There are several reasons why people consider unpaid freelance work. Those new to freelancing may think that they need to build up experience and a portfolio. Even seasoned freelancers sometimes consider doing unpaid work in the hopes of breaking into a niche area.

However, some "test assignments" are borderline scams. It's usually exploitative to expect someone to work for free.

Some companies ask freelancers to submit test assignments out of ignorance. However, freelancers can use creative ways to convert unpaid work requests into paid gigs.

For example, when a client approaches you for an unpaid SEO opportunity, identify their websites strengths, weaknesses, and ...