Show Me The Money 2015 Survey Welcome! Thanks so much for taking the time to answer this year's survey. We've split the survey into sections for part-time freelance, full-time freelance and in-house members (so just answer the one that applies to you). There are other sections for general questions, pay rates and sourcing work - which we hope you'll all answer to give us as big an industry snapshot as possible: Section 1. General questions Section 2. Freelancing + part-time Section 3. Freelancing + full-time Section 4. Freelance fees + pay rates Section 5. Sourcing work / promotion / running a freelance business Section 6. In-house employees Leave your email at the end to go into the draw to win either a case of mixed wine, or one of three $50 Hoyts movie passes. Results to be published on Rachel's List later in the year... and as always, all information we gather from you remains anonymous (including quotes we may use in the final infographic). Thank you everyone! Rachel & Leo Question Title * 1. How long have you been freelancing? I'm still studying 1-2 years 2-4 years 5 years 5-10 years 10-15 years 15-20 years 20-30 years 30-40 years Other (please specify) Question Title * 2. What are the top three areas you specialise in? Animals / pets Arts / entertainment / media Business Education Employment and workplace relations Environment Family and parenting Finance / personal wealth Food and wine Health / medical / wellbeing Homes / interiors Human interest Internet and technology Leisure / recreation / sport / fitness Lifestyle and fashion Management / business advice Manufacturing Marketing and advertising Motoring Politics, government and policy Property and real estate PR Transport and aviation Travel Other (please specify) Question Title * 3. Do you consider freelancing a long-term career option? Yes No Not sure If not, why not? Question Title * 4. JOURNALISTS: What new skills have you added / trained for in the past year? SEO Social media CMS skills Record audio Make / edit video Take decent photos Promotion of posts Legal / copyright knowledge Anything else? Please add here: Question Title * 5. If you were to train in anything, what would it be? Pitching stories / how to pitch How to build better relationships with editors/clients SEO skills / SEO writing Metrics / digital reach skills How to find work with digital agencies How to find work with corporate agencies How to run a successful freelance business Anything else you'd love to learn about? Please add here: Question Title * 6. In the past year, have you thought about giving up freelancing / changing to a new career? Yes Sometimes No Got something to add? Question Title * 7. What best describes your current work situation? Part-time freelance (Go to Q9) Full-time freelance (Go to Q17) In-house employee (Go to Q53) Other (please specify) Question Title Question Title * 8. As a part-time freelancer, how many days would you normally work on average? 1-2 2-3 3-4 Other (please specify) Question Title * 9. As a part-time freelancer, how much of your working time is spent in a home office? 100 percent 75 percent 50 percent 25 percent Something else? Add it here: Question Title * 10. As a part-time freelancer, if you were telling people what you do, you'd say... Author Art director Blogger Book editor Business/finance writer Comms/corporate writer Content marketer Content producer Copywriter Ghost writer Graphic designer Journalist Magazine editor Marketing consultant Photographer Photo editor PR consultant Production editor Proof-reader Publisher Radio producer Radio presenter Scriptwriter Sub-editor Social media consultant / Community manager Trainer / teacher Videographer Voice-over artist Writer Other (please specify) Question Title * 11. As a part-time freelancer, if you were telling people what you do, you'd say... Author Art director Blogger Book editor Business/finance writer Comms/corporate writer Content marketer Content producer Copywriter Ghost writer Graphic designer Journalist Magazine editor Marketing consultant Photographer Photo editor PR consultant Production editor Proof-reader Publisher Radio producer Radio presenter Scriptwriter Sub-editor Social media consultant / Community manager Trainer / teacher Videographer Voice-over artist Writer Other (please specify) Question Title * 12. As a part-time freelancer, which areas do you earn an income in? (Tick all that apply) Apps Advertising agencies Academic editing / journals Book publishing Blogging Content marketing Corporate writing / editing Corporate communications Custom publishing Digital agencies Facebook / Wordpress maintenance Ghost writing Government agencies Graphic design Speaking / appearances Training / teaching Technical writing Magazines NGOs Newspapers Photography PR consultancy Radio Social media TV and film Websites Other (please specify) Question Title * 13. But if you had to choose one MAIN source of income, it would be from... Journalism Subbing Content producing Content marketing Copywriting Editing Proof-reading Photographing Social media / community management Comms / corporate / business writing PR Graphic design Art director Blogging Other (please specify) Question Title * 14. As a part-time freelancer, how many clients / editors on average have you worked for in the past year? 1-3 3-5 5-7 7-10 10-15 15-20 Over 20 Other (please specify) Question Title * 15. As a part-time freelancer, what is your annual income (before tax)? Less than $5,000 Less than $10,000 Less than $15,000 Less than $20,000 $20,000-25,000 $25,000-30,000 $30,000-35,000 $35,000-40,000 $40,000-45,000 $45,000-50,000 More than $50,000 (please enter in comments) Other (please specify) Question Title * 16. Overall, are you satisfied with what you earn as a part-time freelancer? Yes No My satisfaction fluctuates with my earnings Got something to add? Question Title Question Title * 17. As a full-time freelancer, how many hours a week would you work on average? 30 hours or less 30-40 hours 40-50 hours 50-60 hours 60-70 hours More than 70 hours a week Other (please specify) Question Title * 18. As a full-time freelancer, how much of your working time is spent in a home office? 100 percent 75 percent 50 percent 25 percent Something else? Add it here: Question Title * 19. As a full-time freelancer, if you were telling people what you do, you'd say... Author Art director Blogger Book editor Business/finance writer Comms/corporate writer Content marketer Content producer Copywriter Ghost writer Graphic designer Journalist Magazine editor Marketing consultant Photographer Photo editor PR consultant Production editor Proof-reader Publisher Radio producer Radio presenter Scriptwriter Sub-editor Social media consultant / Community manager Trainer / teacher TV producer Videographer Voice-over artist Writer Other (please specify) Question Title * 20. As a full-time freelancer, which areas do you earn an income in? (Tick all that apply) Apps Advertising agencies Academic editing / journals Book publishing Blogging Content marketing Corporate writing / editing Corporate communications Custom publishing Digital agencies Facebook / Wordpress maintenance Ghost writing Government agencies Graphic design Speaking / appearances Training / teaching Technical writing Magazines NGOs Newspapers Photography PR consultancy Radio Social media TV and film Websites Other (please specify) Question Title * 21. But if you had to choose one MAIN source of income, it would be from... Journalism Subbing Content producing Content marketing Copywriting Editing Proof-reading Photographing Social media / community management Comms / corporate / business writing PR Graphic design Art director Blogging Other (please specify) Question Title * 22. As a full-time freelancer, how many clients / editors on average have you worked for in the past year? 1-3 3-5 5-7 7-10 10-15 15-20 Over 20 Other (please specify) Question Title * 23. As a full-time freelancer, what's your estimated annual income (before tax)? Under $20,000 $20,000-$30,000 $30,000-$40,000 $40,000-$50,000 $50,000-$60,000 $60,000-$70,000 $70,000-$80,000 $80,000-$90,000 $90,000-$100,000 $100,000-$120,000 $120,000-$140,000 $140,000-$160,000 $160,000-$180,000 $180,000-$200,000 Over $200,000 Other (please specify) Question Title * 24. Overall, are you satisfied with what you earn as a full-time freelancer? Yes No My satisfaction fluctuates with my earnings Got something to add? Okay, here's where we drill down into exactly what you get paid, and the ins and outs of running a freelance business in Australia. We'd love as many of you to answer these sections as possible! (If you're in-house, keep scrolling down to section 6.) Question Title Question Title * 25. SUB-EDITORS: What do you get paid by the hour? $25-30 / hour $30-40 / hour $40-50 / hour $50-60 / hour Over $60/hour Other (please specify) Question Title * 26. JOURNALISTS / REPORTERS: What's the average word rate you get paid for a story? Zilch. I do it for love / experience 10c a word or below 20-50c a word 50-70c a word 70-90c a word 90c-$1 a word Over $1 word Other (please specify) Question Title * 27. WORD RATES: You'd say no to any writing job that paid under... $1 / word 90c / word 80c / word 70c / word 65c / word 60c / word 50c / word 30c / word 20c / word 10c / word 5c / word I'll take anything I can get I often choose to write for free Other (please specify) Question Title * 28. Have you been forced to accept lower word rates / fees in general in the past year? Yes No Sometimes If yes or sometimes, can you provide more info? Ie, was it a new employer or an old one which dropped its fee and expected you to wear it? Question Title * 29. COMMS / CORPORATE (who write anything from newsletters to proposals, reports, technical writing, marketing writing): What do you get paid by the word / by the hour? 50-70c a word 70-90c a word 90c-$1 a word Over $1 word $25-50 / hour $50-75 / hour $75-100 / hour $100-150 / hour $150-200 / hour Other (please specify) Question Title * 30. DIGITAL / CONTENT WRITERS (You might write SEO copy; social media content such as tweets, Facebook posts; blog posts, galleries, listicles, video or general website content): What do you get paid by the word / by the hour? 20-50c a word 50-70c a word 70-90c a word 90c-$1 a word Over $1 word $25-50 / hour $50-75 / hour $75-100 / hour $100-150 / hour $150-200 / hour I'm paid by the package (please leave details in comment box) More information: Question Title * 31. PR CONSULTANTS (Your job may involve writing press releases and/or speeches, handling media relations, organising events and campaigns, social media content; blog posts etc): What do you get paid by the word / by the hour? 20-50c a word 50-70c a word 70-90c a word 90c-$1 a word Over $1 word $25-50 / hour $50-75 / hour $75-100 / hour $100-150 / hour $150-200 / hour I'm on retainer (please leave details in comment box) More information: Question Title * 32. SOCIAL MEDIA WRITERS (You mainly do community management and social media content such as tweets, Facebook posts; Instagram campaigns, Pinterest curation and so on): What do you get paid by the word / by the hour? 20-50c a word 50-70c a word 70-90c a word 90c-$1 a word Over $1 word $25-50 / hour $50-75 / hour $75-100 / hour $100-150 / hour $150-200 / hour I'm on retainer (please leave details in comment box) More information: Question Title * 33. BLOGGERS: A lot of journalists and writers have branched out into blogging, or blog on the side while working at other jobs - and we'd love to know what you make blogging. What do you get paid for the sponsored posts which you (or the client) writes and you publish on your website/blog? $10 or less per post $20-50 per post $50-100 per post $100-200 per post $200-300 per post $300-500 per post I have a personal blog to promote my own work (generates no income) I don't take sponsored content Other (please specify) Question Title * 34. COPYWRITERS: What do you get paid by the word / by the hour? 50c / word 50-70c / word 70-90c / word $1 / word $1-1.30 / word $1.50 / word or over $30-40 / hour $40-50 / hour $50-60 / hour $60-70 / hour $70-80 / hour $80-90 / hour $90-100 / hour $100-150 / hour $150-200 / hour Other (please specify) Question Title * 35. EDITING (Magazines / newspapers): What do you get paid by the hour or by the day? $25-50 / hour $50-75 / hour $75-100 / hour $100-150 / hour $150-200 / hour $300-400 / day $400-500 / day $500-600 / day $600-700 / day $700-800 / day Flat fee per project (please leave details in the comments) Other (please specify) Question Title * 36. EDITING (books): What do you get paid by the hour or by the day? $25-50 / hour $50-75 / hour $75-100 / hour $100-150 / hour $150-200 / hour $300-400 / day $400-500 / day $500-600 / day $600-700 / day $700-800 / day I get paid per project (please leave details in comments) I take a small percentage of whatever the book makes Other (please specify) Question Title * 37. PROOFREADING (You may proof-read book manuscripts, annual reports, do tender editing and so on): What do you get paid by the hour or by the day? $20-30 / hour $30-40 / hour $40-50 / hour $50-75 / hour $80-110 / hour $110-130 / hour $250 / day $300 / day $350 / day $400 / day $450 / day $500 / day Other (please specify) Question Title * 38. FREELANCE SENIOR DESIGNERS: What do you get paid by the hour / day? $45-55 / hour $55-65 / hour $65-75 / hour $300 / day $350-400 / day $400-450 / day $450-500 / day Over $500 / day Other (please specify) Question Title * 39. ART DIRECTORS: What do you get paid by the hour / day? $45-55 / hour $55-65 / hour $65-75 / hour $400-450 / day $450-550 / day $550-650 / day $650-750 / day Over $750 / day Other (please specify) Question Title * 40. PHOTOGRAPHERS: What do you get paid, on average, by the hour / day? $25-35 / hour $35-45 / hour $45-55 / hour $55-65 / hour $65-75 / hour $400-450 / day $450-550 / day $550-650 / day $650-750 / day Over $750 / day Other (please specify) Question Title Question Title * 41. FREELANCERS: How do you mainly source your work? Editors / clients call me and offer me work Online jobs boards (Rachel's List, Seek, LinkedIn, The Loop, Newsmodo, Contently, Freelancer.com etc) Other journos / colleagues passing on work they can't do Pitching stories, cold-calling, chasing clients Word of mouth Other (please specify) Question Title * 42. FREELANCERS: Where does the bulk of your work come from? Choose any three. Advertising agencies APN Educational Media APN Regional Media Australian Traveller Media Alternative Media Group Bauer Media Benchmark Media Big Splash Media Book publishers Broadcasters (ABC, SBS etc) Cirrus Media Citrus Media Corporate clients Digital agencies Edge Custom Media Elance / Upwork Engage Custom Media Fairfax Media Global Publishing Government departments Guardian News + Media Hardie Grant Houzz IDG Ink Global King Content Magnesium Media Mahlab Media Marketing companies Motion Publishing News Life Media News Limited NineMSN Next Media Nuclear Media Ocean Media Pacific Magazines PR companies Reader's Digest group Reed Business Scoop Publishing Small to medium business Universal Magazines Universities Yaffa Publishing Other (please specify) Question Title * 43. FREELANCERS: Do you have an online portfolio? Yes No My website / portfolio is: Question Title * 44. Are you on social media and if so which platforms? Facebook Twitter Instagram Pinterest Google+ LinkedIn Other (please specify) Question Title * 45. Out of your self-promotional tools, which one generates the most income? Twitter Facebook Instagram My online portfolio My LinkedIn profile None of the above, I generate it myself through cold-calling, pitching etc Other (please specify) Question Title * 46. FREELANCERS: In our changing industry which social media platform is the most valuable to you? Twitter Facebook Instagram Pinterest LinkedIn Google+ Other And why...? Question Title * 47. FREELANCERS: Would you prefer to be in a full-time in-house role right now? Yes No Other (please specify) Question Title * 48. FREELANCERS: What would be your ideal job set-up? I'd love a part-time job-sharing role I'd love a mix of 2-3 days in-house and the rest freelance I'd like to be on retainer but work from home I'd like to work with multiple clients I'd like to work with just one big client Other (please specify) Question Title * 49. FREELANCERS: What do you love most about freelancing? (Choose your top 3) Ability to fit work in around family / kids Option to work harder / potentially make more money than I would if I was in-house and on a fixed salary Working from home (and in my tracky dacks if so I desire) Flexibility to set my own hours and choose when/how I work No one's breathing down my neck or timing my lunch hour I love that I can do the job and go home - less stress Not having to deal with office politics I love the 'remote' nature of freelancing and the ability to work and travel at the same time I love not feeling trapped by a permanent role I love being able to pitch / choose who I work for / what I write about I love the isolation / lack of workplace distractions I love the variety of the work I do Other (please specify) Question Title * 50. FREELANCERS: What do you loathe about freelancing? (Choose your top 3) It's feast or famine and the financial insecurity does my head in I just don't get enough work to get by I feel like I can never say no to work / go on holiday without worrying The inconsistencies around payment (per word, per hour, per job) makes it hard to manage finances Taking the time to pitch but never hearing back from an editor Being up against new writers who undermine the industry by being prepared to work for virtually nothing / free More people doing mass comm / media + communications than there are jobs More competition as more full-timers get laid off and enter the freelance market The isolation. I miss the cameraderie / being part of a team / Friday night drinks No holiday / sick pay / super Having to chase invoices / how long it takes to get paid is stressful Clients / editors who don't know what they want / change their mind (hence redos / rewrites you don't get paid for) Friends/family thinking because I'm 'working from home' I'm at their disposal Other (please specify) Question Title * 51. FREELANCERS: How much has your annual income changed in the past year? I'm making less than I ever was I'm making more than I ever was I'm making about the same Other (please specify) Question Title * 52. FREELANCERS: Over the past year, have you had to reinvent yourself to make the same money or are you doing what you've always done? Yes, I've had to edge into new markets to make a living (please elaborate in comments) No, I'm doing the same thing I've always done Other (please specify) Question Title Question Title * 53. IN-HOUSE EMPLOYEES... Please answer the questions below (anonymously of course!) What's your job title? (editor, deputy, feature writer etc) What's your annual income? What are your holiday entitlements? (ie, 6 weeks per year) Question Title * 54. IN-HOUSE: Who do you currently work for? Advertising agency APN Educational Media APN Regional Media Australian Traveller Media Alternative Media Group Bauer Media Broadcaster (SBS, ABC etc) Benchmark Media Big Splash Media Book publisher Cirrus Media Citrus Media Corporate client / brand Digital agencies Edge Custom Media Engage Custom Media Fairfax Media Global Publishing Greek Media Group Government dept Guardian News + Media Hardie Grant IDG Ink Global King Content Magnesium Media Mahlab Media McHugh Media Motion Publishing News Life Media News Limited NineMSN Next Media Nuclear Media Ocean Media Pacific Magazines PR company Reader's Digest group Reed Business Scoop Publishing SevenWest Media Small to medium business client The Intermedia Group Universal Magazines University Yahoo!7 Other (please specify) Question Title * 55. IN-HOUSE: What are the biggest challenges you've faced this year? Doing more with less budget Increased overseas outsourcing means reduced quality Being forced to go bi-monthly Being forced to share staff Being slapped with regular freelance budget freezes My workload / hours have doubled I have to do online versions I never had to produce before Loss of key staff I've always had (ie, in-house photographers) More limited promotion opportunities and freezes on payrises Other (please specify) Question Title * 56. IN-HOUSE: How do you currently feel in terms of your job security? Rock solid - my job's not going anywhere Pretty confident, although I do worry from time to time On shaky ground in the current climate Terrified and expecting to be packing up my desk any day now Hopeful and crossing my fingers I'll be offered redundancy Other (please specify) Question Title Question Title * 57. Fancy winning one of 3 x $50 Hoyts movie passes OR a case of mixed wine? Just pop your email below to go into the draw. And thanks again for taking the time to do the survey! Cheers, Rachel + Leo Done