Should You Write a Test Article for Free When Applying for a Freelance Content Marketing Writing Project?
In the past few months, I have been asked several times to write a test article for free when applying for a freelance job. While I don’t have a problem with writing/editing tests for full-time employees since the company is making a long-term and expensive commitment, I think that companies should not ask freelancers to take unpaid writing tests. Interestingly enough, editors for consumer publications never ask this of writers, so this is relatively new dilemma for many content marketing writers. I believe that this unfortunate trend is due to many companies using freelancers who have typically only hired full-time writers and they are simply translating their hiring process to the freelance world.
While I am fundamentally opposed to companies asking writers to do a writing test and wish that all writers could turn down the “opportunity”, I realize that we don’t live in a perfect world and writers need to feed their families. There are a few cases, where it can be the right decision to do it while there are many others where writers should turn it down and run for the hills. I will admit that in a very few cases, I have done the writing test after careful thought to my business goals and current workload as well as the potential income of the opportunities.
But before you get to the point of deciding, here are five strategies to try to get the client to change their mind about the writing test. If these don’t work, then you have a decision to make. Next week, I will give five questions to help you decide if you should do the unpaid writing test or just say no.
- Tell the client that you don’t typically do unpaid writing tests for freelance gigs and ask what they are trying to learn through the test. Explain that if they called a plumber that they wouldn’t ask them to fix their toilet for free to see if they could do a good job.
- Tell the client that you have writing samples already available in the form of your previous published articles and deliverables. Ask your client if they would like you to send additional samples especially work that closely resembles the tone, content and deliverable of their project.
- Point your clients to LinkedIn recommendations and offer references from former clients. If you have a testimonial page on your website, make sure that your client has seen your endorsements.
- If the client counters that they want to see your writing before it has been edited (a common reason that clients ask for the writing tests), point them to your own blog or an unedited piece. You could even offer to send in the unedited version of an already published piece. Make sure that it is not a piece that is awaiting publication, because you might be violating your contract to that client.
- Offer to do a paid trial at a slightly lower rate. Explain that this gives the client the chance to evaluate your work without a long-term commitment on their part while you are still compensated for your valuable time. I have had pretty good success with this strategy.
What are your thoughts on doing a writing test for free? Have you had success with getting clients to change their mind?
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I am struggling with this very thing right now. I do not have the time to do writing tests and free samples. But since I am just re-starting my career, I hate turning down anything. i told my husband just last night that I need to hire a nanny now just so i can do this kind of stuff!
I totally hear you. It’s a tough call. Have you tried asking for a paid trial at a lower rate? Sometimes that works.
Look on Monday for a full post addressing five questions to ask yourself to determine if you should do the free test. In a nutshell the main things to consider are what paid work will you be turning down by doing this, what are the odds of you getting the gig and what are the long term benefits both financial and otherwise that you will reap if you get the gig.
Great example asking a plumber to do a test toilet for free! I need a painter. What a great idea: I’ll ask one to do a room for free first!
I hope all writers – even new writers who need experience – can follow your advice and help nip this distasteful practice in the bud. A company saves a lot of money by choosing a contract over a full-time hire; this is the risk it incurs in return.
Writers have to work together to educate clients now that this is simply not the way things are done.
I totally agree about writers educating companies about this. I am working on a blog post to publish on a site read by brands on this issue. Love the idea about the painter, that illustration would work as well. Its funny that people probably wouldn’t ask a freelance web designer to do a website for free.
Good for you. So glad you’re doing that. You might turn it on them: would they do X, their own work, for free? Do people in their own clients’ industries get asked to do free test runs to prove their legitimacy? How would they feel if asked? I think it’s weird that these company folk don’t understand that they’re ultimately hurting themselves, by scaring off, by offending, good talent.
LOVE that idea. Good point, if it is a software company, you can say “Would you do a test install for free?”. And that is a very good point that they are reducing their applicant pool of the experienced and talented writers. The newer writers are the ones more likely to do the tests so they are really limiting themselves.
I am usually not a fan, but I had a situation this fall where I did it. The topic was something I knew a lot about. She had had 500 applications and asked 250 of us to write a sample on the same topic. It was short, not overly onerous. I took the chance and was one of four to be interviewed and got the job (ongoing, lucrative monthly work). I guess it depends how strongly suited you feel to the task. I knew it was a great fit, and she was above board about the process. It was a well-known brand name so I felt more comfortable knowing she wasn’t going to repurpose all our free work.
You know, I always say that anytime it works out in your favor and you get the job, then its a good decision. It sounds like this was exactly the right thing to do! The fact that it was a well known brand as well as the fact that everyone was taking the same test (which eliminates the company using your work for free) are two positive signs. The other thing to consider is your likelihood of getting the gig, which makes it worth your time. That is great that you took that into consideration. And Congratulations on getting a job over 500 other writers. That is a huge accomplishment.
Thanks!! I didn’t know how big the pool was when I did the test. I might not have 😉 I just really thought it was a good fit!
It hindsight it’s probably good that you didn’t know. I just posted a new blog that includes finding out how many other people are taking it. But honestly you made a very good point that I mention in the new post – your odds of getting the job should play a huge role in your decision. If it’s a gig you are totally qualified for, then it makes more sense to do it than one that you are stretching on.
Great timing, Jennifer. I just struggled with this very issue. A content director asked me to do a writing “assessment” and I came very close to saying no because of all the reasons you stated. But then she basically apologized for it and said she thinks tests are dumb, but she’s new in her job and she inherited the test. I would like to work with this company, and I realize that as a new employee she’s not in the position to go out on a limb (yet) to change the testing requirement. So I sucked it up and spent a few hours on the test. If I don’t get work from her I think I’ll send her a bill for doing the test 🙂
I hope that you are able to help change the process for other writers by educating her. Great job on speaking out. And keeping my fingers crossed that you get the gig! Let us know.
This comes up occasionally for me, and I’m always afraid it’s some unscrupulous outfit that free articles they can use without paying their writers. I don’t dance for clients, and always turn down these “offers” flat.
Yep, if you feel it’s an unscrupulous outfit, then just say no. You definitely don’t want to do it if you feel that they are going to use your work for free. There is a huge difference in my mind between taking a 200 word sample that other people are doing so you know it can’t be used over writing an article for free.
Jennifer — nice column. I think the advise is very sound. In fact (can I say this here?) for many years a stable in my writing sample briefcase has been one in which I send the version before it was published. It is a surefire hit. If I sent them the butchered version that came out in print, I fear an editor would get a very botched view of my writing skills. Having said that (and mostly editors are lovable creatures), I would not worry so much about companies exploiting something written in a test — that is selling it without paying you. But it certainly diminishes the profession to write for free. Love the plumber analogy, by the way. (And, Cathie, 249 others took the writing test and did not get the job. Kind of harsh on net.)
I really like that idea of sending the unedited version without being asked. Great idea! Unfortunately, some companies will use the work for free, but most of the well known and reputable ones will not. But I have heard of cases where it has happened.
Thank you for sharing this. 100% agree. Great points!
Thank you!! I just wish this issue would go away! It’s such a hard dilemma for some writers and one that companies really shouldn’t put us in.
I was wondering what should I do if I feel that my 400-500 word test article is worth more than $5? (the client requested me to write a test article first + pictures that I took.)
I figured I might as well publish the test article on my own page if the client was only going to pay me that much just to see if I’m any good and me risking that my article was only worth $5 for the client.
Then again I don’t want to miss out on getting paid. Is negotiating $30 for test article (400 – 500 word) ok?
Yes, I totally think that your test article is worth more than $5. And as a general rule, I think that writers should not do test articles for free. There are a few few cases where it might make sense, but they are few and far between. The only reason that it makes sense is that if the opportunity and future work you could get from this client is amazing and long term. However, every client that I have had offer paying for tests like this, honestly do not value writers and in the long term will not turn out to be great clients.
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