Copywriting Packages & Pricing in 2024 — How Much Does it Really Cost?
Jun 21, 2024Suppose that you’ve decided to outsource at least some of your copywriting this year. It probably won’t take you long to realize that you have a nearly overwhelming number of options and you’ll have to do some research to find an agency offering copywriting packages that will help you achieve your goals.
As you do this, you may discover that one element can be particularly confusing — copywriting pricing. You’ll likely receive a wide range of copywriting quotes, which can be difficult to navigate.
We’ve created this helpful guide to clear things up. Keep reading to take some of the mystery out of copywriting agency pricing.
What Factors Go into the Cost of a Copywriting Marketing Package?
First, what is a copywriting package? This package is the bundle of services that are included in the prices you are given in the copywriting quotes you receive. Copywriting pricing is based on the following factors:
Quality
When you speak to an agency representative about copywriting packages and pricing, they will probably ask some questions about the overall quality of work you are expecting. You may be asked some questions like:
- How many research sources are required in each piece?
- Do you want images included?
- Should the tone be casual, academic, or professional?
- What kind of content do you need: blog posts, videos, eBooks, or white papers?
You should expect good work no matter what, but shorter content that is written in a casual tone is going to be less expensive than content that is longer or requires extensive research.
Expertise
Copywriting pricing will also depend on the expertise you request. For example, if you are a tech startup, you may prefer to work with content creators who have specific expertise in software development or SaaS. This experience may be reflected in the copywriting agency pricing you receive.
There are also certain types of copywriting expertise that may align with your goals. Are you trying to produce content that is more engaging? You might need video production expertise or an agency that is well-versed in influencer marketing. If better search results are your focus, you need a search engine optimization (SEO) expert.
Experience of Team
Are you willing to work with a newer agency? You can get good work at low prices that way. However, there is a risk that you will have to deal with more revisions. You will pay more for services from experienced professionals but may get better outcomes.
Number of Content Pieces Per Month
The cost of copywriting also depends on the volume of content you expect within a given time period. Part of your agreement with a copywriting agency will include the number of blog posts or other content deliverables you need each month.
Team Process
Some copywriting agencies keep things very basic. They will complete the writing or SEO tasks as agreed, then leave everything else up to you. Others have a more refined and complex process that may include engagement, promotion, and analytics.
There are even agencies that offer turnkey services. In that case, you simply leave everything related to content up to the agency.
What Is the Cost of Copywriting? Types of Copywriting Pricing Models
Source: https://www.webfx.com/content-marketing/pricing/
As you shop for copywriting services, you may find that different agencies have a variety of pricing models they offer to prospective clients. Most will fall somewhere within the following categories:
Copywriting Packages
Copywriting packages offer a subscription pricing tier in most cases. You will receive a suite of copywriting services for a single price to be paid each month, sometimes annually. This setup is often a preferable arrangement for companies that would rather have an agency handle all or most of their copywriting efforts.
In many cases, a copywriting package is predefined by the agency. For example, you may be able to select one of three available copywriting packages that will most closely meet your needs.
Individual Packages/À La Carte Pricing
If you want copywriting help that more closely aligns with your organization’s needs, inquire about individual packages. Think of these as a cafeteria plan for copywriting. You select the services you need and make a deal with the agency on acceptable pricing for your custom-curated content package.
This arrangement is often based on à la carte prices for different services such as content creation or social media monitoring. If it’s available, à la carte pricing can also be used to add services to your copywriting package as needed.
Copywriting Retainers
Your copywriting needs aren’t always predictable. Today, you might need a few blog posts and social media posts every two weeks. If you launch a new campaign a month from now, you would need more content released at a much faster pace. Perhaps even videos and infographics.
How do you accommodate that and keep your monthly costs as predictable as possible? You could put a copywriting firm on retainer.
Using this model, you pay an agreed-upon amount each month. That pays for the services you do receive. The rest is banked for future use. This approach allows you to respond quickly when your content strategy changes.
Hourly Rates
Some agencies or freelancers will offer limited services at hourly rates. This setup is most commonly associated with freelance writing. However, there are SEO professionals who will also work on an hourly basis.
This option is most often used by companies that have the staff and other resources to keep most of their copywriting in-house. However, they may need assistance from time to time to complete projects or deal with emerging challenges.
In-House Copywriting
Companies that choose to keep their copywriting entirely within their organization won’t have money going out to a digital agency or freelancer.
However, that doesn’t mean they don’t experience costs. To keep up with your copywriting demands, you will need to maintain enough skilled staff with experience in the various aspects of copywriting.
That’s something that could change depending on your campaign. Those shifting staffing needs can be stressful. Additionally, you will have to consider the cost of training and any copywriting tools you need to purchase to ensure your efforts pay off.
This setup could be the best option for your company. However, it’s important that this isn’t seen as a cost-free approach.
Benefits of a Copywriting Plan/Strategy
Source: https://venngage.com/templates/infographics/reasons-why-content-marketing-is-essential-list-infographic-7ad86800-68c5-4979-9074-2c576bcd7e80
No matter which copywriting package you choose, it must be built on a solid strategy. You can build that strategy on your own or with the help of an agency team. It’s just important that you do create a strategy. As this can truly make the difference between copywriting that works for your organization or not.
What happens if you are using copywriting without a strategy? While this can still yield some positive results it can often feel like throwing spaghetti at the wall to see what sticks. Whereas when you implement a well thought out content strategy, you are able to track and measure your results, and you will likely reach your goals faster.
Also, what happens when you face a sudden change or challenge? For example, you might find your team dealing with a new competitor online or navigating a new market. These are the times when a solid strategy allows you to be agile and competitive. With the right contingency plans in place upfront, you’ll be prepared for any challenges that might arise.
Increase Engagement
When your audience encounters content that is relevant to them, they are more likely to engage with it by liking it, leaving comments, and sharing it. This engagement helps you increase your brand reach, gain new followers, and improve SEO. These conversations and interactions with your brand are an important part of expanding your reach with your target audience.
In addition to increasing engagement, implementing a copywriting strategy can give you more time to make the most out of the engagement that you do receive. Affording you more time to respond to comments, answer questions, and help people solve their problems and ultimately turn them into clients.
Engaging on social media can help your brand to establish thought leadership, build trust, and improve customer service.
Increase Conversion Rates
A good copywriting strategy leads to better, more focused content. That creates more engagement and drives more traffic to your website. Ultimately, this will lead to an increase in your conversion rates.
Find More Time to Work on Your Business
When you have a clear copywriting plan, you won’t waste time on copywriting tasks that don’t pay off. This focus will give you more time to work on mission-critical tasks such as hiring and training, sales, product development, and client support.
If your strategy also includes a plan to contract all or part of your copywriting to an agency, you will save even more time.
Have Clear Goals and Objectives
Without a content strategy, you may have a vague idea of what you want from your copywriting efforts. However, until you sit down and create a strategy, you can’t closely examine your goals and objectives or set measurable key performance indicators (KPIs).
Once your strategy is in place, it will be much easier for you to demonstrate to marketing team leaders and other stakeholders that copywriting is working for your company. It also allows you to quickly identify weak points in your strategy so that you can quickly make adjustments.
Copywriting Packages and Pricing FAQs
Do you have questions about copywriting packages and pricing? Check out these answers to the most common questions we receive:
What Is a Copywriting Package?
A copywriting package is a collection of services you receive for a single price point. This package is often offered as a subscription to be paid monthly. It’s an alternative to paying for content by the piece or for other services “as you go.”
The marketing agency you work with might offer a few different packages. These often include a certain number of blog and social media posts that may meet certain criteria depending on the price point you have agreed to.
For example, a basic package might consist of four general knowledge blog posts each month, at around 800 words each. A premium package might include all of that along with two 1500-word articles complete with statistics, resource links, and images.
What Does a Copywriting Package Include?
All of these services are part of copywriting and could be included in the package that you choose:
- Content auditing
- Content distribution
- Written content
- Visual and audio content
- Social media content
- Analytics and reporting
- SEO
- Content strategy
- Content optimization
The services you contract may include any combination of the above. It’s important to discuss your needs with any content agency representatives, so you have access to the exact set of services you need.
Is Copywriting Expensive?
Copywriting can be expensive. With that being said, it’s important to consider more than the initial costs. You may dedicate most of your marketing budget to copywriting services. But the return on that investment could be extraordinary.
How Much Does Copywriting Cost in 2022?
Every copywriting pro has to answer the question, “how much should I charge to create content?” The answer will vary depending on the amount and complexity of the content involved. However, on average, you should expect to pay between $2,000 and $10,000 each month for your small to medium-sized business.
Benefits of a Copywriting Plan/Strategy
Content is the tool your company uses to tell customers about your products, build trust in your company, create brand awareness, and drive traffic to your website. If these efforts fail, they will impact your bottom line significantly.
By creating a solid copywriting plan, you increase your chances of success. Your strategy will take into consideration your audience, goals and KPIs, budget, and available resources. It should also consider the best channels for reaching your audience and how you will integrate those with one another.
Customized Copywriting Packages and Pricing
Now you know what to expect from copywriting agency pricing. Isn’t it time to partner with an agency that offers flexible packages that meet your needs? We can work with you and get results at almost any budget. Schedule a complimentary content audit with the team at AOU Creative today.