The businesses demanding "free" work from freelancers
I quite often get asked to do work for nothing for many and varied reasons but this article sums it up perfectly.
Most requests to me are on the basis of some "really valuable up and coming work" that they "hope to put my way", "at some stage in the future".
The irony of a potential client turning up to see me in a brand new AMG Mercedes and then asking me to spend many hours or days working for nothing, goes over their head by about three feet.
The same people usually want to spend hours on the phone seeking advice, only to go elsewhere if they don't hear from me what they want to hear.
Free work for Freelancers
I love the comment " 'just let me check if my mortgage provider will let me pay them with that exposure that you're giving me and if they will then I'll get straight back to you.'"
Most requests to me are on the basis of some "really valuable up and coming work" that they "hope to put my way", "at some stage in the future".
The irony of a potential client turning up to see me in a brand new AMG Mercedes and then asking me to spend many hours or days working for nothing, goes over their head by about three feet.
The same people usually want to spend hours on the phone seeking advice, only to go elsewhere if they don't hear from me what they want to hear.
Free work for Freelancers
I love the comment " 'just let me check if my mortgage provider will let me pay them with that exposure that you're giving me and if they will then I'll get straight back to you.'"
I would think that the people who are asked by these freeloaders to work for free have got to say NO. Easy for me to say I know when my income is not reliant on obtaining work (it's a pension!) but the freeloaders are using you and others and this has got to be pointed out to them.
They are indeed freeloaders Tianshi_angie. They want the best work or the best advice to protect their investments or property and manage their risks, or take their business forward, but they don't want to pay for it.
It's a very strange logic. They need specialist skills or advice that they don't have, but they do not want to pay for it.
They value their own time and effort enormously - but do not place any value on other people's skills if they can get what they want for free.
One such freeloader, expected me to drive 60 miles each way to discuss the chance of working together on his project "for free" and my reward would be "the association of working on such a prestigious project." When I said he was welcome to come and see me to discuss it, he was far too busy with developing the project in question. Needless to say, I took a big step backwards on that one. Such people are trouble to work for from day one.
It's a very strange logic. They need specialist skills or advice that they don't have, but they do not want to pay for it.
They value their own time and effort enormously - but do not place any value on other people's skills if they can get what they want for free.
One such freeloader, expected me to drive 60 miles each way to discuss the chance of working together on his project "for free" and my reward would be "the association of working on such a prestigious project." When I said he was welcome to come and see me to discuss it, he was far too busy with developing the project in question. Needless to say, I took a big step backwards on that one. Such people are trouble to work for from day one.
I think that took some guts Rhody - but to get sucked into a form of blackmail is a fool's game and you are very wise to avoid it. Hopefully, one of these days, they will get their just desserts.
Quote:Stacey MacNaught is a self-employed online marketing consultant
Now there's a job title, if ever I heard one.
Quote:I think that took some guts Rhody - but to get sucked into a form of blackmail is a fool's game and you are very wise to avoid it. Hopefully, one of these days, they will get their just desserts.
Lol Tianshi_angie. I'd like to think so. Perhaps that's why he drives a 6.3 litre Mercedes AMG and I drive a 1.2L city car
I suppose there are parallels with Wedding Photography. i have never shot a wedding and never plan to either.
However, there are photographers shooting weddings for free "just for the experience" so I suppose it is happening in all areas of business If people are prepared to work for nothing based on the promise of some earning potential later down the road, it devalues everything other people charge for.
Quote:So he's ruining the planet too. Typical.
Lol - and just to insult to injury, he mostly travels alone in his Mercedes AMG version of the Starship Enterprise anyway.
However, there are photographers shooting weddings for free "just for the experience" so I suppose it is happening in all areas of business If people are prepared to work for nothing based on the promise of some earning potential later down the road, it devalues everything other people charge for.
Quote:So he's ruining the planet too. Typical.
Lol - and just to insult to injury, he mostly travels alone in his Mercedes AMG version of the Starship Enterprise anyway.
Quote:Quote:Stacey MacNaught is a self-employed online marketing consultant
Now there's a job title, if ever I heard one
I heard a recent story of a young woman who e-mailed a whole lot of up-market Edinburgh hotels, basically trying to get free accomodation. Her job title,....Social Media Influencer.
Something I get a lot is requests to use stuff from my music and show business libraries for free. "We have no budget for photographs" is one often used reason. These people often use the phrase "we are reaching out to you", rather than "we are contacting you".
They are leeches and thieves and should be treated as such.
There are honourable people still - ITV always expect to pay, for example but even newspapers and magazines, if they don't know you, will try it on. The only time for material to be used free is in the process of promoting something you are selling or doing.
They are leeches and thieves and should be treated as such.
There are honourable people still - ITV always expect to pay, for example but even newspapers and magazines, if they don't know you, will try it on. The only time for material to be used free is in the process of promoting something you are selling or doing.
