Once I get some articles published, I’ll see about either a full time gig, or more lucrative freelance work.

Keyword articles are articles that are written around a certain keyword or keyword phrase. For example, the client might ask you to include the keyword phrase of “stay at home jobs” in the article a certain number of times. Different clients will have different rules about how and where they want these phrases to be used within the article. As Julie F mentioned, these articles are written mostly to draw in search engine traffic, so the clients often are not looking for articles that are of the highest quality. When Julie F says she is working on a file of 4,000, she probably means her client has given her a list of 4,000 keywords/keyword phrases that she needs to create articles around. Some clients will ask you to insert several different keyword phrases within one article, but it sounds as if Julie F has landed a 4,000 article gig. Congrats to her! ( :

Think of- Pregnancy, trying to conceive, how to(insert thingy here)…and so on. Anything that someone may type into a search engine to find information on.

I’m working on a file of about 4,000 of those right now. Thank the gods I don’t have a deadline.

The majority of my items are in that $15 range, which explains my answer. That said, I knock out at least two DS articles in an hour, even if they require research, so I have been trying not to budge from a $30/hour rate. Anything lower has to be seriously fun. At this point, I realize I shouldn’t be writing ‘fun’ articles for outlets like AC–I should be pitching these ideas to targeted niche markets.

I also realized how much I’m missing out on by not querying for print. My new goal involves earning a higher price with some magazines, and quite honestly it would make me look a lot more reputable.

Thanks to everyone that has replied to these threads. Your comments have helped me.

Craiglist has had it’s share of flops. But my highest-paying long term clients came from listings there. The key is to answer early, make your reply stand out, and deliver on your promises. With all the writers competing for the same jobs, it can be tough at times. But it only takes 1 or 2 fair-paying gigs to make your freelance life.

Linsey

Anyway, the web gig I found on this site was right up my alley (green and sustainability writing) and pays $.25 to $.50 per word, depending on sources and required research needed.

I have found several other wonderfully high paying clients through Craigslist and gotten leads on here for blogging jobs that pay around $100 for 500 word pieces. The more I work to demand higher rates, the more I see how valuable my work really is.

I think writers are often afraid to ask for a high rate, sometimes because the work comes so easily to us and is so enjoyable it doesn’t quite feel like work. But we deserve to be well paid! We have a unique gift.

I want to really support a notion LinseyK brought up a few days ago, reminding us that not all our work is billable. These rates we provide have to cover the hours each week we spend invoicing, networking, fretting, getting the mail, driving to the post office, etc. Our billable rates generally only take into account about 24 hours of our working week, with the rest spent on non-billable activities. When you think of it that way, it really puts your hourly rate into perspective.

This is a great discussion, Deb. Thanks for getting us going.

I can say that anyone who wants to know where I write for regularly can email me through my website (just click on the hyperlink in my name above) or check out my current list of clients on my website. I would also be happy to share some tips. Names I can share openly of companies that I have worked for regularly (over 6 months) include Red Plum.com (owned by Valassis), Consupo.com, and I also write via a very successful revenue sharing model for Wise Bread.com and Parenting Squad.com. If anyone is interested in blogging for the latter two, I have info (or visit the killeracesmedia website for details on applying – (http://killeraces.com/) You can also look for me via LinkedIn on my homepage and see all the places I do business.

I also started pitching print mags (one I got some nice clips going), but I found that I have really helped out my reputation by trying to get some media mentions as a writer in my niches. I can also give some advice there, if anyone is interested.

There is no one way to build a successful freelance business. I’ve read all the books, and I take a little from each and design my own “game plan.” I do enjoy what I do, and it’s nice to be self-sufficient for once. Best of luck to everyone!

Linsey

I know you might be polled out by now, but is there any way you would consider taking a poll of what freelancers make on an annual basis? I’m curious to see where I fit in.

Most gigs I find are on here or CL. I’ve written for an online custom publication put out by Bausch and Laumb, it was my highest paid for 500 words. The people who put it together are 2E Creative, nice folks.

My first print work appeared in Western New York Family Magazine, the others were in Baton Rouge Family. Both pay fairly, though WNY Family more so. Baton Rouge took a bit to pay up, editor turned out to be out on injury.

I get revenue from a few articles on eHow and AC. More from eHow. I like the freedom to write something and get a bit in paypal each month for short, quick articles.

Some people do not share because of confidentiality. Others do not want the competition. It just depends on the writer, really.

I mean, I get $12 per super-mini article at one place, ten times a week. I also get $30 per regular article 3 times a week elsewhere.

Are we talking regular gigs or the most we’ve ever gotten?

If we’re talking average, per month, in a steady gig? $1000.

I refuse to do ‘keyword’ articles – only creative content that I enjoy writing.