If you’re new to copywriting, the pricing structures for freelance copywriting can be a little overwhelming. There are a variety of freelance copywriting packages to choose from, each with special pricing structures and terms that you need to be aware of. Before you begin copywriting for clients, you need to understand what costs you will incur and what revenues you will generate.
What Is Copying?
In simple terms, copying is the act of taking someone else’s content and repurposing it for your own use. It often happens that content goes viral and is then repurposed and used in many different ways by different people. Examples include quotes being used in social media posts, videos, and blogs. When a content creator posts a quote from a book, magazine, or movie, they are often paid per piece based on how many people see it. When a content creator shares a viral quote or piece of content on social media, they are often paid per view. For more on this, check out Sellcopyright’s article on pricing.
Variety Is The Key
What you need to keep in mind as you navigate the world of freelance copywriting is that there are a lot of different types of clients and customers to reach out to. You need to be prepared to write for a variety of businesses, blogs, magazines, and social media platforms. Your rates will vary based on the type of content you produce and your skills. Knowing how to write persuasively for different types of audiences will enhance your freelance copywriting career.
Get To Know Your Tools
Another important thing to do as you navigate the exciting world of freelance copywriting is to get familiar with your tools. The more you know about your writing equipment and software, the easier it will be to produce high-quality content that meets your clients’ needs. When you know what tools you need to operate efficiently, you can be more confident in your pricing and in producing outstanding work for your clients. Get tools like Smartsound’s STRATEGY webcast, Verbatim, and WordPerfect.
The Perks Of Freelance Copywriting
As a freelancer, you’re able to set your own schedule and take on as much or as little work as you want. You can work at home or in the office, setup your own hours, and get compensated fairly for your efforts. If you want to be able to set your own prices, you can do so without any concerns. You will not be subject to unfair competition from competitors who try to take advantage of desperate businesses by undercutting the prices of their less-skilled labor.
Another great aspect of being a freelancer is that you will be able to grow your business very quickly. It’s not uncommon for a freelancer to land a couple of major projects within their first month of officially launching their business. You will be able to establish yourself as an expert in your field and gain the confidence of higher-paying clients as a result.
How Much Does It Cost To Be A Freelance Copywriter?
As you mentioned, there are a variety of freelance copywriting packages and pricing structures to choose from. Depending on your experience, you will be able to negotiate a higher rate with longer-term or more-complex projects. When you’re first starting out, you will likely need to take whatever job you can get to pay the bills. Once you’ve established yourself as a reliable and trustworthy freelancer, you can begin to negotiate more favorable rates and terms for future projects.
To give you an idea of what type of fees you can expect to earn, we’ve compiled a list of the average copywriting fees for different types of projects. Keep in mind that these are average figures and that your rates will vary based on your experience, what type of content you are producing, and your skills. We’ve also included some additional information about each project type so you can be sure of what you’re getting into.
Normal Copywriting
This is the type of copywriting that you would normally do if you’re a member of a content team or working for an inhouse copywriter. You will need to have at least five to six years of experience in order to be considered for this type of assignment. It typically includes anywhere from one to four articles, with an average of three pieces. Your fee for this type of work is typically between $250 and $500 per article. An experienced freelance copywriter can usually produce two articles per week.
Website Content
If you are creating content for a website, you will need to have a clear understanding of what the site owner’s goals are and the type of content that will most effectively help them achieve those goals. This type of copywriting is more complex than normal copywriting as you need to ensure that the content is engaging and that the reader is staying on the website for as long as possible. Because this is a long-term commitment, you will need to be prepared to write regularly (at least once every two weeks) for the first six months and then bi-weekly for the following months. Your fee for this type of work is usually between $500 and $1,000 per week, plus expenses.
Social Media Content
If you’re writing content for social media platforms such as Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram, you will need to have a clear understanding of how to engage your audience through various content campaigns. You will need to be familiar with platforms like Instagram, which can be quite tricky, as it is designed to be as entertaining and engaging as possible. You will also need to be prepared to write short-form content for the different social media platforms. Because this is a fast-paced industry, you will need to be able to write fast in order to keep up with the demand for content. Your fee for this type of work is usually between $1,000 and $1,500 per week, plus expenses.
Product Review Copywriting
If you are reviewing a product and writing an article about it, you will need to have a clear understanding of what the product is and why it is unique. You will then need to research the competition to see how their articles are performing so you can determine the best approach for your own review. Because this is a fast-paced industry, you will need to be able to write quickly in order to meet the demands of your clients. Your fee for this type of work is usually between $1,500 and $2,000 per article, plus expenses.
Advertising Copywriting
This is the type of copywriting that you would do if you’re a freelance copywriter for an advertising or marketing agency. You will be pitching ideas to potential clients to see which ones they might interested in. Once you’ve determined that the general idea of an ad campaign will interest the client, you will then begin to write the script for the ads. Because this is a fast-paced industry, you will need to be able to write quickly in order to meet the demands of your clients. Your fee for this type of work is usually between $2,000 and $3,000 per week, plus expenses.
As you can see, there are a lot of different variables that can affect your average copywriting fees. The key to successfully navigating this world of freelance copywriting is by being familiar with your tools, establishing your expertise in your field, and getting a good feeling for what will and will not be needed. With a little bit of research, you will be able to set yourself up for success as a freelance copywriter and charge fairly for your efforts.