As a copywriter, you know that sometimes clients need your work done ASAP. But how do you charge for urgent projects without compromising your quality or reputation? In this article, you'll learn how to price copywriting services based on urgency, and what factors to consider before accepting a rush job.
Urgency is the degree of importance or speed that a client assigns to a copywriting project. It can affect how you plan, research, write, edit, and deliver your work. Urgency can also impact your income, as you may charge more or less depending on the deadline and scope of the project. However, urgency is not always clear-cut, and it can vary depending on the client, the industry, the type of copy, and the market conditions.
I'll be honest. I hike up my rates when I see an opportunity like that. You need a project that should take 10 days, to be delivered in 2? Sure, happy to do it. For ummm *cough cough* double my price. The quality stays the same of course. I could NEVER allow myself to write shoddy copy, not do the research, and be a lazy ass about it just because I'm doing it in 1/4th the time (or 1/5th, 1/6th - I don't know, I'm terrible at math). Good at copy though. Thankfully.
Delivery within half of the usual time = 1.5x the usual price. Make sure to show it separately. So that your client can decide in a better way and he/she doesn't run away next time thinking you're too pricey.
“Your poor planning is not my emergency.” I love this quote, and it applies to copywriting, too. Let’s not forget that it’s a very rare circumstance that there’s a REAL copywriting emergency. I’d rather work with clients who are planning ahead and respecting the time if takes to do something right. Or adjusting the scope if something new an unexpected comes up. Copywriting is a creative activity, and creativity often needs space. The brain gets inspired when you step away from the problem. If a project doesn’t allow time for that, it’s not likely to be as successful. So I try to discourage urgency in the first place, and always remember it’s up to me if I want to participate.
Urgent projects are part of the job. Unfortunately, so is me charging you $10,000 extra for "rushed delivery". That's just the way the copy-cookie crumbles!
I run into this with clients at least once per quarter, so I've built "Expedited Delivery" into my pricing sheet. Need something in 4-6 days instead of my usual 7-10? That's fine, but it's 1.5x my usual rate. Want something turned around in 3 days or less? For 2x my rate, I can get it done. However, I always consider these projects on a case-by-case basis. If something requires I work around the clock for three days straight, I'll give the client a realistic timeline instead. No work or amount of money is worth losing sleep or sanity over.
Before you quote a price for a copywriting project, it's important to assess how urgent it is. To do this, ask the client questions such as when they need the copy delivered, what the purpose and goal are, who the target audience is and what their pain points are, as well as the main benefits and features of their product or service. Additionally, find out how much research and data they have or need, and how much feedback and revision they expect. This information will help you determine the complexity of the project, how long it will take to complete it, and how much value you can provide.
I STRONGLY agree with Bo here. With urgency, the effort you put will also be 2x or 5x. And that amount of effort needs to be well-paid. So nothing wrong in increasing your charge in line with the urgency of the project.
Urgency in any project screams time-based scarcity and this can vary from the client's niche and time of completion. For me, creating a copy especially in my niche even if it's urgent is not a problem. And my prices are likely not to change except if it's voluminous of course. But outside one's niche it's definitely not out place to increase the price.
When determining the urgency of a project, you can decide how to price your copywriting services. There is no definitive formula, but generally speaking, you should base your price on the value you deliver to the client rather than the time spent. If it is an urgent project that requires more effort and a faster turnaround, you should charge more to compensate for the opportunity cost, stress, and risk of compromising quality. On the other hand, non-urgent projects should be charged less as this rewards the client for planning ahead and trusting your process. When communicating your pricing to the client, make sure to explain how you calculated it and what value you offer. Avoid undercharging or overcharging as this can have negative repercussions for your reputation.
Before even going to pricing, my first suggestion is to look if you can deliver the product with the same value. Copy is not a easy thing, because sometimes the idea just won't strike. So 1. Evaluate the requirements of the project 2. Understand the scope of work, re-work, and what's their deadline for the content to be live from POC. 3. Only after this, see if you can actually deliver worth. Even if there is urgency, they don't want sloppy work. Can you deliver the same work in their given time? Hike your price 2x, 3x or add fee as per timeline. For price -Ask people/friends/community members who've done it before -See how much worth you have, how much the client is willing, and add a emergency fee to it.
That's true. If you ask me, I would analyze the scope of work first of all. I would then think on unit pricing what should I get, of course, maintaining the quality of copy and at the same time catering to urgency. Then add up those costs and come up with a definitive price for overall project. Urgency should pay the price. Else, what's the use of putting your time and efforts on war foot? Just think of it.
Pricing copywriting services based on urgency requires careful consideration of various factors. Urgent projects often demand quicker turnarounds and flexibility from the copywriter. To determine pricing, assess the project's size, complexity, and deadline. If it's a sizable or intricate task with a tight timeline, a higher rate is justifiable.
Commit only if your calendar is free, or I would rather say if you need additional penny's haha. Yes, Demand increase supply - its wide know, isn't it? When if you see a demand, increase your rates. Go with the logic, nothing tough here to think about managing.
When clients demand urgent work but are unwilling to pay a premium, you need to negotiate with them to reach a mutually satisfactory solution. Respect and empathy are key; understand their perspective and acknowledge their needs. Remain professional and assertive, standing by your value and expertise. Flexibility and creativity are also important; offer alternatives that meet the client's needs without sacrificing your own. Be honest and transparent with your expectations and limitations, and don't promise what you can't deliver. If you can't handle the project, refer the client to someone else who can.
When you know the client is on a deadline and has nowhere to go. You know it's your chance to ask the double. I always need my own time to write a good copy and I even say NO when the time is less. But if the client really needs it early, that's when you know it is URGENT.
Determining the urgency can completely change the game of charging for a copy. But, when you understand the urgency and target it with a valuable copy, the client might end up paying you the right amount. Never negotiate on the value of the work you are providing.
If you agree to take on an urgent project, you need to manage it effectively to ensure a successful outcome. To do this, you should prioritize and plan, setting clear and realistic goals and milestones while allocating your time and resources accordingly. Focus on the most important and urgent tasks, delegating or outsourcing the rest. Research and write by gathering and analyzing relevant information and data, crafting your copy according to the client's brief and audience's needs. Utilize proven copywriting techniques and tools to write faster and better. Then edit and deliver by reviewing and polishing your copy, checking for errors, inconsistencies, or gaps. Deliver your copy on time in the requested format, following up with the client for feedback and testimonials.
It's easiest to bake contingencies for urgency into an upfront scope of work with any client. You can list rates for all work and how much notice you expect to receive for deliverables. Then, provide an addendum that lists out specialty "crisis" pricing for turnarounds faster than that. I would also recommend including holiday and weekend pricing, as urgency during a time when you wouldn't normally be working should be priced even higher. If it's all in an upfront agreement, it's easy to point to the agreed upon terms later on when the request comes in.
Pricing copywriting services based on urgency typically involves charging higher rates for rush orders. The quicker the turnaround required, the higher the cost, reflecting the need for prioritized work and potential disruption to the writer's schedule. Additional fees for fast delivery compensate for the added pressure and shorter timelines.
Listen, we are not saving lives or curing cancer so if the client needs us to come up with a campaign in 1/4 of the time that it usually requires, they didn't prioritize their tasks very well. Unless it's WHO at the beginning of the next pandemic. Then you can cut them some slack. Now that we have established the cause, look at your deliverables, assess how long it would typically take you, look at the deadline, find the difference and multiply your rate accordingly. If they want good quality work, where you need to commit to a tight timeline, they should be willing to compensate you with what you deserve. If not, hold your ground and reject the request or pass it onto someone else. Your mental health over any project. Always!
Relationships matter. If a long-time and valued client needs copywriting quickly, I want to deliver. And this doesn't mean jacking up my rates, rather perhaps prioritizing work or shifting other timelines. A prospective client I'd connected with almost a year ago reached out and needed an annual report written in a short turnaround time. I saw it as an opportunity to deliver and hopefully win more work. Of course, I had to decide if I could do what was being asked, because if I couldn't, it could potentially damage future opportunities. There is AI out there that can write copy decently and quickly - consider leaning on technology to meet tight turnarounds and remember it's the human relationship you have with clients that makes you matter.
I have to agree with Sanjeeta here, and I’m a client. If we need something urgently and we’re a commercial entity, there are three possible reasons: 1. Something unexpected has just happened and we need to get something out quickly that addresses it 2. I’ve messed up my planning and need to cover my back 3. My boss has messed up their planning and I’m now on the hook In any of those cases, we’ll pay a premium. The key thing from a client’s perspective is that, if we’re going to pay a premium, we expect that work to be the same quality and to be delivered on time as agreed. If a client plays hard ball on the pricing of an urgent piece of work, you should question the client - and if they’ll pay you on time, may not be worth your hassle.
If we can really deliver the same quality in a fraction of the time something doesn't add up - unless you work part-time and go full-time for a project, so you always have time to fall back on for urgent projects. Learning to say No is a good practice, especially in an industry in which everything tends to be asked for yesterday. Clients who have learned that negotiating means reducing costs tend to apply that to time as well. Only respectful clients are worth keeping, and for those, I'd go above and beyond in a crisis, but not every other week.