A realistic guide to blog writing pricing

Great blog content can be a game-changer for growth, but figuring out what to pay for it is a whole other story. You've probably seen it all: writers offering posts for pocket change, and others charging thousands for a single article. So, what gives?

This guide is here to cut through the noise. We'll break down what actually goes into blog writing pricing, look at the different ways writers charge, and give you a realistic idea of what you should expect to pay.

We’ll also touch on how AI content platforms are shaking things up. We're not just talking about basic text generators. Tools like the eesel AI blog writer can create complete, publish-ready articles for a fraction of what you'd normally pay, making it way easier to scale your content.

What influences blog writing pricing?

Before we jump into the numbers, let's talk about what actually drives the cost of a blog post. The price isn't random; it’s a reflection of the skill, work, and value packed into that final article. These four key factors are the main drivers behind blog writing pricing.

How writer experience impacts pricing

A writer's background really changes their rate. You're not just paying for words on a page; you're paying for their research chops, industry knowledge, and their knack for writing with confidence.

While experts in niches like SaaS or finance will naturally ask for more, don't discount the value of raw writing and research talent. For instance, one freelance writer on Reddit with an Associated Press background charges a minimum of $0.30 per word as a generalist, just by leveraging her top-notch writing and research skills.

The role of content complexity

The amount of research and original thinking needed is a huge cost factor. A simple 800-word listicle is a totally different project than a 2,500-word, data-filled analysis of a new software update or a detailed white paper. The deeper the content, the higher the price.

How project scope affects pricing

A basic writing fee typically just covers the text itself. But a more involved project might include other tasks that add to the final bill.

Freelance writer Paul Maplesden's pricing page notes that extra services like conducting interviews, reviewing video content for a summary, or uploading the final post to a CMS are usually billed at an hourly rate on top of the writing fee.

Turnaround time and its effect on pricing

Need a well-researched article by tomorrow? You should probably expect to pay a rush fee. Tight deadlines mean writers have to rearrange their schedules, and that convenience usually costs extra.

Common blog writing pricing models explained

Freelancers and agencies charge for their work in a few different ways. Knowing these will help you compare quotes and find a setup that works for your budget.

Per-word pricing

This is likely the most common model you'll see because it's so straightforward. Rates are all over the place, from a few cents to over a dollar per word.

• Pros: It's transparent and makes it easy to budget for articles if you have a specific word count in mind.
• Cons: It can sometimes tempt writers to add "fluff" just to hit a word count, rather than creating concise, valuable content.

Per-project (flat fee) pricing

With this model, you and the writer agree on a single, fixed price for the whole blog post. This is a solid option for projects where the scope is clear from the start.

For example, B2B writer Paul Maplesden charges a flat fee of $610 for a blog post between 900 and 1,200 words.

• Pros: The cost is predictable. The focus is on the final piece, not just the word count.
• Cons: You need a really clear brief to avoid "scope creep," where the project expands beyond the original agreement.

Hourly rates

Charging by the hour is less common for a standard blog post but is often used for tasks where the scope is a bit vague. This could be for content strategy sessions, heavy editing, or really deep research projects.

Rates can vary a lot. One writer specializing in the online casino industry mentioned on Reddit that they charge $145 per hour.

• Pros: It offers flexibility for projects that might evolve or require a lot of collaboration.
• Cons: It can be hard to budget for since you won't know the final cost until the work is finished.

Monthly retainers

A retainer involves paying a fixed fee each month for an agreed amount of work, like four blog posts. This model is ideal for companies needing a steady flow of content to keep their blog active and their audience coming back.

• Pros: It ensures you get consistent content and often comes at a slight discount compared to paying per project.
• Cons: It's a longer-term commitment, so you'll want to be sure you've found the right writer or agency.

How much does a blog post actually cost? A pricing breakdown

Okay, let's get to the main question: what are the actual numbers? Based on industry data and what professional writers are saying, we can group rates into three general tiers.

Tier 1: Beginner writers ($0.05 – $0.15 per word)

• Cost for a 1,000-word post: $50 – $150
• These writers are usually just starting out or cover general topics that don't require deep expertise. The content might be simpler and will likely need a bit more editing on your part. This is the range where you'll find writers like the one on Reddit who charges $0.05 per word for gardening articles.

At that point in my career I was charging 4 cents/word. But that was many years ago haha. Factoring inflation and price changes, 6 cents/word seems like a good wage. Again, this all depends on what you think you’re worth and your life situation.

Reddit

Tier 2: Experienced and skilled writers ($0.15 – $0.30 per word)

• Cost for a 1,000-word post: $150 – $300
• This is a fairly standard range for professional freelancers with a solid portfolio. They understand SEO, their work needs less editing, and they can produce well-researched, quality content. Freelance writing coach Elna Cain suggests that new writers serious about their work should aim to start here, around $0.15 to $0.20 per word.

Typical prices for commercial blog posts tend to range anywhere from $0.05/word, up to about $0.30/word. $0.08-0.15 is probably the most common. I do not recommend that writers work for anything less than $0.08/word at minimum.

Reddit

Tier 3: Niche experts and top-tier writers ($0.30 – $1.00+ per word)

• Cost for a 1,000-word post: $300 – $1,000+
• These are the top-level writers who are true subject matter experts in complex fields. They don't just write; they offer strategic insights and create content that builds your brand's authority.
  

  I started in a very specific technical niche where I had a good network, so my rate was close to $.25 per word. Once I filled up my calendar with clients at that rate, I upped it for new ones and started bumping the old ones out. Eventually, I got up to $.75/word before I started hiring other writers and building a team.

  Reddit

The alternative: Scaling content with the eesel AI blog writer

While hiring freelancers is a solid strategy, scaling content production to build topical authority with Google often requires a different approach.

This is where AI-powered content platforms offer a compelling alternative. The eesel AI blog writer is designed for automated content creation, turning a single keyword into a complete, publish-ready blog post. Instead of a rough draft, it generates a fully structured article with everything needed to rank well and engage readers.

Key features include:

• Complete posts, not just drafts: It delivers an article with an introduction, headings, a conclusion, and even an FAQ section. It also automatically adds assets like AI-generated images, infographics, tables, and relevant Reddit quotes and YouTube videos to make your content more dynamic.
• Context-aware and deeply researched: Unlike generic AI tools that just spin existing content, it understands the search intent behind your keyword. It will pull in relevant data for comparison posts, technical specs for product reviews, and credible sources for how-to guides.
• Built for SEO and AEO: The content is optimized not just for traditional search engines, but also for AI Answer Engines like Google AI Overviews and Perplexity, which is becoming increasingly important.
• Cost-effective: The pricing is built for scale. The Early Bird plan offers 50 blog posts per month for $99, which is about $2 per article. Using this tool, we grew our own search impressions at eesel AI from 700 per day to over 750,000 per day in three months.

Aligning your budget with your content goals

Understanding blog writing pricing is the first step toward a content strategy that gets results. At the end of the day, the "right" price really depends on what you're trying to accomplish.

For a massive, flagship article in a highly technical niche, spending $1,000 or more on an expert freelancer can be a worthwhile investment. Their deep insights can build serious trust with your audience.

But for the core of your content strategy, which involves consistently publishing high-quality, SEO-optimized articles to build topical authority, a different plan may be needed. The cost and logistics of managing freelancers at that scale can present challenges.

Watching how experienced writers and agencies approach pricing can provide valuable insights into setting your own rates or budget. This video offers a practical guide on how to determine your value and communicate it effectively to clients.

A video from Elna Cain discussing how to determine your blog writing pricing as a freelance writer in 2024.

This is where an AI content platform like eesel AI can be a useful tool. It allows you to produce dozens of well-researched, engaging, and fully formatted blog posts for less than the cost of a single article from an experienced freelancer. It helps you build your online presence efficiently.

To see how you can scale your content, you can generate a complete, publish-ready post for free with the eesel AI blog writer and go from a keyword to a finished post in minutes.

Frequently asked questions about blog writing pricing