AroundtheWorldin80Jobs 
Male Feminist
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RE: Copyediting as a Location Independent Career
(01-08-2013 12:17 AM)Beyond Borders Wrote: (01-07-2013 11:13 PM)AroundtheWorldin80Jobs Wrote: Copy---Editing. Huge difference.
From my experience, although limited, is copy editing is viewed way more of a commodity. You can only charge so much for it because although you maybe an English jedi, it is not nearly as creative or talent based as copy writing. Shit, for non-native speakers who are academics they want it on the cheap. Sure, they value a good editor but they are looking to refine their English so that is acceptable. Now, if you are talking about getting them published via content editing, also a different thing altogether with different price point. I am sure there are people out their editing for companies or specific industry stuff that is highly technical, but that wasnt what I was referring to.
I don't even like it or intend to put any effort in, I was merely offering up an opinion on another posters question.
Yes, of course - I realize they're different. You must have misread my post as I only used what I do as a related example. You're right that they are different, and for that reason, the average for web page writing, for instance, is $83, while the average for business copyediting is $61. That reflects the difference right there.
The reason I used my work as an example is because plenty of people view SEO articles as a commodity too, but the ones who know better still pay big bucks. Believe me, I've had this same argument with people a million times when we were talking about writing and people have the same misconception about all writing-related services.
On another note, non-native speakers who are academics = the wrong market. Every copyeditor picks their own niche and who to target,, so that's a choice completely up to the provider. The solution is to simply target a different type of customer.
Alright, here is the Writer's Market Pricing guide for reference - this one's extremely outdated at 2005. http://www.writersmarket.com/assets/pdf/...Charge.pdf Pay particular attention to "copyediting for businesses." This is where the money is usually to be found in any writing/editing market. Average is stated at $61.
But even then why would we want to be average? Is this forum here about being average about anything??? That, as well as the reasons I mentioned in my last post, is why I repeat that $100 should be the long-term aim.
Look, I'm not trying to harp on you specifically here. Not at all, Man - that wasn't my intention. If anything, I'm just trying to make it clear to readers here that the potential is there. So please don't take it personal.
But regardless, you were thee one who interjected and countered my points so you're the one I'm responding too. So since I know you're not taking it personally and I know this thread directly affects people's potential livelihood, I'm going to continue. I hope you don't mind.
Here's my real aim here. I'm glad the OP brought this up because I do think it is a good business model for location independence.
But this forum is really about getting an edge in life where others don't bother. It's about making the most of efforts in game and life and reaping the rewards. So I urge anyone here who does get into this business to take it seriously.
Is it easy to get work at $10 per hour? Sure it is. $25 per hour? Not as easy but feels more reachable, right? But knowing that it's possible to make $61 on average or even well above that, why not plan from the beginning how you will take it to the top and go that extra mile? That's how we roll here, am I right? Why settle for good enough when you know what can be achieved with some effort? It's crazy.
By the way, I did Google "freelance copywriter." I ignored the paid advertisements and clicked on the 2 copyeditors who'd used natural rankings to get to the top of Google (all others were unrelated or vague). In other words, the ones who are marketing themselves clearly in google page #1.
Neither of these professionals offers a rate on their sites. Why do you think that is? It's a bit of a rhetorical question, at least to me, but it's essentially because they know how to market. They know what any serious professional (you could even call a true copyeditor a consultant) knows - that you never quote a price on your site because it makes your service a commodity and takes all the leverage out of negotiation. That every job is different and should be bid accordingly.
If their rate was $10 - $25 per hour, they would most likely just put it there on the site so people could see right away that they were competing on price. It would be a selling point for them. Instead, they choose to get people to contact them and then sell them on the VALUE of their service, which might range from superior copyediting skills (I'm sure plenty of cheap providers murder the material), dependability, a professional demeanor, punctuality, a specific niche or experience, and on and on.
My point is these people know business. And anyone here who wants to look at copyediting as a possible business model needs to learn business too. So they can charge accordingly.
I invite you guys to email these copyeditors as if you have a job and get a bid from them...just for your own research...
http://www.jessedit.com/
http://www.ericamidkiff.com
I would put money that they bid you a rate of $50 - $60 at the minimum. If you present yourself as a company and sound legitimate they'll probably adjust their rates accordingly and go even higher. I could be wrong since I'm only basing this on their positioning and the lack of price on their site, but I stand by that anyhow. It's enough for me.
And I'd venture that providers who contact clients directly through emailing, cold calling, networking, and direct mail are charging much more than that.
I just want these guys to see the possiblities, that's all. There's a lot more $$ out there in this than you think.
And if anyone is going to go into the copyediting business with a belief in their mind that the industry averages are unobtainable for them due to all the other cheap providers, I'd really advise them to consider just getting a job. I mean, I suppose you could do those cheap rates as just a way to get by for a while before moving onto your real career, but let's look at the real potential here.
Go big or go home, as they say...
Argh, You are right. Aim for $100. Not saying not to. That is one search term. Could be editing services. Depends on your market. And those two you mentioned are a PR 3 on the Googles first page, so you would need to do seo work and groundwork to get it going. I am tired of this conversation. You are the heavy hitter.
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