It’s understandable. Shady publishers and editors prey on vunerable writers who want to see their names in print. Writers are constantly burned by “write for free now and earn later” promises in which “later” never comes.

However, in the angry buzz of the debate something gets lost. Choice and education. There will always be writers who consider using their talent without traditional compensation. Instead of helping writers make informed decisions, we  as a community often take the abstinence-only approach – IT’S WRONG, NEVER DO IT.

Is it really free?

The first step to weighing a work-for-free option is to look at whether the project has any compensation opportunities. Writers work in exchange for items and services all the time. A little web content work in exchange for a new website. A little PR work in exchange for lessons from a yoga studio.

Just be sure that you follow three simple rules when bartering services:

1. Set clear boundaries. Define the services you will provide and the services or products you expect in return. This prevents misunderstandings and keeps either party from taking advantage of the “freebie” situation.
2. Determine cost. It should be expected that your standard rates are used for services you provide.
3. Put it in writing. This is not only helpful for tax and business record purposes, it makes the transaction official and binding.

Is it for the greater good?

Wielding a hammer may not be some people’s idea of how they want to volunteer, but wielding a keyboard may feel just right. Providing writing services to help a charity or organization is a good thing. Sweating over a keyboard or a hot stove both take time and effort and each can be a great help to someone in need.

Are you prepared for the lack of payoff?

Writing for exposure. *Sigh* That’s a tricky one. Certain publications swear by it, but when their blog only reaches 12 people and four of those are family members, the “exposure” doesn’t help a writer one bit. Then you have the Huffington Post model: huge reach and definite opportunities for exposure. However, when the publication makes a deal for a large sum of money, whether it’s for advertising or through the sale of the blog, there will be writers who feel slighted when left out of the monetary windfall.

There is, of course, the possibility that exposure may never come. Before you get into an “exposure” deal,

1. Use metrics to define success. How many blog hits, how many subsequent work requests, book sales, etc.
2. Recognize and get comfortable with not being able to eat, spend or pay bills with exposure. Exposure has to translate into dollars through other avenues to be successful.
3. Have a time limit and exit strategy. Give the exposure enough time to produce results, but have an end date in place if it doesn’t show signs of panning out.

Can you afford to do it?

Whether working in exchange for goods and services, as a volunteer or for “exposure,” carefully weigh the costs of the commitment. There are time costs, including time away from other business-growing opportunities, i.e. querying, working on gigs for other clients, etc. There are also actual costs: electricity, Internet, the standard writing rate… This is one of those tough choices that a writer has to make from a business perspective, especially if the project will be ongoing.

Most of the time I’m against writing for free. It distracts writers from doing things that can both further their careers and enable them to pay bills. Writing for experience can be accomplished while making money – don’t let anyone tell you otherwise. There are, however, situations in which free can work out for writers though they are not as common as “job” listings would have you believe. It’s a personal, business decision that should be made with research and with realistic expectations.

Have you written for “free?” Why or why not? What other things should writers consider when weighing a non-traditional pay option?

Let me preface my opinion on this topic by saying I don’t think anyone should judge why another person takes one job over another.  Every person, whether they’re a writer, an actor, a business person, or work in any other profession, has unique experiences, education and circumstances.  To judge another person’s willingness to take a job that is unpaid or low paying is completely unfair.  Until you walk a day in that person’s shoes, you don’t know what his or her circumstances are that makes that person choose to work for a rate that you feel is too low.

Have I taken writing jobs early in my career that were unpaid?  Yes.  As a matter of fact, I still write for a couple of publications for free because the exposure they give me to a broad audience is just as valuable to me as money would be.

Have I taken writing jobs early in my career when I was trying to build a portfolio that were grossly underpaid?  Yes.  Again, a writer has to start somewhere and getting a portfolio is important to attracting future clients.

Now, there is a ugly little thing called online article farms of which I am not a fan.  However, just because they’re not right for me, doesn’t mean that they’re not perfectly acceptable to another person.  I have no intention of judging how another person values their time and their work.  In fact, that process is none of my business.  Based on my experience, I can give unbiased tips and suggestions and try to steer people in safe directions, but if a person is okay with writing a blog post for $3 because they need the money or need to build a portfolio, then that’s their choice.

To recap, I’ve written for free.  I’ve written for the promise of a very meager portion of ad revenue on a site.  I’ve written blog posts for as low as $4 per post when I was first building an online portfolio and brand.  Each of these opportunities helped me build up my search engine rankings, so they served a dual purpose for me.  I avoided writing for sites that could damage my online brand (meaning they didn’t offer the quality of content that I wanted to associate my brand with) as soon as I could, and I made sure any low paying opportunity would help me to indirectly build my business.

Finally, I would never presume to judge another person who takes a low paying writing job because they need the money.  If employers are willing to hire people for low rates, and there are employees who are willing to do the work for that pay, then the rates those employers offer aren’t going to go up anytime soon.  As with most careers, there are varying levels of pay, and there are different types of employers.  It’s up to you to choose which pay rates you’re willing to accept based on your level of experience, goals, and financial needs, and it’s up to you to choose which employers you’re willing to work for based on their pay rates and reputations.

The goal for writers is to build up your portfolio with quality work, so in time, you can get even better jobs.  The path to growth and success isn’t different for a writer than it is for anyone pursuing a career.

Bottom-line, do I like that employers get away with paying writers less than minimum wage?  No, but we work in a global industry now where we compete with writers throughout the world who are willing to work for very different rates and for very different reasons.  I just don’t judge anyone else for taking a low paying job, because they have their reasons.  At Freelance Writing Jobs, I hope writers can learn that over time, they don’t have to take those low paying jobs anymore.  It might not happen overnight (in fact, that would be a rare occurrence), but with patience and determination, it can happen.  Freelance Writing Jobs tries to communicate the information, tips, and direction you need to make it happen.

That’s why I published the new comment policy yesterday.  Comments that attack other people for taking low paying jobs or insult people, etc., will be deleted.  Professional debate is always welcome.  Remember, attack the argument, not the person.

Now, enough of the guidelines and process stuff and back to learning about freelance writing …

Next up, how to build your online brand and reputation, which will probably be a multi-part series since branding is one of my first loves and is so important for anyone trying to build a business these days since it is tied so closely to search engine optimization.

Oh, and back to shorter posts tomorrow, too.  Long posts on blogs are not fun, but sometimes, it has to be done.  Sorry about that.  Shorter tomorrow!

Image: stock.xchng

As we discussed in yesterday’s piece about the dark side of freelance writing, sometimes freelance writing clients try and get out of paying us or flat out rip us off. While it’s true that it happens, it’s also true that there are things we can do to prevent being taken advantage of by our freelance writing clients. In fact, there are a few simple measures to put in place to make sure we’re paid as promised.

Prevent Being Ripped Off By Your Freelance Writing Clients

1. Request a contract: Do you make sure your clients put it in writing? You’d be surprised at how many don’t. Even though an email exchange is as binding as a contract, it’s still a best practice to get a signed document up front detailing what is expected of you, what is expected of them and all terms and conditions. Clients are less likely to take advantage of freelance writers who have an independent contractors agreement or contract in place. This post provides links to several sample contracts.

2. Request a kill fee: What happens when you complete an assignment for a client and he kills the project even though you did the work? Many magazines and some clients will pay a kill fee for assignments that end up not being used. Kill fee amounts are generally 20% to 50% of the originally agreed-upon fee, and while they’re not the full amount at least there is the promise of some payment should your editor decided she isn’t going to use your work. Writers get kill fees when the project isn’t published or used through no fault of their own. If writers miss deadlines or don’t deliver what they promised, the client may wish to withhold payment due to breach of contract.

3. Request a late charge: It’s a good idea to negotiate a late charge into your contract. If you’re not paid within the allotted time, the client will have to pay a certain percentage for each week or month payment is in arrears.This isn’t necessarily to get you more money, but the client will think twice before putting off payment. If a client refuses to negotiate a late fee into a contract, ask yourself why.

4. Request a deposit: Many freelancers will request a 25% to 50% deposit in order to begin the project. A deposit is a good faith measure for both parties. The clients is confident the deposit will motivate the writer to do the best possible job and the freelancer already has part of the payment ensuring cash flow and, with payment in place, it starts the project off on the right foot.

Do you put any of these measures in place for your freelance writing clients? Do you find they create more trust?

Tell us how you make sure you’re not ripped off.

We often talk of the benefits of freelance writing, extolling on its flexibility and comfort. Something we don’t cover enough is what I call the “dark side”  of freelance writing including scammers and non payers. One thing I learned over the years is how so many freelancers are embarrassed after being “stiffed” and don’t want to admit they’d been had. I don’t think there’s anything to be ashamed of. The more we talk about these situations, the more ammunition we have to protect ourselves against unsavory clients.

Here’s a question for you: What do you do if a client doesn’t pay?

Clients don’t pay for a variety of reasons. Sometimes, their intentions are honorable, but they ran out of funding. Sometimes they’re counting on the writer not to pursue legal action because they don’t feel it to be worth the time, and sometimes they’re just scamming to get something for nothing. There are occasions however, when the client forgets. It’s best to give your client the benefit of the doubt. At least at first.

When I worked in publishing, I was the “check is in the mail” girl. I was the one who had to promise payment was coming, even though it wasn’t. I can tell you I wasn’t comfortable with this, and it was one of the many reasons I left publishing for good. However, it also puts me in a good position to discuss this issue with you today.

If your client misses a payment:

Check your contract. Nothing annoys a client more than if writers start nagging for payment before the agreed upon time period. For example, if payment is to be 15 or 30 days within receipt of the finished product,  and you’re looking for payment the day after submitting your work, your client won’t feel the love.  Wait until that period is over and then:

• Issue a gentle reminder - Don’t demand payment. Instead send a copy of the invoice or a past due notice. Give it one week to ten days.
• Call – After a reasonable amount of time passes, call.  You will probably be able to gauge whether or not your client is putting you off by the tone of his or her voice. If you have to call more than once and never get put through to your contact, or if the client never has time to talk to you, there’s a pretty good chance he’s putting off payment …at least for a little while. If he apologizes and promises to get payment out, ask for a firm date. Make sure he knows you’re holding him to it.
• Call again – I know, this is getting to be a pain in the butt, right? Now it’s time to start getting annoying. If the client didn’t send you payment as planned, bug him. Bug him every couple of days or once a week if you need to. You did the work and you deserve payment.
• Write – Let your client know when you’re going to have seek other action. Send a copy of your letter to his supervisor, the CEO and the head of the accounting department. If this is just a person and not a business, you can’t obviously can’t do this. However, all letters sent of this nature should be certified and a return signature requested.

If they’re not paying you and keep putting you off, you can take several courses of action:

• Put a halt to any work and future work you’re doing for this client: If they’re not paying you for past jobs, your chances of being paid for subsequent opportunities are slim to nil. Ask yourself if you should continue writing for this client, or put off work at least until you’re paid.
• Offer a payment plan: If your client is short on funds and you have a good relationship with her, offer a payment plan. It might be easier for her to pay $50 per week for one month instead of a lump payment of $200.
• Take it over his head: If your client isn’t the head honcho, you may have to go over his head. Find out who else to talk to. Contact a V.P or the person in charge of accounting. They may not even be aware you’re having problems.
• Threaten legal action: Many clients will count on your not having the time, money or inclination to seek legal recourse. They’re right. Not many freelancers wish to take legal action. They don’t want to deal with court fees or attorneys. Small claims court will allow a judge to hear your side if the amount in arrears is under $3000.  You don’t need to contract an attorney for small claims court and you can request your client pay any court fees if you win. Yes, it takes time, but it also sends the message you’re not someone to be messed with.
• Report them: Let your client know that you will report him to the Better Business Bureau, Ripoff.com and offer warnings among the freelance writing community if he doesn’t pay. Anyone who doesn’t want his name tarnished will pay up immediately.

You deserve to receive  compensation for your work. If you’re not receiving payment you can always write it off as, “Oh well…I’m only out $500″ or you can say, “This person took up my time and best effort and I deserve to receive payment for my hard work.” Don’t worry about burning bridges. Clients who don’t pay aren’t so concerned about a good relationship, after a certain point this should be the least of your concerns as well.

If you’re not paid and you let it go, you’re only paving the way for other writers not to get paid. Moreover, you’re going to earn yourself a reputation as a pushover. Trust me, I know. I worked for someone who counted on pushovers. Those who didn’t make a big fuss fell through the cracks. As far as I know, they’re still hanging out there today.

Have you ever been ripped off by a client? How did you handle it?

Straight writing is one thing, but if your client is adding bells and whistles, make it clear the rates are going up. We all know interviews, research, mileage and expenses are often added into rates. However, there are other considerations as well:

• SEO: Are you expected to research keywords, use them a certain amount of times in an article, and, in general, write an entire article around keywords or phrases? This is extra work and should be figured into your rate.

• Promotion: Are you expected to create a social media presence and visit blogs and forums to promote your blog or website and bring in traffic? If so, this adds additional time to the project and should be included in your rate quote.

• Community: Are you expected to moderate and respond to a community? If so,  this is additional work and should be negotiated into your contract.

The above-referenced items are all things that will add more time to each project. Your time is worth money and it’s up to you to make sure you’re adequately compensated.

What are some of the extra items that your clients tack on to a project? Do you raise your rates to reflect the increase in work?

Tip: Use the Freelance Switch Hourly Rate Calculator to help determine a rate for your project.

I’m noticing an interesting trend with each new crop of freelance writers.  They’re earning money but they have no clue if they’re pulling a profit. They’re making ends meet, but they don’t necessarily have money to put away. Many don’t even factor in taxes or overhead which can be a rude awakening during tax time.

With that in mind, I’d like to offer up my brilliance for the day:

The purpose of any business is to pull a profit. If this isn’t happening, you may not be making good decisions…or you may not be aware you’re not making good decisions.

Here are some things to consider:

• If you’ve been freelancing for years and you’re still struggling to make ends meet, there’s a problem.
• If you pay the bills but you’re not able to put aside money for anything else, there’s a problem.
• If you started out with low paying clients to get your feet wet, and you’re still working for the same pay a couple of years later, there’s a problem.

Let’s the swap scenarios with the real world for a bit

Consider this: if you work for anyone, whether it’s fast food or a Fortune 500 company, there’s a good chance you’re going to get at least periodic cost of living increases in pay, right? It should be the same with freelance writing. As your skillset, client base and expertise rise to new levels, so should your rates. If things are the same for you as they were three years ago,  you’re going to have to make some decisions:

• Am I truly cut out for this business?
• Should I raise my rates?

If you haven’t raised your rates in years, you’ll want to ask yourself why. Is it:

• because you’re afraid of losing your clients?
• because you’re afraid clients will say no?
• because you don’t know what to raise your rates to?

First let’s explore whether you’re earning enough now.

Not only should you be supporting your family or supplementing your income, but you should also be able to stash something away for taxes, healthcare if needed, and business expenses.  Ideally, you’ll also have something to put in the bank. If you’re not at least earning enough to put away for those business expenses, you need to charge more or find higher paying opportunities to balance out your lower paying opportunities.

Next let’s take a look at what you need to do to bring in more income:

You’ll need to assess a new rate of pay. What would you like to be earning and why aren’t you earning it now? What is the minimum you can charge and still earn a profit?

Now, most long-term clients won’t balk at a pay raise request, not if you’ve been working for them for a while at the same rate, and not if you turn in consistently good work and meet or exceed their expectations. They understand you need to make a profit, they’re business people too.

You’ll also want to weigh out whether or not you’ll lose clients if you increase your rate of pay, and if so, will you still be able to make ends meet. Negotiating is fine, but you don’t want your clients to have the upper hand in the pay discussion. You may have to walk away and find clients who are willing to pay your price if it means you’ll receive the rate and respect you deserve.

It’s just good business

It’s one thing to start out low, it’s another to stay low. All established businesses raise their rates periodically and you should too. If you’re not making a profit, you need to sit down and figure out the reason why. There’s more to life than just getting by.

Are you making a profit? If not, why?

Jodee Remond featured a thought-provoking discussion the other day in her post “Do You Want to Hear About What Other Freelance Writers Are Making.” In this post, Jodee discussed whether or not freelancers should disclose their income to other freelancers. Many freelance writers are very interested in what others earn, so much so that some writing forums have regular threads where many of the writers list their income for the month. While I agree that it can be very motivating to learn some freelancers are earning $4,000 to $6,000 per month, I also feel that this information is useless without knowing how the freelancer earned that money and how much time was spent working.

Before you ooh and aaah over a freelance writer’s paycheck, keep these factors in mind:

1. There are different types of writing

I can tell you I earned $6,000 last month but what does that really tell you? For example, I have a variety of clients, plus I earn income from my blog, ebook and coaching service. For some freelancers $5,000 equals full time work for one company, while others might bring that in for a single grant writing project. Still others handle a variety of tasks for a variety of clients. If there’s going to be a discussion of rates and earnings, there should also be a breakdown of earnings.

2. The requirements going in to each bit of writing is different

A blog post might take 30 minutes to write off the top of one’s head, while a client’s brochure project will take some planning and a few in house meetings. A magazine article requires heavy research and interviews and a newspaper report features in depth investigation. So it stands to reason if a blogger earned $150 for three hours of work and a journalist earned $150 for a week’s worth of research and writing for one article, the blogger earned a higher hourly rate. Knowing the type of writing and what goes into each bit of writing makes all the difference in the world in a discussion of rates.

3. Everyone has different situations

I don’t care how much other writers earn, because my situation is different. I don’t need to earn as much or as little as the next guy. One person might be a hobbyist while another needs to do this full time. When entering into a rates discussion with other freelancers, keep in mind that Freelancer A might have only earned $150 last month because she’s just doing this to earn a little shopping money. Freelancer B, on the other hand, works full time and her $5,000 is reflective of her situation. Freelancer A doesn’t have to work, Freelancer B has no choice. Drive and attitude mean everything.

4. How much time is spent on administrative tasks?

Looking through the job boards, cold calling, even sifting through the titles at the various article writing sites takes time. Whether you realize it or not, this is all part of the job. So is making collection calls, handling the finances, and responding to email. When you factor in the time spent on administrative tasks, what does it do to your hourly rate? When you compare your expenses to someone else’s factor in every single thing that goes into each task and divide it up pay by hours worked. You may be surprised at what you find.

5. The experience factor

A published author or seasoned journalist will no doubt command a higher rate than someone who has never done this before. Experience plays a big factor in how much a single writer earns. That doesn’t mean a newer writer can’t, and shouldn’t, do well. It only means you shouldn’t be disheartened to learn of another writer who is earning so much more. It only means that person has the experience and knows how to hustle, play the game and command the higher rates. Hopefully you’ll soon realize you can do better and reach for the stars.

Do you enter into rates discussions with other freelance writers? If so, do you consider the whole big picture – and does it make a difference?

The choice is up to each individual writer. However, if you’re considering a move away from the easy gigs to more lucrative freelance writing opportunities, these suggestions might help.

Call

We’ve talked about cold calling here before, and even cold emailing. There are so many places that hire writers but don’t advertise because they receive word of mouth recommendations or queries via phone or email. For some reason the idea of calling for work terrifies freelancers or makes them feel as if they’re on telemarketing territory. I can tell you the first few times are the hardest. After a while you begin discovering ways to schmooze the receptionist for information or getting past her to the people doing the hiring. Freelancing is all about sales, to be a success, you can’t be shy about selling yourself.

Hint: rather than navigating a phone menu to nowhere or leaving a message that won’t be returned, press “0″ to speak with a real live person, or see if you can be put through to human resources or editorial. At the very least, try and get the name of the person who hires freelance writers so you can send him a letter and some samples of your stuff.

Ask

Do your friends’ clients have extra work? Are your friends outsourcing during the holidays? Do other bloggers and web masters hire writers? Does your brother’s firm hire freelancers? Does your aunt’s real estate business need someone to write captions for websites and local guides? How will you know if you don’t ask? Everyone has the potential to become a client, even friends, family and neighbors.

Hint: Keep business cards at the ready so you can hand it to potential clients to keep on file.

Educate

Take control of your own destiny by establishing your expertise and teaching others. Create ebooks and courses and apply for speaking engagements. These will put you on the radar and get your name out there. It will help to build your brand.  It will help you to generate a residual income while between gigs. People looking for expert writers will land upon your courses or blogs and want to hire you to help them out. Those with a true expertise command very high paychecks.

Hint: Give sample copies of ebooks and courses to influential people to review. Their recommendations will help create new readers and new clients.

Network

Network online and off. Build relationships with potential clients, other writers and influential personalities. When folks know your name, they’ll think about you for their projects. They’re more likely to hire someone they trust over someone they don’t know at all.

Hint: It’s all about relationships. Don’t just spam people with your stuff, create conversations. Talk with them. Build trust.

Think Outside the Box

Don’t only count on the job boards. There’s a whole, big world out there and it’s yours for the taking. Think about all the people who can hire writers and plan a strategy for approaching all these people and businesses. See what you can do to make yourself stand out. Why would this company want to hire you, a freelance writer they never heard of, over reaching into their pool of freelancers for writing projects? Don’t send a cover letter and resume. Tailor a creative pitch to show them you’re worth the money.

Hint: Make it your mission to thoroughly research each business before you reach out. What are their strengths and weaknesses? What can you do generate more sales or build up their clientele? How can you build up their products or draw interest to their websites?

What are some of your suggestions for moving away from the easy gigs.

Last week I posted a job ad for a business looking to start a website from scratch. He laid out a flat fee of $5,000 for the project. Now, I can’t speak for him but I’m assuming he received a good response. He offered a fair wage for his project and I almost considered applying for it too. Something interesting happened in the comments – or rather the deleted comments. Though the client already proposed a fair rate, several writers bid lower in the comments. A couple of people bid much lower. As in way too low to make the project worth the rate. One commentator proposed $500. I didn’t let the comment through as I felt it sent the wrong message.

I ask you, if a client is willing to pay $5000, why bid $500?

I’m all for freedom of choice and taking lower paying opportunities to start out, but to bid so low on a project is a little foolish and reeks of desperation. If I was the client, I’d wonder why this writer would reject a $5000 fee in favor of a payment that made no sense.

• Bidding $500 instead of $5000 show lack of good judgment. No one wants to hire a writer who lacks good judgment.
• When a client reads a proposal, he shouldn’t be confused by it. He’ll spend more time wondering why the writer bid $500 when he already laid out a price, than he will looking at this writer’s qualifications.
• The client will wonder why you value your writing so low. It’s one thing to knock $200 off the price, it’s quite another thing to knock off $4500.

There’s a time and a place for bidding lower to get a gig, this isn’t it. This isn’t even a “bid on” type project. The client laid out a good, fair price. To not accept it and bid extremely low is doing yourself a great disservice. Before you undercut other writers, think about what it says about you. The answers might not be as you expected. Moreover, if a client lays out a price, he’s not looking for a bid. If this writer wanted to stand out, this isn’t the way to do it. Instead she should work on submitting a solid proposal, one that outlines her strengths and lets the client know why she’s the best person for the gig. If she’s the right writer for the job she’ll get it regardless of whether it’s $500 or $5000.

She may have stood out with her lower bid, but not in the right way.

I’m a firm believer in each writer setting his own rates, but sometimes in our eagerness we get in our own way. What are your thoughts on this? If a client proposes a fee, would you bid much lower in hopes of catching his attention?

I keep coming back to Jodee Redmond’s post “Will Taking a Low Paying Freelance Writing Job Hurt Your Career?” I already wrote about my thoughts on this topic and I don’t wish to bring it up again, however one of the comments is sticking in my mind. In fact, I’ve been mulling it over for days.

Content Sites Aren’t Keeping You From Higher Paying Freelance Writing Opportunities

In the comments  for that blog post, I mentioned how there have always been low paying gigs, whether they’re with literary journals or as the resident freelancer for a graphic design studio. In fact, I remember freelance writers clamoring for a gig paying minimum wage when I worked in publishing in the 80′s and 90′s. My point was that these jobs didn’t keep anyone from aspiring to do better or finding higher paying work back in the day, and the entry level opportunities we see today shouldn’t keep us from it either, if that’s our choice.

I said:

There have always been low paying opportunities for writers, for example, the literary magazine paying five dollars or the newspaper column paying $15.

None of these jobs lowered the rates or drove away the high paying jobs (though, in all honesty, there was a time I thought this would be the case). There have been a handful of freelancers visiting the FWJ community over the years who continuously speak out against he entry level gigs and their rates of pay, but has it really affected their situations? These writers set a standard and won’t go below that standard, yet still complain about the rates and the “content mill jobs” as if they’re affecting their livelihood. They’re not. Writers who won’t settle below a certain amount are still finding work, otherwise they would have thrown in the towel a long time ago.

The commentator posted this in response:

Check out the Indeed listings and others-dominated by the content mills. The literary journals never occupied position one.

No, because literary journals didn’t advertise on traditional classified advertising sites. We didn’t have all these Internet jobs back then so you can’t compare. Literary journals only advertised in the back of Writer’s Digest or other writing newsletters. I agree it’s annoying to see hundreds of ads for the same company occupying the hundreds of slots on the job search engines, but that doesn’t mean there are no good freelance writing jobs, it simply means you may have to dig a little deeper.

Stop Looking for Excuses and You’ll Find the Good Freelance Writing Jobs

For some reason, I have a reputation for “only” posting low paying gigs, which is kind of funny. At FWJ we post between 40 and 100 new gigs each and every day and very few of them are from “content mills.” Many of them are lucrative opportunities. Web content is just a small portion of the jobs posted here on a regular basis. I understand there are some people who don’t approve of entry level opportunities, but to say they’re the reason you’re not finding work is just an excuse. There is plenty of freelance writing work, even in this economy.

There have always been low paying jobs. We see them more now because of the Internet, but there have always been places that paid writers less than $10 – or nothing at all. We found high paying work “back in the day,” and we’ll continue to find high paying work now.  The “content mills” (and I) are a convenient scapegoat, but they’re not the reason you’re not finding better work.

I’m a big fan of clean slates. For me, January 1st is a time for reflection and the best time to get a fresh start going. I like to take time out before the start of the new year to assess my situation and decide if it’s time to raise my rates. I know from speaking with some of the members of the FWJ community, many of you are afraid of raising your freelance writing rates because you don’t want to lose your clients to a freelance writer with a lower price. While that thinking is understandable, it’s flawed. If you’re a good writer and your clients appreciate your service, they’ll pay an reasonable increase in rates. Moreover, if they drop you because of raising your rates, you probably weren’t a good fit and need to find someone who knows you’re worth the price.

Raising rates takes confidence, but if you’re a good writer and have a reputation to match, you deserve a rate befitting your talent.

5 Signs to Help You Determine If it’s Time to Raise Your Freelance Writing Rates

So how do you know if you should raise your rates? Here are a few hints:

1. The End Doesn’t Justify the Means

You work eight to ten hours each day, yet the amount of money you earn comes no where close to the amount of work you’re putting into it. Getting your foot in the door is one thing, not getting paid what you’re worth is a whole other story. Go over all your earnings vs all the work you do and see if you can still justify the rates. Try this: take all the money you earn in a given month and divide it by the hours worked. If it’s turning out to be only a couple of dollars for an hour of writing and research, something is wrong. Sometimes even a small raise of $5 to $10 more for an hour or task makes a large difference.

2. You’re Only Breaking Even

Calculate your earnings vs. the work put into your writing, vs expenses including overhead, operational costs, outsourcing, healthcare and taxes. Are you still earning a profit? Many freelancers charge a rate without actually considering the big picture. Factor in everything that goes into your business when setting your rates. It’s not enough to simply break even,  you should be putting money into the bank. There should be enough left over to support yourself (and/or your family) and build your business. If not, you need to rethink your rate.

3. Your Clients Are Always Pleased

If you turn in clean work every time and your clients are always giving you positive feedback, congratulations – you earned a pay raise. Many salaried employees receive cost of living increases every year and freelancers shouldn’t be any different. Use your client’s feedback as your year end review. Do you deserve an increase? If so, ask. If your clients are pleased with your work, they’ll want to keep you around. They don’t mind paying a reasonable increase in rates if it means they’re getting quality.

4. You Have More Work Than You Can Handle

Are the clients knocking down your door? If you find yourself with more freelance writing work than you can handle and less time with “real world” activities, it’s time to raise your rates. If you’re in demand, your rates should reflect this. The clients who only wanted you because of an inexpensive rate may move on, but the clients who want a good writer they trust will pay your price enabling you to work smarter not harder.

5. You No Longer Need to Undercut the Competition

Sure, charging a lower rate enabled you to get a foot in the door but you no longer need it. You have plenty of clients and a good reputation. You bring in more business via word of mouth recommendations than advertising and marketing. Not only is your foot in the door, your whole body came through. It’s time to set your own bar and not worry about what the “competition” is charging.

What factors do you use to determine when you should raise your rates?

Credit where it’s due: A few days Jodee Redmond wrote: “Will Taking a Low Paying Hurt Your Career.” Jodee’s post is the inspiration for this one.

Disclaimer: This post isn’t encouraging writers to accept low pay, it’s merely a discussion of whether or not your low paying past will hurt you when you apply for other gigs.This discussion isn’t about low pay or whether or not writers should accept entry level opportunities. It’s whether or not these opportunities will cause you to lose work.

When I was younger it was my dream to become a newspaper columnist. I couldn’t wait to see my little picture and byline at the top of a column. Several years ago I found my chance when a new newspaper opening in a nearby major city, advertised for journalists and editors.  Even though they weren’t hiring columnists, I didn’t think it could hurt to query. Taking a deep breath, I pitched anyway, for a column about saving money. All I had to show my style were a bunch of clips from entry level freelance writing jobs. I sent them, pitched and landed a regular gig as newspaper columnist. No one ever came back and said, “Sorry. You wrote for low pay. We don’t want you or your stinking clips.”

Good Writing Matters More Than Pay…or Even Experience

When a potential client asks for clips, they want to get an idea of your writing style.They want to know you can handle the material. Many times clips that are related to the potential client’s niche are fine, even if they come from a low paying market. Many times your client has no idea what the other places pay. I often recommend writers who have no experience write up a few articles and use these to apply for jobs, and more than a few have been able to land jobs using unpublished clips. Good writing stands out. You can be the most experienced writer in the world but if you send in bad clips you won’t get the gig.

To be fair, if you’re applying for a high paying journalism job and only have certain types of clips, an editor might be inclined to pass you over in favor of someone who has actual journalism experience or has written for well-known magazines. However, those same clips might land you a higher paying gig in a niche topic, if this is something you write about often.

Every career has entry level openings and positions and none of these positions hurt, they only lead to valuable experience. I believe this to be the case with low paying opportunities as well. This doesn’t mean you shouldn’t set your goals higher, but taking entry level gigs for the experience isn’t a terrible thing.

Who is Really Looking Down On You?

There’s a lot of speculation on the web that writers who accept entry level gigs are seen as “laughingstocks” or have “no self respect.” However, I don’t see many hiring editors say this. It’s only from anonymous commenters and  freelance bloggers who don’t approve of entry level opportunities. Again, when I was first freelancing, not a single editor or client told me I couldn’t have the job because I wrote for low pay in the past. When I worked in publishing, we never looked a writer’s past pay, or even experience when considering freelancers for our magazines. We put more value into the pitch and the clips. We didn’t look down on anyone who wrote for free or earned very little money. One more time because people tend to misquote: I don’t believe every writer should only work for low payers and not aspire to do better, and that’s not what this piece is about. My point is that entry level opportunities won’t hurt your career.

Granted….

Many schools won’t accept certain content sites as sources for reports and articles. However, this has nothing to do with freelance writing jobs. In my experience, it doesn’t necessarily matter where you have worked in the past as long as you put forth a good effort. It’s sort of like an audition for a television show or movie. Sure, big names have a better chance of getting the job, but that doesn’t mean the C-list or Indy star won’t land a role in a major movie. Always put forth your best effort no matter who you write for and soon the sky will be the limit.

What is your experience? Has using clips from entry level opportunities helped or hurt your career?

Freelance writing rates are a very personal thing. No other topic breeds as many debates between beginning and more advanced writers. No other topic pits the content site writers against the journalists. If there’s a discussion regarding rates, be prepared for the controversy that will follow. We couldn’t do a series for beginners without including a discussion about rates, though. Every day we received letters asking what freelance writers should charge their clients. I tell anyone who writes asking about rates that I can’t make that decision for them. However, I do offer some things to consider when setting rates.

Here are some things to think about when setting freelance writing rates:

• What is your time worth? This isn’t any easy question to answer.  All freelancers must have a general idea of their self-worth as a freelance writer before quoting a rate to a potential client.

• What is your experience? If you won a Pulitizer it’s safe to say you’d command higher rates than a beginner. If you’ve been published in several different magazines or have a newspaper column, you’ll probably earn more than someone who is looking to publish his first piece of writing. Experience is a big factor when setting rates.

• What is the client’s budget? Before quoting a rate,  do some research. Does your potential client appear to have a big budget? What type of business does he run? What does his website look like? How many people does he employ? If it’s just one person, and the website is looking low budget you may not quote the same rate as the client with the unlimited budget.

• What’s your overhead? How much are you paying out each month to be a freelance writer? Your fee should cover taxes, insurance, electricity, gas, Internet and other expenses – plus some left over to tuck away.

• What is expected of you? It’s one thing to write an “off the top of your head blog post or article” but it’s quite another to have to do research or interview experts. Make sure you’re well compensated for the work you do.

• Charge additional fees accordingly: If you’re expected to do a rush job, you’ll probably want to charge extra since you have to drop everything and work long hours  to get it done.

My bottom line? Make sure you’re making a profit. If you’re breaking even or barely getting by, it’s not worth the effort. Here are some posts about rates:

• Who Sets Your Freelance Writing Rates
• Figuring Out a Good Pay Rate for Writing
• Preparing Yourself for Better Freelance Writing Rates
• Taking Baby Steps for  a Better Pay Rate for Writing
• Freelance Writer’s Rates: A Client’s Opinion
• Placing a Value on Our Freelance Writing Jobs
• Understanding the Freelance Writing Market
• On Rates and New Clients: Does it Ever Make Sense to Earn a “Starting Rate?”
• 5 Places to Find Higher Paying Freelance Writing Jobs
• Calculate Your Hourly Blogging Rate

What are some of the factors you consider when setting your own freelance writing rates?

by Chris Garrett

I was having a conversation with Deb where we happened to get onto the subject of “low paying writing gigs”.

Woah, is that ever a controversial subject!

Well, I am going to drop a cup of kerosene on that particular fire and tell you why I often write for free and it is totally worth it.

Yup, zero denero. Zilch. Squat. Nada. Nowt. Not-a-bean. But I make it pay off and big.

We all like lists. Here is a list of ten reasons why you might write for free.

10 Rewards from Free Articles

1. Visibility – If I write on a high visibility blog or website then I get more exposure. Same if I write for a print trade magazine or if I do public speaking. In return for getting in front of an audience I supply some free content. That viibility directly translates into increased profit.
2. Links – Search engine results are driven by lots of high quality links. If you want good links then writing free articles for websites or print publications with a web archive is an excellent way to do that. Do you know how much a permanent link with your own choice of anchor text is worth on a high profile blog? Not that most high profile blogs would even sell you a link for any amount of money.
3. Traffic – The links or website mentions in your articles have the potential to send many, well-targeted, brand-new visitors. What would 1,000 visitors cost you in advertising? I have had 500 word articles send way more than that.
4. Subscribers – Rather than just send visitors to your homepage, try sending them to a newsletter “ethical bribe” and watch your subscriptions boost. How much would you pay to grow your email list?
5. Sales leads – I am still getting sales leads from articles I wrote years ago. Write in a way that provides value but shows you can offer even more if only the reader was smart enough to hire you, heh. What is a warm lead worth to you?
6. Portfolio – When you are first starting out you need to get whatever work experience you can to show potential customers or employers what you are capable of.
7. Credibility – Associating your name with that of a known brand works well to establish your reputation. Write for the correct publication and doors open.
8. Networking – If you appear in a well known website then you can attract more connections, and do not forget the site owner and colleagues.
9. Practice – Writing muscles get better with practice. Some people write a diary or free-write, I put my words to use.
10. Pleasure – I have written on topics from dental drills to drug rehab. I’m always much happier writing for friends about subjects that interest me, like this.

You may not agree with all ten, you might have a different set of rewards, or think I am crazy to write for free at all. I don’t really mind, it works for me.

Writing is not my full time job, but I still have regular writing gigs and have my own sites that I write for. I write articles and I do copywriting. On occasion I even teach others to do the same. I have been called on to write about all kinds of topics, just this week I have written about Microsoft Excel, Travel and Social Media. Can you tell how much I got paid by looking at my writing? I hope not! I put in the same effort this free article as I do my highest paying work, and I think you should too.

It gets on my nerves when people say that because they wouldn’t take a particular gig that nobody else should either. Sorry but that is just daft. My clients pay me $250 an hour for consulting and my writing clients routinely pay me $650 for a single article. I don’t have to take free gigs. My point is, if I can make free pay, perhaps on occasion it is worth giving those people who take lower pay than you would accept the benefit of the doubt.

Think further than the dollars and cents per word or hour and play a bigger game.

The other day I wondered about a livable wage. In that post, I wasn’t encouraging everyone to work at the minimum, just defining a term. When it comes to earning a living as a freelance writer, I believe there’s a big difference between just getting by and placing a value on our individual freelance writing jobs. Our writing is worth money, if it wasn’t there wouldn’t be such a boom in freelance writing jobs. People are willing to pay us for what we do, but are they paying us what we’re worth?

Let’s consider the value of our words.

• How long does it take you to write a single piece from start to finish?
• What type of research is involved?
• What is your name worth?
• What is your brand worth?
• What is your experience?

There are so many factors going into setting a rate and it goes beyond word count. Someone who has a famous name values his work at a higher rate than someone just starting out. Someone with a good reputation has a higher value than someone who is unreliable. Our words do have a value and there’s a difference between getting paid enough and getting paid what we’re worth.

How do you place a value on your words?

I just had the most wonderful day at the BlogWorld and New Media Expo talking to freelance writers from around the country. This is the first year I met so many people who were actually looking to break into writing in addition to blogging. I also met quite a few veteran writes with impressive backgrounds. We discussed so many issues and topics of interest to freelance writers today. The most interesting conversation we had was when we discussed a “livable wage.”

Before I get into my opinion of a livable wage, I’d like to say the discussions we had were always congenial. They were also respectful. I wondered why things get out of hand during blogosphere debates. Is it because of the anonymity? Is it because when words are written instead of spoken they’re left up there forever for people to twist to their benefit? It left me with interesting food for thought.

So …a livable wage.

When I first started doing this, I posted all the jobs I came across on a regular basis. After a few weeks it occurred to me that some of them didn’t pay a livable wage. You can’t support yourself on $5 an hour. I wanted to only post jobs paying a wage writers can use to support themselves. I thought about it long and hard. I settled on $10 an hour because I felt that writers can support themselves on $10 an hour. Now, I’m not talking about a desirable wage. I’m not talking about what each writer feels he’s worth. I’m talking about a wage a writer can use to support himself. $10 is above minimum wage.

Of course there are those writers who feel their time or words is worth more that that. That’s fine. My goal for this post isn’t to discuss levels of writing. It’s not to discuss rate increases or the worth of a certain piece of writing. It’s not to discuss the types of writing. It’s to discuss the definition of a livable wage. For example, some writers say $15 isn’t a livable wage. During my discussion yesterday, one former New York Time journalist said he’s making roughly about $12 an hour as a writer for a local newspaper. He supports himself fine even after taxes. I met an editor for a technical writing firm who earns $14 an hour. They both felt they made livable wages. Did they want to earn more? Absolutely. Could they support themselves? Yes. Thus, a livable wage. They paid the rent, they paid their taxes, they put food on the table and more. A livable wage.

Now, and again we’re talking about a livable wage, it’s up to each individual writer to determine what his writing is worth. Sometimes though, there’s nothing wrong with taking a job paying a livable wage if it pays the bills. Sometimes a job paying a livable wage means the difference between food on the table or the welfare line. $50 an hour is more than a livable wage. It’s what many writers would like to be paid. It’s a desireable wage.  A livable wage is the lowest you can go and still put food on your table and pay the bills each month. What I strive to do here is to bring jobs paying at least a livable wage. Not everyone approves of the lower paying jobs. However, as long as I know there are options keeping folks afloat in rough times, I’ll post them here. We all want the desirable wage, sometimes though,we have to take the livable wage.

I’m not going to pretend writers aren’t going to take the lower paying jobs and I’m not going to insult them for their choices. I will continue to post jobs for ALL levels of writing , from those paying a livable wage to those on a higher end.  As writers we make our on decisions, but in this economy we can’t knock others for doing what they have to, heck, what they WANT to in order to make a living.

A livable wage  – what’s your definition? Again, this isn’t about a desireable wage. What do you feel is a livable wage?

Every time we talk about writing for free, there’s outrage. Writers from all over the web chime in to discuss whether or not one should pay dues by writing for free and most agree that unless it’s for a meganame magazine or charity, the other party is taking advantage by trading content for exposure.

Enter blogging.

After blogging took off, many bloggers – me included – began guest blogging for the bigger name probloggers. I also put out calls for guest bloggers here. I had a contest called FWJ Idol where each week bloggers competed for a job here at FWJ. I chose the FWJ Idol route so the members of this community could choose the next blogger. I also had a guest blogger month to celebrate our 3rd anniversary. Well known and not so well known bloggers contributed writing for this event. My goal for this was to give lesser known members of the community a chance to be heard. Both times I was called out privately and publicly for requesting free content.

I thought about it a lot. It bugged me. I stopped asking for guest blog posts and now everyone who contributes is paid.

If you follow me on Twitter you know I have daily discussions about the people who ask for free content for websites and newspapers. No one is happy about the requests for free work. How dare they ask for free content! How dare they not pay writers! How dare they! This isn’t publicity, this is taking advantage!

So I blogged about it a few days ago: Guest Blog Posts: Free Content or Good P.R. In my post I wondered if guest blogging was the new write for exposure scam. After posting, something interesting happened; hardly anyone agreed with me. Very few people saw guest blog posts as “free content.”

So now I’m confused.

What makes it OK to work for free in one place, but not another? Why can’t I write for this guy’s popular website for low pay, but I can write for a professional blogger’s popular blog for free? Why is a content mill paying $15 an article – with byline – a bad idea, but a free guest post is golden?

Discuss…

• Rush Jobs - If you’re expected to turn in a job overnight or quicker than normal, it’s appropriate to add a rush fee. This is especially necessary if you’ll have to backburner another project or work well past business hours. Before agreeing to a rush project make sure your client knows there will be an increase in your rate. Most freelancers charge 20% to 50% extra for a rush project.

• Change of Focus - Occasionally a project will shift focus. If this happens and it leads to extensive re-writes, you’re well within your rights to re-negotiate your original quote.

• Cancellation or Kill Fees: Your contract should have an entry for cancellations fees. If your client changes his mind after you schedule or start a project, you can charge a cancellation fee to make up for the loss of income.

• Expenses: If the project requires travel, including mileage and meals, you can bill these back to your client. You can also charge for any (reasonable)  supplies necessary to complete your project. For example, if you’re doing an investigative piece on big store chains hiring sweat shop labor, and you need to buy items from those chains to prove your point, you should bill them back to the client. The client may ask to keep purchased items after the project is complete.

• Additional Research: If the client is requiring you to do additional research or interview extra sources, you’ll want to gently remind him that extra work means extra money.

Writers shouldn’t have to eat it every time a client changes his mind or there are considerable expenses. It’s acceptable to add additional fees if needed. Be sure your client knows this in advance and it’s written into your contract so he doesn’t balk when he receives your invoice.

Do you adjust your rates as needed? What are some of the circumstances leading to adding additional fees?

We have  a lot of gems in the FWJ vault. There’s over four years of discussion posts here, all geared towards helping writers further their careers. As I was away for most of this weekend and have a lot of catching up to do, I thought it might be a good idea to do a “best of” post. This week, it’s all about rates.

The majority of mail received here is about rates. Some writers are confused at what to charge. Other writers are angry about what various clients pay. We’ve had some heated debates and some intelligent discussion. Here’s the Best of FWJ: Rates Edition.

1. 40 Freelance Writing Clients Paying $100 or More
2. 5 Places to Find Higher Paying Freelance Writing Clients
3. How to Turn a Low Paying Client into a High Paying Client
4. Who Sets Your Freelance Writing Rates?
5. Preparing Yourself for Better Freelance Writing Rates
6. Figuring Out a Good Pay Rate for Writing
7. Taking Baby Steps for a Better Pay Rate for Writing
8. Should You Include a Rate Quote with Your Cover Letter
9. What Does it Mean to Work Smarter Not Harder?
10. Why You Shouldn’t Ask for a Raise
11. On Rates and New Clients: Does it Ever Make Sense to Make a Starting Rate?
12. How to Land Repeat Clients that Pay Well
13. 8 Reasons You’re Not Landing the High Paying Freelance Writing Jobs
14. Kill Fees: Not a Halloween Tale
15. I’m a Professional – So Pay Me Already!!!

We’re going to do so some more of these ‘Best Of’ posts in the upcoming weeks. I hope you find them usesful, especially if you’re new to FWJ or didn’t get to see them the first time around.

To find higher paying work, writers have to dig a little deeper and work a little harder, but there are lots of opportunities out there. Don’t believe me? Check out this list of freelance writing jobs or markets paying over $100 per article or blog post. The bulk of them are magazine or other markets – not content writing jobs. And yes, new writers can break into many of these markets and don’t let anyone convince you otherwise.

Are you ready to step outside of your comfort zone?

40 Freelance Writing Markets Paying $100 or More (Much More)

1. About.com – Pays writes $675.00 per month plus bonuses for traffic for only a few articles a month and two blog posts per week. Many of the writers at About.com earn thousands of dollars each month.
2. DeveloperTutorials.com – Pays between $50 and $100 for tutorials.
3. SQLServerPerformance.com – Pays up to $200 for 1500 word articles.
4. Blue Mountain Arts - Pays $300 for each greeting card poem.
5. Metro Parent – Pays $350 per article.
6. Minnesota Trails Magazine -Pays a base of $125 for personal experiences, human interest stories, features and more. Query for full guidelines.
7. Christian Science Monitor – Pays $200 – $225 per article.
8. Bridal Guide Magazine – Pays .50 per word. Query for full guidelines.
9. Brick – Pays $100 – $500 per submission. Please read a full issue or two or three before querying.
10. Military Officer’s Association of America – Pays .80 per word
11. Aerospace Magazine - Pays between $150 and $750 per contribution.
12. The Saturday Evening Post – Pays up to $400
13. American Scholar – Pays up to $500 for accepted pieces.
14. Web Design Tuts – Pays $100/tutorial
15. Technical Articles on Power Supply Power - Pays $100
16. Sub Tropics - Pays $500 – $1000
17. Martini Media Network - $100 per article
18. Meetings Media – Pays $500 per article. Email for guidelines.
19. Seattle Homes & Lifestyles - Pays $100 – $400 per article.
20. National Parks Magazine - Pays $750 – $1300 per article and issues kill fee if article doesn’t run.
21. Across the Board – Pays $50 – $2500 per article
22. Family Business - Pays $50 – $1000
23. Boys Life - Pays between $150 and $750
24. Scrap Magazine – Pays between $600 and $1000
25. Readers Digest – Pays $100 – $300 for accepted jokes and humor
26. Smithsonian – Pays $1000 – $1500 for last word humor page.
27. U.S. Airways – Pays $1 per word.
28. HistoryNet – Pays $500 + per article.
29. Outdoor Canada - Pays .50 + per word depending on assignment.
30. Vibe Magazine – Pays $1 per word -email for guidelines.
31. Oregon Humanities – Pays $50 – $800
32. The Sun Magazine - Pays $300 to $3,000
33. Radish – Pays $50 – $150
34. Guideposts – Pays $25 – $500
35. Wish – Pays $1 per word
36. Skirt Magazine - Pays $150 per article
37. Glimmer Train – Pays $500 per story
38. Common Ties – Pays $100 per story
39. Hispanic Business – Pays up to $1500 per article

*Koehler requested removal from this listing.