Well I, for one, love cheap writing gigs. In a minute, I'll tell you why, but before we get to my reasons, let me say, "cheap" is relative. Twenty-five or $30 for a 500-word article is cheap for some, and a decent freelance article writing rate for others.
I Have Written for as Little as $3
What I consider cheap are those $5 for 500-word article writing gigs. Those I don't do. Well let me back up a minute. To be honest, I have written for as little as $3 per article when I wrote for AssociatedContent.com (AC) back in the day. BUT, it was pre-published material.
I used to sell the articles I wrote for my old blog on blogspot to AC. This was long before things like Google's Panda, Penguin and Hummingbird updates of course. Sometimes they'd only pay me $3 for them. But as it was content that I wrote and published for free on my own blog, I didn't care.
I'd gotten downsized out of my job and needed the extra cash. Sometimes, eight or nine of those $3, $5 or $7 payments would hit my PayPal account on the same day and allow me to put gas in my car, pick up some things at the grocery store, pay the water bill, etc. In short, they came in handy.
3 Reasons to Embrace Cheap Freelance Writing Gigs
With all of the above being said, following is why I love cheap writing gigs.
I. Easy to Get: You know when you first start a diet and you lose those first few pounds? It feels good right? It makes you want to do even more – exercise, eat right, stop drinking so much (well, maybe not this).
Well because cheap writing gigs are easier to come by than those that pay more (again, whatever that is for you), they can be a real ego boost – especially if you're new to the profession. Landing a few jobs quickly can be just the thing to boost your confidence to really pursue this "freelance writing thing."
II. Learn Different Types of Writing: Let me explain by way of example … I remember when I dipped over into writing case studies a few years back. I was intimidated by them, so I lowered my rate – doing them cheaply for just a few hundred bucks.
FYI, it's not uncommon for top-flight writers get $5,000, $7,000 or $10,000 or more to write a case study. But I didn't feel comfortable charging market rate because I didn't feel comfortable doing this type of writing. Once I'd done a few and "learned the trade," so to speak, I raised my rates. But doing them at a lower rate allowed me to pick up a new writing skill.
III. I'm Lazy Sometimes: Just being honest here. Sometimes I'll see a gig posted and think, "Well, I should send in my profile and ask for more." But then I'll think, "I can knock that out in no time. I'm going to Jamaica soon and need some extra spending money (or I want to go shopping, or get my nails done or [you fill in the blank for you]), so I'll take it."
The marketing grind as a freelancer is a constant one because you're in business. And that's what business is – it's a constant hustle. But sometimes, the hustle is taken out of you and you just want to land a gig, pay your bills and relax.
My Advice to Freelance Writers about Taking on Cheap Writing Gigs
I always advise those who ask me about what to charge; should they take this gig or that one; is the pay enough, etc., to do what works for them because nobody has to pay your bills but you. So …
a) Do your research and be sure to compare apples to apples (eg, look at the going rate for the type of writing you want to do);
b) Figure out your financial needs; and
c) Set your rates accordingly.
Don't be bullied into thinking that you're charging too little, or that you're not a "real" writer because you write for $X, or that you're doing the profession a disservice.
You're not.
Your bills are YOUR BILLS and to those who say that you shouldn't take on a freelance writing gig for less than $X, ask them for their address. When they ask why, just say, "Since I shouldn't write for $X, I thought you'd be kind enough to pay my mortgage/rent when it comes due next month while I wait for that higher-paying gig to come along."
That should shut'em up.
Author Bio
Yuwanda Black is the publisher of InkwellEditorial.com, an authority site on how to start a successful freelance writing career. She says, "Online (SEO) writing is one of the easiest and most in-demand freelance businesses to start because if you have a computer and an internet connection, you can start right away." Don't know where to start? Take Inkwell Editorial's in-depth online writing eCourse! You'll not only learn how to make money writing for clients, but you'll learn how to make money promoting your own products and services as well – creating income security that will allow you to kiss your 9-to-5 goodbye forever.
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