What is Your Time Worth? Calculating Rates

Image via WikipediaIn setting prices for work and in deciding if a gig is ‘worth it’, there are numerous factors to consider. While picking a number out of the air that sounds good is possible, it is not practical.

One basic way to calculate rates is determining how much money you want or need to make per hour. Once you are experienced with your particular brand of writing projects, it is easy to calculate accurately how long it takes you to accomplish various tasks.

For example:

If you can write two 500-word articles that are light to medium in research in one hour and wish to make $30 per hour, you need to get at least $15 per 500 word article.

However, you also need to consider if that $30 will cover all of your expenses related to those articles and your writing business in general. Taxes, internet, licenses, business registration, advertising and even Paypal fees may need to be covered.

There are some wonderful resources online that help you calculate what you need to charge and remind you of all the little things you need to consider. I have listed a few of those below, and have also included a rates resource to show you the average rates charged by your peers.

Editorial Freelancers Association. Current Editorial Rates (Updated Sept. 2008)
http://www.the-efa.org/res/rates.php

The How-To Catalog. Putting A Price On Your Capabilities: How To Set Your Fees As A Freelance Writer by Debra Jason.
http://www.writedirection.com/rprt300e.htm

About.Com: Freelance Writing. How Much Should I Charge by Allena Tapia.
http://freelancewrite.about.com/od/finances/f/rates.htm

Freelance Switch Hourly Rate Calculator
http://freelanceswitch.com/rates/

Website and Blog Tools: Backlink Checkers

Image via WikipediaBacklinks are simply links around the web that direct people back to your blog, website, or article. Others can create links to your work by bookmarking them in Digg, delicious, Technorati and other social bookmarking sites, or by putting links to your stuff in their own blog, website, or article.

Often when you leave comments online, you are allowed to input a ‘URL’. This is where you would type in the address to your blog or website. Then, when people read your comment, they can click on your name to follow your link. Another way to create your own links back to your work is to input them in your writer profiles and on other blogs and websites you have.

If you are curious as to who is backlinking to you (i.e. where your traffic may be coming from) one way is to use a backlink checker. These free and easy-to-use tools require only that you input the url of the blog, website, or article you wish to check. Some automatically input the ‘http’ or ‘www’ part, so watch for that when you input the web address or you will get an error message (or no results).

The most comprehensive I have seen is from Xinu Returns. It takes a few minutes, but it is worth the wait due to all the information you get from it. If you want to gather information in order to improve your rankings and increase page views, this is the tool to use.

If you just want to run a quick check out of curiosity, the other tools I like are:

Smart Page Rank

Backlink Watch

Freelance Writing Contracts: Pay Half Upfront

Image via WikipediaOne thing I have learned to do in writing up my freelance contracts and beginning business with new clients is to ask for half the payment upfront. I use PayPal so the buyer (client) feels they have some protection in the deal, too.

I do this because too many scammers are out there who will ask for work, not pay, and then make use of your work. Some will claim it was not up to par, others will never communicate with you again.

When I collect half the money upfront, I know it will not be a total waste of my time to create articles (or whatever)for my new client. I know that I will have at least some compensation for my work. It also tells me they are likely to be serious, legitimate clients when they are willing to pay half upfront. They understand that many businesses operate in that manner.

When it comes to freelance writing, you want your clients to feel safe and comfortable with you, but you also need to protect yourself. Asking for half the fee upfront is common business practice, and one way to protect yourself from being scammed.

The Myths About Working from Home

Over on Freelance Writing Jobs, Deb Ng shed light on some common myths, and the community chimed in. Read the myth-busting blogpost:

Freelance Writing Jobs: Working at Home: Myths vs. Reality

As a freelance writer, what myths have you run across and what myths have you busted?

The two I have run across the most is that freelance writing is 'so easy anyone can do it' and 'working from home is easy/offers a lot of playtime'.

Free Stuff for Freelance Writers

Image via WikipediaHere are a few links to help you organize your time and projects as well as promote and ‘professionalize’ your business:

Custom Planner Templates

Business Fax Covers

Business Card Templates

Stationery and Envelopes

Free Post-its

Track Your Spending and Manage Your Finances

Calendars, Lists, Reminders (mobile phone access, too!)


If you know of more freebies that help freelance writers, please let me know so I can add them to this list. Thanks!

Paid Content Sites Revamped

Photo © Chance Agrella
Last Updated: January 17, 2008

I am listing all paid content sites I can locate. I am primarily interested in those sites that offer upfront payments, though I will note those that only offer revenue for ads or page views. I do this so writers may know, at a glance, which sites will pay them and which ones will tease them with ‘revenue’. (Very few make decent money with revenue only)

Because some of the reviews are a bit detailed and the amount of paid content sites listed is growing fairly quickly, I thought it best to break up the original list into several posts. This will make it simpler for you to find the specific paid content site you are looking for.

If you have information or would like to add your own review, please email me or add a comment. Please be specific and accurate in order to best help your fellow writers. If you know of other sites that offer accurate and current paid content site reviews or additional paid content sites I should add, please let me know (email or comment).

The links to the listings are in the sidebar, and each posting shows the date of the last update, for your convenience.

Thank you so much for your help and support in this endeavor (i.e. thank you for helping me to help you!)

Paid Content Sites A-B

Paid Content Sites C-G

Paid Content Sites H-L

Paid Content Sites M-S

Paid Content Sites T-Z

Website and Blog Tools: Value Calculators

Image via WikipediaThere are many fun and helpful tools for freelance writers with blogs and websites. One is a blog or website value calculator.

This tool uses various methods to calculate what your website or blog would be worth in financial terms. This is helpful if you wish to sell or flip your site/blog. It can also give you a rough idea of how well you are doing with your blog or website.

You do not have to place the widget on your blog or website to get the information. You can enter your url into a box on the calculator website and it will calculate it for you. As you can see, however, the various calculators come up with some very different answers!

My blog is worth $1,129.08.
How much is your blog worth?

This website is worth
What is your website worth?

To find out the worth of your own blog/website or to get your own widget, just click inside either widget on the "How much is your website/blog worth" link.