Why Giving It Away for Free Might Be the Smartest Move You’ll Make

At first glance, the idea of giving away your work for free sounds… well, risky. Why put in time, effort and resources without charging for it? Sometimes that’s exactly what helps you grow your reach and build authority.

Take our client, Arrow Pest Service. Mack recently launched a campaign where he offered to remove extreme infestations like yellow jacket nests, rat takeovers or roach invasions, completely free of charge. The catch? He films the whole process and shares it on his YouTube channel, where thousands of people tune in to watch, learn and connect with his expertise.

Here’s why this strategy works:

• It proves authority: Mack isn’t just talking about pest control, he’s showing it. By letting people see him solve tough problems in real time, he’s proving on a national level that he’s the expert people can trust.

• It captures attention: A free service is memorable and it makes people stop scrolling, creating more engagement. That engagement fuels growth far more than a one-time paid job would.

• It builds loyalty: The people whose infestations he helps? They’ll remember who showed up when they needed it most, and everyone watching online starts associating Arrow Pest Service with trust, knowledge and results.

At Maranta, we get this approach. In fact, there’s not a single service we offer that we don’t do for free first. Allowing us to share value, strategy and creativity before a contract is signed. It’s how we prove that we’re the right team to help brands grow.

So when you ask if it costs more to “give away” your work, our answer is simple: giving value first almost always wins. Free isn’t just about generosity, it’s about showing people what you can do and letting that proof speak louder than any sales pitch.