9 {{ upvoteCount | shortNum }}
9 {{ upvoteCount | shortNum }}

Freelancers: Work for Full Price or Free, Never Cheap (Lifehacker)

by Techie Turtle
8 replies
  • OFF TOPIC
    • |
From Lifehacker.com: Freelancers: Work for Full Price or Free, Never Cheap

Common advice given to new freelancers dictates they should never do work for free. Designer Paul Scriven offers a smart counterpoint, suggesting that freelancers should either "work for free or for full price. Never for cheap."

His reasoning:
If you do a job for free you can control the expectations of the client. You can tell them what the boundaries are and what they should expect of you. When they aren't paying anything they don't want to overstep those boundaries to piss you off. They are thankful for any work that they can get out of you.

This is why charging for free is a better option than charging cheap because people who pay money have the same expectations no matter what they are paying. If that is going to be the case shouldn't you be rewarded appropriately for the time you are taking?

When you charge a rate that you feel is underpaying you, you become a pain in the ass to the client and yourself. You begin to despise design because it feels like cheap labor. Your creativity suffers along with your work performance. Instead of focusing on the job at hand all you do is worry about the guy down the street making more money than you.
Replace "design" with "freelance work" in the paragraph above and Scriven's advice applies equally to any freelancer, design or not.
  • Profile picture of the author unknownpray
    I would never work for free, Unless it would benefit a friend if he needs help greatly. Working for free is like Drinking milk before eating cookies!
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2238110].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author estoryaheee
      I don't think it is a wise idea to work with out pay or absolutely free...
      I wouldn't do that, i guess that's stupid thing to do...
      I work because i have goals and i want to earn for some reasons...
      Well, maybe if it would save a life or if it is for a noble cause then maybe, i would have a second thought...
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2238280].message }}
      • Profile picture of the author Techie Turtle
        There are quite a few Warriors that pay to run a WSO and give away valuable stuff. There is great power in giving away free work. A while ago I had a lawn biz and I actually got a couple of clients by giving away 1 free lawn service. No contract required, no hidden anything. They took me up on the offer, I showed up on the day they requested, I did a good job, and they asked me to come back the following week. They turned out to be excellent customers and kept me on through the whole season. I could have wasted 2, 3, or 4x the effort trying to get new clients the traditional way but I consider the freebie a shortcut!
        {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2238447].message }}
      • Profile picture of the author waitstate
        I freelance and I chuck out the occasional freebie. I've been helped any number of times when I've painted myself into a corner (again!) and it's good to help someone out. You've got the experience and all the tools right to hand, and if you're waiting for something or between engagements, why not?
        Plus the person you bail out today might be next week's customer.
        Signature
        Free Wordpress Templates
        {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2238455].message }}
        • Profile picture of the author Techie Turtle
          Originally Posted by waitstate View Post

          You've got the experience and all the tools right to hand, and if you're waiting for something or between engagements, why not?
          Plus the person you bail out today might be next week's customer.
          Exactly! You'd be surprised how people "talk" amongst neighbors, church friends, school, work, etc. Next thing you know, someone's calling/emailing you saying they heard from so and so about your [biz] and want to hire you. A referral is golden! Can't buy that kind of business!
          {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2238467].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author rickdearr
    Only free if it helps you get paid job later, from another client who does not know you did your great "example" work for free.
    Signature

    Rick Dearr
    RnR Marketing, LLC
    Sandy, Utah 84070
    http://www.winnerscircletraining.com/gonow
    90 Second Video - Free Access

    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2239411].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author AprilCT
    When I first started writing, a couple places gave me the subjects they wanted. One was a 300 word blurb, and the other over 500 words. At that time I didn't know enough to tell a certain company they could not sell my work since they wanted sample work. My 500+word article was sold to one of their clients, and I got nothing for it. I know because I searched and found it on the net. If I do decide to freelance, a website will be put up and clients will only get access to previously published samples.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2241141].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author Techie Turtle
      I think we can sort of weed out the freebie seekers from the real (potential) clients by having some sort of pre-business email/phone exchange. Most freebie seekers don't want to waste their time telling you anything about themselves, their business, their needs, their goals, etc. They just want xxxx done by xxx and they say they may consider you later. That's a huge red flag!

      As with a sales job, you have to learn to gauge your customer's interest/buying level before you invest too much time in a tire kicker, especially if there are a lot of prospects waiting to be helped. I feel bad for the big box electronic stores, people go in there all the time to look at TV's and other equipment then go find the best deal on the net. Total waste of the sales people's time. BUT, if the sales person treated them right, they'll be back for extra cables, accessories, etc.
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2241201].message }}

Trending Topics