When you hire a freelance blogger, you don’t necessarily have to opt for the price she quotes you. It seems counter-intuitive for me to tell you this being a freelance blogger for hire, but there is a reason for that.
There are times that the cost of the blogging is just out of your budget. But you really want to hire this particular blogger because she’s been recommended or you like the work you’ve seen elsewhere.
Negotiating is often the best way to get that particular blogger to do the work that you have, at a price that is suitable for the two of you.
Bloggers Often Quote Higher Expecting Negotiations
Many bloggers will quote a higher rate to begin with. They’re expecting you to negotiate to a lower rate, but they don’t want to see their hourly rate drop below their minimum. It’s not really fair to expect them to work for less than they need to live comfortably.
If the blogger really wants to do the project, she will likely lower her rate a little. Part of it will depend on how polite you are too. Don’t go in expecting to get a price drop.
Remember the Time and Effort Put Into the Work
Don’t go in with a low-ball offer. When you hire a freelance blogger, you’re hiring her for more than her writing capabilities. She has to research your topic, interview any sources, create the article, and then proofread. There may even be revisions after that.
Think about the time and effort that goes into the work. And then consider the rate that you’re really considering paying.
If your offer is extremely low, she is not going to want to work with you.
Are You Willing to Pay Upfront?
Most bloggers will request that 25% to 50% of the total cost is paid upfront. After that, you can pay the rest upon completion. Some have their own special milestone payments.
If you want to get a good rate, it may be worth paying all of it upfront. There is less risk for the blogger, and she can see that you are going to be a reasonable and good client to work with. When you hire your freelance blogger, she’s more likely to take a slightly lower rate because the money is already in the bank.
Yes, there are downsides to you paying all of it upfront. If you don’t want to do that, offer 50% to 75% upfront.
Make Your Budget Clear
Before you hire a freelance blogger, you need to discuss price clearly and make your needs known. However, don’t then ask for a quote. Offer a budget that you have for the freelance blogger to work with.
This will help her avoid quoting something dramatically out of your budget. It will also help her make sure the two of you are suited with each other. You may be asking her to do too much for your budget, and another blogger may be more suited.
Most freelance bloggers for hire will ask you to make your budget known first, anyway. It helps to keep the guesswork out.
Are you ready to hire a freelance blogger and negotiate the rate? Some will say no, but you never know until you ask. You may find that more are willing to do this than you think! Get in touch today to discuss your project and your rate costs.
Note: This post was originally published on July 14, 2014. It was updated on August 245, 2017.
Negotiating seems like a good idea. I’ve never heard of the concept before. People pay you to blog for them? That’s amazing.
I’m surprised at how many people haven’t heard about freelance blogging. But I guess it’s only been recently that so many businesses have heard how good blogging is for their marketing. It is great to be able to do something you love and be paid doing it.
Something to bear in mind although I love blogging never thought about freelancing but you’ve given great information for anyone that wishes to start x
Thanks, Rachel. If you do want to consider hiring out your blogging skills, I’d encourage you to check out my site for blogging and writing tips. You can find it at http://alexandria-ingham.com
I didn’t know about freelance blogging myself but have always enjoyed writing. It was not until recently, when I started my own blog that I realised it is a who new world with different dimensions, happy to have caught on. Thank you so much for the info, am amazed at what I get to learn everyday.
You’re welcome, Rachel. It is definitely a whole new world, and it changes so quickly. Google has changed its algorithm so many times since I started blogging and writing just four years ago.