| > | | | | as a freelancer. |
| | | | As long as the world is filled with cheap writers, it's |
| Do you sell your writing for practically nothing? Do you | | | | much harder for the rest of us to prosper. So I am |
| respond to online "freelance banks" that promise the | | | | imploring cheap writers to increase their prices. You will |
| astonishing payment of $25 for a 500-word article, | | | | be pleasantly surprised when most clients will not balk |
| $100 for a print brochure or 59 cents per word? It may | | | | at higher fees. You may find you get higher paying |
| seem tempting to take on these cheap jobs. | | | | work because people perceive that you offer greater |
| Immediately stop selling yourself so cheap! If you have | | | | value when you change more. |
| any writing talent at all, you deserve much, much more | | | | "Won't I lose a lot of clients if I raise my fees?" Yes, |
| than many of those freelance-writing sites can offer. | | | | that's possible. But without cheap clients in your way, |
| It may seem tempting to take on these cheap jobs. | | | | you are freer to find and cultivate relationships with |
| You may think a little money is better than no money | | | | bigger fish—communications directors in large |
| at all. But the time you spend writing a cheap article or | | | | companies, creative directors at medium- and |
| e-zine could be much better spent looking for better | | | | large-size ad agencies, companies that need to |
| paying jobs. They really are out there. | | | | revamp their written communications so they can be |
| Do you really want to spend four hours writing an | | | | more visible, accessible and prosperous. Imagine all you |
| article that will bring you only $50? Your hourly rate | | | | can do for them! |
| would be a dismal $12.50. Even if you managed to | | | | Many writers who want to prosper will be more than |
| work like that for 40 hours a week, which is extremely | | | | happy to help you price your services in line with the |
| unlikely, your annual revenue would be $25,000 at the | | | | going rates, your value to your clients, and the benefits |
| most, assuming you took a two-week vacation. | | | | your writing can bring. You really do have negotiating |
| How well can you live on $25,000? As a freelance | | | | power — a skill that can be learned. And |
| writer, will you be able to pay your own health | | | | remember, you have something the client wants: |
| insurance (which may be $500 or more per month)? | | | | expert writing. The art of negotiating can be taught, |
| Will you have enough money to promote your | | | | and it's really worth a little coaching to make sure you |
| business and bring in high-paying clients? Will you ever | | | | are paid what you are worth. |
| save for retirement or your children's college | | | | Bottom line: If a writer is willing to receive $25 or $50 |
| educations or your dream home? Will you ever pay | | | | or $100 for a 500-word article, that writer is not |
| off your debt? It's much less likely that you can do any | | | | professional and has no idea how to be a successful |
| of these things if you continue to be a cheap writer. | | | | freelance writer. Many clients will know you are green |
| The Internet is loaded with dozens of sites promising | | | | and will take advantage of your cheap prices. A |
| you all kinds of freelance work once you register | | | | cheap writer cannot be a prosperous writer without a |
| (often for a fee). Many of these sites, though certainly | | | | complete shift in thinking and acting. |
| not all, exploit young, inexperienced or desperate | | | | Protect your rights as a writer. Talk to people who |
| writers. Worst of all, they make it very difficult for | | | | know about these things. And above all, don't cheapen |
| good, decent, talented writers to make a comfortable | | | | yourself and other professional writers by accepting |
| living at their craft. Why should a client pay savvy | | | | writing assignments that pay a pittance. It hurts all of |
| Writer A $800 for a website article when cheap | | | | us, it hurts the profession and it hurts you. |
| Writer B will do it for $30? | | | | For a reasonable estimate of writing, editing and |
| Here's a typical scenario: Someone needs something | | | | related fees, click on this link: Writer's Market 2008. |
| written and heads for the Internet. They post their job | | | | You may charge more than the fees stated in this |
| on these cheapo sites and wait for the lowest possible | | | | book if you have extensive experience in or |
| bidders. These whippersnappers who think they can | | | | knowledge of the industry. Also, some geographical |
| make good money cranking out $30 articles or $100 | | | | areas more easily accept higher fees. In a later article I |
| brochures shut out the experienced writers | | | | will talk about how to negotiate the best price for a |
| —the ones who know what their services are | | | | freelance writing assignment. |
| worth —. The truth is, you will never, ever be a | | | | In the meantime, give yourself a much-deserved raise |
| prosperous writer if you accept low rates. In fact, you | | | | in 2008! You may find yourself getting more |
| probably will be a miserable writer who will not last long | | | | high-quality clients! |