Website Content Writing Cost: What to Expect!

Are you a small business looking to explore website content writing services? Do you have a limited monthly marketing budget but are seeking high-quality content? You've come to the right place.

Sapphire SEO Solutions is an affordable content writing agency for small businesses. In this guide, we will walk you through:

• The factors that can affect website content writing costs

• The different pricing models

• What rates to expect for different content types

Let's get started!

Key Takeaways

• The cost of content writing services varies according to:

  • The writer's background, expertise, and skills

  • The project's scope, complexity, and turnaround time

• The three main pricing models include pay-per-word, pay-per-hour, and pay-per-project.

• Depending on the content type, businesses can expect to pay between $60 and $1,000 or even more for website content.

Factors That Affect a Website's Content Writing Cost

There are several factors that affect the cost of hiring a freelance content writer for website content writing, and these include the following:

1. The Website Copywriter's Background

You can hire two main types of freelance writers for your website, and the key difference between them is the niche they're writing in. Here's what we mean by that:

• Situation #1: You review all of the resumes you've received for the "content marketing specialist" post and come across Julie. She is passionate about writing in technology, home improvement, travel and hospitality, insurance, and many more niches. In addition to that, Julie's hourly rates are much lower than the other profiles you've reviewed.

• Situation #2: When shortlisting candidates for writing services, you find yourself drawn towards Fred. He is an expert writer specializing in SaaS products. However, his per-word rate is much higher than what other writers charge.

Should you hire Julie and save money on creating content, or pay more and work with Fred?

If you're seeking a generalist, stick to Julie. However, Fred may be the best option if you're running a website that's focused on SaaS products.

But why pay more for Fred when Julie can write in the technology niche?

While Julie may offer better writing rates and have some experience writing about SaaS products, she is not an industry expert. She might not explain technical concepts as clearly as Fred.

Why is Fred charging more than Julie?

Fred understands that he is not a generalist. He has immense experience and skills in writing about SaaS products. Companies in this industry are willing to pay top dollar for someone like Fred. This is because he understands the industry's lingo and can write in a way that compels casual readers to make a purchase.

Here's an interesting perspective to consider: Fred may also have a faster turnaround time than Julie. He's honed his SaaS product writing skills over the years, enabling him to curate specialized, high-quality content much quicker than other writers.

2. Website Copywriter Experience

The copywriter's experience also plays a crucial role in determining the rates for a web copy, landing page, or informative article. Content specialists with years of experience may charge more than those who are just starting out.

Many business owners don't think much of copywriting. They feel like it's an easy task that doesn't require many skills. Hence, they'll always consider a cheaper content writer.

That's the wrong approach and can eat away at your marketing budget without achieving the desired results!

An inexperienced content writer may not know how to write for your readers, let alone appease search engines. Whether it's a sales letter or an email copy, they may require constant guidance to ensure that the piece resonates with your target audience. It could lead to multiple revisions and the need for a hands-on approach, which you may not have the time for.

Another thing that you should consider is hiring a freelance editor. An inexperienced writer is bound to make silly mistakes, or their work may require a bit of refinement. This can cost you a lot of money, as you're paying for two professionals.

On the other hand, an experienced writer may not require much guidance. They are familiar with the different content types, and their writing expertise can help increase conversions. While you may be paying more, the results are worth the extra cost.

3. Project Complexity

Most writers charge based on the word count. However, some content specialists incorporate the project's complexity into their fees, commanding higher rates. What does this mean?

Simply put, not all copywriting services are created equal. Some clients may require short-form articles, while others may lay emphasis on research and SEO. Depending on the task and project requirements, it can take anywhere between two to eight hours or even more to write 1,000 words of content.

Let's go over an example that I came across this morning on Upwork.

While searching the platform, I found many job posts seeking writers who can use AI tools to churn out content before humanizing it. Most of these projects paid $5 per 1,000 words, and the clients expected at least 10 pieces every day. That's around one hour per article.

While AI tools like ChatGPT can pump out content faster than human writers, they're not equipped to do proper keyword research. Also, the articles you get may not align with your brand's style.

Human writers are not bound by prompts. They'll conduct more research into the topic and dig deep into your brand before writing. This can take a lot of time, which is why job posts that seek experienced human writers pay more than human-edited AI-generated content.

When we take on a project at Sapphire SEO Solutions, we spend several hours with the client to learn more about their business. Our managers have a long list of questions they go through to understand the client's services and the type of audience they're targeting.

A detailed conversation with the business owner prior to writing allows us to curate content that aligns with the brand's tone and addresses the readers' pain points. This approach ensures a better outcome.

4. Scope of the Writing Project

Website copywriting costs can vary according to the scope of the project. Most freelancers have a pricing model that charges based on the number of web pages requested. What does that mean for your business?

A three-page website will cost less than a 10-page site. The same applies to landing pages, as a writer may charge more for a 4,000-word landing page than one that's only 500 words.

That said, it's essential to understand that the costs depend on the writer you work with. An experienced content specialist will have a higher fee than an inexperienced copywriter.

Pro tip: Always negotiate the price if you need lots of content. You can get a better rate based on the amount of work you provide to the writer.

5. Freelancer vs. Agency

Choosing between a freelance writer and an agency can have an impact on your content marketing budget. And why is that?

There are many benefits that freelance writers have over a content writing agency and vice versa. Read our blog on "SEO Content Writing Agency vs. Freelancers: Which Is Best?" where we've already discussed the nitty-gritty of choosing between the two.

While a content writing agency may charge a higher price than freelance writers, think about all of the services you're getting.

At Sapphire SEO Solutions, we have in-house writers, editors, and SEO managers who make sure every piece is thoroughly checked for grammar and spelling errors and factually incorrect information. We also optimize each article for search engines.

Depending on the content writing tier you choose, we'll take care of the graphics and ensure on-page SEO, which includes the following:

• Professional optimization with SurferSEO

• Carefully curated graphics/infographics

• Free FAQs

• Optimized meta description

• Thorough keyword research

If you're ordering bulk content, it's best to work with a reliable copywriting agency like Sapphire SEO Solutions.

Sure, you can distribute the load between multiple freelance writers, but are you willing to handle the additional administrative burden that comes with managing a couple of writing professionals? Do you have enough marketing budget to hire editors and SEO specialists?

With us, you'll get a project manager who will oversee everything. They'll communicate with the writers, editors, and SEO specialists to ensure that every content you receive is ready to be published. Plus, we offer discounts for bulk content orders.

6. Project Turnaround Time

Experienced writers are always busy. While they may be freelancing, they often have a tight schedule. If you're pressed for time, they may consider working on your project first. However, such requests may come at a higher price.

At Sapphire SEO Solutions, we understand the importance of quicker turnaround times for some clients. This is why we promise to deliver web content within 72 hours of ordering our Opal tier. It's a white glove, elite service that comes at $0.05 per word (less than half of what our competitors charge!) and includes search engine optimization, free FAQs, and all the other good stuff.

7. The Writer's Skill

Not all writers can write for search engines. Those who are experts in SEO and have a few certifications to back their skills up will always charge more than basic copywriters. Working with such professionals eliminates the need to hire SEO specialists.

While you may be tempted to work with a basic copywriter and have a go at search engine optimization yourself to save money, it can harm your website.

Completing a few short courses on SEO doesn't make you an expert. Developing search engine optimization skills can be incredibly time-consuming and requires you to constantly refine your content marketing strategy.

Read our blog on "SEO Blog Writing Service: 10 Steps to Rank Higher!" to find out what it takes to write value-added content that ranks. It'll give you an idea of why some writers or SEO agencies charge more than others.

What Are the Different Pricing Models for Website Content Writing?

Depending on who you choose to work with, you can expect three different pricing models when seeking website content writing services. They are as follows:

Pay Per Word

Most freelance content writers and copywriting agencies charge per word. While this is the most common pricing model for website content writing, it's also easily exploitable.

Newbie freelancers may offer a better rate, but their web pages are often filled with fluff. This is because the pay-per-word model provides a financial incentive to write more.

Fluff content can lead to a poor experience for your readers. It can also increase bounce rates, adversely impacting your site's SEO.

Get compelling web content that converts with Sapphire SEO Solutions. Starting from $0.03 per word, our SEO-optimized copywriting services can help your website rank higher and drive the traffic it deserves.

Pay Per Hour

Unlike content writing agencies, some freelance writers may charge by the hour. It's a simple pricing model that some clients may prefer.

That said, it's important to understand that experienced writers often do not charge by the hour. They know what to research and how to write. Their expertise in the industry helps them curate content faster than others. This pricing model can affect their bottom line.

Pay Per Project

Pay-per-project is a fantastic arrangement with a win-win scenario for writers and clients. Since you're looking for value, writers may avoid writing fluff content and do their best to impress you, hoping that you'll retain their services after the first project.

Clients love the pay-per-project pricing model, as they know what to expect. There are no financial uncertainties or inconveniences that are often associated with paying writers by the hour.

How Much Do the Best Website Copywriters Charge?

Here's what you can expect to pay for top-quality website copywriting services:

• SEO blog post: $60–$650 for 500 words

• Long-form sales copy: $75–$1,000 for 500 words

• Product description copy: $20–$400

• Website copy: $100–$700 or more, depending on experience

• Landing page copy: $100–$700 or more

These rates might sound ridiculous to you, and they are. Whether it's website copy or landing pages, Sapphire SEO Solutions has SEO-certified writers who can write thoroughly researched SEO-optimized content for less than half of what most freelance writers and content writing agencies charge.

Interested in Affordable Website Content Writing Services? Sapphire SEO Solutions Has You Covered!

Are you a small business looking for affordable website content writing services? Look no further than Sapphire SEO Solutions. We charge much less than other copywriting agencies for high-quality content that performs well in search rankings.

Order website content writing through our intuitive client portal or fill out the online contact form to discuss your content needs with an SEO expert today!