What Freelance Writing Jobs Pay Is Subject of Revealing New Survey

PALM DESERT, CA, February 19, 2007— What freelance writing jobs pay can be a huge disappointment to copywriters who barely squeeze out a living despite talent and professional experience, says national copywriter coach Chris Marlow. Using statistical data and market research, Marlow shows how to fatten writers’ paychecks in her new 68-page survey, the “Freelance Copywriter Fee & Compensation Survey™ Volume II,”

The survey is considered by many writers to be one of the most comprehensive studies of freelance copywriter economics ever published.

Marlow, who is often called the ‘copywriter’s coach,’ has made a living as one of the top copywriters in the software industry for more than 22 years – and one of the most highly paid. She is a three-time winner of the ECHO award, the “Oscar” of direct marketing copywriting. She says she got tired of hearing the woeful stories of what copywriters are paid so the California copywriting expert did something about it.

In late 2006, Marlow surveyed 358 fulltime copywriters, gathering detailed information about what freelance writing jobs pay in all parts of the country. She learned about gross incomes, job fees and geographical pay differences. She says the results didn’t surprise her. Survey results revealed more than 80% of copywriters feel they undercharge. “Even some of the most experienced copywriters surveyed said they constantly question themselves about pricing.” Marlow said the four questions copywriters ask most are:

o What are my competitors charging for freelance writing jobs?
o What freelance writing jobs pay the most?
o Am I leaving money on the table?
o Can I get away with charging higher fees?


A copywriter’s idea of what freelance writing jobs pay and the client’s idea of what freelance writing jobs should cost are often at odds with each other, says Marlow. “Obviously, there’s a lot of pain associated with the purchase of ad copy for both the copywriter and the client – and pricing errors are rampant,” she says.

Marlow published Volume I of the “Freelance Copywriter Fee & Compensation Survey” in 2005. “Since then, I’ve been in contact with many of the writers who purchased the first volume. They told me they have saved literally thousands of dollars when pricing freelance writing jobs,” she said.

“The question of what freelance writing jobs pay – or should pay – is a huge issue that nags copywriters at every level of experience,” says Marlow. “No copywriter wants to lose a job because he overbid. And, no copywriter wants to experience that sick feeling you get when you realize you’ve under priced a job.” The copywriter coach says even some experienced copywriters surveyed privately confessed they constantly second-guess themselves about pricing. She says the three questions copywriters ask most often are:

The 2007 “Freelance Copywriter Fee & Compensation Survey” provides pricing benchmarks in 40 common copywriting jobs in print media, audio/video media, and electronic media. The report provides information on more than just what freelance writing jobs pay. It also spells out marketing and time-management practices collected from the hundreds of copywriters who participated in the survey.

Some highlights:
* 80.8% of copywriters use referral marketing as a first-year marketing strategy.

* 39.4% of copywriters relied on their Websites for clients in their first year but in their “current” year, that figure jumped to 61.6%.

* First year gross earnings of full-time freelance copywriters were strongest at between $25,001 and $50,000, coming in at 29.1%.

* Most copywriters (60.1%) think region affects pricing levels for copywriting jobs, and many share their reasons why.

* Technology won as “the most lucrative of freelance writing jobs,” coming in at 36.8%.


The “Freelance Copywriter Fee & Compensation Survey™ Volume II”, along with “Bonus Report Marketing and Time Management for Copywriters”, is available at an introductory price of $125.00 USD at www.freelancersbusinessstore.com.



ABOUT CHRIS MARLOW, THE COPYWRITER COACH

Chris Marlow is one of the nation’s top copywriters for the software industry. She is an award-winning 22-year copywriting veteran. As a copywriter coach, Marlow teaches corporate and freelance copywriters how to accurately assess what freelance writing jobs pay in various markets and how to improve their copywriting and business skills. She is the editor and publisher of the monthly online newsletter Get Great Clients (www.GetGreatClients.com/signup). Contact Chris Marlow at (760) 340-2045, or via www.TheCopywritersCoach.com.



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