When you are starting out as a writer online, you see so many places where you are encouraged to write for free or for a pittance, such as article sites that pay you only on shared revenue or number of views. Then you come across blog posts from established writers who scoff at the idea of giving away their writing so cheaply.

If you’ve been wondering if you should ever write for free or for next to nothing, the following should help you decide.

Photo credit: dancesincreek from morguefile.com

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First, there are plenty of good reasons to write for free that have nothing to do with page views or shared revenue article sites. For instance, writing for charity is a great reason to give your work away free. Guest blogging is another good reason to write free of charge. After all, you are getting additional exposure and website traffic for your own website in exchange. It’s also not a bad idea to write a free report or e-Book if you want to promote your blog. People love free stuff.

Now let’s talk about those sites that so often get looked down upon by established writers. We’re talking about sites like Helium, Associated Content, Triond, Bukisa and HubPages. You may have already figured out that I think it is okay to write on these sites. Here’s why.

A Stepping Stone for New Writers

When you are just starting out, you need to build a portfolio. You can’t get work without a portfolio and you can’t build a portfolio without work. The answer is to write on sites that offer very little compensation. This is the part that bugs established writers the most. To spend an hour on an article and earn three dollars for it is almost insulting.

But beggars can’t be choosers as they say. New writers need to get started somewhere. I liken the practice to working as an intern. These sites give you a place to learn the ropes and make mistakes where they won’t damage your reputation. You can always go back in and correct typos, although the process is somewhat laborious on Helium and Associated Content. In any case, by the time you have enough work to present potential employers as samples, you will have developed the skills you need to become a professional writer and will be much better at avoiding typos.

Exposure Helps Establish You as a Writer

The other benefit of writing for free is exposure. I have been hired more than once from clients who noticed my overwhelming Internet presence. I am on Helium, Associated Content, Triond, Bukisa, Xomba and HubPages. These sites are all backlinking to KillFive.com and to my social media presence, which also links back here. It’s just a good way to get more exposure.

Among those beginning sites, I’m only actively writing for Xomba these days, as a feature writer in the “Writing” category. I still hunt for jobs at Helium Marketplace, but I rarely contribute without a good paycheck anymore. The only other place I write for free is at Technorati, but it has nothing to do with establishing my career. It’s about establishing my blog. I use my Technorati pieces to generate more traffic for KillFive.com, a tactic that has doubled readership here.

So when you see a writer griping about the low pay at some of these shared revenue sites, just “X” out or hit your back button and keep writing until you can get someone to pay what you are worth. If you are diligent, you should be up and running within six months. Then you’ll never have to write for next to nothing again!