Pricing My Work as a Beginner (And How I Increased)

Understanding pricing changed everything in my freelancing journey.

When I started freelancing, pricing my services felt like guesswork. I didn’t know market standards, I didn’t know what my skills were worth, and honestly — I wasn’t sure anyone would pay me at all.

So, like most beginners, I did the easiest thing possible: I underpriced myself.

But that phase taught me lessons that shaped the

way I charge today.

My First Rates (Yes, They Were Low 😅)

My first earning was just 500 PKR profit — but to me, it felt like $500. That amount wasn’t about money; it was proof that freelancing could change my life.

In the beginning, I:

• Offered very low rates for guest posts
• Charged less just to gain experience
• Accepted every offer — even the stressful ones
• Worked more hours than I charged for

At that stage, my goal was simple: ✔️ Build confidence ✔️ Learn the process ✔️ Deliver results ✔️ Earn client trust

And slowly, it worked.

The Mistakes I Made (And You Might Be Making Too)

❌ Pricing out of fear

I always chose the lowest number because I was scared clients would say “no.”

❌ Not calculating the effort

Research, writing, editing, publishing — everything got packed into one tiny price.

❌ Saying “yes” too fast

If a client said, “That’s expensive,” I immediately reduced the price.

❌ No structured packages

I quoted random numbers without any strategy behind them.

These mistakes kept me stuck at low rates longer than necessary.

How I Increased My Prices Confidently

After gaining experience and understanding my industry, I began leveling up my pricing. Here’s what changed everything:

1. Tracking my work

Once I measured how long each task took, my prices finally started matching my effort.

2. Showing real results

When clients saw:

• High-authority placements
• Live links
• Actual SEO outcomes they stopped negotiating.

3. Creating professional packages

This made selling easier and more structured:

Basic: 1 guest post placement Standard: 3 placements + indexing support Premium: 5 placements + outreach + content + links

Packages make your services look like solutions — not random quotes.

4. Targeting better clients

I stopped chasing low-budget buyers and focused on:

• SaaS companies
• Agencies
• Founders
• CEOs

These clients understand ROI and value quality.

5. Communicating with confidence

The more confident I became, the higher my prices grew. If you don’t believe in your work, your clients won’t either.

My Current Pricing Philosophy

Today, I follow three simple principles:

1️⃣ Value > Time

If your work brings traffic, authority, or rankings, price it based on results — not hours.

2️⃣ Experience = Higher Rates

With a portfolio, testimonials, and proven results, your rates should grow naturally.

3️⃣ Never undervalue yourself

If someone doesn’t respect your price, they won’t respect your work either.

Final Advice for New Freelancers

Start low if you need to. Don’t feel ashamed.

Just don’t stay low.

• Learn quickly
• Improve your skillset
• Build relationships
• Develop confidence
• And raise your prices boldly

Your time, effort, and talent deserve to be paid — properly.

Need premium backlinks or guest posts? Let’s work together — message me anytime.

Gmail: saaraseoexpert@gmail.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/saara-rafique-4ba79b269/