Comments on: Should You Be Working for Free? http://freelancewritinggigs.com/businesstips/free-work/ ...to help you succeed in your career Fri, 20 Nov 2009 16:40:35 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: 53 Sure-Fire Ways to Lose Clients | Business Tips for Writers http://freelancewritinggigs.com/businesstips/free-work/comment-page-1/#comment-548 53 Sure-Fire Ways to Lose Clients | Business Tips for Writers Thu, 17 Sep 2009 07:12:10 +0000 http://freelancewritinggigs.com/businesstips/?p=123#comment-548 [...] 15. Never give anything away. [...] [...] 15. Never give anything away. [...]

]]> By: Phil http://freelancewritinggigs.com/businesstips/free-work/comment-page-1/#comment-448 Phil Tue, 07 Jul 2009 16:35:36 +0000 http://freelancewritinggigs.com/businesstips/?p=123#comment-448 James, You know different dentists than I do. Our dentist (my age) retired four years ago. I can look at our dental bills for the 20 previous years to know how he was able to do that and I'm still slugging away. James,

You know different dentists than I do. Our dentist (my age) retired four years ago. I can look at our dental bills for the 20 previous years to know how he was able to do that and I’m still slugging away.

]]> By: Lance Hooper Bartlett http://freelancewritinggigs.com/businesstips/free-work/comment-page-1/#comment-445 Lance Hooper Bartlett Sat, 04 Jul 2009 20:58:25 +0000 http://freelancewritinggigs.com/businesstips/?p=123#comment-445 I'd only consider working for FREE if I knew there was an 80 - 90% chance of getting a paid gig pretty soon afterwards. There are a lot of people out there who are constantly on the look out of a free meal ticket, and have absolutely no intention of paying for anything. Proceed with caution... Lance I’d only consider working for FREE if I knew there was an 80 – 90% chance of getting a paid gig pretty soon afterwards. There are a lot of people out there who are constantly on the look out of a free meal ticket, and have absolutely no intention of paying for anything.

Proceed with caution…

Lance

]]> By: Jennifer http://freelancewritinggigs.com/businesstips/free-work/comment-page-1/#comment-444 Jennifer Thu, 02 Jul 2009 22:37:52 +0000 http://freelancewritinggigs.com/businesstips/?p=123#comment-444 I agree that working for free should not be overlooked. I currently write a column for a major regional newspaper each week and am not paid for it. However, I retain all rights to what I write and the content can be easily adapted for other publications. Plus, I personally think that the experience, exposure and addition to my resume is well worth the 2 hours a week that I spend on it. I am positive that in 10 years, I will consider the time spent on this gig to be a worthwhile investment in my career. I agree that working for free should not be overlooked. I currently write a column for a major regional newspaper each week and am not paid for it. However, I retain all rights to what I write and the content can be easily adapted for other publications. Plus, I personally think that the experience, exposure and addition to my resume is well worth the 2 hours a week that I spend on it. I am positive that in 10 years, I will consider the time spent on this gig to be a worthwhile investment in my career.

]]> By: James Chartrand http://freelancewritinggigs.com/businesstips/free-work/comment-page-1/#comment-441 James Chartrand Wed, 01 Jul 2009 13:39:17 +0000 http://freelancewritinggigs.com/businesstips/?p=123#comment-441 @ Phil - Dentists donate their time and give young kids free care sometimes. Mechanics apprentice or help other kids in town fix up their old cars. So... Yeah, actually. If my mechanic or dentist gave away work for free, I'd think pretty kindly of them. And probably mention their name to other people. @ Phil – Dentists donate their time and give young kids free care sometimes. Mechanics apprentice or help other kids in town fix up their old cars.

So… Yeah, actually. If my mechanic or dentist gave away work for free, I’d think pretty kindly of them. And probably mention their name to other people.

]]> By: Phil http://freelancewritinggigs.com/businesstips/free-work/comment-page-1/#comment-440 Phil Wed, 01 Jul 2009 13:32:24 +0000 http://freelancewritinggigs.com/businesstips/?p=123#comment-440 Just ask yourself: Would my mechanic do this for free? Would my dentist? Some friendly advice (how to avoid costly repairs in the future, how to prevent cavities) is one thing. A free brake job or root canal (yes, you get to pay for pain!) is something else. Just ask yourself: Would my mechanic do this for free? Would my dentist? Some friendly advice (how to avoid costly repairs in the future, how to prevent cavities) is one thing. A free brake job or root canal (yes, you get to pay for pain!) is something else.

]]> By: Katherine http://freelancewritinggigs.com/businesstips/free-work/comment-page-1/#comment-439 Katherine Sat, 27 Jun 2009 19:31:45 +0000 http://freelancewritinggigs.com/businesstips/?p=123#comment-439 There is some value to writing for free, especially if it's for promotion. That means it indirectly yields more cash for your business! There is some value to writing for free, especially if it’s for promotion. That means it indirectly yields more cash for your business!

]]> By: Clara Freeman http://freelancewritinggigs.com/businesstips/free-work/comment-page-1/#comment-438 Clara Freeman Fri, 26 Jun 2009 13:44:09 +0000 http://freelancewritinggigs.com/businesstips/?p=123#comment-438 Since I've incorporated 'reviews' of new & seasoned writers/authors/filmmakers and musicians 'works' on my blog at clara54, I've gotten tons of traffic, grateful emails and popular responses from the filmmakers/authors as a thank you for helping to get the word out about their works. Recently,I spoke by phone to a filmmaker from New York who thanked me for profiling her documentary on my blog & offered to send more of her works for review... I'm not being compensated with monetary gains at this point, but, as a freelance writer whose aim is to grow her business, it's a step in the 'write' direction :). Since I’ve incorporated ‘reviews’ of new & seasoned writers/authors/filmmakers and musicians ‘works’ on my blog at clara54, I’ve gotten tons of traffic, grateful emails and popular responses from the filmmakers/authors as a thank you for helping to get the word out about their works. Recently,I spoke by phone to a filmmaker from New York who thanked me for profiling her documentary on my blog & offered to send more of her works for review…

I’m not being compensated with monetary gains at this point, but, as a freelance writer whose aim is to grow her business, it’s a step in the ‘write’ direction :) .

]]> By: James Chartrand http://freelancewritinggigs.com/businesstips/free-work/comment-page-1/#comment-437 James Chartrand Fri, 26 Jun 2009 10:53:14 +0000 http://freelancewritinggigs.com/businesstips/?p=123#comment-437 Great comments everyone. One of the problems right now is that people *aren't* able to pay the bills. Many freelancers are holding out for money, but they're losing out, searching desperately, being rejected and coming up short each month. Many aren't surviving, and many more are scared to death about the future. These people have an urgent need for cash, but they're not finding it. Working free is one way to jump start that and give the income-earning potential a boost. Seriously. A barter exchange could get a website for copy. And thus, the writer can market to buyers more effectively to land jobs. A volunteer gig could end up with great results, and the writer gets hired for pay. Approaching a company with a "let me give it a shot for a week and you don't pay me" can result in a full-time job. We cannot overlook the value of free work right now as a means to market to get paid gigs. It's a tool just like any other - and it can have great results. Great comments everyone.

One of the problems right now is that people *aren’t* able to pay the bills. Many freelancers are holding out for money, but they’re losing out, searching desperately, being rejected and coming up short each month. Many aren’t surviving, and many more are scared to death about the future.

These people have an urgent need for cash, but they’re not finding it. Working free is one way to jump start that and give the income-earning potential a boost. Seriously.

A barter exchange could get a website for copy. And thus, the writer can market to buyers more effectively to land jobs.

A volunteer gig could end up with great results, and the writer gets hired for pay.

Approaching a company with a “let me give it a shot for a week and you don’t pay me” can result in a full-time job.

We cannot overlook the value of free work right now as a means to market to get paid gigs. It’s a tool just like any other – and it can have great results.

]]> By: Salem http://freelancewritinggigs.com/businesstips/free-work/comment-page-1/#comment-435 Salem Fri, 26 Jun 2009 00:00:49 +0000 http://freelancewritinggigs.com/businesstips/?p=123#comment-435 Okay, I mean to say, "you would want to do stuff for free," in that last sentence. Okay, I mean to say, “you would want to do stuff for free,” in that last sentence.

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