Brand Strategy and Copywriting Pricing Guide
Our goal is to deliver exceptional copywriting and brand strategy services tailored for professional services firms and the pharmaceutical and life sciences industry. With years of hands-on and strategic experience, we bring a depth of knowledge to every project we undertake.
How do copywriters decide on their fees and pricing models?
Article by Sarah Monaghan, Connected Copy, for ProCopywriters, the UK’s largest membership organisation for commercial writers.
Our fees reflect the high-quality service we provide and we aim to align my rates with those of other senior professional copywriters to maintain fairness and integrity in pricing.
How do we charge?
We avoid charging by the hour, day, or word. Each project is quoted based on its unique requirements, considering:
1. Project Involvement: Estimating the time investment required, from initial briefings, team workshops, creative guidance and research to drafting, revisions and client liaison.
2. Client Scale: Tailoring rates to the client's size, with larger enterprises incurring higher fees than smaller SMEs, recognising the value and scale of their projects.
3. Skill Value: Recognising that some tasks demand a higher level of strategic insight and creative talent, which are less commonly found and more valuable.
4. Usage Impact: Valuing content based on its longevity and centrality to a client's marketing strategy, with foundational materials being more significant than fleeting marketing collateral.
Calculating your investment
We determine a 'Time Value' for tasks, reflecting the time and complexity involved. We then apply a rate based on client type, skill level required, and the content's intended use, resulting in a tailored quote.
For instance: “The Time Value allocation for this project is 3.5 Value Days, rated at £xxx per Value Day, leading to a project fee of £yyyy.”
Minimum engagement
There's a minimum fee of £600 for standalone tasks, ensuring that even the smallest projects receive full attention and expertise. This does not apply to regular clients with occasional smaller needs.
Brand Strategy and Website Copywriting
For full website copywriting, we have learned from experience that foundational strategy and positioning work is essential before the execution of the website copywriting and the cost facts this in. Costs start from £5,000+ - £12,000. We’ll work in liaison with your website designer (or can recommend website designers). The work includes:
Detailed research, with team discovery workshop
Brand messaging guide integration
SEO keyword research
Comprehensive website copywriting (Homepage to Contact Page)
Two revision rounds & proofreading
Brand Strategy and Website Copywriting Project Case Study: View here
White papers
A white paper is 2,500 – 4,000+ words, heavily researched and based on subject matter expert interviews, established facts and logical arguments. Costs start from £3,500 - £6,000. You can download my Guide to White Papers here.
Blog post commitment
We work with clients who understand the value a blog adds to their marketing mix and are committed to a sustained collaboration. Standard Posts: 600-900 words with top-level insights and integrated SEO. We ask for an initial commitment to a series of posts:
• 12 posts for monthly contracts, reduced to 6 for less frequent engagements.
• Weekly: £400/post
• Monthly: £600/post
• Extended post: 1,500-2,500 words requiring in-depth analysis and research, quoted individually, typically between £800 - £2,000.
Thought leadership papers: £2,000+
Customer case studies: £1,500+ (800 – 1,200 words & up to 1 hr. of client interviews)
Consulting work: £150/hour (strategising, roadmapping, recommending, ideation and other
related editorial planning activities)
Use of AI
While AI can generate content at speed, it is not a replacement for deep expertise or human creativity. It lacks the capacity to understand and evoke genuine emotions. Without emotional intelligence, all AI writing feels the same.
We use AI as a tool in our work to automate some simple repetitive tasks, with a focus on responsible use, ethical practice and anonymisation of all client details, and ensuring meticulous fact checking. Our proficiency in prompt engineering and various platforms allows AI to assist in outlining, drafting, proofreading and ideation.
AI is not, however, a substitute for the critical elements of marketing: deep research, and an understanding of strategy, empathy and psychology. Large language models, be it GPT, Jasper, or Claude (Anthropic) don’t actually ‘think’. So expecting them to do thinking or customised strategy is a big mistake. The human touch – creativity, emotional intelligence and tactical insight – is where a human-centric copywriter remains vital.
Straightforward Payment Approach
Our payment process is designed to be as straightforward and hassle-free as possible, all while ensuring a secure and fair arrangement for both parties.
Initial Payment Details
When we embark on our first project together, I'll ask for either a full or partial payment upfront. Please understand that this is a standard practice and not a reflection on your trustworthiness. It's simply a safeguard that benefits us both. This initial payment, which is 50% of the total project fee, is part of the first invoice you'll receive upon booking.
Completion Payment
The remaining 50% of the fee will be due 30 days after the first invoice, as detailed in the second invoice. Should the project extend beyond 30 days, the balance can be settled upon completion, but no later than 45 days from the start.
If your company's purchasing policies require different terms, feel free to discuss this with me before we begin, so we can accommodate your needs where possible.
Milestone Payments for Larger Projects
For more extensive projects, such as comprehensive website development that spans several weeks, we'll agree on specific milestones. Invoices for these milestones will be issued at the project's outset, with each segment's payment due before the next phase begins.
If this is our first collaboration, an initial payment will be required in advance to secure your booking.