Will Editor A, B, and C (who is in desperate need of a good freelance writer) suddenly see your name and send you job offers? No, don’t kid yourself. Editor A, B, and C, probably realize your “guest blog post” that you reference in top placement in your portfolio was a freebie job (e.g. GUEST COLUMN gives it away pretty quick). Now, they know your secret — you’re not only a good writer, but you also write for free or cheap just because you think you are getting “publicity” value.

Harlan Ellison said it best, “There is no publicity value. The only value for me is if you put money in my hand”.

Do it for fun, do it because you want to, but don’t do it because you place far too much value on the idea of “publicity” that will materialize into… a whole lot of nothing. If your business plan is to make money (versus having fun) you might be better off using that “freebie research and writing time” to find a good paying opportunity or client.

In other words, do they normally pay for a speaker for similar event in the past or, is it the local Lions or PBW club who traditionally have a local business/non-profit org person comes give a short presentation at each weekly/monthly meeting for free?

I was once asked to come do a Young Author’s Writing Workshop at local school and the organizer actually said to me, “In the past we’ve always paid for a writer to come speak to the kids. But we’re asking you first because we thought you could just do it for free for us.”

Ah, never a prophet in your own hometown.

Needless to say, I told her that I’d be glad to come in and do a short presentation for an event like the annual Career Day, but my regular fee for workshops in-state are XXX, and out-of-state XXX.

I’m not opposed to guest blogging…and have done plenty of freebies in the name of marketing opportunities. But if they normally pay contributors, and then you’ll find any guest blogging I do in the site’s comment section.

I can attest to the power of the guest blog post as it does raise traffic and visibility, but if I’m actively seeking writers for FWJ it will be for pay.

Do you find it helps you or your cause? Does guest blogging raise your profile and bring you traffic or do you simply do it because you enjoy it?

But more than blogging, what I get asked to do is write entire articles for free. Articles which involve research, and talking to subject matter experts, and are in many cases mini-white papers. So, what I’m being asked to donate is anywhere from $500 – $1,500 of billable work to a site for free. Now, early in my career, I did it a few times, under the “but it will help build my reputation”. But really, what it did is prove to a few editors that they could get writers for free. I never had a single one of those sites where I provided free content ever pan out into a paying gig. I automatically turn down those “offers” now.

So, if it’s a site I read, a site I value, or a site where I feel some connection to either the editor/owner or audience, then absolutely, I’m willing to drop in a guest writer, especially if I know that the primary writer would do the same for me…but sites which are fully supported by a parent corporation, are generating enough ad revenue that they have a staff, or are funded by trust babies who’ve picked up publishing as a hobby…then my usual published rates apply.

I like the idea of swapping guest blogs that way everyone feels happy.

On the flipside, as a teacher of freelance writing, I did consider for a while letting students guest post on my blog. But, I soon thought better of it, for two reasons. Firstly, freelance writing is my core business, and I would never dream of writing for a newspaper or magazine for free, so why should I encourage my students to write for free?

Secondly, defamation laws on the internet are still so ambiguous. I have been a journalist for 20 years, which means I have a solid understanding of what one can and can’t print to avoid defaming another. But, what assurances do you have that the guest poster knows it? I figured I would have so much editing and researching to do on a guest poster’s post to ensure I could sleep at night, that it wasn’t worth it.

Thanks for the post Deb. It’s a good discussion.

Being hired to write is a different story – the rates should be fair and competitive.

I think it’s like everything else – there’s good eggs and bad eggs. Some people will take advantage. Some people will think everyone’s taking advantage. But I believe that guest blogging is good for everyone and especially good for the readers.

I run a video games blog, and there is a “Write For Us” section on the site. In there I do clearly state “I am unable to pay people” (it’s popular, but the problem with the video game niche is the big players all control it, so I actually make less than $100/month on it, which goes into keeping the site alive), likewise on the emails I get every now and again I state it again (along with the payment I do offer, the occassional video game).

I get no shortage of quality writers, some of which are long time writers who use it to increase their portfolio. I don’t force people to write for free, but like you stated Deb, they’re marketing themselves through my site, I get great content for free.

I believe that everybody should do what they are free to do so, and I don’t think it’s too bad asking other bloggers for free content (particularly if you run a big blog), but I’d never pressure somebody to write for free.

My journalism side says there’s no reason for me to write for free (or to write 450 words for a paltry $5). That being said, as someone who’s started her own blog about personal finance, I find guest blogging to be a valuable tool for increasing exposure. But only in small doses — I write a guest post maybe two or three times a month, when I know I’ll have free time. I won’t “write for free” if it will cut into time needed for a paying gig. And I almost always write for other personal finance blogs that have more readers/page views than mine does.

I think there’s a mental division between web writing and blog writing. Most people are accustomed to writing on their own blogs for free, yet writing a web article is a ‘gig.’ Sometimes those lines blur and that makes things confusing.

However you decide to proceed, i know I’ll personally be happy to see some relevant guest posts on FWJ Good luck with your decision!

Now, maybe my plumber will fix my bathroom toilet for free, or the mechanic will change my oil for the mere mention of him to my friends. ‘You think that will fly? I don’t think so.

This post was mentioned on Twitter by FreelanceWJ: New Blog Post: More Thoughts On Writing for Free, Guest Blogging, and Marketing Opportunities http://bit.ly/8hjXBc...