If you’ve ever looked into hiring a freelance content writer, you’ll know how writer fees can vary in terms of what and how they charge.
So how much does content writing really cost in 2023?
Before we dive into actual numbers, I want to talk about something that recently happened to me.
Last week, I sent out a series of personalised emails to dental practices asking them if they need assistance with their dental content, and I got several responses. Inevitably, I had questions about my fees. I gave one clinic my rates only to be told I was ‘super expensive’.
The thing is…
the rate I quoted for this person (around $75-$90 per blog) is a fraction of what other writers charge, considering I’m an experienced freelance veteran who knows the dental industry well.
This got me thinking…
Even though I was surprised by the initial reply, I don’t blame the practice owner for their response.
Here’s why!
Content writing fees differ hugely from one freelancer to another.
While some writers offer services for less than 3 cents a word, others charge more than $1. As a result, client’s ideas about what they think they need to pay vs what they should be paying are skewed. Hence the reason for this post.
Essentially, I want to try and bring some clarity to the madness. So, in this post, I’ll review average content writing prices and discuss what you can and should expect when hiring a freelance writer. And, more importantly, why you pay the price you do.
Let’s get started.
Content Writing Cost (in essence)
How much you pay for a freelance writing service depends upon two main criteria:
- The experience/circumstances of the writer, and
- The job you need them to do.
Let’s address each one in turn.
Firstly, the writer’s experience/circumstances
Novice freelancers (those with less than a year’s experience) are likely to charge the least, particularly if they’re generalist writers – e.g. those who write about any subject or industry.
Alternatively, if a novice freelancer has previously worked within your industry, they may charge more because they understand the nuances of your niche. In other words, they can better explain tricky or technical aspects of your industry than someone simply carrying out research.
Moreover, as generalist and specialist writers gain more experience and work with more clients, fees will often increase accordingly.
For example, top freelancers who collaborate with Fortune 500 companies often charge upwards of a dollar or more per word.
But that’s not all:
The location of the freelancer (where they live) can also impact what they charge. For example, freelancers in areas with high living costs typically charge more than writers in cheaper countries.
Project type
The second reason you may pay more is the type of content required.
The word ‘content’ is comprehensive and encompasses a whole gamut of work ranging from SEO articles at one end to white papers at the other.
You should expect to pay less for a listicle-type SEO article than a white paper because far more work is involved in producing the latter.
So, now we know the essential criteria for writer’s fees, let’s look at some other differences.
Per word, hour or project?
Another thing you may have seen when searching for freelance writing rates in 2023 is the pricing per word, hour or project. So why is this?
Essentially, it depends upon the project brief. Most freelancers use a combination of pricing structures.
For example, I have clients who request regular dental blog posts. I’m not sure how long each post will be because the subject of one piece of content may require me to go into more detail than another. For this reason, I typically charge by the word.
So when do freelancers charge per project or hour?
Alternatively, If I’m working on email campaigns, landing pages, website copy, or white papers, it isn’t always feasible to charge per word. Why? Because the number of words will not equate to the actual work carried out.
Let’s go back to the white paper again. It’s an authoritative document used to inform the reader and solve a problem about an industry-specific topic. An average white paper is around 2500 words, six to eight pages long. So, if I charge a per-word rate of, say, 10 cents, it would net me the princely sum of $250.00.
Now, consider it might take me around 40 hours to produce; that’s $6.25 per hour, well below the minimum wage in many countries.
The point is this…
With certain types of content, the writing aspect is only a tiny part of the project.
I would also need to conduct deep research into the problem, gain insight into the target audience and educate/steer them towards a possible solution.
For these reasons, seasoned copywriters typically charge by the project, or, if it isn’t known how long the project will take, per hour.
Content writing cost – pros and cons of each costing type
There are, essentially, pros and cons of working within the remits of each pricing strategy.
When you hire a writer who charges by word, you pay based on their output. As a result, you know exactly where your money has been spent. Conversely, an inexperienced writer may focus more on quantity than quality.
What about per project/hour?
When you hire a content writer who charges per project, you know exactly what you’re getting in terms of a fixed cost that won’t change based on the length of work.
The downside is that you might be overcharged without realising it because you don’t have a per-word rate.
Hiring a writer based on an hourly rate is becoming more common. On the plus side, if you know your freelancer delivers excellent content, and that’s the most important thing to you, an hourly rate can work well for both parties.
However, if you don’t know your content writer well, or it’s their first time undertaking such a project, they may need more time. As a result, it could end up costing you more.
As you can see, each pricing structure has positives and negatives.
So, which one would you be happy with?
Generally speaking, you might not have too much control over freelancers’ methods, but I would advise you to choose a pricing type you feel comfortable with.
As a top tip, get your writer to sign a contract of agreement so you know exactly what work is to be done for the price.
Want to know more about freelancer contracts? Check out this helpful article.
Content writing costs – Expectations vs budgets
Now that you know how and why content writers charge what they do, let’s discuss what you can or should expect a across various price points.
Between 3-5 cents per word or $30 and under per hour
You can expect to work with a writer who is relatively new to freelance writing. Inevitably that means less experience. That doesn’t mean they aren’t good writers, but you may need to invest more time with them, ensuring that everything is how you want it. They may require a lot of guidance, and projects might entail several rounds of edits.
Between 6-15 cents per word or $31 -$69 per hour
Typically freelancers in this mid-range price bracket will have several years of writing under their belt, and you might get an industry-specific writer. They may not know everything about your niche, but you’ll spend less time guiding them and editing work.
16 cents and above per word or $75 per hour and above
If you are looking to hire a writer in this price range, you should be paying for someone who is highly experienced, understands all aspects of content and has a solid portfolio of work, including by-lines in some well-known publications. They need little guidance and will ensure their writing is always on point to attract new customers and grow your brand loyalty.
The sky’s the limit
If you have a high-end budget, you can and should expect perfection. Those who charge top-end prices are typically exceptional copywriters with a proven track record with top Fortune 500 companies. Their copy brings in millions of dollars in sales, and they can afford to pick and choose their clients.
*** Please note – These prices are only a rough guide and are not meant to be taken at face value****
Finally, a word about AI
With the development of (AI) writing tools, you may wonder how this affects future writer fees.
Here’s my take on the subject.
There is a notion (and it’s a credible one) that with the help of a quality AI writing tool, anyone from a small business owner to a corporate marketing director can now generate passable copy at the touch of a button, This action may devalue the skill of the content writer and inevitably, their fees.
Maybe that’s true sometimes, especially for those willing to pay only a few cents a word. These people tend to have different priorities than content quality. In these cases, AI-generated content will meet their needs well.
However, there will always be a place for unique content that stirs emotion, gets into the mind of the target audience and gets your audience talking about you. This is content that gets clicked on, read all the way through and shared.
As yet, even the most advanced tools find it extremely difficult to replicate the trustworthiness, empathy and expertise that outstanding copy can deliver. So, there will always be a demand for content like this, which will, and should, be worth the fee.
So there you have it.
Hopefully, this post has shed some light on the minefield of how to navigate freelance writing rates in 2023 and why content writers and copywriters charge what they do.
If I’ve missed anything, or you’re an existing content writer and want your say, drop me a line in the comments below.