The Stigma Of "Free"
by MIND on Saturday, May 1, 2010
Over the past few years the word “Free” has somehow gotten a bad name. Most people will see “Free” and be immediately interested; it’s just one of those things about people. Free is good. We like free. So why when given the opportunity to have services provided for free does a potential client turn there nose upward and decide that it’s better to go with a more traditional approach? Here’s a few things to consider when considering “Free”:
Unfortunately, Free Is Perceived As Cheap
Simply put, nowadays it seems that “Free” just isn’t what it used to be. Most providers who have had this great opportunity to design or develop something for a business “pro-bono” (or free of charge), have just dropped the ball. They lack the necessary experience of time and project management. This isn’t to say that there aren’t some seriously talented “amateurs” out there but it’s up to you, the consumer, to make an educated decision when seeking a designer or developer.
Free Doesn’t Mean Unqualified
You would be surprised how many freelance artists out there have tremendous portfolios, great work ethic and are willing to do work for free. When I was in design school it was almost insisted upon that you should consider doing work for free. Obviously it wasn’t a goal to simply do free work, but this proved an effective technique to get one’s name “out there”. Many times this free work turned into full time employment; even self-employment by way of full-time freelancing. The key here as a consumer is to do your homework. If a contractor or freelancer doesn’t have a website, don’t hire them to build your website. Sometimes it’s just that simple… don’t make it harder than common sense suggest. Make sure you review various styles and examples of work. Most designers and developers have online portfolios so finding a potential fit isn’t that tough however make sure your time line is properly established because sometimes “Free” does mean, “I’ll get to it when I can”.
Free Doesn’t Have To Means No Frills
…Though most times it does. Adding functionality to your web presence or doing specialty printing on your marketing pieces does take time and cost extra but occasionally you’ll be able to get these things at no cost. Just because its free doesn’t mean you can’t ask for it. But don’t think that these specialty items make your site. Some elements are fun and add nice features to your site but if you don’t really need them don’t worry about them. Many times a well designed and properly built site can be as simple as basic HTML and still work well enough to support your business.
Think About The End User
When I say “end user” in this statement it’s in reference to the provider of “Free” services. They are the one who most likely came to you and offered their services. Maybe you did some research and found them online. Either way, if they want to get more business, they need to do good work. If a provider supplies sub-standard work they are not going to get a good review and hence people won’t recommend them to other friends and businesses. In other words, it’s in the providers best interest to do good work, regardless of the price tag.
Hey, It Was Free, Right?
At the end of the day if the free items or services you received were no good, hey, they were free. No loss on your part and experience well gained. Of course when it comes to real business and more commonly, deadlines, programming, custom design, application development and all the joys of new media it’s often best to go the traditional, paid, route. Let’s face it, what you really gain by dealing with professional providers is accountability. The project has to be the way you want it because you paid for it (or are going to). If something goes wrong you are well within reason to request changes and fixes. It’s the accountability that seals the deal. Ultimately as a consumer you must weigh your options. If you have some deadlines and requirements you may want to get a quote. If you have some time and can deal with the sometimes fickle world of freelance, searching for the occasional freebie isn’t a bad option to follow up!
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