How much should you pay for a blog post? It’s a valid question, with the shortest answer, I think, being that you get what you pay for.
Penny writers (£5 - £10)
Startups and small businesses working with a small budget might consider turning to penny-writers on websites like Freelancer or Fiverr to save money. Whilst you may strike lucky, it is a bit of a gamble, with many who offer their services for £5 - £10 per blog who lack experience or a good standard of the English language, delivering unresearched or substandard posts which are of little use - unless you're just looking for filler content.
On-spec Writers (£10-£30)
Then you have writers who belong to a team, often hundreds of writers who bid for the same job, charging anywhere between £10 and £30 for a blog. The problem here is that their work tends to be competitive, and on a conveyor belt, with no assurances that their post will be selected and paid. It's a numbers game essentially; the more blogs they write in a day, the more chance they have of being paid for one. This is where many businesses go for the first time, and can be disappointed by the result which is often a superficial piece of content which falls short of their expectations.
Freelance Writers (£50 - £200)
Freelance writers, who operate as a side hustle or may be looking to become full-time writers can be found in all of the above places - and those below. Here is where you will find the most variation in skill and talent. For around £50 you may find a superstar who researches their content, writes like Shakespeare and delivers on time every time. Chances are though, that you won’t have them at that price for long, as their talents are realised and their prices rise.
A well-written researched blog post of around 500 words in the UK will usually cost around £100 - £200, if you are working with a reputable freelancer. My prices are set within the lower end of this range, as I prefer building long-term relationships with my clients, getting to know their business inside and out, for our mutual benefit.
Celebrity Bloggers
Celebrity bloggers can charge anywhere from £1000 to £2500 and above, but then you are paying for their rep - the quality of content may not differ much between this and a reputable freelancer but their name will be in the spotlight. Those who employ the services of celebrity bloggers are looking to appeal to an audience who value who has written a blog, as much - if not more than what it says.
Set your Standards then Search accordingly...
Of course, there are outliers at both ends of the spectrum - rare content sprites, undercharging, unaware of their talents, and overchargers who will fleece clients only once for a standard content post. Indubitably (always wanted to use that word:), outliers will filter through the system - either upwards or downwards - as the good ones get busier and the others hang up their laptop leads in favour of a 9-5.
My advice to small businesses and startups is to decide what you want your content to achieve with your blog posts and go from there. And before you hire a content writer, do your research; ask for examples of their work, and make sure that their style and standard suit your needs.
Lastly, when deciding how much you should pay for a blog post, be mindful that 5 good blogs will speak to your audience far more effectively than 20 blogs which speak to no-one at all. Good content is a sound and crucial investment which can dictate whether someone clicks to your contact page - or your competitor.
Susan Grasekamp is a Content Writer, helping small businesses and entrepreneurs to find their brand ‘voice’ and connect with their target audience. Get in touch at Blue Moose Content Creation to get your content flowing. [DISPLAY_ULTIMATE_SOCIAL_ICONS]
