How to Respond to Clients Who Want You to Change Your Rates for Steady Work

Last week, I received the following email from a freelance writer who bought my ebook on SEO writing, was landing clients at one rate (after only a couple of weeks of marketing), and wondered if she should go lower for this one client who promised steady work.

She wrote:

Hi Yuwanda, I received the following response to one of my marketing emails from an SEO company. I thought I was pretty bargain basement at $20 when I have no experience. I've been marketing for a couple of weeks, and I've already gotten a couple of clients so far (emphasis added) so I'm not willing to work for these rates; I don't think I need to. But I'm wondering how I should respond to him at this point? Could he be just testing to see if I'll bite? Thanks BL
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POTENTIAL CLIENT'S EMAIL TO BL

Hello BL, Thanks for getting in touch with me. We are currently working with a writer team that offers a lower price. ($10 per 500 word article). So far we have been happy with the quality of the work. If you can lower your fees we might be able to send you some work in the future. Thanks
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Read my response here. Don't forget to check out the freelance writing job leads below.

ANNOUNCEMENT: The price of the SEO writing ebook will be raised as of 4/28 (this coming Monday). This is your last chance to learn how to make some real money as an SEO writer (I routinely bill $200-$500/day) at the introductory rate of only $9.95. Details here.

Sincerely,
Yuwanda Black, Publisher
http://inkwelleditorial.com/
http://inkwelleditorial.blogspot.com/
http://seo-article-writer.com/
http://seo-articles-for-sale.com/
How to Start a Successful Freelance Writing Career Newsletter
P.S: Want to learn how to make at least $250/day writing simple 500-word SEO articles? Read how here.
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Freelance Success Stories! There are freelancers who make very good livings at what they love. Inkwell Editorial's newsletter features these successful professionals who put to rest the phrase, "starving freelancer." Subscribe to read this, and all previous, issues.

Previous Issue. Spotlight on Multiple Streams of Income for Freelance Writers. An interview with multi-talented freelancer Shel Horowitz. Shel shares tips on how to market your freelance writing services on a shoe-string budget (he's written five books on grassroots marketing); how he created multiple streams of income (writing, speaking, consulting) and more. Subscribe to read this, and all previous, issues.

Current Issue. Spotlight on How to Make $75,000 to $100,000/Year as an SEO Writer. In this issue, I dispense the 8 keys to my success as an SEO writer. There are some definites that must gel to find success in this field. I outline them all here. And of course, it’s based on my own personal experience. Subscribe to read this, and all previous, issues.
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Copyright © 2008 InkwellEditorial.com: Freelance success stories, e-courses, advice on the business of freelancing, and more! Except where noted, no part of this site may be reproduced in any manner without the express, written consent of the publisher. Violators will be prosecuted.

Freelance Writing Jobs from the Public Request Section of Constant-Content.com (read more about this here).

Title: Looking for short articles
Description: I\'m looking for monthly short articles about how we can help change the environment (go green) and eco-friendly products. I\'d like a column in my magazine each month. Also looking for a \"Lifestyle\" and \"Health\" column each week.
Price: $10-20
Article amount: monthly
Content length: short
Subjects: see above
Notes: I\'m starting an online magazine and need help with editorial. Anyone that\'s interested in helping I could sure use the help. Hope to hear from you soon!

Title: Sun safe Tips
Description: Protecting yourself in the desert sun and staying active.
Price: $50-100
Article amount: 2-3
Content length: 1,200 to 1,500
Subjects: Summer Heatlh tips in the Sun Summer Sun and your skin Health Tips for summer
Notes: Upbeat and fun, but informative

Title: Know your credit score to negotiate better boat loan
Description: Titles: Know your credit score to negotiate better boat loan Buying a boat? Check your Credit Score Talk about how useful it is to know your Credit Score and monitor your credit history before making any financial decision, especially boat buying. Knowing your credit score and credit report detail will help boat buyers to negotiate better boat loan with dealers and boat loan professionals. Boat loan professionals look at the following in your credit report • Payment history • Credit score • Debt amount • Bankruptcies If you are looking to buy a boat immediately, and for the best price possible, obtaining a credit report before you start shopping is a must. In the middle and in the end of the article mention about free Credit Score and 30 day free trial credit monitoring. Use it to receive detailed report and see who viewed your report recently. Get your free credit report and score in seconds at GoFreeCredit.com
Price: $10-20
Article amount: 2-3
Content length: 150-250
Subjects: Write the article with informational approach not with advertising approach. Article will be placed on OceanList.com and will be talking about importance or why it is useful to know your credit score.
Notes: The audience consist of boat buyer, boat dealers, etc.

4 Tips for Applying to Freelance Writing Jobs on Craigslist -- to Get the Job!

I recently landed three new SEO clients in one day. Hence, I was slammed – too much work to meet all the deadlines without help. So, I immediately placed an ad on Craigslist for SEO writers (SEO writing is my new thing).

Over the next 24 hours, I received roughly 75 responses, and they’re still pouring in, fully a week after I placed the ad. That’s a lot of competition. I outsourced work to three writers from that ad – and have outsourced more work since then. Two of the three I worked with I plan to outsource more work to when I need help.

My point? Once an employer uses you, they will most likely use you again and again and again. Following are some things that, as an “employer,” turned me off, and others that made freelancers stand out (and made me want to call them).

Read the rest of this article here.

Sincerely,
Yuwanda Black, Publisher
http://inkwelleditorial.com/
http://inkwelleditorial.blogspot.com/
http://seo-article-writer.com/
http://seo-articles-for-sale.com/
http://money-making-videos.blogspot.com/
How to Start a Successful Freelance Career Newsletter
P.S.: Read about my $250/day as a freelance writer -- with less than two weeks of marketing!
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Read Freelance Success Stories! There are freelancers who make very good livings at what they love. Inkwell Editorial's newsletter features these successful professionals who put to rest the phrase, "starving freelancer." Subscribe to read all previous issues.

Current Issue: How Much do Freelance Web Writers Really Make? This issue features a roundup of freelance writer income from around the web. Features salaries from a few hundred a month, to a website that earns over $30,000/month -- and the site owner doesn't even sell anything! Subscribe to read this inspiring issue.

Previous Issue. Ghostwriting: Want to know what type of work is out there in this genre? How much it pays? Where to find it? How to go about getting it? Ghostwriter Amanda Evans gives us the skinny on this freelance writing niche.
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Copyright © 2008 InkwellEditorial.com: Freelance success stories, e-courses, advice on the business of freelancing, and more! Get the e-report, How to Make $100/Day as a Freelance Writer -- free! Log on to http://www.freelancewritingwebsite.com/ for details. Except where noted, no part of this site may be reproduced in any manner without the express, written consent of the publisher. Violators will be prosecuted.

How to Get SEO Writing Work from "Middleman" Providers (Advice About)

This post is in answer to reader Misti Sandefur, who responded to yesterday’s post entitled "How to Set SEO Writing Rates to Make $250-$500+/Day."

Misti commented:

QUESTION: Thanks for the tips. However, I would like to know how you found out who the "middle man" worked for? So far, on all the bid sites where I've read the details, they never mention who they work for, and that's why I asked this question.”

My response:

ANSWER: Misti, I never found out who the contractors worked for -- of course, none will tell you this.

In forums especially, many “middle men/contractors” flat out state that they are freelancers looking for help on client projects. Where they weren't middlemen, they'd just say they were a webmaster building a site on "X" and need "x" number of SEO articles written and were willing to pay "$x".

When I first started to research this niche, I ran across the copywriting forum at Digital Point. This forum encouraged and discouraged me at the same time. Why?

Why There Will Always Be a Need for SEO Content Writers

Well, I got encouraged because I saw that there was a lot of work for SEO writers. And, as content drives search engines, I knew that this was going to be an evergreen profession. Like the telephone, it will be around forever.

While the form and function of it may change, the internet will always need new content. An evergreen need for a service I can provide – well, you can’t get better than that for a business model.

BUT, I was extremely discouraged because of the pay offered. Writing this post, I clicked over just to give you a sample.

Following are some of the rates offered by clients to writers:

Six 400-word articles on acne, wrinkles, aging skin: $3.50/per article.

100 articles ($3 for 500 words) of 500 words each on a specific topic.

Just for comparison sake, Inkwell Editorial (my company) pays $15 per 500-word article (see #2 of this post).

Some rates offered by writers to clients:

High quality article writer, $4 per 500 words article

Original Articles-$2 for 200 words/$3 for 500 words/$5 for 700 words/$7 fr 1000 words

I will write 400 word articles for $8 in batches of 10

I charge $1 per 100 words for articles and $60 per Press Release of 500 words.

Now, for me, these were low. I simply can’t afford to work for these rates. But, I’m not knocking writers who do.

This is free enterprise at work; there were lots of takers for these projects. They may be freelancers with no expenses, or very low ones; be college students looking to pick up some extra cash; someone in debt working to pay off a Visa bill; etc. For whatever reason, these rates work for them.

This is why I say in yesterday’s post, “To be successful in business, you have to consider all components, not just rate.”

Sincerely,
Yuwanda Black, Publisher
http://inkwelleditorial.com/
http://inkwelleditorial.blogspot.com/
http://seo-article-writer.com/
http://seo-articles-for-sale.com/
http://money-making-videos.blogspot.com/
How to Start a Successful Freelance Career Newsletter
P.S.: Read about my $250/day as a freelance writer -- with less than two weeks of marketing!
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Read Freelance Success Stories! There are freelancers who make very good livings at what they love. Inkwell Editorial's newsletter features these successful professionals who put to rest the phrase, "starving freelancer." Subscribe to read all previous issues.

Current Issue: How Much do Freelance Web Writers Really Make? This issue features a roundup of freelance writer income from around the web. Features salaries from a few hundred a month, to a website that earns over $30,000/month -- and the site owner doesn't even sell anything! Subscribe to read this inspiring issue.

Previous Issue. Ghostwriting: Want to know what type of work is out there in this genre? How much it pays? Where to find it? How to go about getting it? Ghostwriter Amanda Evans gives us the skinny on this freelance writing niche.
***********************************************
Copyright © 2008 InkwellEditorial.com: Freelance success stories, e-courses, advice on the business of freelancing, and more! Get the e-report, How to Make $100/Day as a Freelance Writer -- free! Log on to http://www.freelancewritingwebsite.com/ for details. Except where noted, no part of this site may be reproduced in any manner without the express, written consent of the publisher. Violators will be prosecuted.

How to Set SEO Writing Rates to Make $250-$500+/Day

As I contemplated writing this article, I thought, another one on this dreaded topic (freelance writing rates). “Why can’t we all just get along,” is the motto that is running itself over and over in my head right now.

BUT, I’m going to tackle this anyway. Sometimes, progress just takes a while.

As frequent readers of this blog know, I started to take on SEO writing projects last year. It was a new niche for me, so I researched every aspect of it. Rates, of course, was at the top of the list.

Almost all of the research I did was disheartening. Much of what I read about rates on SEO writing was low – very low. Most of the assignments offered rates like $1-$4 for 350-500 word articles. And that’s not a typo. If $5 was offered, it was like – woohoo! – a “good rate.” I was horrified and this almost put me off entering the SEO writing niche.

But, with 15 years of freelance writing experience under my belt, and almost a dozen as a small business owner, I had a gut feeling that this was a niche where some real money could be made (I recently logged over $500 in one day in orders and had to hire help, so my gut was right).

Freelance Writers: How to Stop Competing on Rate & Win as Many Clients as You Can Handle

So, why am I telling you all this? Because when it came time to set my rates, I didn’t even try to compete with what others were offering. I took the following into consideration when I set my rates for writing SEO content.

Read the rest of this post here.
NOTE: I changed the title of this post because I'm trying to get better at writing these. I think this one is more effective than the original title, How to Stop Competing on Rate & Win as Many Clients as You Can Handle?

What do you think?

RE: Response to yesterday’s request for interview subjects: I received quite a few responses and will be going through them this evening. I’m up against a couple of deadlines that have to be met today.

So, if you wrote in, sit tight. I’ll be in touch even if you aren’t selected for this month’s newsletter (there’s a good chance I’ll want to interview you for a future issue).

Sincerely,
Yuwanda Black, Publisher
http://inkwelleditorial.com/
http://inkwelleditorial.blogspot.com/
http://seo-article-writer.com/
http://seo-articles-for-sale.com/
http://money-making-videos.blogspot.com/
How to Start a Successful Freelance Career Newsletter
P.S.: Read about my $250/day as a freelance writer -- with less than two weeks of marketing!
**************************************************
Read Freelance Success Stories! There are freelancers who make very good livings at what they love. Inkwell Editorial's newsletter features these successful professionals who put to rest the phrase, "starving freelancer." Subscribe to read all previous issues.

Current Issue: How Much do Freelance Web Writers Really Make? This issue features a roundup of freelance writer income from around the web. Features salaries from a few hundred a month, to a website that earns over $30,000/month -- and the site owner doesn't even sell anything! Subscribe to read this inspiring issue.

Previous Issue. Ghostwriting: Want to know what type of work is out there in this genre? How much it pays? Where to find it? How to go about getting it? Ghostwriter Amanda Evans gives us the skinny on this freelance writing niche.
***********************************************
Copyright © 2008 InkwellEditorial.com: Freelance success stories, e-courses, advice on the business of freelancing, and more! Get the e-report, How to Make $100/Day as a Freelance Writer -- free! Log on to http://www.freelancewritingwebsite.com/ for details. Except where noted, no part of this site may be reproduced in any manner without the express, written consent of the publisher. Violators will be prosecuted.