Say a client contacts you about a project that’s right in your area of expertise. Though you’ve sent them samples of your work (several samples, actually), they’d like you to do a custom sample, because they’re concerned about whether you can write in their voice or their niche.
What’s your next move? Will you suck it up and do the sample, knowing you can handle it and hoping you’ll wow them with your clear, crisp copy? Will you call and negotiate payment for your sample? Or will you stand firm, insisting that your samples speak for themselves and the client should just hire you based on those?
It’s a situation that, unfortunately, I’m seeing and hearing about with increasing frequency. And it’s a tough call, because some of these clients are legit. Some are happy to pay for your time if you ask nicely and show that you’re a professional, and some are incredulous, making statements like “I’ve never heard of a candidate invoicing a company for their time spent in a job interview” (yes, someone actually said that to me a few weeks ago, and no, I was not interviewing to be an employee).
I’ve been fortunate that a lot of prospects have offered payment for samples early in our email exchange. Other times I’ve had to finesse the payment issue a little more or weigh how much I wanted the gig against my distaste for writing free samples. And, I admit, I’ve written on spec on a few occasions when I really wanted the clip and the editor seemed interested. (In my mind, writing on spec and writing a sample are similar.) Each time it has paid off, but I know that next time could blow up in my face.
How do you handle these kinds of requests?
I don’t give free samples.
Fortunately in my specialty — writing supplements for college textbooks — it’s rare that I’m asked to provide free samples.
I strongly urge freelancers to not do free samples unless they are just starting their writing careers.
I wouldn’t do it unless a) I knew the company was legit, b)I had the time to do it, and/or c) I wanted to get a new assignment ASAP.
I’ve done a little “sample” work in the past and, well, sometimes you never hear back. It’s so unethical on their part it almost makes me feel dirty.
“I’ve never heard of a candidate invoicing a company for their time spent in a job interview”
I believe it! My response to that kind of ridiculousness is:
‘Do you ask doctors, lawyers, builders and other independent contractors to provide free samples before hiring them?’
Never. What a ridiculous concept. If I’m going to write something for free, it’ll be my novel thank you very much.
This does seem to be popping up more frequently. I’m always suspicious. Even if I can verify that a company is legit, I’d ask for compensation for the sample. Fortunately, I haven’t encountered this yet.
As for spec, I do submit personal essays to editors already written. That’s the only thing I’ve ever written on spec.
Thanks for brining up this topic!
I will give a really small sample – 100 words – if it’s an industry I’m trying to break into, but the client’s told it’s up for sale, not free use. If I’ve provided samples already and the subject is one I’ve already done, no way. Won’t even respond in most cases if it’s clear my samples weren’t read.
But to provide it for free? Do we expect contractors to put up one side of the addition before we sign a contract? Do we expect doctors to give us our first exam free? Hell no!
We’ll negotiate a fee or buh-bye!
I once researched and wrote a piece for free, in a genre I was trying to break into.
The client said “hmm, your work is good but you haven’t done anything in this particular area” and suggested I write something along the right lines – but they didn’t give me an assignment and they certainly weren’t going to use it without paying me.
I knew that even if I didn’t get this particular gig, it would be valuable TO ME have the sample, so I could show it to other potential clients. (Happy ending – I did get the gig, which paid well, and built from there)