This article was brought to my attention today. http://blogs.babble.com/momcrunch/2011/12/01/five-reasons-to-just-say-no-to-unpaid-work/
At first, when I read the article, my blood began to boil. What do you mean say no to unpaid work as a blogger? That exposure is what got me to where I am today, and the opportunities that have come my way. I came from nothing.
My passion for writing was started 6 months ago. I had no portfolio built up, I had no idea on how the blogging world even worked, when, through twitter, an opportunity landed on my lap.
The opportunity was unpaid, but because writing was my passion, and I was looking for a way to get my name out there, I took it. I wasn’t expecting anything in return. I wasn’t even sure if this would land me anywhere. I was doing it because it gave me an outlet to write, and to also share with others. That was enough for me.
Now, 6 months later, I have begun to intertwine with the blogging community (it is huge.) I have begun to intertwine with the twitter community (it is huge and such an AWESOME networking community!) and also learned the avenues of facebooking.
Without this opportunity, I don’t think I would have landed where I am today, or been thrown into the avenues I’m encroaching upon. BUT.
Here is the question: When is the time to say yes to unpaid work, and when is the time to say no to it?
Personally, for me, if a major BRAND or Magazine approaches you, I feel as if that should be a paid position. That is major exposure, but because they are a huge BRAND and Magazine, I also recognize they have the funds available to support such a position.
If a startup website approaches you about a writing opportunity, this becomes tricky. This is the chance the blogger has to take. A major startup may not have the funds in the beginning, but if you recognize they eventually take off, and also see lots of advertisements coming in, isn’t it our jobs as bloggers, and people helping the website to speak up and say something? I think, we as bloggers, have every right especially if we’ve helped in gaining exposure for that said website, etc.
Blogging is changing the way Magazines, Brands, and Businesses are doing their work. They recognize the importance of social media, and blogging, and the exposure it’s creating for them. It is the wave of the future, and well, the present.
We, as bloggers, have to stand up for our rights, and stand up for our worth, as writers. But again, businesses want to see that worth, want to see what you’ve done in your past to gain exposure, and like anything else, businesses need to know the value of the person they’re working with. However, as more and more businesses get involved in the social media avenues, and the blogging community, they do not know the power of the blogging community.
What it all comes down to is US, the bloggers, in speaking up, and showing what value we have to give to these businesses looking for bloggers to do business with.
