At some point in the last year or two, the freelance writing market divided into two disctinct tiers.
Many writers haven’t realized it yet. Or are at least pretending not to notice.
Even so, the divide is real, and it’s getting wider every day.
Tier One: The Commodity Pool
This is the crowded end. If you’re newer to the industry, chances are you’re somewhere in here.
Writers on this side compete on speed, volume, and price. Rates are lower, clients are replaceable, and so, unfortunately, are the writers.
Worse, you’re competing with AI tools that get better every single day.
AI isn’t solely responsible for this tier, but it has exacerbated problems that have plagued the industry for a while. When a client can generate a passable 800-word blog post in 90 seconds, the writers they were once willing to pay $150 for that same post are the first ones to feel the pressure.
If you’re noticing that jobs are harder to come by and more clients are pushing back on pricing, you’re seeing Tier One in real life.
Tier Two: The Specialists
Here’s the quieter end. Writers aren’t competing on price because price isn’t really the conversation.
They’re hired because they have specific expertise and produce the nuanced work that still requires a human. Think case studies, thought leadership, technical content, and high-stakes sales copy.
To be clear, writers in this tier aren’t immune to AI. But they’re insulated a bit.
Clients here aren’t looking for cheaper. They don’t really care about the budget as long as the result is good.
Luckily, the difference between a Tier One writer and a Tier Two writer isn’t that big. It’s not talent or how many years you’ve been in the industry.
Positioning is the key differentiator.
Which Tier Are You In?
Right now, you should ask yourself three questions:
- Do my clients shop around or haggle on price?聽If clients tend to push back on your rate or ask if you can “do it for less,” you’re likely in Tier One territory.
- Could my last three projects be completed by a different writer with similar results?聽If the answer is yes, you haven’t differentiated yourself enough to live in Tier Two.
- Do my clients come back without me having to chase them?聽Tier Two writers get rehired because they’re genuinely hard to replace. Tier One writers get rehired when they’re the cheapest or easiest option still available.
If the answers to those questions stung a little… good. That’s useful information you can use to make a change.
One Move To Make Today
You don’t have to overhaul your entire freelance writing business overnight. This week, take one concrete step to start moving yourself toward Tier Two.
Here it is.
Identify one niche, one client type, and one piece of proof that positions you as a specialist rather than a generalist.
You don’t have to stay here forever. It’s just a starting point.
“I write B2B SaaS content” is Tier One.
“I write case studies and customer success stories for B2B SaaS companies going into a funding round” is Tier Two.
This slight positioning change opens the door for completely different client conversations. Spoilers, the clients you’ll be talking to are the ones worth keeping around.
The market has split, friends. Happily, you get to choose which side you’re on.
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