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Dear Fellow Copywriter,
Are you sick and tired of struggling over what to charge for your copywriting services?
Do you love your work but dread the negotiations?
Have you kicked yourself more than once by coming in too low on a job and then hated every minute of it because of that one crucial mistake?
You're not alone. Probably every copywriter has suffered these indignities. And I should know, because I've been writing copy for 22 years.
My name is Chris Marlow, and while I'm well known in certain circles, you may not have heard of me or my Get Great Clients newsletter.
But that's okay. What you do need to know is what I've uncovered in my extensive research. And what I've uncovered is...
• What copywriters charge
• What their fees and terms are
• How they price their work
• How they market
• What they charge per hour
• What they really earn each year
• And much, much more!
Sure, some copywriters make six figures and more... but wouldn't it be nice to know what's "average"? Or how you fit into the grand scheme of things?
If you know how much others are making - and how they price their work - wouldn't it be so much easier to make realistic financial goals? Wouldn't it be easier to price your individual jobs?
My coaching students and copywriter colleagues tell me that after getting new clients, pricing their work is the hardest and most stressful part of their job.
Well, it doesn't have to be that way. I spent nearly a year conceiving, conducting, and creating the world's only substantial survey of copywriters. The result is the Freelance Copywriters Fee & Compensation Survey - the most comprehensive statistical report on copywriter income, fees, business practices, and more.
It brings you statistically valid pricing benchmarks from nearly 300 participants, as well as advice, facts, and insight from successful copywriters so you can process the data from different vantage points.
Whether you're new to copywriting or an "old hat," get your hands on the Freelance Copywriters Fee & Compensation Survey. Not only will it open your eyes to "what's real," but it will give you confidence and leverage in pricing your work today, tomorrow, and for years to come.
To your freelance success,
chrismarlow.com
TheCopywritersCoach.com
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"Quoting is tough. Too high, and you risk losing the job. Too low, and you leave money on the table, or worse, you look like an amateur - and still lose the job! Chris Marlow's in-depth survey helps take the guesswork out of the process so you can quote with confidence. I plan on referring to it frequently whenever I quote new projects."
- Steve Slaunwhite, Author, "Start and Run a Copywriting Business"
ForCopywritersOnly.com
"Remember I asked you how to estimate fees for a magalog... after reading your survey I decided to ask for $25,000 although I was willing to negotiate down to $15,000. They accepted the $25,000 fee without hesitation! I also took your advice and requested 8 weeks to complete the project. So I'm pretty happy. Thanks for your advice!"
- Cathy Smith, copywriter, Los Angeles
"I think the survey is fantastic! Finding the right clients and figuring out what and how to charge was a huge problem for me when I first started freelancing. If only I had your report, I would have saved hours of time, thousands of dollars, and an incredible amount of aggravation! Also, please add me to your newsletter mailing list."
- Donna Doyle, Alternative Health and Nutrition Copywriter, New Jersey
"Already used some stats to gauge some web copy pricing. You also reminded me of a strategy I'd done with other clients and it helped me land the job!"
- Mary Guinane Smith, The Write Answer, Iowa
"Great job Chris! Most comprehensive copywriter fee survey I've ever seen. I wish there was something like this when I started out."
- Doug D'Anna, veteran copywriter for the publishing industry, San Mateo, CA
"My career as a freelance copywriter began when I got out of the Navy 30 years ago. It all happened serendipitously and I found very few resources to guide me. I looked everywhere but discovered only a handful of publications and organizations for writers and consultants - and certainly no Web sites or e-zines in 1974!
Chris Marlow's Freelance Copywriter Fee and Compensation Survey would have been a valuable tool, with hard information how to structure fees, how to find clients, what a freelancer's life is like, and much more. The Survey didn't exist when I started out so I couldn't buy it. But you don't have that excuse - get it and give your career a boost."
- Don Hauptman, copywriter/consultant, New York
"Before purchasing your pricing guide, pricing a copywriting project was always a stressful activity. Now I have the knowledge and self-confidence to price properly and with confidence, and I earned back the cost of the guide on my very first project!"
All the best,
- Paul Arinaga, Copywriter for Global Corporations, Belgium
"I have to say that the money I spent for the report and discovering you has been the best investment I have made thus far in learning to be a copywriter. So, thank you! It's comforting to know that there are people like you out there who are willing and able to help new Copywriters get started."
- Janice Stotz, Copywriter
Monroe, Michigan
"I just bought your fee survey at last and used it to more than double my fee for a project I just negotiated • YAY team. It's amazing the amount of confidence it gives you when you go into a negotiation. You know what the market is bearing."
- Peter Schwartz, Copywriter for the Financial Industry, Arlington, VA
"Chris, I just wanted to let you know I finally had a few minutes to read How To Structure Your Copywriting Rates. As a 'newbie' this information is priceless. Not only is it informative, it's an easy read. I will keep this as a valuable addition to reference materials. Thank you!"
- Fran McDuffee, Creative Copywriter, Indianapolis, IN
"I purchased the Freelance Fee Survey Report when I wasn't sure what to quote for a direct mail package where they wanted to give me a chance to beat the control. From thinking about the fees in the survey in comparison to the fees mentioned in the bonus report, I was able to come up with a fee to which the client said, 'That's pretty steep, but OK.' I'm therefore going to recommend the Freelance Fee Survey Report to my copywriters-in-training, especially those interested in direct response writing. Thanks, Chris!"
- Marcia Yudkin, Marketing Consultant Mentor, www.yudkin.com/become.htm
"Hi Chris, Just had to say, your Report is the best $ I've spent all year. Thank you! You can be very isolated professionally as a freelance copywriter, can't you? Especially when you've just started freelancing in a brand new area of the country. So it was lovely to see that things that concern me concern other freelance writer, too. Keep up the wonderful work. Best regards..."
- Jane Howett, "Words 4 the Web" Online Copy Specialist, United Kingdom |
| Download Page |
| Nearly 300 freelance copywriters answer 62 probing questions their fees, finances, and marketing secrets in VOLUME I of the Freelance Copywriter Fee & Compensation Survey™...
Finally, for the first time ever, you can structure your own copywriting rates against solid copywriter pricing data... actual benchmarks that save you from undercharging and leaving hundreds or even thousands of dollars on the table each year!
You'll know when you're being taken advantage of because hundreds of copywriters from the novice to those making six figures (and more!) have shared their most intimate information in this bellwether survey.
Instant price test
Think for a moment:
What would you charge for a standard 11" x 17" self-mailer?
$500?... $1,000?... $1,500?... More?
If you've written a large format self-mailer, what did you charge? Write it down on a piece of paper now.
Great... now did you feel any conflict? A twinge of insecurity? Are you hoping it's the "right" price?
Okay...now check your price against the chart below in which 210 copywriters reveal their pricing for an 11" x 17" tri-fold self-mailer:
The median price for an 11" x 17" self-mailer is
between $1,001 and $2,000.
If you were thinking of charging $950 to write a standard 11" x 17" self-mailer for a large corporation, would you consider charging more if you knew that a least one in four of 210 copywriters (26%) charges at least $1,000 and as much as $2,000 USD? With this factual pricing data, would charging, say, $1,500 feel more "right"?
What if you're a highly experienced copywriter? If you knew that 32% of your fellow copywriters charge more than $2,000 for an 11" x 17" self-mailer – sometimes much more – would that get you to thinking harder about your true value to your client?
Or what if you're just starting out and building your portfolio is important. If you're scratching your head over how to price a large self-mailer, would it make it easier to consult the chart above and determine that 27% of copywriters charge between $501 and $1,000 for this project?
Of course it would!
Real world statistical data presented in charts like the one above would give you everything you need to settle on a price that you feel good about, one that's fair to both you and your client. No more coming in too low – or too high – and then kicking yourself for being unsuccessful in business!
This is the most useful analysis of freelance copywriting fees and compensation  I have seen in my 25 years in this business.
- Bob Bly, master copywriter and author of more than 70 marketing and copywriting books
Wouldn't you like to know what copywriters charge for a full lead-generating package, with an envelope teaser, 2-page letter, standard brochure and reply device? Or how much more they charge for an order-generating direct mail package?
What about a full web site? A newsletter? A standard 2-page lead-generating letter?
You'll discover the answer to these pricing questions in the 66-page Freelance Copywriter Fee & Compensation Survey Volume I, where nearly 300 freelance copywriters reveal what they charge for 20 common copywriting jobs, including:
| • 2-page lead-generating sales letters |
• Magalogs |
| • Order-generating sales letters |
• Lift notes |
| • Lead-generating classic packages |
• Publisher's renewal series |
| • Order-generating classic packages |
• Order forms |
| • Tri-fold self mailers |
• Letters for a lead-generating microsite |
| • Concepting |
• Letters for an order-generating microsite |
| • Print newsletters |
• Online newsletters |
| • Full-page print ads |
• Home page copy |
| • Quarter-page print ads |
• Web site copy |
| • Catalog copy |
• Email letters |
IMPORTANT NOTE: Volume II of the Freelance Copywriter Fee & Compensation Survey contains 40 MORE pricing benchmarks that are different than those above. It is not an update to Volume II but a companion. Please be sure you're purchasing the one you want, that has the jobs you want. Find Volume II at www.FreelancersBusinessStore.com/volume2.
The Freelance Copywriter Fee & Compensation Survey Volume I presents all pricing data in chart form so you can quickly see how many copywriters responded to a specific question, and what percentage came in highest for a particular price range...
Each chart also offers percentage data that allows you to analyze pricing from different vantage points. For instance, in the pricing chart above, the percentage in bold clearly shows the most common price range for an 11" x 17" self-mailer (between $501 and $1,000). And you can also clearly see that nearly the same amount of copywriters (26%) charge more, coming in between $1,001 and $2,000.
In the Freelance Copywriter Fee & Compensation Survey Volume I, another survey chart reveals the respondents' years in business. If you knew that a large percentage of respondents have been copywriting for five years or less, and you are in your second year, would you determine, from this chart data that a fair price for you for an 11" x 17" self-mailer might be, say, $1,000? Would knowing the median price (between $1,001 to $2,000) reinforce your pricing decision?
Hard data like this gives you confidence when you're pricing and erases the uncertainty, nail biting, and financially ruinous decisions that can sabotage your success in a field that can be highly lucrative for those who know what to charge!
Discover how to successfully negotiate pricing
to maximize your ROI!
CLICK HERE to order now through our secure server
100% Risk Free 60-Day Money Back Guarantee!
IMPORTANT NOTE: Volume II of the Freelance Copywriter Fee & Compensation Survey contains 40 MORE pricing benchmarks that are different than those above. It is not an update to Volume II but a companion. Please be sure you're purchasing the one you want, with the jobs you want. Find Volume II at www.FreelancersBusinessStore.com/volume2.
Knowledge is power...
If a prospective client balks at your price, imagine the power in being able to say, "This price is neither high nor low. It's the median price according to the Freelance Copywriter Fee & Compensation Survey Volume I — the largest survey ever conducted on copywriter pricing. If you wish, I can show you the statistics for pricing this kind of work."
Thanks to Chris Marlow's Fee and Compensation Survey, I now know exactly where I stand in relation to my copywriting peers. I have the information I needed to raise my project fees and hourly rates. I know where I need to put more of my marketing dollar. And, I can see my copywriting income goals more clearly, knowing that they are achievable. Chris recognized the worth of the old adage 'knowledge is power' - and through her published survey results, gives us all the power to make our work more profitable.
- Kim Stacey, kimstaceycopywriter.com
With the Freelance Copywriter Fee & Compensation Survey Volume I you can price jobs based on the amount of time they'll take, and compare your pricing against survey data for jobs that take a similar amount of time to complete.
Stumped on what to charge for a 1-page fulfillment letter?
• See what others are charging for a short email letter.
Wondering what's fair for a landing page?
• Check the median price for an interior Web page, then price up or down according to whether the landing page will take more time, or less.
Want to know what to charge for a buck slip?
• See what others are charging for a lift note. These are powerful package elements and shouldn't price low just because they're small!
Published in 2005, the survey for Volume I of the Freelance Copywriter Fee & Compensation Survey attracted 289 participants. It's the most comprehensive survey ever conducted on freelance copywriters and their broadbased economics. Not only will this pivotal report tell you what copywriters charge for 20 common copywriting jobs, but it will also tell you:
• What copywriters charge per hour
• How they collect payment
• How they market themselves
• Where they find the most work
• How long they've been in the business
• How much their gross yearly income is (this is a real eye-opener!)
With the Freelance Copywriter Fee & Compensation Survey Volume I, you'll get a rare insight into the working reality of your fellow copywriters. What industries do they work in? How do they successfully market themselves? Where do they live, where do they work, and what are their backgrounds?
You'll discover the answers to these questions and many more... answers you can use to make smart, profitable decisions in your own copywriting freelance business!
A "must have" resource
The Freelance Copywriter Fee & Compensation Survey Volume I is destined to become an industry classic and belongs on the desk of every working copywriter, including yours. Is there any question that it will pay for itself over and over again, as you consult its 66 pages of previously hidden factual data that has a direct bearing on how much you earn?
Pricing for copy is never easy... Chris Marlow's informative, unbiased, large-scale pricing survey is a long overdue first for the industry. Even my most seasoned clients are taking notice...
The Survey is destined to become a 'must read' reference tool for the industry - not just for copywriters, but for those who hire them as well!
- Kevin Finn, agent for elite copywriters, Redondo Beach, CA
Whether you're a new copywriter or a seasoned pro at the height of your career, the Freelance Copywriter Fee & Compensation Survey Volume I contains "must have" information that will help you price your work and negotiate terms with confidence.
Discover the bad information often given to new copywriters that practically assures their failure... plus the right information for getting up and running quickly.
• Find out how many six-figure copywriters there are in a sampling of 289 respondents; is the figure high? Low? How does your income compare?
• Are you good at getting repeat business from your clients... or are you "less than average"? How many copywriters get steady work from their clients, and how many have to continually scramble?
• Do most copywriters work with local clients, or do they get most of their work from national clients? What about international clients? Do they travel on the job or stay home most of the time?
• Is there more work in publishing, or business-to-consumer fields? How much is there in business-to-business? The answer might surprise you and send you in a new direction.
• Do most copywriters specialize? Or do survey results indicate that staying a generalist is the better idea?
• You'll find the answers to these questions and much more, in the information-packed pages of the Freelance Copywriter Fee & Compensation Survey Volume I. What's more, you'll find opinion, commentary, and quotes from industry leaders such as...
• Don Hauptman, a well-known copywriter for newsletters and information products, who gives you the "real" story on pricing for publication renewals.
• Donna Doyle, nutritional supplements writer extraordinaire, who offers a surprising viewpoint on the subject of bonuses and royalties.
• Million dollar copywriter Carline Anglade-Cole, who reveals her pricing system for large-scale rollouts.
• Doug D'Anna, who ranks in the top 1% of all direct mail copywriters in the investment newsletter advisory industry; Doug shares pricing advice you'll want to take to heart... valuable information you'll use every time you price.
In addition, survey host Chris Marlow offers agency-side experience, statistical analysis, and job descriptions designed to make it easy for you to price your work, based on multiple analytical viewpoints. |
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Discover how to successfully negotiate pricing
to maximize your ROI!
CLICK HERE to order now through our secure server
100% Risk Free 60-Day Money Back Guarantee!
IMPORTANT NOTE: Volume II of the Freelance Copywriter Fee & Compensation Survey contains 40 MORE pricing benchmarks that are different than those above. It is not an update to Volume II but a companion. Please be sure you're purchasing the one you want, with the jobs you want. Find Volume II at www.FreelancersBusinessStore.com/volume2.
Take charge of your financial future and earn your fair share this year!
If you're ever the least bit insecure in your pricing, then you're almost certainly leaving money on the table. It's time to get the respect you deserve... and get paid what you're worth!
After all, as a copywriter your job is to make your client money; your intelligence, skill, and labor entitles you to a portion of the proceeds!
Order the Freelance Copywriter Fee & Compensation Survey Volume I today and use it to "price right" on your very next job.
Professional pricing expert Marlene Jensen priced Volume I of the Freelance Copywriter Fee & Compensation Survey at $250 but I'm offering it at just $79 USD because testing has shown me that that's what buyers want to pay. And at just $79, copywriters report that they often make back their investment on their very next job!
With the Freelance Copywriter Fee & Compensation Survey Volume I you'll get...
• 66 pages of large-scale statistical pricing data for 20 common copywriting jobs.
• Dozens of information-rich charts and tables you can refer to every time you have pricing doubts or questions.
• Insightful job descriptions that help you understand the value of your work.
• Insider tips that reveal pricing pitfalls and expose common negotiating "landmines" that can hurt your profits.
• Expert analysis, commentary, advice, and quotes that will clarify your thoughts on pricing and negotiation.
• True life experiences from other copywriters you can learn from.
• And much, much more!
Purchasing Volume I of the Freelance Copywriter Fee & Compensation Survey for $79 just makes sense. If you think you've been undercharging, you could earn back your investment on your very next job! In fact, you'll probably earn back your investment many times over in the next 12 months!
Even if you generally feel good about your pricing,Volume I of the Freelance Copywriter Fee & Compensation Survey contains exclusive information on copywriter marketing... pay conventions... negotiation tactics... work realities... and even what copywriters think copywriting is!
This information exists nowhere else and is really a steal at the discounted price of just $79.
But wait, there's more...
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If you order Volume I of the Freelance Copywriter Fee & Compensation Survey right now, I'll bundle my 27-page industry classic, How to Structure Your Copywriting Rates, into the Survey Report. This popular guide gives you detailed step-by-step instructions for setting the hourly rate that's right for you, based on what you wish to earn this year.
• What portion of your hourly rate should go to taxes?
• How much should go to retirement?
• Are you charging less than the industry minimum for copywriting, as many new copywriters do? |
| | And what about the profit on your work? Have you factored in 15% for profit? If not, you should, because that's the reward for being a business entrepreneur! Don't shortchange yourself or your family. Spend 30 minutes calculating your hourly rate now, so you can relax in the years ahead!
And when you get my FREE report, How To Structure Your Copywriting Rates, you'll also get the actual Fee Scales of four industry leading copywriters and one copywriter's agency.
You'll get the Fee Scale used by Bob Bly, author of more than 70 books on marketing and copywriting; Denny Hatch, a direct marketing icon with more than 40 years in the business; Steve Slaunwhite, author of "How to Start and Run a Copywriting Business," and award-winning software expert, Chris Marlow.
You'll also get the Fee Scale used by Monica Day and Krista Jones for Copywriters & More, an online service that once matched new American Artists & Writers Institute (AWAI) graduates with small business owners.
With Volume I of the Freelance Copywriter Fee & Compensation Survey, the special report, How to Structure Your Copywriting Rates, and Fee Scales from five industry leaders, you'll have everything you need to ease your fear and anxiety and make the smart pricing decisions that drive your success!
Download the
VOLUME I of the
Freelance Copywriter
Fee
& Compensation Survey
Just $79 USD
IMPORTANT NOTE: Volume II of the Freelance Copywriter Fee & Compensation Survey contains 40 MORE pricing benchmarks that are different than those above. It is not an update to Volume II but a companion. Please be sure you're purchasing the one you want, that contains the jobs you want. Find Volume II at www.FreelancersBusinessStore.com/volume2.
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Discover how to successfully negotiate pricing
to maximize your ROI!
CLICK HERE to order now through our secure server
100% Risk Free 60-Day Money Back Guarantee!
IMPORTANT NOTE: Volume II of the Freelance Copywriter Fee & Compensation Survey contains 40 MORE pricing benchmarks that are different than those above. It is not an update to Volume II but a companion. Please be sure you're purchasing the one you want, with the jobs you want. Find Volume II at www.FreelancersBusinessStore.com/volume2.
By spending just $79 you could earn hundreds or even thousands more than you are now... and you can make this smart investment in your business risk free. Because if you're not 100% thrilled with the content of the Freelance Copywriter Fee & Compensation Survey Volume I – a bellwether report that took literally months to compile and analyze – then I want you to ask for your money back.
But I don't think you'll want your money back. A study of copywriter pricing is long overdue and will help the novice as well as the seasoned pro. There's nothing like it on the market today, you won't to find this information anywhere else, and the survey data will be useful for years to come.
So make one of the smartest investments you can make in your business, and in yourself, and order Volume I of the Freelance Copywriter Fee & Compensation Survey for just $79 USD.
Do it now, for your freelance success!
Chris Marlow
Author & Publisher
P.S. – Wouldn't you like to peek into the work life and bank accounts of your fellow copywriters and learn their most intimate business secrets?
Hundreds of your fellow copywriters anonymously shared their most intimate financial secrets in the world's first and only large scale survey of copywriter pricing and economics... secrets like:
How copywriters invoice and what their terms are.
• What types of pay conventions they use – flat rates, hourly, bonuses, commissions?
• How their clients treat them... do their clients pay an up front fee? Do they pay the copywriter on time?
• How they protect themselves... do they always use a contract, or is a handshake okay?
• Where do they focus their copywriting... do they do all kinds of work, or stick to just order- or lead-generating projects?
• How do they market themselves? What works best for them?
• What industries do they target when looking for clients?
• Do they work "on site"? Do they use sophisticated electronics?
You'll even get insight into the psyche of your fellow copywriters...
What do they love about copywriting... what do they hate?
And how do they define the term "copywriter" anyway? One hundred forty-seven copywriters answered this question, with results splitting out five ways. Do you view copywriting as other copywriters do? You may be very surprised by the "world view" of copywriting as revealed by its own participants.
Discover how to successfully negotiate pricing
to maximize your ROI!
CLICK HERE to order now through our secure server
100% Risk Free 60-Day Money Back Guarantee!
IMPORTANT NOTE: Volume II of the Freelance Copywriter Fee & Compensation Survey contains 40 MORE pricing benchmarks that are different than those above. It is not an update to Volume II but a companion. Please be sure you're purchasing the one you want, with the jobs you want. Find Volume II at www.FreelancersBusinessStore.com/volume2.
If you haven't yet purchased this "must have" pricing reference jam-packed with charts, tables, advice, anecdotes, and more... do so now, before you're confronted with a difficult pricing decision that could lose you the job by coming in too high, or cost you hundreds or even thousands of dollars (or Euros) by coming in too low.
Invest just $79 USD right now to get the world's leading resource for statistical copywriter economics – where hundreds of copywriters reveal their rates for 20 common copywriting jobs and answer 62 probing questions about their income, finances, marketing, and other personal business practices!
An essential business tool for any copywriter, you'll surely earn your investment back on your next few jobs, or perhaps as soon as your very next copywriting job! Remember, no matter where you live in the world. your satisfaction is 100% guaranteed when you purchase Volume I of the Freelance Copywriter Fee & Compensation Survey... or your money back!
I've done very well in sales, and my income had increased to a very comfortable level. Now I needed reliable information that would help me decide how to best handle a transition into full-time copywriting. I had enough anecdotal information... now I needed the facts! I'm confident that without having read and studied the Freelance Copywriter Fee & Compensation Survey, I would have probably made the wrong decision at the wrong time. The survey results and Chris' analysis was exactly what I have been looking for. I would highly recommend it to anyone looking to make 'the big jump' into freelance copywriting!
- Ed Gandia, Copywriter for the Software Industry, edgandia.com
Copyright 2007 - 2008 Chris Marlow
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