DARSHAN SHAH

Mini-Book #4

What Should You

Charge as a Freelance
Content Writer?

(₹)
Content Writer | Marketer | Strategist
LinkedIn Personal Branding | SMM
 DARSHAN SHAH
Mini-Book #4

“It's totally up to you!”

Heard this a lot already?

It’s just partially true.

What Should You Charge as a Freelance Content Writer?

 DARSHAN SHAH
Mini-Book #4

You must monetize your

services strategically.

I’ve divided your scrolling

session into 3 parts:

What Should You Charge as a Freelance Content Writer?

 DARSHAN SHAH
Mini-Book #4

1. Blog Content

2. Website Content/Copy

3. Packaging Your Services

What Should You Charge as a Freelance Content Writer?

 DARSHAN SHAH
Mini-Book #4

1. Blog Content

Most prospects will ask about

your “per-word” rate for blogs.

What Should You Charge as a Freelance Content Writer?

 DARSHAN SHAH
Mini-Book #4

Lock this:

Don’t go below 1 RPW (Rupee Per Word).

You’re here to do business, not slavery :)

Also, why settle for the minimum wage

when you’ve got a chance to start big?

What Should You Charge as a Freelance Content Writer?

 DARSHAN SHAH
Mini-Book #4

Of course, be reasonable.

Consider these 3 factors to

decide your blog charges:

What Should You Charge as a Freelance Content Writer?

 DARSHAN SHAH
Mini-Book #4

1. How big is your portfolio?

2. How good is your portfolio?
3. Do you have niche expertise?

It's quite unlikely for beginners to have

a big portfolio and expertise.

Here’s what you should charge:

What Should You Charge as a Freelance Content Writer?

 DARSHAN SHAH
Mini-Book #4

Keep it between a range of

1.5 to 2 RPW.

Quote your charges and

prepare for these 3 factors:

What Should You Charge as a Freelance Content Writer?

 DARSHAN SHAH
Mini-Book #4

(1/3) Negotiation
Prospects will bargain because you’re a
beginner.

Always set up a minimum figure. For

example, 1.25 RPW.

Learn to stick to your pricing for a bright

freelancing career.

What Should You Charge as a Freelance Content Writer?

 DARSHAN SHAH
Mini-Book #4

(2/3) Freebies

Prospects who agree to your original rate

deserve / expect / like freebies.

You’d also want to retain such clients for

a longer term.

Offer free edits or even a free blog - a

promising client retention tactic.

What Should You Charge as a Freelance Content Writer?

 DARSHAN SHAH
Mini-Book #4

Being a Gujarati, I can vouch for

this strategy, and it has worked
wonders for me in the last 6 years.

What Should You Charge as a Freelance Content Writer?

 DARSHAN SHAH
Mini-Book #4

(3/3) Counter-Proposals

Prospects with certain preferences will

counter your offer with a new offer.

This is different from bargaining. They’re

determined to dodge micro-calculations
and follow an easy payment cycle.

This is a best-case scenario.

What Should You Charge as a Freelance Content Writer?

 DARSHAN SHAH
Mini-Book #4

Go for it and start dreaming about a

retainer.

Calculate your charges based on the

number of blogs required and quote
them a figure.

What Should You Charge as a Freelance Content Writer?

 DARSHAN SHAH
Mini-Book #4

While most freelance content writers

start by charging per word, that
doesn’t mean you should too.

What Should You Charge as a Freelance Content Writer?

 DARSHAN SHAH
Mini-Book #4

You can also start right

away by charging per blog.
Here’s how you can categorize per-blog
charges:

What Should You Charge as a Freelance Content Writer?

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Mini-Book #4

A) 0-800 Words
*** ₹(800x2) - 100 = 1500

Why: To show you’re charging less than 2 RPW

B) 800-1200 Words
*** ₹(1200x2) - 300 = 2100

Why: To show the above category is pricier

than this one.

*** Only include the final category rates in your rate card.
 DARSHAN SHAH
Mini-Book #4

C) 1200-1500 Words
*** ₹(1500x2) - 500 = 2500

Why: To show that the previous category is

pricier than this one.

D) 1500-2000 Words
*** ₹(2000x2) - 500 = 3500

Why: To show this as the most cost-efficient

category.

*** Only include the final category rates in your rate card.
 DARSHAN SHAH
Mini-Book #4

The numbers and calculations are

for your understanding only. Don’t
copy them blindly - pick up the idea
instead.

What Should You Charge as a Freelance Content Writer?

 DARSHAN SHAH
Mini-Book #4

2. Website Content/Copy
Some prospects may ask you to
deliver website content and copy
under the per-word payment model.

What Should You Charge as a Freelance Content Writer?

 DARSHAN SHAH
Mini-Book #4

Deny and lock this:

Only charge per page or project

for these services.

But Why?

What Should You Charge as a Freelance Content Writer?

 DARSHAN SHAH
Mini-Book #4

Website content projects

demand greater effort and
creativity.

They may come with a lot of

back-and-forths.

What Should You Charge as a Freelance Content Writer?

 DARSHAN SHAH
Mini-Book #4

What you charge isn’t solely for

the words you write but for the
ideation you put into it.

It’s all about valuing the

attributes that help you deliver
desirable results to the client.

What Should You Charge as a Freelance Content Writer?

 DARSHAN SHAH
Mini-Book #4

Before setting up a minimum

figure, consider these 3 factors:

What Should You Charge as a Freelance Content Writer?

 DARSHAN SHAH
Mini-Book #4

(1/3) Nature & Scope of Work

For instance: The number and types of

website pages required.

Also, do you need to provide content

based on a given web design?

Or is it vice-versa?

What will demand more effort from you?

Do the math and decide.

What Should You Charge as a Freelance Content Writer?

 DARSHAN SHAH
Mini-Book #4

(2/3) Depth of Work

For instance: The number and types of

sections required across all the website
pages.

What Should You Charge as a Freelance Content Writer?

 DARSHAN SHAH
Mini-Book #4

(3/3) Project Duration

How quickly does the client want the

content/copy ready?

Are there any submission milestones in

place?

What Should You Charge as a Freelance Content Writer?

 DARSHAN SHAH
Mini-Book #4

Anyway, don’t go below ₹1000 per page.

Recommended rate: ₹2000 per page.

(Revisit Page-10 to revise the negotiation strategy)

Here’s a quick guide on deciding your

per-page website content charges:

What Should You Charge as a Freelance Content Writer?

 DARSHAN SHAH
Mini-Book #4

A) 5-Page Project: *** ₹1800 per page

Why: To show it’s less than 10K (A block figure)

B) 10-Page Project: *** ₹1500 per page

Why: To show a discount of 5K from your original rate.

C) 15-Page Project: *** ₹1200 per page

Why: To show a discount of 12K from your original rate.

*** The figures here are just indicative.

What Should You Charge as a Freelance Content Writer?

 DARSHAN SHAH
Mini-Book #4

Pick up the idea. You know the drill now!

It all depends on the minimum figure

you’ve decided to charge.

What Should You Charge as a Freelance Content Writer?

 DARSHAN SHAH
Mini-Book #4

3. Packaging Your Services

There’s a huge possibility that you
will offer both services: Blogs and
Website Content

3 Things to Consider Before

Packaging Your Services:

What Should You Charge as a Freelance Content Writer?

 DARSHAN SHAH
Mini-Book #4

(1/3) Are you sure the prospect wants both?

(2/3) Do you know the prospect’s budget?

(3/3) Can it be a long-term business gig?

What Should You Charge as a Freelance Content Writer?

 DARSHAN SHAH
Mini-Book #4

How to Package Your Services?

Swipe for 6 Easy Steps:

What Should You Charge as a Freelance Content Writer?

 DARSHAN SHAH
Mini-Book #4

1. Calculate the final total charges for -

Blogs (B)
Website Content (WC)

You can apply this method to any

number of services.

2. Mention the original rates (per blog,

per page, etc.) while drafting your
service proposal

What Should You Charge as a Freelance Content Writer?

 DARSHAN SHAH
Mini-Book #4

3. Show the final price calculation to the

client in your service proposal (B + WC)
according to the original rates.

4. Quote a discounted figure per project

or month and show the discount you’re
providing in your service proposal.

What Should You Charge as a Freelance Content Writer?

 DARSHAN SHAH
Mini-Book #4

5. Mention add-on services with their

respective rates.

For example:

Extra website pages, infographics, edits,

other content assets, etc.

6. Repeat the above 5 steps to provide

multiple package options with different
quantities of deliverables.

For example:

What Should You Charge as a Freelance Content Writer?

 DARSHAN SHAH
Mini-Book #4

A. 5 Blogs Per Month and WC Project

B. 10 Blogs Per Month and WC Project
C. 15 Blogs Per Month and WC Project

Don’t forget to quote discounted

charges for the package options.

Again, you know the drill!

What Should You Charge as a Freelance Content Writer?

 DARSHAN SHAH
Mini-Book #4

Need a pricing guide for a specific

content-related service?

Drop a comment!

Wondering when to increase your

freelancing rates?

Find out in my next mini-book.

What Should You Charge as a Freelance Content Writer?