To make more money as a freelance writer, you can simply raise your project fees or hourly rate. As you can imagine, when you begin to charge more you will begin to earn more as well. Of course, there are some things to keep in mind when it comes to raising freelance writing rates.
1. Never increase your rates too much. In my opinion, anything more than a 10 percent increase at a time is probably too much. Could you get away with more? Sometimes yes, sometimes no. But in the interest of not annoying clients, you do not want to get out of control.
2. You cannot get away with increasing your rates every month. Instead, make sure that you only do so once a year at the most. Many freelance writers have a set month each year when they consider raising their rates. For the most part, the best month of the year to do this is January; but it is up to you.
3. When current clients ask why your rates have increased, make sure that you have a good answer. You can’t say, “Because I felt like it.†If you are rude to clients who ask this question, they may decide to move onto another writer.
4. What will you do when a client says that your new rates are too high for them? Will you cut them a break, or stick to your guns? Remember, if you immediately offer them the old rate just to keep their business, they will think that they are not subject to any changes in the future. This is not to say that you should never negotiate, but be very careful with what you say and do.
5. Before you raise your rates, research the industry as well as what other freelance writers are charging. Even if you are a great writer, charging more than everybody else may not get you very far. When your rates are among the highest of the high, you can only attract a special type of clientele.
Simply put, when you raise your freelance writing rates you will see an increase in income. The only way that this will not work out is if your current clients begin to drop you because you have asked for too much. Keep the above tips in mind so that you can increase your rates each year without putting anybody off.Â
There used to be a day when freelance writers had to send query letters to editors via snail mail. While this is still commonplace to a certain extent, in most cases you should be able to make contact via email. This is always easier than sending regular mail, but along with this form of communication comes several do’s and don’ts.
Here are three tips for successfully communicating with editors via email.
1. Your initial email needs to be perfect. This means that your query letter should include all of the proper information, and just as importantly, it needs to be free of typos. If you are going to find your contacts in Writer’s Market, you will also be able to find information on what to include in your query letter.
On a side not, you should personalize every email that you send. In other words, do not use a generic email for every editor that you contact. If you do, they will see right through this and it will greatly hurt your chances of a response.
2. Many people would rather email editors because it is quicker and simpler than snail mail. But unless you know for sure that the editor accepts email queries, you do not want to go this route. Remember, not every editor likes to receive tons of email. Many of them prefer the old fashion query letter sent through the mail.
3. Make sure that you include all of your contact information in your first email to an editor. When sending a letter by mail, this is something that most people remember 99 percent of the time. But when it comes to email, they often times forget. In addition to your email address, you will also want to include your phone number and mailing address. This way, the editor has all of the information they need to get in touch with you in a number of different ways.
Keep these tips in mind when communicating with editors via email. They are particularly useful for the initial contact with an editor.
Many people are under the impression that freelance writers work a lot for very little pay; sort of like struggling musicians. While this can be the case for some, there are just as many who are earning solid wages. One of the quickest ways to increase your freelance writing income is to break into the markets that pay the most money. Early in my career, one of my main goals was to find publications that paid $1/word or more. Writing for publications like this can quickly turn a meager income into a substantial income. After all, one feature length article could work out to a couple thousand dollars.
Now that you have seen the income potential, you are probably interested in learning how to break into these markets, right? Here are three tips to follow.
1. Before you can do anything else, you need gain some experience. Remember, you cannot start out earning $1/word. You must first gain experience with lesser known publications, and then work your way up. There is no easy way around this.Â
2. While you are working lower paying gigs, take the time to compile a list of publications that pay $1/word or more. This way, you can begin to align your career to match what these publications are looking for. For instance, if you want to break into high paying fashion magazines, write for lower paying publications in this industry. This will allow you to gain relative experience and work samples. To find these publications, buy a copy of Writer’s Market, or become a member of their online service.
3. Make as many connections as you can along the way. In several instances, I have had satisfied editors pass my name along to others in the industry. Additionally, you never know when a current connection will land a new job with a bigger publication. If this happens, you have a contact to call on from day one. Simply put, stay connected with as many editors and writers as possible.
It may take a while for you to break into these high paying markets. But when you do, your freelance writing career will become much more enjoyable. As you can imagine, becoming a regular writer for two or more of these publications will net you big time money.Â
