They’ve been shopping around and want to know why every SEO copywriter charges different rates. It usually goes something like; “I’m just wondering why some SEO copywriters charge five grand or more for eight to ten pages of website content, when other copywriters say they’ll do it all for 150 bucks. Why is there such a difference?”

Truth be told, it’s like anything else in this world. You get what you pay for. Realistically if anyone offers to write your 8+ page website for anything even close to $150, chances are they’re either:

a) Just starting out and seriously lacking experience
b) Copy and pasting the majority of your content from other websites
c) Your friend, brother in law or neighbour’s nephew looking for some extra cash
d) Or a trained helper monkey chained to a typewriter

Apologies for being blunt.

But in all seriousness, what kind of value would you put on your web content if you paid $150 for it. And would you really expect quality work?

Copywriting is a creative service. It’s not a manufacturing process where one size fits all. Remember, you’re hiring an individual with unique ideas and a unique style. Hopefully a skilled SEO copywriter who’ll get the job done to the standard your website deserves.

When I write SEO copy I’d easily spend 20 hours or more working on an 8 to 10 page website because I give every piece of copy the care and attention it deserves. That’s what any decent SEO copywriter does. Be honest, if you’re paying someone 150 bucks to create quality, unique and effective content for your website how much time do you think they spend on it?

What matters is the value you receive in return.

It’s not about the cost, it’s about the value you receive in return for the price you pay. It’s fair to say I’m not the cheapest copywriter in the world. But I’m nowhere near the most expensive either. I offer my clients pretty exceptional value. Quality copy that works with a value far greater than the price I charge my clients.

And I can afford to do that, now more so than ever.

I recently left my other role at Kimchi Creative (you can read the press release here if you’re interested) and arrived in Phnom Penh, Cambodia where I’m doing unpaid voluntary work marketing for Oxfam South East Asia.

The cost of living is low and I intend to live a fairly simple existence for the next few months so I’m able to reduce my rate significantly. That certainly doesn’t mean I’ve reduced the value of the copy I write.

That’s because for me, as an SEO copywriter, offering exceptional value is what’s most important.

Value to you as my client. And value to your customers through website content that your readers can relate to.

Interesting question, but does it have to be one or the other? Surely there’s room for both, right?

Curt mentioned a blog post by Jeff Glasson from Social Media Today. I hadn’t read the blog, but Jeff’s (via Curt) description put it into perspective for me.

I’m paraphrasing here, but…

“Twitter is like a giant party where you don’t know anyone but want to make friends with a lot of people. Facebook is more like a wedding reception filled with friends, family and people you already know”.

I really like this summary. I know every situation is different, but it pretty much sums up mine.

I’m a bit slack in the social networking department and I’m working on that. But one thing I’ve noticed (it was kind of hard to miss) is that every single person who likes Healthy Words Facebook page is a friend of mine in the real world.

And there’s probably not the same value in that is there?

But Twitter, that’s a different story

I first jumped on Twitter about 2 years ago and set up this page for the company I worked for. Within a day or so the page had a couple hundred followers and I thought to myself, wow, this is really easy.

I tweeted away and sat back watching my baby grow.

But it’s not that easy, is it.

When the time came to set up a Twitter page for Healthy Words I knew it’d be a different story. My clients knew the brand, but the social media community sure didn’t. I knew I’d have to give people a reason to follow me… but how?

I asked myself what my motivation was

And I realised that on Twitter, I’m first and foremost a consumer.

I consume the knowledge shared by all the smart people I follow and I think that’s what makes Twitter so valuable. Without sounding too cliché, it’s a community. One where you can learn a lot by listening to what other people have to say. But it’s only fair to give back.

Facebook’s different. I use it to keep in touch with my friends. I guess it just feels like a more private space (despite Mark Zuckerberg’s best intentions). If that’s the way I feel about it, maybe other people feel the same.

Maybe that’s why it’s so much more difficult to grow your fan numbers on facebook?

I’m not giving up on Facebook

In fact I’ll try to be more active and actually update my page once in a while! I’m sure that’ll make a difference. But it does feel a bit like I’m pushing one way communication, rather than sharing in a community.

And I can’t help but wonder.

If there’s not as much to be learnt from other people, is there as much to be gained?

It’s an important one, a milestone of sorts. So where’s the champagne? No really, where is it? Someone must have forgotten to inform the masses.

Never mind, here goes.

I’ve been putting blogging off for quite a while. You know the excuse… I don’t have enough time, or something along those lines. But really, there’s never going to be enough time is there. Might as well just jump in head first.

So where was I?

Ok, you found me out. There’s no story here, it’s just an introductory post to say watch this space. But what’s in it for you? Let’s see…

I hope you find some value in the posts to come and if there’s anything you think I can improve on, I’m all ears!

Until next time…