Shorter Projects Are Often Better for Freelancers Than Longer Ones
Freelance Writers: Would you rather write three 500 word articles for $ 150 each, or one 1500 word article for $ 900?
Yes, these three shorter assignments will only do you half of what the longer assignment can do. Yes, you only earn 30 cents per word for these short assignments, compared to 60 cents per word for the longer ones.
But as a new post on The Freelancer reminds us , working on short projects can make more financial sense:
For writers with a decent level of acceptance, less can be more, at least in terms of word count. While even a small article can take a significant amount of research time, the longer you do your pre-presentation and writing mode, the longer you will have to go without that workday. These freelancers living on a check may simply not be able to drop caution and spend weeks reporting their hunches.
I’ve been a freelancer for seven years now, and I understand why Freelancer claims that multiple short projects can be better than one long project, even if a longer project makes more money. Here’s what I’ve learned over the years of writing both short and long posts:
- Short messages tend to require less research than longer messages, which means they can be completed faster. Even if your word rate is lower than usual, your hourly rate goes up.
- Short messages tend to require fewer rounds of rework than longer messages, which is also good for your bottom line.
- Short projects that can be completed quickly give you more time to submit and complete additional projects, while one large, intense project can block your entire freelance workday for weeks.
- Shorter projects give you more signatures and a larger portfolio, which can lead to more clients.
- Short projects keep you visible. In a world where a post you’ve been working on for a month can fade from relevance on the Internet in about two days , writing as many articles as possible, even if they are short, is a net plus.
However, I disagree with the Freelancer’s advice that short projects pay off faster than longer ones. The duration of the project has very little to do with the client’s payment schedule; I completed long projects and got paid right away, and also wrote short posts that pay off in 60 days – and vice versa. (However, I understand that spending a month on a project and getting paid in 60 days is not the same as spending a day on a project and getting paid in 60 days, which I think they are trying to convey.)
I will give three more tips:
- The work you do now affects the work that you will be offered in the future. Some freelancers like to complete several short projects in one day. Others dream of delving deeper into research and preparing original reports. Choose your path wisely.
- It would be nice to pick three 500 word posts that pay $ 150 instead of one 1,500 word post that pays $ 900. It might be best to learn how to write this 1500 word post as quickly as possible. Always think of your freelancing career in terms of money earned per hour of work, not money earned on each project.
- It is also wise to choose a project that has room for additional work in the future. If you can find a client who wants a regular, repetitive job, even if the job is worth a lower price than what other clients are offering for one-off gigs, get him. (Take this bird in your hand and hope you have enough time on your schedule to chase birds in the bushes as well.)
So freelancers, do you agree with this advice? Be sure to read the full post on The Freelancer , which also offers tips on how to pursue fiction rather than nonfiction and why finding prestigious publications can be a bad idea. Then let us know if you prefer short or long projects and whether you are calculating the project’s ROI based on what it can bring in a word or what it can bring in an hour.