How Much Does a Freelance B2B Tech Copywriter Cost?
One of the first questions that arise when considering hiring a B2B (business-to-business) tech copywriter is how much one will cost. Like many other business expenses, the answer depends on a variety of factors and isn’t as straightforward as you might hope.
The cost of a freelance copywriter comes down to multiple variables like the experience level you’re after, the complexity of the project in mind, and the scope of work you want completed.
Understanding these factors and how they influence the cost of a freelance B2B tech content writer will help you make an informed decision that balances quality and budget.
The factors that influence the cost of a freelance B2B tech copywriter
#1 – Experience and level of expertise
Experience plays a major role in determining the rate of a freelance writer. Naturally, the more experienced, the more expensive they will be, however at the same time, the more experienced they are, the higher calibre of their deliverables.
Here’s how the different levels of freelance writing experience can impact your budget:
Entry-level copywriters
Freelancers that are relatively new to the field with typically 1-3 years of experience will have some familiarity with nuanced B2B content, but not the deep-rooted industry expertise or strategic insights of more well-travelled professionals.
Their costs will usually range from $30-$50/hour or $0.20-0.50/word although the current trend is to charge by project and deliverable.
Mid-level copywriters
These freelance content writers usually have 3-7 years of experience and are well-versed in creating high-quality B2B content. They can tackle more complex topics and infuse their deliverables with a higher degree of industry knowledge.
Mid-level freelance writers should also have a sizeable portfolio showcasing their range and ability to produce content in different formats such as blog articles, whitepapers, and case studies.
A mid-level content writer will typically charge you about $50-$80/hour and roughly $0.50-$0.80/word.
Senior copywriters
Senior content writers with over 7 years of experience bring profound technical and strategic knowledge to content production. They enable you to elevate your content to another, highly competitive level while implementing SEO (search engine optimization) best practices to ensure your content ranks highly.
If you want content that resonates with executives in the C-suite and that will certainly engage your target audience, a senior freelance copywriter is the way to go. Naturally, they will also command higher compensation at about the $80-$150/hour and $0.80-$2.00/word mark.
#2 – Type of content
The nature of content that you need will also impact the cost of hiring a freelance copywriter. For example, here are some common content deliverables requested of freelancers and their general price ranges:
Blog posts and articles
Blog posts in the 500-1500-word range (for optimal ranking in search engines) are normally a less-expensive format, however, their price can vary depending on the length desired, research required, and the freelancer’s experience.
With that being said, you can typically expect to invest $500-$1500 per article depending on length, complexity, and depth of content.
Whitepapers and eBooks
Whitepapers and eBooks are excellent lead magnets that can generate prospects or be used to nurture contacts already in your marketing funnel. These types of assets are in-depth, research-rich deliverables that provide a lot of value to your target audience because they often solve real-world professional challenges they face.
Both types of assets require a deep understanding of your industry and can be time-intensive. Logically, the price of an outsourced whitepaper or eBook reflects that and can cost anywhere between $1500-$5000 depending on the subject matter and length.
Case studies
Case studies are a must for any B2B tech organization. They provide a compelling story of how your product, solution, or service solved a real problem for one of your clients who is most likely just like your prospect reading it and experiencing the same issue. They build credibility and trust which are quintessential in the buying process.
Case studies are typically shorter than a whitepaper or eBook, but because they require interviews and extensive research that must be transmitted through a compelling narrative, they can be comparable in costs. Expect to be quoted anywhere from $1000-$5000 for a case study.
Website copy
Web copy, which includes assets like landing pages, demands a strong mastery of SEO, user experience (UX), human psychology, and optimal conversion tactics.
What you’re paying for when you hire a freelancer to write web copy is the ability to deliver concise, compelling, and persuasive copy. Explaining complex subject matter and convincing a reader to take action using very few words is a difficult skill writers must spend years cultivating.
Web copy can be anywhere between $500-$5000 depending on the subject matter, complexity, and experience needed.
#3 – Project scope and timeline
The scope of your project refers to how much content you need and when you need it by. The more content you need, the more you’ll be expected to pay, however, larger quantities of content – such as a set number of articles per month or a bulk order – can often lead to discounts that can make the relationship much more cost-effective.
Timelines can also impact costs. If a piece of content is time-sensitive and a short turnaround time is needed, a premium of 20-50% may be added depending on the freelancer, their bandwidth, and your working relationship with them. It’s common for consistent clients to be treated with priority and flexibility because of the business they provide.
Conversely, if you have an ongoing, consistent need for content, negotiating a retainer agreement is a savvy business move that can offer cost savings and consistent quality. Retainer agreements normally offer a set number of deliverables per month at a reduced rate, ranging between $2000-$5000 depending on quantity and type of content needed.
Final thoughts
The cost of hiring a freelance writer hinges on various factors like their experience, the type of content you need, and the scope of what you’re asking for. Understanding the objectives and goals of your content marketing efforts and the budget you have to play with enables you to find a writer whose skills, expertise, and prices align with your objectives.
It’s normal to often be swayed by the least expensive option, particularly when you want to keep your budgets in check, but the impact on your brand identity must be top of mind. B2B tech audiences are sophisticated. They can smell poorly informed, poorly written, or maybe just as bad, artificially generated content a mile away.
Like any purchasing decision, you usually get what you pay for. Investing in a more experienced freelance B2B tech copywriter can yield better returns through more engaging, compelling, well-researched, and well-written content that drives organic traffic and yields more conversions.
