Someone that asks you to pump out 10 articles in a week obviously doesn’t care about the writing. Someone that asks you write for free is a scammer. There are some cases where you get something in exchange for free wrting, but that should be decided up front. Writing for exposure is pointless. Do plumbers fix toilets for the exposure? (I’m not talking about plumber’s butt either!)

In six years I’ve only had one job come from a client seeing my name in another publication. And he was an old college buddy, so we had a pre-existing relationship.

If you want to be treated as a professional, act like one. Don’t apologize for charging money, and don’t apologize for sending invoices or following up on payment.

But I never really knew how to tactfully address when a potential client asks for samples. Now I know.

Thanks!

“Remember, we don’t ask plumbers to fix our toilets for free to determine whether or not they’re a good fit for future bathroom problems, nor do we ask our doctors to see our sick kids for free to see if their bedside manner meshes with our personalities.”

That is similar to what I tell people about free samples. We are professionals, and as such we have a right to be paid for our work. PERIOD.

If we want to end the problem we can personally create a policy to not do free samples and we can ‘educate’ fellow writers about their right to be paid a fair wage for a fair day’s work.

Kudos and Thanks Deb!