MeThree

I am creating a new web site and will need 10 to 15 well written articles in the 500 to 1500 word range to help jumpstart the site. The articles will require some topic research and will not be “off the top of the head” type articles.

There a few colleges in the area and I plan on posting some fliers to find a writer or two. I want to pay by the word and was thinking of 35 cents a word. Some have told me this is way to low. I figure, if I found a really good writer, I could bump them to 50 cents a word once they prove themselves.

I don't want to waste my time, so does anyone know the going rate for an undergraduate writer with little or no professional writing experience?

demonic_harmonic

I don't know either. But if you are really interested, you should check into it yourself. Saying that you don't want to waster your time makes it sound like you are not serious about it.

MeThree

Check into it myself? Isn't that why I am posting here? I figured on a writing forum someone would have at least a ballpark figure.

I just don't want to waste time posting fliers offering work below market value. If it's a buck a word or fifty cents, I don't care - I am just trying to offer a "fair" price for quality work. I also, want to avoid the 5 cents a word Indian writing companies if possible and offer a quality web writing job to an aspiring college kid in need of some resume material and extra money.

MeThree

Well, I ended up just posting a bid for ten 1,000 word articles at one of the freelance/contractor sites. Looks like prices range between 8 cents and 20 cents a word for US based writers. Of course the 20 cents a word writers seem to have the best feedback and portfolios.

This is going to be a lot less expensive than I thought. After I hire a writer and get some work back, I'll post some feedback here as to the quality of the work. I hate web writing - so if I could find a shadow writer at 20 cents a word it would be well worth the cost.