Things to Consider if You Decide to Do an Unpaid Writing Test

Yes, I hate working for free too

Many freelancers are struggling at the moment, and although I’m sure loads are doing just great, this article is for the ones fighting to get work. I used to have a rule against unpaid tests. I have a portfolio of work that potential clients can look at to read examples of my work. However, desperate times mean I now judge this on a case-by-case basis. I still feel mistrustful when they say they won’t use it, and it depends on how much work is involved. However, I’ve started doing one of several things to make sure I get the most from my work and protect myself, if I’m not getting paid.

Publishing elsewhere

It was an all too familiar request when someone on Upwork asked me to write a test article. They said it wasn’t paid, but they wouldn’t use it. Even assuming they were telling the truth, unpaid work takes time. So, I told them I would do it, but that I would post it on my Medium account. After all, they weren’t going to use it. They said they were okay with this. I don’t have lots of followers, so won’t make any money from the article, but at least it’s there in case the person I spoke to ever uses it, and it’s easy to prove that I wrote it. I guess the etiquette would be to ask the potential client before writing and publishing an unpaid test article. However, if they say it’s just a test, there’s no reason not to just publish it behind a paywall without asking, providing you remove any identifying information first. If I write something, I consider it to be mine until the other person pays for it.

Uploading to Google Docs to use as examples

Not every unpaid test is suitable to be posted elsewhere as an article. But you can still upload it on Google Docs and use it as an example to help you get other work in the future. One example of this is when I was asked to write a sales email and a sign-up page. I’ve been freelance writing for over four years, but have little experience in those areas. As well as being good practice for me to improve my writing skills, it’s also something to add to my portfolio.

I need to point out; it is more difficult to track whether the client uses your email content. With articles and blogs, you can regularly use plagiarism checks…