Then there are times where articles should not be written. I was alerted to an article this morning published on a mill site. There was a big news event that happened locally, but it's about a very sensitive issue.

Someone decided to contribute an article about it,and had it published on a page plastered with advertisements. So, in other words, they wanted to cash in on someone else's misfortunes. I don't care how well written the article was or what angle they used, but it's insulting. And I told them so, this morning. I'm waiting for a response, which I'm sure will be something like "Everyone does it." I'm so mad right now, steam is coming out of my ears. LOL.

Hi Krysten! Glad you came by. If it makes you feel better, most of us have done the charitable thing once or twice – and yes, to our detriment. The lesson is to move on and ask for more next time. And then more the next time, etc., etc. Let me put it to you via example:

I had a client once who talked me into doing his Website home page for $100. It was one page, he was nice and really easy to work with, so I thought "Where's the harm?"

The answer came a month later when he referred his mother and her partner to me. They wanted an entire website overhaul. I quoted them a fair price. They flipped. They were expecting – you guessed it – an entire new site for $100.

Never leave the impression that you're cheap with any client. It's a lousy selling point, and it attracts nothing but trouble. Trust me!

That is a great video (and funny). I've had a few experiences so far that I hear are typical when you're learning the ropes, such as not getting paid in full (once) and also I was getting involved with small local businesses that couldn't pay much because I felt their pain. I'm over that right now. I need to pay my own bills. When I have stable income, I can probably do a charitable thing or two for trade or less money, but I see dead ends everywhere in my city. One local business client suggested indirectly to me that she wanted someone to watch her front desk while she was away. I just told her good luck with all of her endeavors. No way!

I'm about to fire another, but only after they pay all of their outstanding invoices in full. I've taken step one, explaining my policy not to work for places that don't see the importance of paying for services rendered.

If they don't pay soon, perhaps I'll remind them that failure to pay will leave them open to a copyright infringement lawsuit…for five of my articles that they published but haven't paid for.