I’ve been working in creative industries for over 20 years now, and there’s one thing that always seems to come up is this idea that creators should work for free. It’s a concept that’s been normalised over so many years, but the truth is, it’s not just frustrating to live with, it’s unsustainable. If you’re offering a service, whether it’s a product, a lesson, or a piece of content, that time and expertise needs to be valued.
I get it; there’s this misconception that if you love what you do, the rewards will come, eventually. But here’s the reality check: I can’t pay my mortgage, buy shopping, or cover my business expenses with “exposure”. And neither can many of the amazing creators I know who offer incredible value to their communities every day.
Here’s the thing: There’s this pervasive idea that creators shouldn’t charge for their work, that somehow asking for compensation is seen as "greedy" or "money-driven." But the truth is, working for free is simply not sustainable for anyone, especially creators who are trying to build businesses or lives around what they do.
The ‘real’ price of content creation
As a guide, let me show you just how much time and effort it takes to provide content.
The Value of Free Content:
Let's look at all the free content I offer on my platforms, based on the UK minimum wage as a reference (and not what my actually hourly rate would be). We can get a sense of just how much value is provided, without any financial compensation. So, let’s break it down:
Blog Posts: I’ve published over 250 posts. If you factor in the time I’ve spent researching, writing, and editing these, that content alone is worth around £7,000.
Podcast Episodes: I’ve produced more than 100 episodes of The Slow Living Collective, offering insights on slow, simple, and seasonal living. That’s over £5,000 worth of content based on time spent recording, editing, and promoting.
Freebies: I’ve created valuable downloadable guides, templates, and worksheets to help people in their slow-living journeys. The total value of these freebies, based on hours spent creating, comes to around £200.
Instagram Teachable Content: Through my Instagram, I share bite-sized tips and ideas on living a slower, more intentional life. While this might seem “simple” at a glance, I spend hours creating content, designing graphics, and writing captions. This comes to about £5,000 worth of value.
All of this free content adds up. If I were to charge based on the time I put into creating it, that’s over £17,000 worth of value provided, all without asking for anything in return. And let me be clear: I love doing it. I am passionate about helping people slow down, simplify, and live more intentionally. But the truth is, no one can continue to create at that scale without some sort of compensation. I’m not trying to just “make money off of people” (a comment I’ve seen online recently) by offering this free content. I do it because I believe in helping people, offering resources, knowledge, and guidance that can genuinely change their lives. But I also can’t keep offering this without receiving some sort of compensation for my time and work. And you shouldn’t either. And you shouldn’t feel embarrassed for asking for it.
It’s important to remember that offering paid options shouldn’t make anyone feel embarrassed or guilty. Charging for your work is not a reflection of greed, it’s a recognition of the time, effort, and expertise that goes into creating something valuable. We live in a world where people are expected to exchange their skills for money in almost every other industry, so why should creators be any different? There’s no shame in setting a price for what you offer - whether it’s a course, a product, or a service, because it’s a way to ensure that you can continue doing what you love and helping others.
By offering paid options, you’re creating a sustainable model for yourself that allows you to grow, improve, and keep producing high-quality work that benefits your audience. Charging for your work also sends a message that you value what you do, and that’s something every creator should be proud of.
Why you shouldn’t be embarrassed to charge for your expertise
Creators, whether they’re offering free resources or paid offerings, need to be compensated for their time. This isn’t about "trying to make money", it’s about valuing the work that goes into creating valuable content. Because if creators continue to give away their work for free, it becomes impossible to maintain.
You might think "But the content is already free"! And yes, I offer a ton of free content, but at the end of the day, we all need to make a living, and I never see this kind of chat for anyone in any other industry. I never see anyone chastise my husband, for example, for going to work and using his skills to help his company and expecting payment in return. It would be absolutely ridiculous to expect anyone to go to their job, work for free, and then come home (with the exception of volunteer work, but that’s not what we’re talking about here).
Offering free content, especially when you’re building a business or creating a platform, can only go so far. When we don’t ask for compensation for the work we do, we’re not only devaluing the work itself, but we’re also creating an environment where creators can’t sustain what they’re doing for the long term.
That’s why, in addition to the free content I offer, I also have paid resources, like my Slow Business Bundle and my Rooted in Seasons course. These resources are incredibly valuable, but they’re priced with the understanding that they represent the time, expertise, and effort that went into creating them, as well as the transformation you are getting with the resources I have provided. The fact that they’re affordable doesn’t mean I’m "making a fortune" from them; it just means I’m able to keep doing what I love while offering people the tools they need to make positive changes in their lives.
So, Why Does This Matter?
It’s simple. Content creation takes time. And time is money. Time is our most valuable resource and cannot get it back. When it’s time away from our kids, loved ones, rest of our life… I don’t see a reason why it shouldn’t be sometimes compensated. When creators offer something for free, there’s often a huge personal sacrifice involved. We’re spending hours (even days) developing resources, creating materials, and delivering value to help. But if we want to keep creating, we have to find a way to be compensated for that effort.
For me, those paid resources that I offer, the Slow Business Bundle, my Rooted in Seasons course and my paid membership here on Substack, are what allow me to keep doing what I love while continuing to provide free content. It’s a balance. But it’s not just about me, it’s about creators everywhere. Every time you support a creator, whether through purchasing a product, enrolling in a course, or simply showing your appreciation, you’re helping sustain their work and ensure that more people can benefit from their knowledge, wisdom, and creativity.
The Emotional and Mental Investment of Creating Content
Beyond the sheer hours dedicated to producing content, there is also an emotional and mental investment that people do not always recognise. Creators invest their energy, creativity, and passion into their work, consistently showing up to provide support, guidance, and value. It is not merely about writing a blog post or recording a podcast, it involves deeply engaging with an audience, answering questions, troubleshooting issues, and offering genuine solutions. This type of labour warrants recognition and compensation, just like any other profession.
The Hidden Costs of Creating Free Content
Free content is never truly "free" to make. Behind every blog post, podcast episode, or Instagram carousel, there are hidden costs, website hosting, software subscriptions, design tools, recording equipment, editing software, and even the electricity and internet required to produce and publish content. Then there’s the time spent researching, writing, editing, filming, and promoting. The expectation that creators should do all of this without pay is simply unrealistic. Supporting paid offerings isn’t just about valuing the creator’s time, it’s about helping them cover the actual costs of running a platform that serves others.
If You Value Something, You Should Support It
Think about all the things we willingly pay for: Netflix, books, online courses, coffee, and streaming music. If we get value from something, we understand that paying for it is part of the exchange. The same applies to creators. If their content has helped you simplify your life, start a business, feel more aligned with something, or shift your mindset, then supporting them through their paid offerings is a way of ensuring they can continue to create and provide that value for you and others. Investing in their work isn’t just about money; it’s about sustaining the things that make a difference in our lives.
Pricing Doesn't Mean Exclusion
One of the biggest misconceptions is that offering paid content means shutting people out. But that’s rarely the case. Most creators (myself included) offer a wealth of free resources (like I shared above), making valuable information accessible to everyone. Paid content exists not to replace free content but to provide a deeper, more structured, and more transformative experience for those who want or need extra guidance. Having paid options allows creators to continue offering free content because it creates a sustainable model that benefits both the audience and the creator.
How Free and Paid Work Together
There’s a natural balance between free and paid content. Free content serves as a starting point, it builds trust, provides insights, and offers value upfront. Paid content, on the other hand, allows for more depth, structure, and hands-on guidance. It’s the difference between reading a blog post about slow living and joining a full course that walks you through the entire transformation process step by step. Both have their place, and both are valuable. By supporting paid offerings, you’re not just purchasing a product or service—you’re enabling creators to continue sharing, teaching, and inspiring on a larger scale.
So, next time you find yourself downloading a free resource, listening to a podcast, or reading a blog post, remember that the time and effort behind it are valuable. And let’s reframe things: Creators should be paid for their work just like any other professional.
Let’s start shifting the conversation and stop expecting creators to work for free. The world runs on an exchange, and our creativity deserves to be part of that exchange too.
Thank you to everyone who supports the work I do, whether by sharing, purchasing, or simply engaging. Your support helps me continue to offer content and guidance to help make slow, simple, and seasonal living a reality for more people.
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