It helps a lot to have this info as you're setting your own freelance writing prices.

Just knowing what other writers charge for certain freelance writing gigs will help you a lot.

Now the idea here is not to undercut other writers. “He charges $25 for an article – so I’ll charge $23.50!” – is not at all what I’ve got in mind. In fact, if you do that, you’ll find yourself working for pennies pretty quickly, which is definitely not why you are trying to start a writing business in the first place.

Your goal is to learn the typical fees for projects you do often. Use them as a guide. It’s likely you’ll be shocked at how little you’re charging, compared to other freelance writers.

So how do you get this information? Just ask. Or, do a little Googling. Some writers post their prices on their sites – although I don’t recommend it, it’s an easy way to do some sleuthing. Keep track of the prices you find, updating them every time you hear or see what another writer is charging. You’ll quickly get a picture of how your rates compare. 

What do you do with the pricing information after you’ve found it? Use it to make some decisions about what clients are paying for different types of services, and adjust your bids accordingly. You are now armed with valuable information and you know a lot more about fair pricing.

Funny story – the very first freelance writing project I did was writing SEO articles. The gig was this: 600+ word articles, with original content, built on 100 different keywords – one per article. The deadline was tight – and the pay: a whopping $2 per article. And I was pretty proud to have landed the gig! After telling some relatives about it, my step-brother started laughing. He said I needed to get an agent, because I was obviously on the losing end of the deal. I was shocked! Wait a minute – are you telling me that my words are actually worth something more than $.003 each? It was a turning point!

Raise your prices if they’re too low. You’re probably thinking, “My clients will FLIP if I raise prices on them!” And you may be right. It’ll take some discernment on your part. You may need to implement incremental increases for some. In other cases, you’d be surprised at how okay they really are with your increases ; if you’ve provided excellent writing services, they’ll most likely be happy to pay your new rate; they like your work and  it’s easier than finding another writer. Obviously, the easiest solution is to raise your prices for all new clients. It’s also good business to continually evaluate your client base, and fire the ones who are least profitable. Remember, that even though you are working for them, you are the one who decides WHO you are working for! Don’t be afraid to charge what you’re worth.

Sue LaPointe is the owner of WorkingWriterHappyWriter.com, a successful freelance writer, and writing coach. Come for a visit, and be sure to sign up for the free newsletter, Write Happy, which is full of great tips for building a successful writing business all your own.