Perhaps if you’re a writer like me, you’ve scouted online income reports that show other writers making thousands of dollars per month via freelance writing jobs and have wondered how they got those gigs.

Yes, most of us have heard of content creators who are making goo-gobs of money via Google AdSense ads, or through recommending products in programs like Amazon Associates. It took me awhile, however, to learn how to use websites like Elance.com to find clients willing to pay me for my work – and even several months after that to navigate the wonderful waters of negotiation and learn how to get paid for the value of the writing I bring to the table.

Here are my tips for getting paid what you should:

#1 – Learn the value of what you have to offer

Not long ago I saw an SEO expert bragging about a person selling their services cheaply on Fiverr – for some kind of an article on their website with a link in it – all for only five bucks. The seller didn’t realize what they had was much more valuable than that low price, said Mr. SEO, as he displayed a screenshot of the writer’s high page rank and website authority. They were impressive credentials that could’ve commanded much more money.

Alas, the first important lesson you can realize as a writer is to assess your platform and research the value of the skills you possess – not only for creating high-quality content, but also other special qualifications, such as marketing know-how or photo editing, etc.

#2 – Decide what you need to make per hour

It might sound great to get paid $25 to create a 500-word article, but not if you realize that same 500-word piece requires five hours worth of time to research, write, publish and rewrite the article to the client’s specifications. That would mean you’ve just made $5 per hour, which is less than minimum wage.

Therefore, the second lesson is to determine how much your experience is worth, and charge accordingly. If you’re a writer with years of working knowledge of SEO, have an excellent command of the English language, and a wide platform, it’s nothing to charge $35 to $50 or more per hour for your skills.

#3 – Stick to your prices and keep the enjoyable clients who pay

Once you’ve decided that your writing is worth $50 per hour, for example, let that amount be the baseline of what you demand from your clients – and don’t waver too much from it or allow people who are looking for a cheap deal talk down your prices or devalue the worth of your words.

We’re talking about what lots of people who recognize the value of a great content creator are willing to pay for the benefits of the work.

Don’t be afraid to say goodbye to any clients who balk at paying from the beginning, or require too many revisions and updates and make the process a pain. That way, it makes plenty of room for the many other folks who are a lot easier to work for – ones that won’t think twice about paying for quality writing.