People already know what works well in this sense, so it's probably smart to start there instead of trying something new - the system works as it is if you know how to work it. As I said, you have to be selective in who you give free materials to if you really want to benefit. 1. Giving free content to a random webmaster that no one's heard of (regardless of how many iTrader they happen to have - they may have just been an older member who racked up iTraders on freebies before we banned that for example) will not be a great marketing tactic. 2. Doing free work for a well-known non-profit organization can add some respectable pieces to your portfolio early on, and be good PR for you or your business. 3. Doing free work for reputable companies or publications can bring added credibility (and business) to you - for example, instead of publishing to a site like ezinearticles where you're surrounded by any Joe Schmo that calls himself a "writer," submit guest posts for free to high-traffic and respected blogs or websites in your niche (if you're targeting Web markets). 4. If at all possible, try to make sure any free work is public and bylined (obviously not possible with certain types of writing). By being smart about it, doing what we already know works, you don't waste your time giving free content to people who can't do much to help you - and if their "claim to fame" is having influence in that $5 article market crowd, they're not the type of folks you should be worrying about crafting something free for. Just my $.02.
Forget iTrader. Look for visibility. Hell, most of the deals I've made here didn't involve iTrader, because it takes extra time and is a pain in the ass when you're doing 20 deals at once. Plus, it's not like someone is going to sit there and talk about your writing service for no reason. And if you're really good, a client might try to look you up or at least not tell anyone else about you.
Just write for yourself! Like someone mentioned before, who cares about iTraders!! In fact, how many people in this big bad world actually knows about iTrader or even a forum Reputation except some of the members here?? Writing free is quite acceptable but if you want to do it then publish that 'article' in a good article directory where you can not only utilize it to your traffic and pr advantage but you also get recognition as an author. Even the author thing doesn't matter but at least it's relevant to the writing niche so to speak. You can also make it your writing sample for future clients. So many possibilities you know. Anyway best of luck senorita, I gotta scoot!
Itrader does have its merit here, though. If you want to be successful here, you need to build it. I'm working on doing that, as well.
I would also like to add my two cents here. I received an email from a webmaster from DP asking me to write an article as a sample that he wouldn't pay for since it was to be a 'proof' of my writing. He specified the word count, the keywords to be included, just like you would receive an order but told me specifically he wouldn't pay for it. When I let him know that I would only write a couple of paragraphs and not a complete article for free, I got a terse line asking me 'not to worry'. Pretty rude, and just because I refused to toe his line? I don’t think I did anything wrong here, I was offering to do a couple of paragraphs, wasn't I? If I am a professional writer, why would I give away a complete sample for free? I know I write well and my work will speak for itself, still being new here, I wanted to know if webmasters do that routinely? I don’t remember asking him for his bank statement to see whether he could afford to pay me!!
There are plenty of bottom of the barrel types who will ask you for things like that. You did the right thing by telling him to stick it. Your portfolio speaks for itself, and if you don't yet have one there are better ways to build one than doing free work for anyone who expects that of a writer.