As a freelance writer you are going to be asked the following question time and time again: how much do you charge per word? This is something that many people/companies will ask before they hire you for a project. While it may seem like an innocent question, you have to be careful about how you answer. The last thing you want to do is underbid and find yourself working for less than what you believe to be fair.
Before you ever talk money with a potential client, make sure you have a very good idea of what the project will entail. This way you can put together some reasonable numbers, and in turn answer all questions that are asked of you.
If you do not feel comfortable giving an instant quote, tell the client that you will get back to them as soon as possible with more information. This will give you time to think about the task at hand, and decide how much you will charge per word.
Don’t feel comfortable charging per word for a particular project? If so, you need to explain this to your client while giving an alternative. For instance, you may want to quote a per project price for one reason or the next. Whether or not the client accepts this is another story entirely. They may have their own reasons for wanting you to work on a per word basis.
It goes without saying that you have a general idea of your per word rate. Just remember that each and every project is unique. You have to be careful with the numbers that you spit out.
Time and time again you will be asked how much you charge per word. Make sure you give an accurate quote, based on the project as well as the client’s needs.
As the month of September gets into full swing, I have a couple openings in my freelance writing course. I am happy to say that one of the two members who just left me is now working as a full-time writer. This always puts a smile on my face!
If you have any interest in snatching one of the two available slots, contact me as soon as possible. Generally speaking, openings usually fill up within 24 hours.
No matter if your goal is to go full-time or simply learn more about a particular aspect of the industry, I can help.
I hope to have a couple more of you onboard soon enough!
One of the best ways to increase your income as a freelance writer, while ensuring that you stay busy at all times, is to land long term clients. Of course, this is easier said than done. Everybody wants to find clients that are willing to give them work, month in and month out. As soon as possible, determine if a client will be around for the long haul.
Have you asked? There is nothing wrong with asking your client if they are going to have more work in the future. In fact, they will be glad to hear that you are willing to help them now as well as down the line. Some freelance writers dance around this question, when they should really just come out and ask.
In many cases, you can look at the amount of work you have received in the past in order to find your answer. If you have been working for a client for several months and a slowdown is not imminent, you may have the answer to your question. Of course, firming this up with your client is never a bad idea.
Many clients will tell you up front, before you take on the first project, whether or not they will need your services over the long run. I have found that many clients want to keep you on board for as long as possible because this cuts back on the time they have to spend finding somebody else to work with.
As long as you do good work and continue to look for the right types of clients, you will eventually find those that are willing to keep you around for an extended period of time.
