A few months ago the results of a survey of freelance content marketing writers that revealed the average hourly rates writers are earning in different niches. That data was so insightful that I couldn’t resist gathering some more pay-related information. For this second survey, I asked writers in my Freelance Content Marketing Writer group on Facebook to tell me more about their income, especially the types of clients they have and projects they typically work on. 

1. Average monthly income

I heard from 63 writers of various niches and experience levels. I was pleased to learn that, although there were also a wide range of income levels represented in the survey, the biggest proportion of writers reported an average monthly income of $2-4k so far this year (or $24-48k/year). A total of 41% are making $4-10k/month, which equates to a pretty good annual income.

2. Working with content marketing agencies

Most writers who responded are earning at least some income from content marketing agencies. The majority (73%) of respondents are earning 50% or less of their income through agencies. I’ve found that agencies sometimes pay higher rates than direct business clients, and it can be nice to let them handle the client relationship so you can focus on the writing.

3. Working with direct business clients

Despite the proportion of writers who work with agencies, writers who responded to my survey are earning most of their income from direct business clients. A majority (76%) report that direct business clients make up 25% or more of their income.

4. Content marketing and journalism at the same time?

It’s totally possible to write journalism and content marketing at the same time. However, most content marketing writers who responded are not doing a lot of journalism. Almost half (46%) of writers who responded are not doing any journalism work, and another third (35%) are doing very little.

5. Anchor clients are essential.

I’ve often said that anchor clients are the key to earning a high income as a freelance content marketing writer. As it turns out, more than half (57%) of writers who responded to the survey have three or more anchor clients. If you’re just starting out or working on setting new goals, think about how finding new anchor clients can help you advance your career.

6. Where do writers find content marketing clients?

A majority of writers say referrals are the top two sources of new clients. That means referrals from other writers as well as referrals from current and past clients. LinkedIn networking and cold outreach are third and fourth. Among the ‘other’ responses, a number of writers say they are getting work through Facebook groups (like Binders) and from their university alum organizations. Based on the mix of these responses, it’s easy to conclude that there is no one way to find new clients, and writers should use a variety of methods for best results.

7. What kinds of projects do most content marketing writers work on?

I could have guessed that the vast majority of writers focus on blog posts and articles. But that’s not all. White papers and case studies are also very popular, and some content marketing writers are finding success writing video scripts. Among the ‘other’ responses, several writers report also doing email marketing, social media, web copy, and annual reports.

How does your income mix measure up against these results? What else would you like to learn about how other freelance content marketing writers run their businesses?