Copy/Text Pricing?

Pricing by page is wrong, what about copy/text?

[flyingpenguin]

Ok recently I have opened my own web design/development company (along with everyone else :) ).

Now I have been reading this site quite a bit and I have noticed that pricing per page is considered a no no...

Now here is the question. So say you have a template that you charge $400 for. A customer wants you to create a site. He has 25 pages he needs to create.

Now...pricing per page is wrong, but what if he needs you to write all the text? Is that a per hour charge? per page charge?

I would guess per hour, but I was wondering if this issue had come up for everyone.

Thanks!

fp

[rmjvol]

Welcome to WebmasterWorld, flyingpenguin.

There was a thread [webmasterworld.com] just a couple days ago on this exact topic. You can probably find quite a few more by browsing thru this category's archives.

Good luck,
rmjvol

[flyingpenguin]

Thank you...the thread you mentioned is one of the main ones I have read on the subject.

I was just curious about what you guys do about copy/text.

If the client doesn't intend to write his own text, how do you charge him?

Oh and I am glad to be here...this is a great site!

fp

[digitalghost]

>>If the client doesn't intend to write his own text, how do you charge him

$75-$150 per page for copy if the product doesn't require much research. Some technical sites require quite a bit of research and the price goes up considerably. I know some copywriters that charge 1k per page and I'm sure there are a few that charge more than that.

Text is the single most important element on the page. Without it, no one sells anything.

[jimbeetle]

Hi flyingpenguin,

The previous thread referred to was more about site design. You've designed the template an general flow of the site and that part of the project is done. Charge appropriately.

Now to provide the 25 or so pages of content you are now a copywriter. Charge the real world 'per page' rate or use it to determine a quote for the entire project (Site design plus 25 pages of content = $xxx. Additional pages priced at $xxx), using digitalghost's quotes as a starting point.

Jim

[webwoman]

I charge $100 per page for 2-300 words (non-technical). This seems to be a reasonable rate both for my time and to the client. I am always surprised at how often a web design client is thrilled to find that I also write - most I have worked with have some kind of painful experience attached to providing the content for their web page or promotional material.

[flyingpenguin]

Thanks a lot everyone. That is a lot of help!

David