As a freelance writer, you know that pricing your work correctly is essential for success. But what happens when you're using artificial intelligence (AI) to write? It's a relatively new concept in the world of freelance writing, so it can be tricky to get the pricing right. In this blog post, we'll explore how to price your freelance writing work when using AI to write.

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Human disclosure: We used an AI tool called Jounce to generate the first draft of this post, and we edited it with our own expertise and background. You'll also see blue boxes like this with further human commentary.At Ridiculously Efficient, we help knowledge workers learn how to partner with AI without outsourcing our integrity. Join the community free for weekly tips, strategies, and the latest AI developments that can save you time.

Step 1: Establish a Base Price

The first step in pricing your work is to establish a base price. This is the minimum amount you're willing to charge for the project based on your expertise, experience, and unique perspective, but also factors like the complexity of the project and the amount of work involved. When establishing your base price, it's important to be realistic and not undervalue your work or time.

Once you have a base price in mind, you can adjust it depending on the client’s budget. If the budget is higher, you can increase your price accordingly. But if the budget is lower, you may need to adjust your price to make the project more affordable for the client.

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At this time (February 2023), we recommend not disclosing your use of AI tools upfront when vying for writing positions, but answering honestly if asked. Some companies will see this as a value-added skill, while others may not. If you're asked directly about whether you use AI tools, answer honestly – and see if you can infer how the company feels about AI writing beforehand. That way you can provide proper context in a way that honors you and the client.The reason is: your client is buying the outcome, result, and benefit of receiving your services – not the process of how you produce them. Allowing clients to dictate how you do the work is typically against contractor law, provided you follow the local and industry-specific laws that apply to you. This is one "slippery slope" in a client relationship that could cause you trouble later on from a time management perspective if you allow the client to determine exactly how you work.

Step 2: Factor in AI Costs

When using AI to write, you'll need to factor in the cost of the AI software and services. These costs can vary depending on the type of software you're using and the features you need. For example, some AI software may require you to pay a monthly subscription fee, while others may offer a one-time purchase. You'll also need to factor in any additional services you may need, such as AI-assisted editing or proofreading.

Once you've calculated the costs of the AI software and services, you can add these to your base price to get a more accurate estimate of what you should charge for the project. Doing this will ensure that you don't end up undercharging for the work and make sure you're compensated fairly for your time.

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It's tempting to charge less than you would normally because you're using AI tools to generate articles. If you're going to provide human editing, fact-checking, and quality control before the work is submitted, charge as you would normally – as the AI tools are there to help you, not the client.If your plan is to submit articles exactly as the generator spits them out, with no human editing, we'd suggest a different approach for the work entirely. Could you instead provide a valuable custom training, so that the company's editorial team can learn how to use AI tools with an editorial perspective? This step brings integrity into how people learn how to partner with AI, and also establishes your position as an expert.

Step 3: Calculate Your Time Investment

Apart from the costs of the AI software and services, you'll need to consider how much time you'll be investing in the project. This will help you determine how much you should charge per hour.

Take into account the amount of time you'll spend researching, writing, and editing the project. You'll also need to consider any additional tasks you may need to do, such as formatting the document or creating visuals.

Be sure to add a time margin to account for any unexpected delays, changes, or "plot twists" to the project. Very often, scope creep can erode what would have been a healthy margin.

Once you've calculated your total time investment, you can use it to set your hourly rate. This will make it easier to accurately estimate the cost of the project and ensure you're compensated fairly for your time on the low end.

Find a Balance

The key to pricing your freelance writing work when using AI is to find a balance between covering your costs and making the project affordable for the client. Consider the complexity of the project, the costs of the AI software and services, and your time investment. Then adjust your price accordingly to ensure you're compensated fairly for the work.

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Always ensure your quote and scope is above your own "bar of resentment." This internal metric is hard to gauge unless you've had a previous experience where you've felt underpaid and underappreciated for a contracted project. Ideally, all work-for-hire energizes you, uses and sharpens your best skills, and is well-compensated.

By following these steps, you'll be able to accurately price your freelance writing work when using AI. This will help you ensure that you're paid fairly for your work and make sure the project is within the client's budget.

Conclusion

Pricing your freelance writing work when using AI can be tricky, but with the right approach, it can be done. Start by establishing a base price that reflects the complexity of the project and the amount of work involved. Then factor in the costs of the AI software and services and calculate your time investment. Finally, adjust your price accordingly to ensure you're compensated fairly and the project is within the client's budget.

By following these steps, you'll be able to accurately price your freelance writing work when using AI and ensure you're paid reasonably for your time and effort.

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