At the start of a freelance writing career, one issue that most freelancers struggle with is how to set rates for freelance copywriting and other freelance writing gigs. Most writers want to make sure that when they get paid to write, the fee they receive matches their experience and the amount of work they are actually doing.
There are several ways to work out the right fees for a freelance writing job. Writers can charge based on an hourly rate that takes into account not just writing time, but research and other overheads. However, to get even closer to finding the right rate for the job, there are a few online resources that can help.
Finding Rates for Online Freelance Writing
One answer to the issue of rates for freelance writing is to join a professional association that provides information for members. One example is the National Writer's Union. This provides a list of rates for a wide range of copywriting jobs. It is aimed mainly at people working for US clients.
A similar resource is provided by Writer's Market. This online directory of writing markets provides a list of rates for different freelance writing opportunities for members. The list gives low, high and average rates, making it easy for writers to decide where to position themselves.
Get Help With Freelance Rates In Canada
Writers who are writing for the North American market, but don't want to pay a membership fee to access this information can use the list provided by Writers.ca. This includes rates for online freelance writing, business writing, ghostwriting, editing, journalism and more. The range of fees is wide, but this site gives writers a good starting point for setting freelance writing rates.
Free Guide to Freelance Writing Rates in Europe
One of the most comprehensive resources for finding out what clients are paying for freelance writing now is the Freelance Fees Guide published by the National Union of Journalists in England. This freely available database is a useful resource for freelance writers working with clients in the UK and Europe. As well as the usual categories covered by other guides listed above, the Freelance Fees Guide includes fees for photography and illustration, design work, creating crosswords, translation and more.
This guide is updated a couple of times each month by union members, so it has the latest information. In addition, it includes fee information for specific publications, which can be useful when bidding for freelance writing gigs.
Sharon Hurley Hall - I am an expert web content writer, with more than 20 years' experience writing for newspapers, magazines and websites. I write ebooks, web ...
