There is nothing quite like being your own boss, creating your own rules and making your own money.

But in the competitive world of freelancing, setting your own rates can be a daunting task. 

You are constantly asking yourself, "Am I charging too much?" or "Am I charging too little?" And these are valid questions.  

That is why Saads Abrahams from media update has got you covered with the updated stats from the 2021-2022 SA Freelance Media Industry and Rates Report.


Here's an updated look at the latest stats from our previous article:

Writing and Content Development

  • Magazine writing: R3 to R4 per word / R400 to R500 per hour

  • Newspaper writing: R3 or more per word / R400 to R500 per hour

  • Corporate content: R4 or more per word / R400 to R600 per hour

  • Technical / specialist content: R4 or more per word / R400 to R700 per hour

  • Annual reports: R3 or more per word / R550 or more per hour

  • Government documents: R3 or more per word / R600 to R650 per hour

  • Textbooks: R1.50 or more per word / R400 to R450 per hour

  • Novels / books: R1.50 or more per word / R400 or more per hour, and

  • Ghost writing: R5 to R7 per word / R450 to R550 per hour.

Advertising

  • Marketing material (brochures and adverts): R2 to R3 per word / R550 or more per hour

  • Advertorial: R3 to R4 per word / R600 or more per hour, and

  • Copywriting: Not exceeding R3 per word / R550 or more per hour.

Public Relations and Communications

  • Press release writing: R3 to R4 per word / R450 to R550 per hour / R2 000 or more flat rate

  • Strategy development: R4 or more per word / R800 or more per hour

  • Speech writing: R3.50 to R4 per word / R600 or more per hour /  R2 000 or more flat rate, and

  • Media relations: R450 to R550 per hour.

Online Content

  • Website content: R2.50 or more per word / R450 to R550 per hour

  • Online consumer content: R2.50 or more per word / R400 to R500 per hour

  • SEO content: R2.50 or more per word / R550 or more per hour

  • Consumer / journalism blog content: R3 or more per word / R500 or more per hour

  • Content marketing: R3 or more per word / R550 or more per hour

  • Web-based content: R3 or more per word / R550 or more per hour, and

  • Email marketing content: R3 or more per word / R550 or more per hour.

Social Media

  • Social media content creation: R300 or more per post / R3 or more per word / R450 or more per hour

  • Social media management / coordination: R500 or more per hour

  • Social media strategy development: R550 or more per hour, and

  • Online content development (for instance, blogs): R3 or more per word / R450 or more per hour.

Editing

General Editing

  • Light copy editing: not exceeding R0.50 per word / R50 to R100 per page / not exceeding R400 per hour

  • Medium copy editing: R0.50 to R1 per word / R50 to R100 per page / R400 to R500 per hour

  • Heavy copy editing: R1 or more per word / R100 or more per page / R400 to R500 per hour

  • Substantive / structural editing: R1 or more per word / R100 or more per page / R400 to R500 per hour

  • Developmental editing: R1 or more per word / R200 or more per page / R450 to R550 per hour

  • Proofreading: Not exceeding R0.30 per word / R50 to R150 per page / R350 to R450 per hour

  • Copy / sub-editing: Not exceeding R0.50 per word / not exceeding R90 per page / R400 to R500 per hour, and

  • Reference checking: R100 to R200 per page / R300 to R400 per hour.

Specific Editing

  • Magazines: Not exceeding R0.50 per word / R300 or more per page / R350 to R450 per hour

  • Newspapers: Not exceeding R0.50 per word / R100 or more per page / R300 to R400 per hour

  • Academic theses: Not exceeding R0.50 per word / R65 or more per page / R300 to R400 per hour

  • Corporate content: Not exceeding R3.50 per word / R200 or more per page / R450 to R550 per hour

  • Technical / specialist content: R1 or more per word / R100 or more per page / R450 to R550 per hour

  • Government documents: R0.50 to R1 per word / R200 or more per page / R400 to R500 per hour

  • Textbooks: R0.20 to R0.50 per word / R50 to R100 per page / not exceeding R400 per hour, and

  • Fiction: R0.20 to R0.50 per word / R50 to R100 per page / R350 to R450 per hour.

 

As stated in the previous report, "readers are reminded that the report does not advocate specific rates. The research merely reports on the frequency and averages that committed respondents share with us to help freelancers and clients benchmark and negotiate their own fees." 

 

As a freelancer, did you find this helpful? Let us know in the comment section below. 

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Looking for more freelancing tips? Check out How to have a successful freelancing career [Infographic].

*Image courtesy of Canva