Should you ever work for free?
Why would you work for free? It’s very common to be urged to work for free “for the exposure”. There are two parts to this. There’s goodwill – exposure within a business. I have a very long-term client who has asked me twice in a decade to do a major job for free “as a favour”. She pays me exceptionally well, tells people far and wide how great I am, refers me to people who need writers, and we put up with each other – no one is always wonderful to work with. Being asked sent a prickle up my spine both times, but I was more or less happy to oblige. She had earned it, and I knew she would “pay me back”. If she was client who didn’t pay me very well, didn’t give me regular work, didn’t promote me and refer me, and if she gave me grief on jobs that cost me money, I’d say no. Or, more likely and more reasonably, I’d negotiate. Business relationships are all – and always – about give and take. She may well have expected me to do so.
The second part of exposure is getting your work seen – exposing your work to all the potential clients “out there”. This is a personal call. Maybe you don’t need it. On the other hand, if it’s a really great job, you might consider it. Once. No
