How much do you Charge per Word?
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.
