How to provide a quotation to a client for a freelance project?

Pricing a quotation for writers:

Putting up a quote for writing an article/blog/or any other piece is a part of proper decision sorting algorithm that needs a valid execution. We can google it any time but it is not a generalized extraction every time.  

I have myself done a lot of googling and found outpricing that didn’t seem relevant to my level of expertise at times. So, owing to the same, make no generalization on the quotations.

Coming back to how do we want to define our pricing levels. Let’s lookout at the following points with examples:

1. Beginner Level: Seth was initially working with an MNC as a technical writer. He had a fixed salary compensation and a few perks to be mentioned. When he left the company and started his career as a freelancer, he had little to no idea as to how to build up a quote. He got offered a few projects and he mentioned an overarching price for the same. Confusing? Yeah. Well. First of all your entry-level to the market matters. If you are someone who has just started freelancing or who has no ideal articles to show online then stick yourself to a cost that beginners would demand. In such cases, look out for a higher knowledge quotient and the power of research involved. Don’t take up stupid projects that render negligible expertise for you. Like, in my initial days, I did take up a project in the awe of freelancing where I had to write some 1000 words about celebrities and will be paid Rs. 300 for the same. Stupid? Yes. Duped? Of course yes. 

So, even at the beginner level, be extremely vigilant of the work you take up. Quality-less work is neither appreciated nor paid well for. 

2. Intermediate Level: When you have done a dozen amount of work, you are free to explore the market with open wings. You have the right to evaluate yourself on the parameters of:

How much do you take to write a 500 word article, How much resource allocation do you need, How do you maintain the deadlines, and How interested this field looks to you? (Freelancing is no dog-keeping :D) Check your articles against Flesch-readibility test and see if you make the edge. If the evaluation is done right, start quoting for your efforts. Measure the level of writing with other good writers and make an analogy. You are good to go for Rs. 1 per word then. 

3. Expert Level: After all said and done, if you are still here, reading the expert level that surely means, you have decided to take up the position pretty seriously. I like that. Now, it is time to pull the flesh out. After a few years, you know your areas of expertise, your SEO market, your marketing skills, and you have your brand website. Great! Now, start jumping out of the millennial work and start doing the real stuff. Like for better publications, for better projects, or websites and charge more than Rs.1 per word and go with anywhere between Rs. 2 to 3. 

Now, after you define your level, you can range your pricing on the type of content you are brewing:

1. Content Writing: If it is a content piece viz articles, blogs, white-paper, bylines, ghostwriting, or anything that consists of more than 500 words, then charge per word. Per word makes the owner’s and the freelancer’s life easy. But just cause it is per word, don’t overstretch the articles :D Always keep your quality high and your quantity lined up with it.
2. Technical Writing: Now, we know technical writing is slightly different and a lot difficult. We can mix it up with an easy-going writing skill but still, the inside skin remains really tough to crack. The actual researching and in-depth digging consumes a whole lot of your time. So, gradually your price per article changes with it. Maybe a little more than simple content writing. Rs. 1.5 per word?
3. Website content/Newsletter: Website content needs creativity and digital marketing altogether. The content is less but the amount of putting “larger chunk of data” into simplistic words, making an understandability around what exactly the brand does, and creating a likeable and beautiful looking content piece is not easy. Also, this is a one time project, so, charge one time amount like Rs.5000 for writing the website content and also updating it time and then.
4. Editing/Proofreading: I had an opportunity to review a novel written by a German newbie for errors and grammatical correctness with precision. I did that without knowing much about the pricing, so I did Rs. 500 for a novel. We all know editing a novel would just need you to put on your editing hat on right terms so charge accordingly. Like, maybe for a 1000 page novel, we can charge anywhere between 1000-1500 for proofreading and editing it. 
5. Resume building: You can build a resume by knowing their expertise, experience, and references. When you build a resume you need to make sure the structure is as per the profession. So, a certain effort is needed to build a resume from scratch, just that the data points are provided. So, for building a professional resume you can charge anywhere between Rs. 200-1000 (Depending on the complexity of the requirements)

Many a time, as a content writer, you are expected to define the structure, define logos, design images, and also publish them across various channels. Then include the same pricing in your quotation and define it. Because this is an extra effort apart from just writing. 

Make sure your design is worth the amount you quote it for.

I always believed in staying genuine to the work I do. Don’t overcharge, don’t dupe, and don’t over commit. Stay honest and blessed, everything will fall into place. You are born to make a difference, isn’t it? (The whole reason behind why you chose to be a writer)

Hope this helps all the new ones who are peeping from outside to enter the mega market of writing! :D

A piece of advice: Never shy off from saying your vulnerabilities or fault areas to the clients. It makes them believe in you more and you perform without any inhibitions. 

Another piece of advice: Ain’t a cakewalk. So, make sure you are hooked to the proper chords of your interest and skills and not "fancy illustrations". 

Got me? Loved it? Then why aren’t you liking or commenting? 

Didn’t like it? Then still, why aren’t you commenting? Let me know, where did I go wrong or could have done better explaining. Shoot Shoot Shoot!!

Now, many will also question how to determine the quality of project to undertake. The quality is directly proportional to the authenticity of the website and people. 

Make it big and right! Cheers :-)