Giving your services away

[KristineS]

I don't yet do a lot of freelancing, but I do write professionally on behalf of the companies for whom I work. A lot of people that I know through forums, blogs, etc. know that I'm a writer. Every so often one of them will ask my opinion on a piece of writing they've done or ask for my help on creating a piece of writing. I don't mind doing it, and I often help, but there's always a little part of me that says "hey, wait, I usually get paid for doing this."

If you're a copywriter, or offer any sort of service, where do you draw the line? When do you say, I'm sorry, I need to charge for this service? Do you have more of a tendency to help out friends rather than strangers?

I'm really not sure how I should handle this. I'd love to hear how the rest of you manage it.

[Dan Furman]

I sometimes give away a small service to strangers - for example, I had a college student send me an application letter that she wanted edited. I was in a good mood, she was nice, and it only took me about twenty minutes, so I went ahead and did it - she was surprised when I sent it back and said "no charge"... hey, you never know, maybe someday she's in a position to hire a writer for a big job.

But that stuff aside, I really don't do freebies anymore. I just don't have the time. I mean, listen - if my brother REALLY needed an important letter for something, I'd do it. But spruce up a friend's flier? Write a salesletter or a website for free? No can do. I simply do not have the time.

Now, this was pretty easy for me - in my "real life" I set very clear boundaries, and can be quite selfish with my time (for example, don't ask me for a ride to/from the airport so you can cheap out on paying for parking! I did that stuff when I was 22, but no more... and I'll reciprocate by not asking anyone myself.)

But truth be told, I almost never get asked to do free work, even online. Perhaps I put out the vibe that freebies aren't part of the deal??

[orion_joel]

I do a little bit of free work for an occasional person or so. However generally in the long run it doesn't end up being free work. Often it is more i do some work, but then even though i say no charge they will give me something in place.

One example is a website i work on fairly regularly, for the dancing instructor that i use to do classes with. Over the time that i was going to his classes, after i started working on his website, he did not charge me for the classes. While initially this probably added up to a sizable amount in my favor, It has i would say more then anything swung back, however it does not take a lot of time and i generally find he is not to picky it is more something big he want's which get's done in one hit rather then lots of little tiny annoying moves and changes.

[Blessed]

I give opinions to people I feel like I know - that I've met online or that I really do know in "real life" at no charge - once I touch a project I say that I'll have to charge. Like Dan their are exceptions to this rule occasionally - if something takes less than half an hour and the people are really nice and I'm feeling generous and I'm earning money from other sources, I don't charge.

Family & close friends (I can only think of one or two that would get work for free from me) I'll do some stuff for free for, but I usually have a project I want help with that they can help me with in exchange that I get all excited and tell them about up front when they ask for help with whatever... if they don't want to help me, they either offer to pay (and I charge them a reduced rate) or they back off and I don't do their work and there are no hard feelings. If they do want to help me - they get the same attention and dedication my paying customers get. - for example, my brother-in-law does cabinets, he needed new business cards - I have an antique child-sized rocking chair that was my Aunts, then mine and now it's Lil Sugar's - in exchange for my time designing his cards he re-glued all the joints on the chair and made it sturdy again - he paid for the printing and if he needed to buy stuff to fix my chair with I would have paid him for that. - He's happy, I'm happy and we both have something we need and when the next family member comes along and needs cards and knows that I did my BIL's cards, they also know that he fixed a chair for me in exchange. My Hubby's best friend does remodeling work and needed some flyers - I didn't charge him because he helped build our shed in the backyard, including providing a lot of the materials (scrap leftover from other jobs) another friend of ours, a painter needed business cards and a logo redone, he didn't have time to help us with anything we needed and knows (and respects) my policy so asked up front what the cost would be, I charged him and it was fine - no hard feelings, no misunderstandings.

I do things for free, no strings attached, for my church and draw the line there. It really helps to have boundaries - that way you don't feel guilty when you charge and you don't have to be mean to keep from being taken advantage of.

[KristineS]

Originally Posted by Blessed

It really helps to have boundaries - that way you don't feel guilty when you charge and you don't have to be mean to keep from being taken advantage of.

Very good point, Blessed, and the way that I want to do things. If I draw the lines in advance then I will know where they are and be able to tell others too.

[orion_joel]

I think a lot of the time that people's perception of the value of your service can have a lot to do with weather they come looking for reduced or free services. Generally i find that there is quite a lot of people that do not put a very high value on time, and find a lot of people that are willing to pay for physical product's but then when it comes to time they want discounts or for friends and family want it for cheap or free.

Of course this is not everyone, and much of it will come back to what perception you put out on what is involved, and what it has taken for you to be capable of offering the service.

[KristineS]

I think it tends to depend on what you do as well. People aren't generally going to ask a contractor to build a shed for free or ask a doctor to do an exam for free. A lot of people will ask a writer or marketer for free help though.

I'm guessing the perception of the value of the service determines whether or not people feel justified in asking for a freebie. I know there are a lot of people out there who don't understand the value of good marketing and writing. Perhaps those of us in that profession need to do some educating.

[Dan Furman]

Originally Posted by KristineS

I think it tends to depend on what you do as well. People aren't generally going to ask a contractor to build a shed for free or ask a doctor to do an exam for free. A lot of people will ask a writer or marketer for free help though.

I'm guessing the perception of the value of the service determines whether or not people feel justified in asking for a freebie. I know there are a lot of people out there who don't understand the value of good marketing and writing. Perhaps those of us in that profession need to do some educating.

Truth be told, it's always been this way. Tons of people feel that if you aren't working with tools / sweating, it's not really "work".

[KristineS]

Sadly, I think you're right about that, Dan. I do, however, also know a lot of people who think that anyone can create a Marketing plan.

Who knows, educating people about what a good, expert Marketing strategy can do might make a difference.

[Blessed]

Originally Posted by Dan Furman

Truth be told, it's always been this way. Tons of people feel that if you aren't working with tools / sweating, it's not really "work".

Oh yes... I deal with this all the time - people (usually family...) call and think I have all day to help them with something or to just sit around and talk because surely I'm just sitting around in my jammies eating bonbons and surfing the 'net since I'm working for myself from home... if they only understood how a day really goes by!