3 min read

Bloggers: how to say NO to working for free

Having blogged since 2015 and having worked with a number of brands - big and small - I wanted to share my insights on blog monetisation because undoubtedly this is on a lot of bloggers' minds.

But mostly, I wanted to talk about learning to say no to working for free.

Let me quote here my friend Natalie Lue, who is an author, podcaster, speaker, life coach and whose blog Baggage Reclaim may be talking about how to deal with everything on a personal level, but her words and advice work in many other areas, including the work environment.

Natalie said in a post back in 2015 aptly called "What’s the problem with saying NO?"

"For many ‘NO Strugglers’, being declined is a reminder of being denied something that they wanted (or a series of similar experiences) or is automatically equated with rejection and not being ‘good enough’" - Natalie Lue

'No' isn’t a dirty word and it’s very necessary for living your life authentically - Natalie Lue

Few of us are comfortable with asking for money for anything. This is even worse with blogging which is perceived by many as not 'real work' (I know what you think, I really do).

ou expect to build almost a portfolio of collaborations (all unpaid of course) and until you have done that you feel happy to say YES to any gig, big or small. I know bloggers who even invest own money in specific posts in the hope they will get noticed.

But let me tell you one thing: Unpaid work does not give you any kind of advantage at all. In fact, more often than not, these unpaid "opportunities" will put you at a disadvantage.

Opportunity doesn't pay the bills. Exposure won't put food on the table. And working for free sets a bad precedent that's hard to break later - Jeff Goins, Business Insider

A good proposition needs to be fair, which means benefit both parties in the transaction. A paid proposition is one that will get you motivated, excited and eager to deliver over and above.

An unpaid one, I don't know, why would I want to give up my time, the most precious thing I have in order to satisfy a brand that does not recognise my value added?

Of course, if a certain project speaks to you and gets you all excited, and there is truly no budget (or is relates to charitable work etc) then by all means, if you want to get involved, go for it. And of course there are project that can really provide for quality exposure. I am not suggesting you should say NO all the time, rather that you should understand that you CAN SAY NO and that you should be selective on the work that you might take on when there is no compensation.

Bloggers and influencers not only have an audience, but that audience trusts them, and that is the MOST powerful type of recommendation.

And it is why influencer marketing brings many of the same benefits for brands in terms of direct exposure to audiences and the credibility that comes with being recommended by a trusted source but without the punitive cost of signing up to an online marketplace or a multichannel department store.

For brands looking to capitalize on this strategy, influencer marketing agencies in Dubai can provide expert guidance and connections to maximize campaign impact.

And, unlike traditional forms of advertising, influencer marketing is proving its value as an effective marketing tool for small and medium businesses. A recent study by McKinsey found that not only did marketing-induced consumer to consumer word of mouth generate twice the sales of paid advertising but those that were acquired through word of mouth had a 37 percent higher retention rate.

And therein lies the value of influencers and bloggers with established platforms. Know your value, understand what you can offer and therefore ask to be compensated accordingly. And by the way, here's what Emily Henderson, well known interior designer has to say on the subject.

If you do want to go ahead with working for free, here are some questions to ask yourself before proceeding!

If they offer you 'free exposure' ask yourself - how many people will your work be exposed to?
Is it a cause/ brand you truly believe in?
Will they promote your work as well and how long for?

Woman in floral dress and hat tending to potted flowers in a garden. Lush green background with white blooms. Peaceful atmosphere.

Jenny Kakoudakis likes to blog about interiors. She launched award-winning Seasons in Colour in 2014 and the luxury interior design blog All The Pretty Homes in 2024. When she is not chasing criminals out of the financial system (her day job), she gets creative by redecorating her own home.