How much does a website copywriter cost?

How do copywriters charge?

There are four common ways. Each has pros and cons.

• Per word. Clear, but it rewards long texts. And good web copy is often short.
• Per hour. Fair for research and meetings, but you do not know exactly what you will pay up front. So always ask for an estimate.
• Per page. Handy for a website, because you know the cost per page. Check what counts as a page: a homepage is more work than a contact page.
• Per project. A fixed price for the whole website. Gives the most certainty, as long as it is clear what is included.

Rates vary widely between writers. Someone starting out usually charges less than someone with years of experience in your industry. So do not just compare rates, but also what you get for them. A higher rate can work out cheaper overall if the writer gets to the point faster and needs fewer corrections.

What drives the cost of website copy?

The writing itself is often only part of the work. These factors make the difference in price:

• Number and type of pages. A homepage and service pages take more thinking than an about page.
• Research. Does the writer need to get to know your business, your customers and your competitors? An intake meeting or interviews take time.
• Keywords. Copy that also needs to rank in Google requires keyword research and a smart structure.
• Tone of voice. Is there already a set writing style, or does it still need to be defined?
• Revision rounds. How many times can you give feedback?
• Extras. Meta titles and descriptions, the short texts that appear in Google, plus buttons, forms and error messages.
• Rush jobs. If it needs to be quick, some writers charge extra.

SEO copywriting: what is extra?

Copy that reads well is not always copy that gets found. For SEO, meaning being found in Google, a writer does extra work. They find out which words your customers use, structure the text with clear subheadings and make sure the page answers the question behind the search.

That makes the copy more expensive, but it often pays off. A page that attracts visitors from Google often keeps doing so for a long time. You can read how to approach it in writing SEO copy.

Copywriter or AI: which is cheaper?

AI tools can produce a text in seconds. That looks like the cheapest route. Still, there are a few pitfalls:

• AI does not know your business, your customers or your approach. The text quickly becomes generic.
• Facts may be wrong. You have to check everything yourself.
• Texts look like your competitors', because everyone uses the same tools.
• You save on writing, but spend more time checking and rewriting.

A smart mix often works best. Use AI for a first draft or ideas, and let a person sharpen the copy. Read more in AI copy for your website.

How to save on a copywriter

• Provide a good brief: who your customers are, what you sell, why people choose you and which questions they often ask.
• Gather existing material, such as quotes, brochures, emails to customers and reviews. That is often where the best language is.
• Have the most important pages written and do the rest yourself, in the same style.
• Give feedback in one round, with all comments together. That saves back-and-forth.
• Agree a fixed price with a clear number of pages and revision rounds.
• Ask the writer for a short style guide. Then you can write new pages in the same tone later.

What is in a good copywriter quote?

A clear quote prevents arguments later. Check that these points are included:

• Which pages or texts will be written, and roughly how long.
• Whether an intake meeting or interview is included.
• Whether keyword research is included, and for how many pages.
• How many revision rounds you get, and what an extra round costs.
• Whether meta titles and descriptions are included.
• When you will get the copy, and in which format.
• That you can freely use and change the copy once paid.

Mistakes that cost you money

Sometimes you pay for copy that delivers little. That usually comes down to one of these mistakes:

• Having copy written before the website structure is fixed. Then everything has to be redone.
• Only looking at the price per word, not the quality.
• Not making time for the intake meeting, so the writer has to guess.
• Letting too many people review, which leads to conflicting feedback.
• Not keeping copy up to date. Prices and services change, and the website falls behind.

Copy and visibility with help from Violexa

For a new website, we agree up front which copy you provide yourself and where you need help. A custom website starts from €1,799 excl. VAT (€2,177 incl. VAT) per project. That includes design, development, a design that works on every screen, SEO basics and Google Analytics, a CMS integration and a walkthrough, so you can edit your copy yourself afterwards.

Want to be found better over time? That is possible through online marketing, from €599 excl. VAT (€725 incl. VAT) per month. Working on your copy for SEO is part of it. You are not tied in for long: you can cancel monthly, with one month's notice.

Not sure whether your copy is good enough? Book a free quickscan. In 30 minutes, online or on site, we look at your website and your goals. Afterwards you get short written advice with a price estimate, with no obligation.

Frequently asked questions