The old saying goes, “The only two sure things in life are death and taxes.”
It’s true (and as a freelancer, I’m not sure which is scarier).
The takeaway, though, is you can’t approach your business the same way year after year and expect to be successful.
Trends change. Markets shift. Old ways of doing things stop working, and new ways emerge.
When the rules change, you have to change too.
In 2008, I kicked off my career focused on writing long-form sales pages and VSLs.
I made hundreds of thousands of dollars doing this.
Today? The demand for that service is not really great anymore.
The market changed.
So I focus more on email copy and other types of copy that clients actually want.
As a freelancer, your job isn’t to approach the market with “This is what I want to write.”
Your starting point is to approach the market by asking, “What do they need from me?”
Right now, the answer to that question comes down to five specific types of copywriting projects where budgets are flowing freely.
Let’s dive into the first, and arguably most consistent, profit center for freelancers…
1. Email Marketing Copy
Some things, though, never change. Email copy continues to pay out year after year.
Imagine having multiple clients on monthly retainers, giving you a predictable income that frees you from the constant feast-or-famine cycle. That’s the power of email copy. When you’re the one writing the emails that drive a business’s revenue, you become an indispensable partner, not just a hired writer.
What it involves: Writing welcome sequences, nurture sequences, promotional campaigns, weekly newsletters, and re-engagement campaigns.
Average Rates:
- Per Email: $150 – $500+ for a single broadcast or promotional email.
- Per Sequence (3-5 emails): $750 – $2,500+.
- Monthly Retainer (e.g., for weekly newsletters): $1,000 – $5,000+.
2. SEO Blog Posts and Articles
I cut my teeth on blog posts back in 2008 – making a paltry $25 per 500-word article.
The game has changed drastically.
If you’re at that stage now, you’re on a well-worn path. The game has changed drastically, and the road from those early rates to charging $1,500+ for an in-depth article is clearer and more achievable than ever before.
Content marketing remains a cornerstone of digital strategy. Businesses need a steady stream of high-quality, SEO-optimized content to rank on search engines, attract organic traffic, and establish themselves as authorities in their niche.
What it involves: Researching keywords, outlining articles, writing long-form blog posts, creating pillar content, and optimizing existing content for search engines.
Average Rates:
- Per Article (1,000 – 1,500 words): $400 – $1,500+. In-depth pillar pages or guides can command much higher fees.
3. Website and Landing Page Copy
A great specialty, though you’ll have to hustle up clients regularly because you won’t get as much repeat work.
A business’s website is its digital storefront, and the copy is the salesperson. This is a foundational project type that is always needed. Landing pages and sales pages are especially valuable because they are directly tied to generating leads and sales.
What it involves: Writing clear, persuasive copy for home pages, about pages, service/product pages, and contact pages. For landing pages, the focus is on driving a single, specific action, like signing up or making a purchase.
Average Rates:
- Per Web Page: $500 – $3,000+.
- Basic Website Package (e.g., 5 pages): $2,500 – $10,000+.
- Landing/Sales Page: $1,000 – $7,500+, often including a percentage of sales as a bonus.
4. Video Scripts
The brave new world we live in. It’s a content-driven internet, and it’s only growing.
With the dominance of platforms like YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram, video content is essential for audience engagement. A great video begins with a great script that captures attention and delivers a message effectively.
What it involves: Writing scripts for YouTube videos, short-form social media videos (Reels, TikToks), explainer videos, video sales letters (VSLs), and online course modules.
Average Rates:
- Per Minute of Video: $150 – $500+.
- Short-Form Video Script (<60 seconds): $200 – $500 per script.
- Long-Form YouTube Script (8-12 minutes): $700 – $2,500+.
5. Social Media Ad Copy
Notice I didn’t say “Social Media Copy”?
Most businesses understand these days that building your audience through organic growth is building a house on sand. It goes away fast. But social is still here to stay.
Now, businesses rely on paid advertising through platforms like Meta (Facebook and Instagram) and Google to reach new customers quickly. Compelling ad copy is critical for stopping the scroll and driving conversions, making this a high-impact and ongoing need.
What it involves: Writing short, punchy copy for various ad formats. This often includes multiple headlines, body copy variations, and calls to action for a single campaign to allow for A/B testing.
Average Rates:
- Per Ad Creative (including variations): $150 – $500+.
- Package of Ads (e.g., 3-5 unique ads): $750 – $3,000+.
- Monthly Ad Copy Retainer: $1,500 – $5,000+ for ongoing campaigns.
Note that rates can vary wildly across industries.
But this gives you a starting point to work with.
This is where copywriting budgets are going in 2025 and beyond.
Your job is to be where the budgets are.
Your path to a thriving freelance business is to be where the budgets are.
Your security in a changing market comes from being where the budgets are.
Pay attention and work with what the market is giving you.
