The Working Writer

It seems a lot of readers of this blog have found me through Google, using the search term “SEO Copywriter Rates” - which makes me quite happy.

But what you’re looking for are the going rates for SEO copywriters and not a post extolling my wonderful writing skills, so here’s what I’ve compiled based on (a) my own copywriting rates, (b) the rates of other copywriters, and (c) several unbiased outside sources.

Also, let me note that these are not my rates, although my rates are represented here. Please contact me if you have a project in mind. I don’t normally post my rates because I find tailoring my project fees to a clients’ specific needs works best. Plus, I guarantee my project quotes so there are no nasty surprises.

Additionally, these rates listed aren’t bottom of the barrel writing rates; these are professional copywriter fees. For more on this topic, read this blog posting entitled Copywriting Fees - The Wrong Way.

Now that all of that is out of the way… the best copywriter rate directory that I’ve come across is Chris Marlow’s. She’s compiled the data from over one hundred different copywriters from all over the U.S. and listed the amalgamated rates in a handy chart format. For instance, respondents who have copywritten a ‘11″ x 17″ tri-fold self-mailer’ have charged anywhere from $100 to $10,000, but the gross majority fell between the $500 - 2000 range (14% charged $100-500, 27% charged between $501 - 1000, and 26% charged between $1001 - 2000.)

Although Ms. Marlow’s compensation survey runs a cool $125 USD, I still feel it is a valuable resource for freelance copywriters and the people who purchase their services.

For those who aren’t looking to purchase a survey and merely need some basic information right now, here are what I’ve found to be the “going” SEO copywriter rates for a variety of projects.

General SEO Copywriting

• $300/half day or $500/full day.

Advertising Copywriting

• $20 - $120/hour, with an average of $60/hour;
• $500 - $20,00/project;
  
• On average $1.20 a word.

E-mail Ad Copywriting

• $20 - $100/hour, with an average of $70/hour;
• On average $2,500/project.

“Long” Sales Pages, SEO Optimized

• $100 to over $10,000/project, with an average of $900 for a ’standard’ long tail sales letter.

Press or News Release, SEO Optimized

• $20 - $175/hour, with an average of $65/hour;
• $75 - $1,000/project with an average of $475/project.

Reports, Business Plans or Marketing Plans

• $30 - $125/hour, with an average of $70/hour;
• $200 - $5000/project, with an average of $2,000 a project;
  
• $1 - 2/word.
  

References Used to Determine “Standard” SEO Copywriter Rates:

1. Professional Writers Association Canada, Professional Fee Guidelines.
2. Wasnak, Lynn. “How Much Should I Charge?” NJ Creatives Network.
3. Writer’s Market [information available by subscription only]

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