Do you indulge in this? Free Review Sample

Hey everyone!

Coudn't help myself starting this topic after reading a recent thread.

It has become a common practice to provide free review samples to members with few or more itraders, in order to gain writing assignments, especially if one is new to any forum.

It is obvious that the free reviews are targeted towards members who are potential clients for the writer. However the word "FREE" attracts a bunch of untargeted members who seemingly take advantage of the situation, and request a free copy even though they do not intend to use the writing services of that writer.

Personally, I refrain from requesting free copy from writers, if I don't intend to use his or her services. Being a writer myself, I know the amount of time and effort required to produce decent quality stuff.

Having said that, I don't see anything seriously wrong with this, since the writer will benefit as well from honest testimonials. However, the writer within me doesn't allow me to request free samples.

Would like to know your thoughts on this. Do you guys request sample with no immediate intention of using the writing services of that writer? Some of your great thoughts can certainly change the way, I look at things. Thanks!

 

I write and Idon't give free samples.Far too many out here are looking for free samples only to take them and use them, and you never hear from them again. I will show parts of my work. In other words I provide 250 words or so of a 500 article sample so the buyers can see my style.

 

There is no excuse for any serious writer to offer free samples on DP. The fact that they're doing that would be enough for me to know they're not the kind of writer I'd want to hire. So no, I'd never ask for a free review copy from them -- it just demonstrates their inexperience. When they learned how to set up a portfolio (whether it's just their own blog or published client clips), then maybe we'd talk.

 

That's just scary.
Okay then, I won't give free samples either.

 

Hey I say there's nothing wrong in giving out free reviews; it's all a matter of perception. It's just another way to attract clients.

@jhmattern
I respect your point of view. But here's the thing - I am good and I know it, it's just that others don't know it yet! I do what is essential to publicise my skills. I think it's not correct to judge the writer by his methodology.

The idea of a portfolio is a killer one - I never thought in that direction before. I know it will take a lot of work to build a respectable portfolio and I'm willing to put in the hours - but where to start?

 

So, any idea for a new writer in DP to be successful and to gain more iTraders? A lot of buyers here are not confident with new writers. Any suggestion?

 

storm-crow - being a decent writer isn't enough. Before getting into that line of work, it's the writer's responsibility to do proper market research to find out how to move forward and publicize / promote themselves. If they do that, they'll discover that "free samples" are simply not the way to go. I don't care how little work someone has done for clients - they don't need to do free work to build a portfolio (and they certainly should know what portfolios are before getting into freelancing).

Since it sounds like that's new to you, the best approach is to stop the free samples and start over. Build your portfolio (use your own blog for example if no one's paid you yet). If you're going to write for free, write for yourself. That, or write for a respectable nonprofit organization that people have heard of. Free samples for some no-name webmaster will do absolutely nothing to further the writer's career (unless they're content working for countless others like that at rock bottom prices) - like I said, it just demonstrates their inexperience (as well as lack of research and planning).

Go to www.allfreelancewriting.com and look at the featured posts near the top left. I believe there's still one there on building portfolios. There I've talked more about this issue, explaining why free work within an otherwise paying market is a terrible idea and bad for business as well as giving a few tips on building your portfolio even if you don't have paid experience.

 

As a new user here, I know that when I go to offer my services, I'll not be offering free samples. Why? I've built up an extensive portfolio of published writing that demonstrates my writing skills. If this isn't good enough for a potential client, I'd rather not have them as a client in the first place.

 

To echo Jenn's point, you should build a portfolio for yourself first if you don't have any extensive body of work yet.

If you're a copywriter for example, write samples of copy you would write for a sales letter, brochure or web copy first. This is called spec writing. Make them good enough to be able to demonstrate well your writing style. Then if somebody's interested in hiring you, send them your portfolio.

If you have a website, and I strongly suggest that you do, upload your portfolio there. It would be much easier for you and your prospects to display your stuff.

 

@everyone- Thanks for all your views on this matter.

 

Perhaps if you looked at this a bit differently.

Let's suppose instead of a writer, someone was looking to hire a web designer. Do you think a reputable web designer is going to provide a free sample of a web design for the "prospective client" to "review"? What's the likelihood of that "prospective client" simply taking that "review" design and using it without ever hiring the designer for additional work?

I have little doubt there are folks here on DP who have built entire sites around "review" pieces.

Build a blog, build a website or help a charity but for goodness sake, stop giving your work away for something as worthless as a reputation point. After all, reputation points can't be used to buy your dinner or pay your rent.