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Unlocking the Mystery of Copywriting Pricing

by Steve Slaunwhite

Pricing can be a frustrating conundrum for many freelance writers and copywriters. That's because there is no standard fee guide in this industry. How much should you charge for a press release? One hundred dollars? Or one thousand? Who knows?

One way to unlock the mystery is to find out what experienced professionals are charging, and then set your fees accordingly.

How do you do that? Here are some tips:

• Make friends. Build a network of writers that you trust, and encourage a free exchange of pricing information. It's great when you can pick up the phone and ask: "Hey, Doug, how much do you charge to research keywords for a web page?"
  
  
• Find a supportive writer forum. I'm active in three writer forums, but maintain a list of dozens more. On many of these online water coolers, you can ask a question about pricing and immediately receive recommendations – sometimes from top experts.
  
  
• Books and reports. There are many books and reports available that include pricing information and the fee schedules of experienced copywriters. In fact, I'm coming out with a new special report next month – Pricing Your Writing Services – which features pricing guidelines for more than 100 project types.
  
  
• Copywriter websites. Conveniently, some copywriters publish their fees on their websites. Great information. Just be wary of those who list bargain basement rates in the misguided belief that this will attract clients. (Even if it does, do you really want to write a sales letter for twenty-five bucks?)
  
  
• Writing articles. I wrote an article many years ago on book ghostwriting, a topic I knew little about at the time. I interviewed three successful ghostwriters and asked them about their businesses – including how much they charge.

Pricing your copywriting services will always require some guesswork. But if you align your rates with what experienced professionals are charging, you'll attract better clients more often – and at better prices.

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