Exposure? Really? Have A Luxurious Moment With My Foot

And let that door hit you where the sun doesn’t shine

I’ve been a writer most of my life, and a freelancer for at least a couple of decades. Hell, I was a “freelancer” before I even knew what the term meant.

I’ve also done digital art for nearly as long as I’ve been a paid author. I love both types of work. It’s in my blood. My bones, when not aching with arthritis and another flare from the uncomfortable chair, call out to hit the keys or the paint tablet.

I enjoy being paid for my work because… well… eating is rather important to the continuance of survival. I’ve not yet mastered the technique of gaining energy through photosynthesis.

My trial of living like a mushroom, hidden in the darkness 24/7 while staring at the monitor, also doesn’t seem to give me as much sustenance as I’d care for, though I’ll probably keep trying that method, regardless.

They try to pay in the peanuts spit out as horrible by the elephants.

I’ve used a number of different websites to garner new clientele for my freelancing business. Upwork and Freelancer have probably had the most attention, but there are a few others I’ve put a lot of energy into, as well.

The overarching theme of the clients is to pay a pittance — little more than slave labor wages. This has become a standard through them and unfortunately, many freelancers fall prey to them. They think, incorrectly, that if they just “keep working, keep trying, keep accepting the low scale wages,” they will somehow happen on that magical unicorn of the awesome paying client who will sustain them for the rest of their lives.

My friend, let me tell you, that unicorn is as likely to show up as a politician is to tell the truth (without being forced to because he got caught). It’s just not going to happen. They’re not in the game for your benefit. The clientele on these sites have only one thing in mind.

They only pay attention to their bottom line.

I hate to say it, but you are as bottom as you can get when you debase yourself for those accounts that are little better than someone saying they’ll pay you in “exposure.”

The only thing someone exposes when they offer you “publicity” is the horse’s ass they rode in on. You need to kick that pony as far down the road as you can manage.

It’s about attitude.

When working for clients, you have got to have an attitude.

No, I don’t necessarily mean coming into the meeting (or contract, or Zoom call, or whatever) with a terrible comb-over haircut dripping with pomade. No need to scream about the system holding you down or throwing torches and pitchforks at the wretched schlubs trying to save a buck.

I mean, have an attitude about yourself that you are worthwhile. You are far more valuable to them than they are to you.

The same goes for those “friends” who offer you exposure for painting them an awesome picture they can hang on their office wall for free. How many times have you gone to some doctor and asked the nice receptionist who the artist is on the wall? Go ahead and count. I’ll wait.

Okay. Waiting over. I am willing to bet the answer is zero.

You are the authority in this picture. They are asking for your help, your information, your skills. Treat yourself as if you are a surgeon who has years’ worth of experience behind them making that first cut.

They will not do that for free, right? They rightfully expect to be paid for their services and their experience. Well, okay. Some might do a pro-bono job here or there, but that’s more out of a charitable act than some sort of “publicity.”

You are valuable, my friend. You have a unique set of skills and knowledge no one else does, and you bring that to the client.

That’s worth something.

If they refuse to give you what you’re worth, let them have a Zen moment with your foot as you kick them to the curb.

Your friend isn’t giving you exposure. They’re using you.

It might hurt a little to think of things in that kind of way. Your friends are good to you. You guys go out all the time, enjoying drinks and golf and shouting at the television when the game is on.

They wouldn’t use you, right?

They would. They are no better than thieves in the night, coming in and rummaging through your panty drawer and feasting on that leftover pizza you were going to have in the morning.

They’re taking from you, and you’re letting them do it.

Hell, you probably even feel guilty if you try to say no. You think they’ll be mad at you for refusing them this amazing opportunity, and keep beating yourself up for it until you finally waffle and just do the damn thing already.

I’ve heard it dozens of times before. “C’mon, man. It’ll be great! Imagine, I’ll tell everyone about you!”

Of course, their circle of friends is probably pretty close to your own. The only people they’ll “tell” are the same ones who are already aware of the work you do.

Clients will try to take as much advantage as they can.

Clients are only concerned with how much they’re going to make at the end of this little deal they are festering.

They know the cheaper the materials, the better off their end-goal is going to be. They’ll use every trick to get that dollar to stretch as far as they can manage.

You, as the freelancer, must make sure they’re educated on your personal stance of your value. No one else is going to do it.

I know. I know! You look through the lists of jobs available and see all these people low-balling on the bids for these clients and think you have to go even lower.

Don’t do it. It’s not worth the energy to go that low.

I’ve even seen some clients try to pay as low as $.0005 per word. A half of a half of a freaking cent per word.

Do you know what that equates to?

The flipping Bible is 783137 words. If the client wanted that many words in their job, that would be $391.56.

For the Bible!

Now, granted, that’s on the extremely low end of the pay scale, but some freelance authors will accept that, because they feel they have no choice.

The average low-ball clients will pay around $0.005 per word. 1500 words for about $7.50.

Doesn’t sound too bad, right? If you’re anything like me, you could probably knock it out in less than a half hour and be done with it.

Don’t do it. Please stop allowing these people to get away with these pittances.

Put your foot in their proverbial butts and move on to someone who is going to be worth your time.

I promise they’re out there.

About me:

I am an author with over a dozen books and dozens of short stories published. I have experience with both traditional and self-publishing and love to discuss the pros and cons of both.

Why do I write? Because I am blind and live on low disability payments each month. The government graced me with trying to live on about $700 per month, and I decided to start publishing because it’s a way to supplement.

If you like my work and feel inclined to support it, please consider buying me a Ko-Fi.

Thank you from the depths of my soul for being here. Keep striving to “be the best you that you can be” in this moment.

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