The WMF Archives: Here's Exactly How Writers Move Up and Get Paid More Money

Thursday, June 24, 2010

Here's Exactly How Writers Move Up and Get Paid More Money

6:00 AM

Even though I've put up a lot of blog posts about how writers can earn more, I find there's still a missing link for many writers. They hear about $800 articles, $125 blogs, $20,000-a-year copywriting clients, and their jaws drop. And they cannot figure out how to get from $20 articles to there.

So today, I'm going to teach you how.

One reader wrote me after reading my post on business blogging that talks about how my minimum contract for small-business clients is $1,000 for 8 blog posts. She wrote:

How do you do this? I just had a conversation with a new client and quoted him $75 per blog post. I really want to charge $100 per blog post. This client wants to try two blog posts per week. I know I'm a great blogger and have the experience to back it up. I really want to charge my rate and deserve it.

Plus, he wants web content writing. The content writing is for eight pages and the words will be from 60-100. I charged him $10 per page last time. I have a feeling I under charged and undercut myself. Any advice?

Oh, certainly I have advice. And my advice is simple: Stop offering to work for $10 a page.

Here is the secret of earning more. Look at your rate now, and raise it. Start saying your rate is $20 a page. Next month, say it's $40 a page. Then, say it's $80 a page. Repeat until you find you are earning at least $75 an hour.

So this is the part that terrifies writers. You think if you raise your rate, you won't have any clients. That is simply not true. You may have fewer clients at first -- but that'll be OK, because you are getting paid twice as much, or soon, eight times as much. So you'll need fewer clients.

How will you get new, better-paying clients? You'll have to get out of your comfort zone, and find better-quality prospects.

Who's a better prospect? A company or publication with something difficult they need solved, that not every writer on earth can do.

They need to explain insurance annuities to an audience of actuaries, or they want articles about technological advances in refrigeration units. Figure out what you know about that not everyone knows, and you've zeroed in on your target market for better pay.

Then, when you get in a negotiation, ask for real rates. It's just that simple. There's no magic. You'll actually have to screw up the gumption to ask for good pay.

If they say $300 for this article, take a deep breath and say, "I usually get $500." And see what happens. Maybe they'll tell you they can't go higher. But you'll be surprised how often you can get more, especially now with the economy improving.

If your client balks, you may have to educate them about why you're worth it. Maybe they'll walk away. That means they're not the right client for you -- they're too cheap.

But this is how writers earn more. They find clients with tough problems, and show they can solve them.

It really works. The writer who asked that question above? After talking to me, she went back and asked for $20 a page, and got it.

It's a start. That's how better income happens -- one notch up the ladder at a time. All it takes is a commitment to move up from where you are, to begin the climb. The universe will not likely hand you more money out of the blue. You will have to ask for it.

Have you raised your rates lately? Leave a comment and let us know how you found better-paying gigs.

Photo via Flickr user borman818

Labels: blogging, Carol Tice, earning more, mailbag, negotiating, writer pay

10 comments:

ceceliafutch said...: Thanks for another great post. I'm not a full-time writer, but I do write a lot and am considering how to make my writing a more profitable part of what I do. Thanks again.; June 24, 2010 7:30 AM
Rebecca said...: Another fabulous, inspirational post. I raised my rates and will stick to them. I was definitely one of those "scared" writers who didn't think I could increase my rates...It's all in my head! I fumbled a lot which is why I got discouraged. I had to "shake" that off and ask for the value I add to clients. There's no turning back.; June 24, 2010 8:12 AM
Lindsay Woolman said...: Hi Carol, great advice! I like how you've said this in such an uncomplicated way.

I have found it's very empowering to say no to the cheaper clients -- and you're right that new ones always show up. A lot of this is about trust.; June 24, 2010 11:45 AM
Carol Tice said...: You got it, Lindsay -- you gotta believe.

And of course, if you have the kind of clients where you can't get a raise from $20 an article because it's Demand or something...YOU'VE GOT THE WRONG KIND OF CLIENTS.; June 24, 2010 11:56 AM
Liza said...: As a new-to-the-business freelance writer, I'm quite pleased with the prices I've been able to request. So far, no one has batted an eye at what is averaging out to be more than $50 an hour, which I am pleased with for a start. I am working for small businesses mostly, and staying away from online opportunities that pay pennies. My issue though, is forcing myself to network for more clients. The hardest work is finding the work, as I guess most freelancers know.; June 24, 2010 1:01 PM
Carol Tice said...: I LOVE YOU LIZA! On behalf of the entire American freelance writing community, I'd like to thank you for being a smart cookie and realizing you don't have to start at Third World wages. IT CAN BE DONE!; June 24, 2010 2:13 PM
Rebecca Dienger said...: Carol,

Great post. I can attest to this. A wise business associate told me a long time ago that this is also the secret to weeding out the clients you may like, but who cost you money in scope creep, waffling and complaining - the ones you feel like you need but are actually holding you back from better work. If you raise your rates and they don't come back, you haven't really lost anything. If they come back anyway, you are making that same work worth your while.

We need to hear this over and over again until it sinks in. We are worth more and should stand confidently behind our rates. I just lost two clients this way and on some days I worry I did the wrong thing but I'm already finding other sources of income to replace them (and the nagging feeling of not being respected or valued is gone).

Thanks for keeping after us!; June 24, 2010 6:39 PM
Carol Tice said...: The ideal is to find the replacement client, then swap them out. But sometimes they just need to GO. And you have to trust that you can go out there and find a better client. I can tell you the marketing industry is really picking up, and there is more work out there, so now's a great time to raise rates and find better clients who'll pay them.; June 25, 2010 12:14 PM
allena said...: there are some obvious problems- yes, one is DS. another is people who simply don't HAVE a niche. another is that many of those making significantly less simply have to develop their writing skills more.

on the other hand, I've hired many writers, and the rates are just plain set. unfortunately, (or, on my end, fortunately) if someone doesn't like the rate, there are 5 others who do-- yes, even without sacrificing quality.

lastly- I feel that publishers and large companies are where the true $ is at.; June 25, 2010 12:42 PM
astrology4all said...: Hi friends, this is Dinesh from India. Is some one there to guide me that how can I earn on internet.

Regards,
Dinesh Sharma

astrologerdinesh@hotmail.com; July 10, 2010 5:52 AM