It’s a common question: How much should I charge for a copywriting retainer? It’s a difficult question to answer because there are so many variables to consider. Is it for a one-time use? Is it for a long-term project? How much experience does the copywriter have? How skilled a writer is he/she? How much does the copywriter enjoy working? What’s his/her rate normally?
Let’s examine each of these questions and how they affect the price you should charge for a copywriting retainer.
How Much Is It For A One-Time Use?
If you’re new to copywriting and this is your first assignment, how much should you charge? Generally speaking, you should charge a somewhat higher price for this type of assignment because it’s more labor-intensive and takes more time to do it right. You want to be sure you’re getting your money’s worth. Be aware that if this is a one-time use then you may have to renegotiate the contract after the project is complete, depending on how much work you did and how much you delivered.
How Much Is It For A Long-Term Project?
If you’re working on a long-term project with the copywriter and this is your first assignment with them, how much should you charge? Most likely, you’ll need to negotiate a bit lower because you’re not expecting this to be your only assignment with them. Unless your contract specifically states that this is your only assignment, you can usually expect to negotiate a reduction in the cost per assignment. The question is: How long is the project going to take?
If you’re wondering how much you should charge for a long-term project, you should ask yourself:
– Is this project going to take a lot of my time? For example, is it going to take a lot of meetings to get everything done? Is it going to involve a lot of traveling?
– How much is my experience in the same field worth? For example, if you’re a financial consultant and you’ve never done any financial consulting work, how much should you charge? It’s not that these skills aren’t worth anything; it’s that you haven’t proved them yet. So your price per hour will be determined by how much you need to charge to make up for your lack of experience. If you’re lacking in experience but know a lot about the subject matter, you can ask for more money.
How Much Does The Copywriter Have Experience?
How experienced is the copywriter? This is a crucial question. If you don’t know how much experience they have, ask them. Experienced copywriters can usually command a higher rate because people with experience can usually find the work that they need. If they don’t have any relevant work experience, ask them if they’ve ever written anything for publication. If they haven’t, they probably shouldn’t be charging you anything because it will be a waste of time. They won’t know how to properly structure the material or how to properly analyze the strengths and weaknesses of a business proposal.
How Skilled A Writer Is He/She?
How skilled is the copywriter? This is a difficult question to answer because there are so many variables to consider. Is he/she a fast typer? Does he/she have excellent grammar and attention to detail? Can s/he write in the same style as the preferred magazine or website that you’ve been assigned to write for?
If you don’t have any previous copywriting experience and you need to charge a higher rate, it’s because you’re not going to be able to properly charge for your time. You’ll have to ask for more money, otherwise the client will think that you’re billing by the hour and not by the piece. Even if you’re a fast typer, you should still ask for more money because it takes time to become skilled at copywriting and you’ll need to charge for that.
How Much Does The Copywriter Enjoy Working?
How much does the copywriter enjoy working? This is another difficult question to answer because there are so many variables to consider. Does he/she like working with new people? Does he/she like solving problems? Does s/he have a lot of freedom in what he/she does?
If you’re an independent contractor who gets to choose your own hours and you can set your own pace, how much should you charge? If you’re not sure, ask the copywriter. You can also ask other copywriters for advice because they’ll be able to provide you with an objective opinion. You should charge the same price as other, similarly situated freelance writers because if you don’t, there’s a chance that the copywriter may decide to go with someone else. As a general rule, you should charge more for writers who enjoy their work because they’ll put in the extra effort to make sure that everything is done on time.
What’s His/Her Rate Normally?
What’s his/her rate normally? This is another difficult question to answer because there are so many variables to consider. If you don’t know, ask them. You should negotiate a bit higher rate than they’re used to because you’re a new client and you haven’t established a rapport yet. Be aware that if your first assignment is going to take a long time, you may have to renegotiate the contract after the project is complete.
The Final Question
Is this the copywriter’s only assignment? If so, how much should you charge? If you’re wondering how much you should charge for a copywriting retainer, you should ask yourself:
– Is this a one-time use? Is it a long-term project?
– How much experience does the copywriter have?
– How skilled a writer is he/she?
– How much does the copywriter enjoy working?
– What’s his/her rate normally?
If you can answer these questions for yourself, then you’ll be able to tell if you’re getting your money’s worth. Don’t worry too much about what other people are charging for copywriting; instead, look at what you need to be doing to be successful. If you can provide a valuable service to the company, then they’ll be willing to pay you what you’re worth.