Fair Pay

How Much Are You Really Making Per Hour?

May 4, 2018 by FWJ Leave a Comment

Most freelance writers aim for a target hourly rate to hit their financial and career goals, using that rate as a basis for the work they charge. For example, a writer might expect to produce one article per hour and charge $40 per article in order to make an average rate of $40 per hour. Given the salary they used to receive, this may be more or less than they were hoping for.

This is a simplified example, but it can be applied to most types of freelance work. The biggest problem with this straightforward approach is that it might give you a false sense of security about your hourly rate, or worse, cause you to calculate a rate that’s far too low to reach your goals.

So how can you figure out what you’re really making per hour? [Read more…]

Writing for Free or for a Low Pay – Don’t Let Anyone Else Judge You

July 15, 2010 by david 19 Comments

I’ve been told that an ongoing debate that can get quite ugly on this site relates to whether or not people should take writing opportunities that are unpaid or offer a very low payment.

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

4 Measures to Put in Place So Your Freelance Writing Clients Won’t Rip You Off

February 16, 2010 by david 6 Comments

Check

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.

The Dark Side of Freelance Writing: When Clients Don’t Pay

February 15, 2010 by david 22 Comments

tales from the darkside

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?

5 Suggestions for Moving Away from the Easy Gigs to the More Lucrative Freelance Opportunities

December 1, 2009 by david 19 Comments

target Regardless of how you feel about low pay vs. high pay, you can’t deny there are plenty of “easy” writing gigs out there. I call them “easy” because they’re easy to land, easy to write and they pay like clockwork. After time, we have to make a decision: Do we stick with the easy gigs or try and branch out to gigs that are a little tougher to land but pay much better money. Perhaps a mixture of both?

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.

A Lower Bid vs. Selling Yourself Short

November 28, 2009 by david 9 Comments

Thumbs down - stock.xchnge

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?

Freelance Writing for Beginners: Step 2: Setting Your Freelance Writing Rates

October 25, 2009 by david 3 Comments

money

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:

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