8 Tips for Raising Your Rates as a Freelance Copywriter

Are you charging enough? That’s the age-old question we ask as freelancers. And there’s a lot of drama that can occur around pricing. Fears, confusion, the whole nine yards. I want you to raise your rates in a way that feels good to you and your system. Here are some of my top tips.

Do the math.

Decide how much you want to be making per month, how many hours you have available to work, and do the math. Work backward. Come up with how much you want to make per month, divided by how many days you want to work per week, and how many hours per day, and that gives you your hourly rate.

When you send out your proposals and quotes, use that number to estimate how long the project will take, and keep in mind it always takes longer than expected.

The most important thing here is to be HONEST with yourself on how much time you really have to work on projects. We are programmed to think that we all have an 8-hour workday, but no one is really working for those full eight hours. People are sending GIFs on Slack, scrolling social media, taking breaks, eating lunch, etc., so don’t overdo it. That only leads to burnout.

And remember you are in charge of your freelance writing schedule. If you want to take Fridays off, do it. If you want to work a few extra-long days and a few shorter ones, do it. If you only want to work 2 days to help cover some bills, do it. It might take some trial and error but you’ll figure out a workflow that works for you, and there’s where the “freedom” part of freelancing really comes into play. 

Do some research. 

I LOVE this “State of the Industry Report” from AWAI. Scroll to the bottom of this page to get yours. You can also Google “how much does a copywriter make” to get a ballpark figure of what you could be charging. Chances are you are undercharging compared to what the “industry standard” is, so seeing these examples is a great motivation to up your rates. Also, if you’ve been using sites like Fiver or Upwork, buckle up because your rates are about to skyrocket… and reflect the value of your work!

Remember – your potential clients could very well be Googling “how much do I pay a copywriter” too. Having a pulse on ranges that other people are charging will help you feel more confident in your rates, and it will help curb any “sticker shock” from someone who thinks they can get a blog post for $30. (The average minimum rate for a blog in 2022 is $350, by the way…) 

Add 20% contingencies.

This is a GREAT way to raise your rates and it just makes sense and is FAIR to you! Once you come up with the quote for your project, add on a contingency fee. It could be 10%, 15%, or 20% – whatever you feel comfortable with – but this little cushion takes the pressure off when your project starts needing extra TLC and time that you didn’t factor into the original proposal. S*** happens, in life and with copywriting work, and a contingency helps cover your a** for peace of mind and appropriate compensation.

Consider the long-term income that your copy will bring in for the client when you’re sending them your quote.

Chances are, your copy isn’t going to be shown to one person and one person only. It’s going on a website that’s open to the whole world to see. It’s going on social media for countless people to scroll through. It’s being sent to an email list of potentially thousands of people. And that means the sale and income potential for your client because of YOUR WORDS is major.

Try and think bigger than a trade of dollars for hours of work when coming up with your quotes. That’s a good place to start, but when you consider the income potential in the long-term because of your work, it’s easier to ask for more in return. Again, it just makes sense.

Keep giving yourself raises.

Raising your rates is going to push you out of your comfort zone. And that’s good. Change can only happen outside of our comfort zone so you’re on the right track! You don’t want to send out a quote that terrifies you because that energy tends to repel clients. You want to feel comfortable and confident with your rates, and once you get the “yes” and they sign on the dotted line, you can play around with how it would feel to raise your rates the next time you send out a proposal. The key is to find a place that stretches you a little and where you can also keep your system regulated. When it feels good to do your work, good things keep coming!

Value-stack your proposals.

Look for opportunities to add value to your proposals so you can charge for them. Adding things like SEO audits, meta descriptions, social posts to go with blogs, etc., can be a great way to add value and also earn more from each project.

You’re already in the “zone” of the project, so it usually doesn’t take too long to throw in a little extra bonus… but it would take the client WAY longer and they would love it if someone just did it for them. Doesn’t hurt to offer! You can send over tiers in your proposal too with 2-3 different investment levels and let them choose.

Target industries with bigger budgets.

While it’s important not to pre-judge the clients that you pitch to or apply to work with, you also have to be reasonable with what they will actually be able to afford. AND what they morally should be paying you. Choosing clients and picking a niche is soooooo individual. You really have to take some time to figure out what sounds and FEELS good to you. Like – in your BODY. But if you’re feeling stuck or getting a lot of “nos” from a certain industry, it might be time to look elsewhere. There’s a reason those jobs aren’t working out. The universe is giving your signs – you just have to listen to them.

Work on your relationship with money.

This should really be on the tippy top of this list because it’s the MOST important. You HAVE to look at your relationship with money. I’m not a money coach or manifestation expert, but there are PLENTY out there. Binge their content. Go through some money mindset programs. Go down a YouTube rabbit hole. Do an abundance meditation every morning. Have money dates. Healing your relationship with money is ESSENTIAL. Things will come up that will shock you, which is GOOD! Thank means you get to work through and heal them!

Want to connect with other passionate female copywriters, grow your network to get new leads, improve your craft as a writer, and have a safe space to vent about clients? Join us in the Copywriting Girls Club! It’s our private girl gang on Facebook, and we would love to have you in there to share your zone of genius.