Know Your Worth!
Posted on May 23, 2011
Guest Post by Samantha Bangayan @www.whatlittlethings.com …
If you’re just starting off as a freelance writer, it can be difficult to gauge how much you should be paid. A lot of freelance writers seem to be doing well making around $10 to $15 per article with content-creating companies, such as Demand Studios — who manages eHow.com — and wiseGEEK. Once you get the hang of the guidelines and depending on your topic, some writers can pop out an article an hour. If this were your full-time job, you would be making almost $2,500 a month. Not bad!
“Not bad” is exactly what I thought until I started connecting with other writers. My new writer friends reminded me that writing is a valuable skill and that I’m worth more than $15 an article. They told me that writers who stay with content-creating companies aren’t taking the initiative to be paid what they’re worth or don’t know that they’re worth more.
Sherry (Writing4Effect) asked me what I perceive to be “great paying” in the freelance writing world and the truth is, I don’t know. What I do know is that you should be paid enough to live comfortably, taking into account the ups and downs of clients and work in this business, and that you should make more than $15 per article if you have solid writing samples. Use this online calculator for an idea of how much you should be charging per hour.
Before Sherry even had freelance writing experience, her very first client paid her $35 per article. I started freelance writing with content-creating companies this past January. After writing less than 40 articles, three months later, I landed my first two clients by applying to ads listed in job search websites. I’m now making around 10 cents a word, which comes out to around $50 for a 500-word blog post. Demand Studios would have paid me $15 for the same article.
I would hardly call myself a successful freelance writer, but this sure is a step up from writing for content-creating companies. Not only am I paid better, but I’m also writing about topics that matter to me in any style that I want with no editors on my back asking for rewrites.
Takeaway lessons I learned:
- Connect with other writers. They’ll act as your mentors, encourage you and help you to stay on track with the latest trends in the field. You’ll receive ideas on optimizing your writing, grammar tips, potential job leads and when you’re going through a tough stretch, they’ll remind you of your worth!
- Don’t settle for less when you don’t need to. There are going to be times when you need to fall back on content-creating companies and that’s okay. Eventually, you may find that you’re making more money with them as you learn to write more efficiently, but stay on the lookout for better-paying clients because you’re worth it!
I want to wholeheartedly thank Sherry, not only for allowing me to guest post on her blog, but also because she helped me remember my worth!
–Samantha Bangayan is a Canadian freelance writer who followed her heart all over the world and currently resides in the Central Andes of Peru. She doesn’t have it all figured out yet either, but she believes that life’s more about appreciating the little things along the way. Connect with her through her website: www.whatlittlethings.com.
Penelope J.
May 23, 2011
Samantha, Thanks for all the good information and advice. I hadn’t even considered this type of work until I started to read Sherry’s blog. It looks like an interesting path for me to follow, and I was gearing up to doing so, when my former clients in Hispanic research started to give me projects again. However, I’m going to keep this in mind as a way to add to my income should my other work fall through.
Samantha Bangayan
May 24, 2011
Penelope, I’m so happy to hear that my post was informative! =) Freelance writing is even something you can do on the side and you would be an ideal candidate with your background in research. =) I found that my background in psychology research really gave me an advantage because research skills are key in freelance writing as well!
How interesting that you have clients in Hispanic research! Are you focused on certain areas of the Spanish-speaking world? I’m living in Peru right now and recently started anthropology classes to increase my knowledge of South American culture! =)
Samantha Bangayan
May 24, 2011
Sherry, thank you *so* much for inviting me to write this guest post! I really hope it’ll be helpful for your readers! =)
Writing4Effect
May 24, 2011
My dear friend, Sam — thank you *so* much for writing this for my readers. Although, they don’t often comment on individual posts, they sometimes leave comments in the general pages thanking me for information like this.
Penelope J.
May 25, 2011
Samantha, Thanks for the encouraging words. My work is focused more on Mexican Hispanics though I have also had South American participants, as well as Caribbeans and Central Americans. I’ve found that South Americans here are often better educated than their other Hispanic counterparts. I have Peruvian friends and it’s a fascinating culture so I’m sure that you’re enjoying your anthropology studies there.
Samantha Bangayan
May 25, 2011
Loved learning more about you and finding that we have so much in common, Penelope! =) Please do let me know how I can support your journey into freelance writing whenever you get started! =)
Penelope J.
May 25, 2011
Samantha, Just send me your email or a link to your website or blog.
Samantha Bangayan
May 26, 2011
Looks like you found me already, Penelope! Thanks so much for reaching out and I’m so glad we’re in touch! =)
Rob
May 26, 2011
Way to go Sam,
I appreciate reading about the learning curve side of things. I guess it’s the same as most other things. Produce quality and buyers will buy. It also helps having friends like Sherry to lessen the curve.
Live it LOUD!
Samantha Bangayan
May 27, 2011
Great point, Rob! You put my thoughts into a much more concise phrase — “the learning curve!” =) And it’s so true, friends like Sherry and you have really helped me along the way! =)
cspeno
May 27, 2011
Samantha
Thanks for your story of success. Each success no matter how small is a great step forward. I shared your experiences with my local writing group encouraging them to never minimize their worth and skill and to remember the value of staying connected with others who share our passion.
Thanks too to Sherry for allowing you to guest post.
Samantha Bangayan
May 28, 2011
Christine, I’m so excited that this post was meaningful to you, especially considering how you’re already an established freelance writer! I saw the trackback for the link you shared with your writing group and feel so honored that you mention me. =)
Making sure other writers continue to feel self-worth is really important to me, so I’m ecstatic that you shared my message. =) Thank you!!
Jennifer Woodard
June 8, 2011
Sam,
Great post and it is always good to know what you are worth and to not undervalue yourself. It can very hard as a freelancer to not undervalue ourselves, because we are afraid of not getting the work. I know in the beginning it can be hard to turn down paying work, I know I did not. I did some probono work to get experience also. The goal is to not stay at the bottom of the payment scale, boldly move yourself up and you will find those who are willing to pay.
Good luck to you and all freelancers. It is not easy, but worth it.
Jenn
Samantha Bangayan
June 8, 2011
So true about being difficult not to undervalue ourselves as freelancers, Jenn! If it wasn’t for some awesome mentors, I’d probably still be paid $3 per article ghostwriting. But that’s why I felt it was so important to write this post! =) Thanks for adding your advice and wisdom. Luck to all of us, indeed! =)
Christian Hollingsworth
June 9, 2011
I think no matter what I’m doing – it’s always important for me to realize how much I’m worth. Whether it’s creating something for someone, doing marketing, etc…my time is worth a price. ALL of our time is. And that’s why we trade it for a monetary value.
Thanks for the reminder. I’ll be looking into some of those freelance writing options. They look beneficial and fun!
Writing4Effect
June 14, 2011
Sorry, Christian, this comment went into my SPAM — go figure!
Samantha Bangayan
June 15, 2011
Such a powerful point, Christian! Thank you so much for reminding us all of the *real* lesson here! =)
Please do let me know if I can support some of your freelance writing efforts in any way! =)
Mike10613
June 10, 2011
In the UK freelance journalists report anonymously what they are earning to the NUJ (National Union of Journalist and writers take that as guide. It is currently around £400 for 1,000 words. That is a guide, the article or feature would need to be well researched for that sort of money (about $600 for 1,000 words) but often it takes a week to do research. They usually pay extra for photographs too. It is worth looking at you tax situation too because it can be worth selling a copyright here rather than accepting royalties. It’s a capital gain as opposed to income but the tax rules are complicated. I got advice from a tax inspector and in writing! It is helpful to talk to other writers doing similar assignments but few writer do the same sort of thing as me and I blog for free! It will pay eventually…
Samantha Bangayan
June 11, 2011
I must start off by saying, WOW! $600 is an amazing average for 1000 words, but it makes sense if they are freelance journalists rather than freelance writers. Are there any statistics on freelance writers in the UK? As you mention, journalists often need to do more research and conduct interviews in person. Maybe this is regular payment for people who query and write for the top magazines in the US.
Thanks for the note about looking at taxes. Maybe Sherry can follow-up with a stellar article on that! =)
Britt
June 30, 2011
Great guest post. This is something to think about. It’s also encouraging to know that freelancers aren’t doomed to the starving writer’s category. The linked article is useful as well. Currently, I write part-time for content mills. The pay is ver low 2.00-8.00 per article (usually on the lower end). I’m happy to discover these resources (especially you Sherry).
Samantha Bangayan
June 30, 2011
Thanks so much for the positive feedback, Britt! =) Sherry is a fabulous mentor and you’ll find a lot of great resources here on her blog to make sure you get paid way more than $8!! Since you have some writing experience under your belt. You should try writing for Demand Media Studios (relevant resources at the top of Sherry’s site)! =) And let me know how I can support you too!
Writing4Effect
June 30, 2011
Yes, Sam definitely has a knack for writing. I’m one of her biggest fans and followers. Although some disagree, I found that content mills are a great way to get grounded honing your pro writing skills. So happy that you’re a part of our community and glad we “discovered” you, too, Britt. Please do apply to Demand Media Studios (pays $15/per article) and/or wiseGEEK (pays $10 and $14/per article). Both pay a lot more than what you’re receiving now. When you’re comfortable (like Sam did!) branch out and start looking for better-paying work from the list of job sites I noted on my blog here at this link — http://writing4effect.wordpress.com/2011/04/28/writing-and-other-freelance-jobs/. Sam has a great post about setting up auto-alerts (RSS feeds) on iGoogle for Craigslist freelance writing job ads here — http://www.yellowbrickroad.com/follow/how-to-find-a-job-quickly-and-easily-with-igoogle/.
So you could even start doing that now if you want. Wishing you the BEST.
–Sherry
Luana Spinetti
July 4, 2011
Reading through this was so refreshing! Thanks Samantha. It’s true: sometimes (or better- often times) we don’t realize how worth our writing skills are. Writers get underpaid, that’s a sad truth, but it doesn’t need to ‘stay’ like that. The more good-paying opportunities we get, the better.
Samantha Bangayan
July 11, 2011
You are so very welcome, Luana! =) I’m no expert, but landing that one client made a huge difference in my life. I had no idea how valuable writing skills were. In fact, I just heard from a friend who’s seeing a writing coach that says she’s worth *quadruple* of what she’s been paid for years! That’s why we need to keep rooting for each other and supporting each other as writers. =)
Thanks so much for your encouraging comment! So great to meet you! =)