Quote template for content writers
The brief decides the price. An article with a keyword, an outline, sources and an expert to quote is a few hours of writing. An article with a title and nothing else is research, structure and writing, and it takes twice as long. Quote one rate for briefed pieces and another for pieces where you build the brief, or price the research separately.
For ongoing work, a retainer with a fixed number of pieces a month is easier for both sides than quoting each article. Say how unused pieces are handled, how much notice the client needs to give to change the count, and whether briefs arrive on a set date.
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What a content writer's quote should spell out
- Number of pieces, target length and content type for each.
- Who provides the brief, keywords and outline.
- Edit rounds included, and how rewrites from a changed brief are priced.
- Images, alt text and CMS publishing, if included.
- Byline or ghostwritten, and portfolio use.
- For retainers: monthly volume, delivery schedule and rollover rules.
Questions content writers ask
How much should a content writer charge per article?
It depends on length, subject expertise and how much research is involved. Work out how long a typical article takes you from brief to final, multiply by your hourly rate, and use that as your per-article price for that length.
Should a content retainer allow unused articles to roll over?
Decide and write it down. A limited rollover, for one month, is a common middle ground. Without a rule, a client who sends no briefs for two months expects twelve articles in the third.
Who should do the SEO research for blog articles?
Either side can, but the quote must say who. If the client has an SEO consultant, ask for keywords and outlines in the brief. If you are doing it, price it, because keyword and competitor research can take as long as the writing.
Quote it, then invoice it, without retyping
In OIO a proposal belongs to its client and project. When it's accepted it becomes an invoice draft with the same lines, and the money view shows what is outstanding and what is paid. Free plan, no card.
Start freeAlso for content writers: invoice template and contract template. Quote templates for related trades: copywriters, SEO consultants, social media managers, translators. Or browse all quote templates.