How I Finally Got Paid for What I Was Giving Away for Free

For years, I was doing all the things:

• Writing in-depth articles
• Answering DMs and emails with personalised advice
• Helping other writers brainstorm ideas
• Reviewing outlines, titles, and book ideas over Zoom
• Sharing every framework I’d ever built—for free

And to be honest?

At first, it felt good.

It felt generous.

It felt like I was “building trust.”

But slowly, I started to notice something...

People were always grateful, but rarely committed.

They got what they needed and moved on.

And I was pouring hours of energy into things that… went nowhere.

Then one sentence changed everything.

Someone replied to one of my long, helpful responses and said:

“Neera, I would’ve happily paid for this.”

It stopped me in my tracks.

Because I’d been trained (like so many women, creators, and experts) to believe that the way to be valuable was to be endlessly helpful—for free.

But that sentence gave me permission to rethink it.

So I did a little experiment.

Instead of offering “pick my brain” sessions for free…

I created 40-minute skill-building sessions—free for paid members, and just $15 for free subscribers. Some subscribers bought them right away.

Instead of giving away all my advice inside newsletter posts,

I turned frequently asked questions into digital products—priced at $17 or $27.

Rather than offering free one-on-one advice,

I created a 1-hour consultation session for $150.

The freeloaders stopped asking.

The serious builders started booking.

I stopped assuming people only wanted free content.

I tested a new idea:

Some people don’t just want more—they’re happy to pay for it.

They weren’t paying for my time.

They were paying for focus.

For structure.

For transformation.

The shift wasn’t just financial.

Yes, I started making money from things I used to give away.

But more importantly:

• I valued my own work more
• My audience took me more seriously
• I showed up with more clarity and less resentment
• I became a business—not just a writer online

Here’s my advice if you’re stuck in “free content forever” mode:

Take one thing you already do for free—and turn it into a low-ticket offer.

• A mini-guide
• A recorded tutorial
• A quick consultation
• A one-page framework

Not to get rich.

To start.

To claim the value you’ve already created.

Inside my Write-Grow-Monetize program, this is often the first milestone:

We stop building in the shadows.

And start building real, visible offers.

Because your audience already sees you as valuable.

Now it’s time you do too.

Let me know what you think.

Hit reply, or leave a comment.