Web Content Writer Rates

One of the hardest aspects of owning and maintaining a website is content writing.  Let's be honest - writing isn't for everyone.  Instead of typing pages upon pages of content, people are opting to hire professional content writers.  Kudos to those who make this wise decision!

One of the things people will have to consider when hiring a web content writer is how much it will cost them.  As people search for content writers, they will find some that charge by the word, some that charge by the hour and some that charge by the page.

What is the best deal?

As a web writer with years of experience, I can't tell you what is right for you or your budget.  However, I can tell you that your best option is usually paying by the page.  Let's explore each scenario to get a better understanding:

Pay Per Word - alright, so you opted to pay by the word.  Welcome to the world of complexity!  First, you will meet some writers that charge $0.02 and others that charge $1.00 on up.  This means that for a 300 word article, you will pay anywhere from $6.00 to $300.00.  That is quite a price difference. 

Now, let's say you opt for the cheapest price.  If you think about it, this person is only making $6.  This means that they will have to write 50 articles to make $300.  That is called "writing in volume", which means that the writing is likely to be poor.  You truly get what you pay for.  On the opposite spectrum, $300 is quite pricey, and there is no guarantee that the writing till be top-notch.  Not to mention, what if the person exceeds word count?  Are you willing to pay more? 

Pay Per Hour - many people opt to pay writers by the hour, only to end up frustrated later.  When a GOOD content writer creates a webpage, article or blog, the writer will conduct research, write the piece, revise the piece and then make the revisions the client asks for.  This could take numerous hours.  If the writer is charging $50 per hour (pretty standard rate) and it takes him/her 5 hours, you will pay $250. 

Most clients I have worked with in the past hate this arrangement because they cannot see what the writer is doing day-to-day.  Therefore, they never know if the web writer is being ethical.  In some cases, this can create some conflict, which is why I advise to avoid paying by the hour.

Pay Per Page - I love, love, love paying by the page.  Here is why:  you get exactly what you pay for with no hidden costs.  You want 300 words of text - you will get 300 words of text at a flat fee.  If you need revisions, that will usually be included in the flat fee.  This means you will not have to worry about paying extra.  Simply put, paying by the page is very honest for both the writer and the client, which is conducive to an ongoing work relationship.