by Chris Brantner
When it comes to freelance writer rates, it’s difficult to know where to draw the line. If you’re like me, you’re looking for every avenue possible to grow your business. And along the way, low paying jobs will inevitably pop up. So what do you do when someone offers you a low rate? How do you decide how much is enough? Here are some things to consider before accepting or declining low-paying jobs.
1. What’s the word count?
This is the first question I always ask when taking a job. Here’s an example. A guy I write for advertised that he paid $10 an article for ghostwritten blog entries. Plenty of writers would scoff at that kind of money, but when I talked to him I found out he only asked for 200 words minimum. So if you’re used to getting $25 for a standard 500 word SEO keyword article, this fee is right in line. So I took the job.
2. How familiar are you with the subject matter?
If you’re faced with someone that pays low freelance writer rates, it might still be worth your while if you’re familiar with the subject matter. Case in point—I teach full time. And I have been for 7 years. So if I see anything related to teaching pop up on job boards, I pounce. Why? Because it’s probable that I can produce an article in 15-20 minutes due to my personal expertise. If I can do it quickly, it’s worth accepting lower pay.
