The truth is that copywriting is a unique service since it requires specific knowledge and experience, and it can be difficult to quantify exactly how much it costs. But that doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t be able to charge what you’re worth – it just means that you need to establish a specific price for each type of task, and be willing to negotiate fair rates with publishers and companies.
Establish A Starting Point
One of the first things you should do before you start quoting prices is to establish a starting point. You don’t want to quote prices that are out of proportion with the amount of work that you’ve done, so it’s important to take stock of how much copywriting you’ve done in the past and how much you’d like to charge for this particular piece of work. This will help you to structure your rate structure, which is a key aspect of being able to charge what you’re worth. It also means that you’ll have an idea of what will constitute a “significant” piece of copywriting work, and how much you should be charging for it. For example, you may decide that 10,000 words is a good amount to aim for – this translates to around 20–25 pages of prose. You could then use this as a benchmark to work to, and if you go above this amount you negotiate a bonus or additional payment.
Know Your Market
Another important thing to do before you start quoting prices is to know your market. Who are you trying to reach with your copywriting, and what do they want or need? Make a note of the types of companies and brands that you’ve worked with in the past, and the sort of copy that they’ve asked for. This will help you to establish a niche for yourself within the industry – this is important if you want to be able to charge a specific price for your services since you’ll then be able to target your marketing efforts to a more specific group of people. As you establish your skills and gain experience, you can then expand your niche and start charging more for your services.
Setting Up Regular Contracts
Once you’ve established your niche and know your market, it’s time to set up regular contracts. The purpose of these contracts is to lay out the details of the work that you’ve agreed to complete. For example, if you’ve signed up with an agency to do some marketing for them, but you’ve come up with a concept for a web article that you think will work well for their website, you would then enter into a contract with the agency to write the article. What will constitute “ready” and “deliverable” copy will be laid out in the contract, as well as the scope of the work, and the timeframe in which it will be completed. If you’re using an online application to track your work, such as HubSpot or Freshcraft, then entering the contract through these platforms makes it easier for everyone to keep track of the work that’s been done, as well as to get updates on the project as it progresses.
Charge Based On The Value That You Provide
As a freelancer, you’re used to being able to charge what you’re worth, and in most cases, this is a good thing. But sometimes, you may provide more value to your clients than you’re being paid for. This can happen when you go above and beyond what’s been asked of you, or when you take on extra work without being paid for it. In these situations, it’s important to go back to the drawing board and re-evaluate how you can provide the most value for the money. If they feel that you’re providing more value than you’re being paid for, then they’ll likely be more than willing to negotiate additional compensation. But you don’t want to undermine your own value by lowering your rates just to get work – this can make you lose credibility.
Don’t Underestimate The Power Of Good Presentation
One of the things that can make or break your negotiation is the way that you present yourself during the process. You want to be able to convince the person receiving your quote that your services are worth the price that you’re asking for. One way to do this is through good presentation. When you’re presenting your services to a potential client, be sure to present yourself in the best light and give the customer an idea of what they’re getting into. Make sure that the person reading your proposal understands exactly what they’re purchasing, and highlight any special features that will make their work easier or more enjoyable. You can also use these slides to briefly introduce yourself to the potential customer. This is also a good opportunity to plug your social media platforms and websites, as well as any special offers or discounts that you may have.
Once you’ve established a good rapport with the potential customer, and they’ve decided to go ahead with your proposal, it’s time to get to work. You can use this document to keep track of the work that you’ve done, and to make sure that the customer is getting exactly what they’re paying for. If everything goes well, then this stage of the process is over – you’ve completed the first part of the copywriting process, and can move on to the next phase.