Set Your Fees With Confidence – and Get Paid What You're Worth
Today, we answer an important question that just about all of our students worry about when they're ready to start soliciting work: "How do I charge for my services?"
Unlike many professions, there are virtually no restrictions, standards, or guidelines for freelance-writing fees. For instance, fees for a direct-mail package can range from $1,500 to an amazing $25,000 and more!
To complicate things further, you can charge by the word, the hour, or the project.
We recommend that you charge by the project for most DM packages. However, initially at least, you'll want to use per-word or hourly rates to figure out for yourself how much that should be.
Your estimate should be based on a combination of the number of words you're going to write and the length of time it will take you to do the research and other prep work. Typically, you can figure on getting 50 cents to $1 per word.
The average page of DM text set in 12-point type, with subheads, is between 300 and 400 words. Based on that, you could get from $1,800 to $4,800 for a 12-page letter. While you're building your resume and reputation, calculate your fee at the lower end of the scale. You can increase your price with new clients as you gain more experience. (I'll tell you how to up your price with your existing clients in a minute.)
If you're doing editing, proofreading, consulting, or similar work that's not strictly copywriting, base your charge for that on an hourly rate. Also, if the package you're writing requires a great deal of research, interviews, product testing, or similar non-writing work, factor the hours spent on that into your fee.
Hourly rates generally run from $35 to $150 per hour. Again, when you're starting out, expect to charge on the lower end of the scale. You want to be fair to yourself … but you want to be fair to your client too. And when you don't have a lot of experience, it takes longer to get the job done.
The secret to your success as a DM copywriter will be to get repeat business – and satisfied clients will keep coming back to you if you write successful packages, are easy to work with, and give value with your work. But a repeat client can present a different kind of problem. Because once you've done work for him at the low end of the scale … how do you raise your rates when you're no longer a beginner?
The answer is to start out by setting your rates higher than you probably should – and then extending a "get-acquainted" offer to new clients. You might say something like, "My normal fee for this job is $2,000. But since you're a new client, I'll give you a 50% introductory discount." In this way, you can gracefully raise your fees with repeat clients when you feel it's appropriate.
Following is Bob Bly's fee schedule. Use it as a guideline … keeping in mind that Bob is a recognizable pro with 25 years of experience.
- Print ad $250-$3,500
- Sales letter $500-$5,000+
- Direct-mail package, lead generation $750-$5,500
- Direct-mail package, mail-order $1,000-$15,000
- Magalog $4,000-$17,000
- Self-mailer $500-$3,500
- Postcard or double-postcard $300-$1,500
- Brochure $150-$750/page
- Catalog $150-$750/page
- Newsletter $150-$750/page
- Annual report $3,000-$15,000
- Fundraising campaign brochure $1,000-$2,000
- Feature story $0.50-$1/word
- Press release (1-2 pages) $750-$850
- Audiovisual/multimedia script $100-$250/minute
- Website, home page $500-$1,500
- Website, additional pages $250-$750/page
- E-mail $1,000-$2,500
- E-zine ad $250-$750
- Hourly rate $35-$150
- Business letter $30-$150/hr
- Ghostwriting $25-$80/hr
- Proofreading $16-$45/hr, average $26/hr
How to Land Clients in 21 Days with Just Your Computer
How do I land my first client? It’s a question every aspiring freelancer asks eventually. Now, there’s a proven system for landing clients that removes the guesswork. Best of all? No cold calling. Learn More »
“That first paycheck told me I could do this. Recent paychecks and referrals are confirming that I’m on my way to living the dream.”
If yes, you could be in big demand, earning big money, writing just a few hours a day from anywhere in the world you choose to be.
Get Nick Usborne’s step-by-step system for creating money-making information websites.
In just 6 hours and 35 minutes, you can be in business earning $60 – $150 an hour writing simple resumes.
Learn the secrets behind succeeding in this in-demand career.
The work is plentiful … the pay scales are generous and the competition is scarce!
Get the answers to the hundreds of questions and concerns commonly asked in specific, step-by-step details.
Use this eight-step plan to make the leap from aspiring copywriter to professional copywriter this year.
Let your fellow AWAI members show you firsthand the easiest, most powerful way to land your first client … BEFORE you finish the program.
Writing for the web is a huge opportunity for copywriters. Let web expert Nick Usborne show you how to write blockbuster web copy in record time … even if you're a complete internet “rookie”!
It’s an opportunity to make $50,000, $75,000, $100,000 a year or more … working just a few hours a day.
A once complicated profession is now something you can do on a standard computer – even if you have little or no “artistic” ability.
It’s one thing to have a website. But if your website can’t be found by the search engines, it may as well not exist.
The Internet creates new income possibilities every day. The biggest among them: online video marketing.
Get the very techniques top-performing copywriters use to rattle off one groundbreaking control after another.
In his new book, Michael Masterson teaches you his very own formula for powerful persuasion and how to apply it to direct mail sales letters as well as online promotions.
Guest, Leave a Reply
Please Note: Your comments will be visible by everyone.