But, under the right circumstances, it can pay to do some things for free.

Here’s an example of what I mean taken from a different industry.

My husband the patent attorney has been on sabbatical for the past two months. In the past two weeks, while he was technically off the clock, he visited a handful of clients, including one in a different state. He made the gratis visits because during his regular work week it’s difficult – and very expensive for clients who pay him by the hour – to schedule in-person meetings. His clients loved it. They got his undivided attention for much longer than he’d normally have to talk about anything they wanted. The result: even before his sabbatical ended, he’d lined up a bunch of new work.

What does it have to do with writers?

You never need to write for free. But there are other things you can give editors or clients you work for. To use my husband’s example, schedule in-person visits. During a trip to California last month, I spent time with two editors that’s already paid off in multiple assignments. I’ve made the 3,000-mile trek to New York before for the same reason, and with the same lucrative results.

Other things you can do for free that pay off in the end:

• Tip off an editor to news happening on the subject their publication covers without expecting an assignment out of it.
• Send links to articles on subjects an editor is interested in, with no strings attached.
• Recommend another writer for an assignment you can’t do yourself.
• Send in stories with headlines, decks, keywords and other SEO elements, suggestions for art or photographs, charts and graphs – even if you’re not required to.
• Make yourself available to brainstorm story ideas, editorial calendars, web strategies or other subjects – it shows you’re a team player.
• Write LinkedIn recommendations for editors, copy editors, art directors or other editorial staff you work with regularly.
• Share links to your articles on social media – it’s good for you, but also a plus for the publication or website you write for.
• Send cards at holidays thanking them for their business.

Other than writing, what have you done for free for editors or other clients that’s paid off in the end?

Help me investigate: Paul Bradshaw on Crowdsourcing Investigative Reporting – Video interview with a U.K. journalist and Online Journalism blogger on how he’s building a platform for crowdsourcing investigative journalism.

5 things Sesame Street can teach you about blogging – Keep it varied, repeat often and have a voice, says Copyblogger’s Sonia Simone.

Phrases that equal no pay – My favorite: “…so there isn’t any pay at the moment, but once we get up and running, we promise to pay.” Oh really – wonder if the electric company will go for that.

Measuring success as a freelancer – Not written specifically for freelance writers, but the lessons apply. Techie blogger Dawn Foster says: “Pick the top three to five items that determine success and focus on those items as the primary…metrics.”

The art of writing status updates – USA Today story on how to write for maximum appeal on Twitter and Facebook.

10 tools to organize your tweeps – Software apps to keep track of you who’re following on Twitter – good for separating sources, friends, editors, etc.