How to Negotiate Rates with a Freelance Copywriting Expert

Lots of people who seek out my copywriting services are concerned about money. Rightfully so. I'm a small business owner too, and I know what it is to have that do-it-yourself mindset. (It's exhausting!) But entrepreneurs like you and I often overlook the very reason to contract a job out in the first place. Which is: the terms of the contract and the amount of money spent are totally controlled by you!

The contracted project affords a win-win situation. This is not You vs. a Corporation; this is just an individual with a need, and a single service provider who can answer that need. Who wouldn't jump at the chance to negotiate a terrific deal on a job that's done to their exact specifications?

My guess is, the biggest reason people shy away from contracted jobs is the same reason people don't do a lot of things: Fear of the Unfamiliar. Allow me to familiarize you with the ways of the freelance writing world. Here's how to curb copywriting costs while getting the most bang for your buck!

Thoroughly research prospective candidates for the job. Seek out four or five different writers, carefully examine their work and ask about their qualifications. Request samples from each writer. Check for accuracy, language mastery and appropriate use of tone. Compare rates. You may discover, to your delight, that there are some really talented "newish writers" who will offer you a much better deal than some old veterans out there!

Consider hiring someone who has never written for your field before. Yes, you heard right. So many people shy away from a writer who hasn't done exactly what they're looking for. Unless you're in a really specialized area, there is no reason why a well-rounded writer can't easily adopt to your tone and style of communication. Let's say you were looking for someone to write a manual on "how to get through your first year as a corporate professional." You find a writer who's written a slew of great articles and a smattering of e-books, but never an exact match of your project. Here are three reasons to hire her: 1. She's an excellent writer, 2. It's likely she's worked for a corporation at one time or another, and 2. She's probably willing to offer a reduced rate because she'd love to add this project to her repetoire.

Fill in all the details beforehand. Give the copywriter a project overview, some background information on your business, and examples of past projects or a competitor's work that you'd like to emulate. Make sure you thoroughly describe the habits and attitudes of your target audience. Why do this? It's the quickest way to help her understand what you need... and the quicker she grasps what you'd like to have her create, the faster the job will get done to your satisfaction. The faster the job gets done, the sooner you're on your way to making big money with your advertising effort!

Expect to haggle. I'm astonished that so many people just turn away from a potentially great working relationship because they're afraid to make their budgetary needs known. Here's a little secret about independent contractors: we're always going to try for the highest going rate we can get. Why? We expect YOU to haggle! Shopping for freelance services is a little like going to a peddler's market. There's no big scary corporation to call the shots and set the prices in stone. It's just you and me playing Let's Make a Deal. So don't be intimidated by a freelancer's "advertised rates." You're always welcome to come back with a counter-offer. That's what we expect you to do!

If you're not sure of a copywriter's abilities, give him a few small jobs to start. This is one of the greatest advantages of hiring a contractor. You can test him out with a few projects, and if you like his style, hire him back to do more work. If you don't care for the way he handles your projects, you're free to seek help elsewhere. What are some small jobs you can offer as a trial-run? A press release, a company tagline, a corporate mission statement, a newspaper ad, some headlines for your website.

Offer your writer a weekly rate. A project here, a project there... boy, those hourly fees add up fast! If you know there's a crunch coming up and you have a trusted writer in mind, contract the job out "by the week." Ask the writer if she's willing to devote 40 hours a week to researching and writing marketing materials for your company. Define her expected responsibilities ahead of time, agree on a set fee for five consecutive days of work, and make sure she's easily accessible by phone and email. Most freelancers are willing to accept a much lower rate of pay if they know they're guaranteed a steady gig. Get it in writing, and bam, you've hired your first temp and saved a ton of money in the process!

Hire someone to "clean up" your written materials. Don't have the money to spend on a full-scale ad campaign? Do the work yourself, but have a seasoned writer critique it for you. Ask the copywriter what his proofreading rates are, and then send a few drafts his way for a quick revamp. You won't believe how much better your ads can look when you spend just a few dollars on an expert proofreader.

Ask the copywriter if she'll give you a reduced rate for just one written draft. Lots of writers factor multiple draft revisions into their fees. But what if they knew going in that they only had to write one draft? The price would likely be considerably lower because of significantly less time spent on the work. When it comes to copy, do you like to "have it your way," same as your Burger King? Then a single-draft copywriter might be the way to go. You'll save a ton of money on copy revisions, and you can use what the writer creates and "make it your own."

Get a written estimation of the time it will take to complete a project. What's your biggest fear about copywriting jobs that are charged by the hour? That the writer will spend hours longer than you expected on it, and as a result, charge you an arm and a leg. Eliminate that fear by asking for an estimated project time up-front. The more clarification, the better. Don't just say, "I need 4 pages of website copy written" and expect her to know how long it will take. Instead, map out the work plan. Will she be responsible for research? Project outlines? Phone interviews? Multiple draft revisions? Knowing the process will help her figure out a fair price for the work. In the end, you'll both feel more comfortable settling on a price.

If there ever was a doubt in your mind about hiring a freelance copywriter, hopefully this article will allay your fears! Contracting work out to a specialist is one of the best things you can do for your business and for your sanity. Negotiating with another sole proprietor is actually quite easy, and affords you the greatest control over project terms and spending. More often than not, other entrepreneurs are looking for the same things you are: intelligent, honest people willing to collaborate talent. So, what are you waiting for? Hire a writer who can help you grow your business!

Copyright 2005 Dina Giolitto. All rights reserved.

Dina Giolitto is a New-Jersey based Copywriting Consultant with nine years' industry experience. Her current focus is web content and web marketing for a multitude of products and services although the bulk of her experience lies in retail for big-name companies like Toys"R"Us. Visit http://www.wordfeeder.com for rates and samples.

---

?Super Adjectives? Boost the Power of Your Copy

Pretty or elegant? Good or scrumptious? Nice or delightful? There... Read More

Killer Ad Copy

Not everyone is a writer. Good copy writing is a... Read More

How to Make the Most of Your Website Copywriter

Many people feel uncertain when dealing with copywriters. Like any... Read More

Grammatical Mistakes DONT Sell

When you receive a sales letter with typos or grammar... Read More

Ad Copy - Your 12 Point Inspection!

You're ready to launch that new product or promotion, &... Read More

To Start Making Cash from Your Online Writing, You Must Draw Blood First

Writers write just like painters, paint on canvas. This is... Read More

How You Can Find Freelance Children?s Writing Positions That Will Last

Freelance children's writing positions are always advertised. Rather, the schooling... Read More

Some Important Tips On Proposals And Price

Here's a critically important copywriting technique I use when writing... Read More

Step One for Copywriters: Understand WHAT to Say

Find a passage of poorly written copy, and chances are... Read More

Do You Make These 5 Mistakes When Writing Sales Copy?

Writing copy has sometimes been compared to an "art." While... Read More

Tomorrow?s Clichés Today

I went to Google and entered a couple of different... Read More

On Copying and Stealing Designs

The notion on the great artist, Pablo Picasso's quote, "Bad... Read More

Web Copy ? How Much is Enough?

These days, there's widespread acceptance that a website is an... Read More

7 Essential Tips for Reviewing and Approving Copy

Nothing can turn strong copy into a 97-pound weakling faster... Read More

Three Tips For Magnetizing Your Copy

The difference between good copy and great copy is the... Read More

How to Write Adverts that Forces People to Respond

Think for a moment some day and consider the kind... Read More

Getting Over Copy Shock

A few weeks ago I wrote some copy for a... Read More

How To Get Started With A Career In Copywriting

Careers in copywriting are booming. Could it be that the... Read More

Should You Use Testimonials When You Create A Web Site?

You've probably seen web sites with testimonials - they can... Read More

Copywriting FAQs

One of the biggest challenges a copywriter faces is to... Read More

Boost Your B to B Marketing Copy: 3 Major Copywriting Blunders and How to Correct Them

When you're writing or evaluating copy for a B to... Read More

What A Ghostwriter Needs To Do To Earn Top Dollar

The huge demand for writers online is really for ghostwriters.... Read More

Making Your Purpose Your Business Step #4 - Organizing & Developing Online Content

If you have done your homework then you are ready... Read More

Why Copywriting Is The Secret To Your Online Success

Over the last decade, the number of companies selling their... Read More

Four Things Every Web Site Headline Must Do

As you know, I'm constantly making the point that the... Read More

Segmenting Your Target Audience Through Your Copywriting

Ask any copywriter what the first commandment of copywriting is... Read More

Are You Making These Press Release Mistakes?

You've done it. Gotten that press release written. Now you're... Read More

Custom Writing Services: Market Overview

Market identification Custom writing services market is a sector of... Read More

Calls-To-Action: Making Them Fit Makes All the Difference

It was going so well, so what happened? Many copywriters... Read More

Making a Living as a Copywriter; Freelancing Versus Agency

So You Want To be A Copywriter?Wannabe copywriters often check... Read More

Copywriting Businesses - How You Can Get Started

Do you have the training and skills needed for copywriting?Are... Read More

How To Find Freelance Copywriting Jobs

Your goal is to land a few nice, secure freelance... Read More

Copywriting Goldmine: One of 20 Insider Secrets to Great Copywriting

Each weekday during my Red Hot Copywriting Bootcamp, attendees (or... Read More