It’s the number-one query I get requested: “How can I earn more money writing?”
I’ve given quite a lot of solutions in previous posts, however at present I’ll deal with one nice method any author can use to up their earnings.
I realized this technique again after I had my first enterprise within the mid-Nineteen Eighties. I lived close to a few the film studios in Los Angeles, and I had a script-typing enterprise.
- I had a payment for typing scripts
- I had one other payment for typing scripts in a giant hurry. It was practically double the common payment
Typically, screenwriters would come to me all matted and hung over and say, “Oh my God! This draft is due in two days, and I simply completed it. Are you able to get it typed up tomorrow?”
And I’d say, “I certain can…at my rush charge value.”
Sometimes, they’d ask me to do it on the common value. However I’d say no. It’s the frenzy value, take it or depart it. They usually’d take it, each time.
Doing rush work at common charges means you’re taking a shopper’s disaster and letting it turn out to be your disaster. Now you’re up working till midnight, and never incomes something extra for the inconvenience.
Cost a premium, and also you make extra to your willingness to drop every little thing and sort out their venture pronto. Now, their disaster is your alternative to earn extra.
That’s how you need to view it: your disaster is my alternative.
It really works the identical manner in freelance writing. Individuals who plan badly are in all places. They create emergencies. Instantly, they want tons of writing executed on a good deadline!
That’s the place you are available in.
What’s the foolproof technique to make more cash writing? Put out the phrase that you simply focus on rush jobs.
- Let of us know you’ve bought what it takes to crank out writing underneath the gun, and also you’ll have a terrific new area of interest that raises your charges
- Contact native advertising and marketing companies and pitch your self as a rush specialist
- When you write for publications, you’ll want to let your editors know that in the event that they ever have one thing that wants a fast turnaround, they’ll name you
- In case you have any background in submitting same-day information tales, both in conventional information or for on-line blogs, point out it
When you get one rush job, phrase will unfold. Folks you’ve executed rush work for sometimes know different dysfunctional folks or firms, they usually cross alongside the phrase that you simply have been their clutch participant. Just some rush jobs a 12 months could make a giant distinction in your earnings.
Actual examples of rush-work costs to make more cash writing
Listed below are two examples of nice rush tasks I’ve had and was in a position to make more cash writing.
One is a white paper I wrote for a small staff’ union. They wanted it executed earlier than contract negotiations so they might use it as a bargaining device…however they dithered lots about what it ought to say and took quite a lot of time getting organized. Then, they modified their thoughts a pair instances, having me write completely different variations so they might evaluate them. I used to be charging $500 a web page, and one of many variations was longer than our unique bid, so I bought so as to add that onto my payment.
The consequence? A $3,000 price ticket as a substitute of $2,500.
One other is among the largest rush-work assignments I’ve had. I used to be approached by a significant financial-services firm. They’d determined their firm web site wanted a really energetic weblog they wished to launch in simply a few months. They wished to create a stockpile of greater than 150 quick, reported weblog entries, so they might put up a number of gadgets day by day. They’d spent an excessive amount of time conceptualizing what they wished, and now there was solely six weeks left to launch!
They started by providing $200 a submit. Once I identified it was basically a big rush job, they instantly upped their charge to $300 per. At that charge, I agreed to get 20 posts executed on their loopy deadline—pocketing an additional $2,000 as a result of it was a rush.
Their response? They have been thrilled I took so most of the posts, that means they wouldn’t have to search out as many writers as they thought to work the venture.
Because it occurs, I discovered the work pleasant and I had the time in my schedule to do it. However they nonetheless wanted to pay me extra for rush work, as a result of rush work prices extra.
All people is aware of that rush = greater price, which is what makes this technique to make more cash writing really easy to deploy
You actually don’t have to clarify to a prospect that their rush venture will price a premium. They get it.
I signed up a shopper who is actually a perpetual rush job. It’s a weekly commerce publication the place they want individuals who can react to information on Monday and file it by very first thing Thursday, each week. They pay $1 a phrase.
You will not be busy when a rush job comes alongside. Possibly you don’t have a single different writing task that week. However that doesn’t matter. The shopper doesn’t must know that. They simply must know that rush jobs price extra…a reality they are going to normally settle for with no blink.
Bear in mind the well-known work triangle—good, quick, low cost. Choose any two. You may’t get all three directly. You need good AND quick? It’s not going to be low cost.
By the identical token, if it’s quick and low cost, it received’t be good, as I’d typically level out to my script purchasers. To which these screenwriters would all the time reply, “Oh! However I would like it to look actually good.” After which they’d pay the upcharge.
What to cost for rush jobs to make more cash writing
You deserve extra for doing issues on a rush foundation. So if a potential shopper involves you with a rush venture, keep in mind to up your charges.
Cost 30 p.c to one hundred pc extra, relying on how determined the shopper appears, the scale of the issue, how briskly they need it, and the issue degree of the task.
Rush jobs are a terrific area of interest, since you earn more money, and you seem like a hero for using to the rescue of somebody who was in dire straits on their venture. Rush prospects are sometimes super-grateful, though they paid a premium.
This submit initially appeared on the WM Freelance Connection.