If you’ve ever been on a bidding site like Upwork or Freelancer, then you know: There are some budget-friendly writers out there.

You can tell just by browsing writer profiles or looking at the sheer amount of people who apply for postings that mention payment of 10 cents for 100 words or a few dollars per article. It can be baffling that qualified writers give away their services for such a low rate.

Everyone comes from a different place, though. Maybe these writers are just getting started, they have very little experience and they are trying to build up their portfolio. Or maybe they hail from somewhere where those couple of dollars can go a long way.

Whatever the reason, it’s important to never lower your standards just because they do. As a freelancer, you have the right to demand whatever rates you feel are appropriate for your talents, skill level and time. So once you determine what those rates are, stick to them and don’t budge just because there’s a lot of competition.

I know it can be challenging not to undercut your per-word or hourly rate just to snag a job, but I promise you…in the end, it will pay off.

Those other writers? They’re headed for a short-lived career and a lot of living paycheck-to-paycheck.

You? You’re on the upward climb toward a high-earning career that both makes you money and brings you personal satisfaction.

So, how do you get jobs despite all those writers with lower-than-average average freelance writing rates than you? How do you stay competitive, but still get the payment you rightfully deserve?

Here are some tips that can help:

Provide More Value

If you’re charging higher freelance writing rates than the next candidate, you need to provide more value than they do, too.

Now, value can come in many different forms; it can mean you offer more experience OR you’re more talented than the next potential candidate, OR it can mean you physically deliver something more than they do in your end product.

It doesn’t really matter what your added value is, as long as it’s something that the client gets value out of and it will help them reach their goals more easily, quickly or successfully in the end.

Prove That Value

It’s not enough to simply say you provide more value than the next candidate, but you have to actually prove that extra value to the client, too.

If have a lot of experience, display that in your application. Include relevant samples or show a testimonial from a competitor you recently worked with. If you’re more qualified for the gig or you can help the client better meet their goals, give analytics data for the last article or blog post you wrote and show the client how much your copy delivers. It’s like the old saying goes: “The proof is in the pudding!”

Also, if you want to learn more on how to find where these high-paying, high-quality clients are who will pay you what you are worth, before you finish reading this article, check out my latest free eBook, The Freelance Writer’s Complete Strategy Guide for Winning High-Quality Clients. Download it and then head back here! 🙂

Deliver Something Extra

Another way to provide extra value is to throw in something additional to sweeten the deal.

To a client, this will look like a “freebie” – a little extra treat just for them.

In reality, it can be what you do automatically for every client or project you take on – they just don’t know it!

Some options for potential freebies? Here are a few I’ve used in the past:

• A faster turnaround time or earlier deadline
• An offer to post the final copy on the client’s site or blog
• The inclusion of photos or imagery with your content
• SEO or keyword optimization of your content
• An extra round or two of revisions or edits
• Free promotion of the final product on your social media accounts

The main strategy is to think about what your client’s end goal is with their project, and come up with some added extra that could make your part in that process a little more effective.

Nix the Unworthy 

The absolute best way to cut out all those low-cost writers from the mix?

Apply for jobs they’d never dream of qualifying for!

This means avoiding most content mills and bidding sites, and instead focusing your efforts on quality job boards that are vetted and managed by a real-life admin. In the majority of cases, the clients on these types of job boards are looking for writers with higher rates, and they’ll even avoid hiring people whose rates are shockingly low.

You know why?

Because higher rates denote experience; they show that a writer knows what they’re doing and that they have the skills and chops necessary to do a top-notch job. And when a client has an important task or goal they want conquered, they want to know they’re leaving it in the absolute best, most qualified hands possible. Your higher rates show you’re exactly that – just what they’re looking for.

You CAN Compete with Writers Who Charge Lower-Than-Average Freelance Writing Rates!

Don’t let the competition get to you. Remember: You’re simply on a different level than them, and because of this, you require a different level of clients and projects, too. Stick to your guns, know your worth, and prove your value to each client you want to work with, and you’ll be well on your way to a high-earning writing career in no time.

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