How Much Does Website Copywriting Cost?

As a website copywriter, pricing can be one of the toughest elements of the job, as the price of a project is typically the make or break for a potential client. If the price is too high they walk away and if it’s too low you don’t make any money.

In this blog post, we’ll provide a range of information to help you nail your next website copywriting quote.

How Much Does Website Copywriting Cost?

Website copywriting costs vary widely depending on the scope, industry and specific requirements of the project. A simple five-page website with basic content will cost less than a site requiring extensive keyword research, SEO optimisation and content for multiple page types. 

Here’s a rough guide for structuring your prices based on website size and additional SEO services:

• 5-page website: Expect to charge around $1,500+
• 10-page website: Prices can start at $2,000+
• 15-page website: Budget for $2,500+

For additional SEO and research services:

• Keyword research: $1,500+
• SEO strategy: $1,500+
• Ongoing SEO: $500 to $2,000 per month

Each of these rates serves as a starting point and can be adjusted based on the project’s demands and the value provided.

What Is Website Copywriting?

Website copywriting involves writing content for a website to engage visitors, convey a brand message and guide users toward specific actions, such as making a purchase or contacting the business. 

Unlike other types of writing, website copywriting requires a deep understanding of the client’s target audience, brand voic, and SEO practices to ensure visibility in search engines.

A skilled website copywriter tailors the tone, messaging and calls to action based on the client’s goals and industry, creating copy that is both persuasive and optimised for search engines.

Different Elements of a Website

When determining your prices, it’s important to consider the types of pages involved, as each type serves a distinct purpose and may require varying levels of detail and research:

• Homepage: This sets the brand’s first impression and provides an overview, often guiding users to other important pages on the site. The homepage generally requires a succinct yet impactful message to convey what the brand is about.

• About Page: This page builds trust by explaining the company’s mission, values and story, often including a personal touch that resonates with visitors. This page needs to be compelling and authentic, reflecting the brand’s core identity.

• Service or Product Pages: Product and service pages should highlight the benefits, features and unique selling points of the offerings. Product pages, in particular, may require detailed descriptions, specifications and persuasive language to drive conversions, especially in competitive industries.

• Category Pages: Common in eCommerce, category pages organise products or services into sections, often optimised for SEO with keywords to attract search engine traffic. Category pages serve as a bridge, helping users find products within specific categories and aiding in navigation.

• Location Pages: For businesses with multiple locations, location pages are critical for local SEO and targeting customers in specific areas. These pages often include unique descriptions of services provided at each location, key local information, and optimised local keywords.

• Contact Page: This page is simple yet essential, providing ways for customers to get in touch and ask questions. It may also include FAQs to answer common inquiries.

Each of these pages requires a different approach, and pricing may vary depending on the page type, length and level of detail required.

How to Price Website Copywriting

Here are a few of the key elements to consider when putting together a quote for a potential client:

How Many Pages Of Content Are You Writing?

The number of pages will be a significant factor in your pricing, as each page requires its own research, planning, writing and potentially revisions. Smaller sites may only need a few pages, while larger websites could need 10, 15 or even more.

What’s The Required Word Count?

Once you understand the number of pages, estimate the word count needed for each. Some pages, such as product pages, may need shorter, targeted content, while others, like the homepage or About page, may require more comprehensive descriptions. The required word count can impact the time and detail needed for each page, affecting the overall price.

Is It YMYL?

YMYL (Your Money or Your Life) content refers to pages that can impact a person’s health, finances or safety, such as legal, financial or health-related sites. YMYL content generally requires a higher word count, in-depth research and accuracy, as these pages are held to higher standards. Since writing YMYL content demands a higher level of expertise, you may want to increase your pricing accordingly.

Check Market Rates

It can help to check freelance platforms like Fivver and Upwork to see what other people in the industry are charging. You can also check other websites that rank high on Google, as they are typically industry leaders.

Pricing Keyword Research

For SEO-focused websites, keyword research is crucial in improving search engine rankings. If a client requires keyword research, this will usually warrant an additional charge, as it involves analysing the market, identifying valuable keywords and incorporating them into the copy.

Typically, pricing for keyword research starts at around $1,000 and may increase depending on the complexity of the industry and competition. Keyword research is an investment that enhances a website’s SEO potential and clients who value long-term visibility will likely appreciate its importance.

Pricing SEO Services

SEO services can range from basic optimisation to advanced strategies that require ongoing work. Discuss with the client whether they need:

SEO Strategy

If the client requires a foundational SEO strategy, this might include competitor research and on-page recommendations. This service typically starts at around $1,500, providing a roadmap for initial SEO efforts that will benefit the site over time.

Ongoing SEO Work

SEO isn’t a one-off task, and ongoing SEO work can significantly impact a site’s success. Monthly services, like keyword tracking, content optimisation and adapting to algorithm updates, typically range between $500 and $2,000 per month based on the client’s industry and competition level.

Experience Of The Copywriter

The copywriter’s experience is another key factor in pricing. Experienced copywriters with proven success and a portfolio of SEO-optimised websites typically charge higher rates than those new to the industry.

Advanced expertise in SEO, understanding of conversion tactics and knowledge of specific industries can increase the quality of website copy, which many clients are willing to pay for.

When discussing your background with clients, highlighting past achievements, client testimonials or any industry-specific knowledge can justify higher rates, especially for specialised websites like legal, medical or finance-related projects.

Every Project Has Unique Requirements

While these pricing guidelines can help set expectations, each project is unique. Before providing a final quote, discuss with the client:

• The project goals and target audience to align the content with their needs.
• The tone and style that the client prefers to ensure the copy resonates with their audience.
• The project’s specific SEO and keyword needs to establish any additional services that might be required.

Conclusion

Pricing website copywriting requires an understanding of various elements, from the page types involved to SEO and YMYL requirements. By structuring your pricing based on page count, word count, keyword research and SEO, you can create a pricing structure that reflects the true value of your work.

Clients appreciate transparency, so it’s best to provide a clear breakdown of what’s included in each service, especially for complex projects. If you need help with website copywriting, get in touch with On The Move Marketing on the Gold Coast.