The debate as to whether an SEO Writer should be paid on a per hour vs per word basis has been going on for decades. Both of them have advantages and disadvantages but it seems that hiring a writer on a per-word basis is more common. Meanwhile, some small business owners pay their writers on an hourly basis and treat them as employees.

Still, many content writers wanted to ask, “What is the best way to get paid to write articles, hourly or per-word?” Deciding on how you should pay your SEO writer is considered a huge factor. Both payment modes are applicable to freelance writers and ghostwriters. However, some SEO writers may not agree getting with the hourly pay.

What are the Pros and Cons of Per Hour and Per Word?

SEO writers have different skills aside from writing. They can also help you a lot in placing your web pages on the first page of Google. If you plan to hire an SEO writer for your website, here are my thoughts on the pros and cons of per-hour vs per-word payment schemes. This can help you a lot in deciding which one will work for both of you.

Per Hour Basis

As mentioned earlier, hiring a writer on an hourly basis is not common. This payment method is only usually applied to employees who are paid for the number of hours they are present, and not for the amount or quality of work they performed. For freelance writing, you will pay for the number of hours that the writer will spend to finish the article.

Pros

#1 Easy Computation of Expenses

Freelance writing rates vary, depending on the expertise and location. But since the hourly pay is fixed, the computation for your weekly expenses is easy. For instance, your writer agreed to get paid for writing 2 long articles a day for $5 per hour. Since he will work 8 hours a day for 5 days, you will have to pay him $5 x 8 x 5 = $200 a week.

#2 Works well for multitasking

Hiring a writer on a per-hour basis works really well for multitasking jobs. Aside from writing, you will also pay your writer for performing other tasks. This includes attending meetings, attaching photos or videos to your post and even publishing the article on your website. In short, he can help you in many ways without adding to your expenses.

#3 More work can be done

If you are one of the website owners who want to hire expert or highly-experienced writers, paying them on an hourly basis can be a great idea. This is because you can expect more work is done since they can do the research faster and finish the article in a short time. Instead of one article only for 8 hours, they can write two or more.

#4 You can monitor how writers work

In most cases, website owners who pay writers on an hourly basis use time tracker apps such as Time Doctor. If you will do the same, you can monitor the activities of your writers and know how they work even if you are not around. This is because these apps don’t only record their time on duty; they can store some screenshots of their activities.

#5 Loyalty is somehow expected

Writers who are offered to get paid on an hourly basis usually end up working on a full-time basis. In most cases, they are hired to work for small companies or businesses and are treated as employees. Therefore, they also receive some benefits such as 13th-month pay. With this kind of scenario, writers may feel secure and will tend to be loyal to you.

Cons

#1 Time trackers can distract writers

Most freelance writers are not comfortable working while being monitored. Although time trackers can help increase transparency and eliminate leaked hours, they can also decrease morale. But more importantly, writers can be distracted as they cannot help but look at the clock constantly. Remember, writing requires a lot of focus and thinking.

#2 Some writers may delay the work

With or without a time tracker, some writers can always think of excuses for not finishing their work in 8 hours. Since writing is more about being creative instead of just doing something, some writers can easily delay their work if they want to. After all, they will still get paid regardless of what they do. And yes, some writers take advantage of this.

#3 Per-hour pay may cost more

Sometimes, you are tempted to hire a novice or inexperienced writer, thinking that you can save money since you will pay him less. But since you cannot expect him to do quick research or write fast, he will also spend more time writing the article. Aside from having low-quality articles, you will end up paying him more than you should.

#4 Higher pay for experienced writers

If you hire an experienced writer and offer him an hourly basis pay, chances are he will ask for a higher price. Why? Because he can work faster and can finish the job in a short time. He will then think that he should receive higher pay. Sad to say, some writer applicants use this advantage and demand an unreasonable amount.

#5 Estimating the right hourly rate can be challenging

Knowing how much time your writer can spend to finish the article is not easy. However, this is very important in estimating how much you pay him on an hourly basis. Although you and the writer can discuss it, meeting halfway is still very difficult. One way or the other, you or the writer will not be satisfied and this may end up in a disagreement.

Per Word Basis

Despite being more common, hiring a writer on a per-word basis is not always ideal. This includes scenarios when a writer will also be searching for photos or videos and publishing the article on a website. But if your writer will only focus on research and writing, simply give your writer a word count range you prefer and he will be the one to adjust.

Pros

#1 Most experienced writers prefer per word basis

Most experienced freelancers and ghost writers for hire are in favor of getting paid on a per-word pay. Aside from being the traditional method, most of its advantages seem to be favorable for them. And although there are some disadvantages for you, there are simple and easy solutions. You just have to discuss them properly with your writers.

#2 Writers can focus more on quality

As a payer, you would always get the best for what you are paying for. With writers getting paid on a per-word basis, they tend to focus more on producing high-quality articles. This is because writers are not pressured by time. But more importantly, you are paying them for the amount of work they finished, regardless of how long it is done.

Cons

#1 Some writers may intentionally write faster

Unfortunately, some writers can take advantage of the per-word basis so they can earn more. They may intentionally write faster and will not do the research properly. In effect, these unscrupulous writers may write false or misleading information and may also skip some important facts. That’s because they are not getting paid for doing the research.

#2 Setting a word count range can be tricky

Experienced writers tend to do the research quickly and write fast, which means that the more articles they finish a day, the more money you should pay them. This is not exactly a disadvantage if your writer is fair and honest. But then, setting a word count range can also be tricky. Some topics may require more words than you only allow.

Conclusion

The issue of per hour vs per word should be agreed upon by you and your SEO writer. If you are in favor of paying him on an hourly basis, explain it to him properly. On the other hand, you should listen to his side. However, you should also not only decide what’s best for you but also for your writers. After all, treating them right will also benefit you. 

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