I just had a conversation with a fellow “freebie” maker and this was what she said “I went to sit down to make another freebie and thought, why should I bother spending my time on that when rarely anyone even says thank you?! So you know what? I didn’t.”
Whoa.
I used to be a mostly non-commenter till I started making freebies myself and realize that a positive comment is what MAKES you want to keep making things for free for others. Now I’m trying to change my ways & when I download something I give a comment.
For myself, the few things I’ve made so far (the ones actually made by me, I’m not talking about the collections of freebies I post about) have been downloaded hundreds of times & I myself have 3 thank you’s to show for it. I can see what she is getting at.
A freebie can take 10-60 minutes, a comment can take 5-10 seconds. Even if it’s a pain in the butt we can see from the comment above that doing so is what is ensuring that we keep getting freebies.
The more you know.
*Star flying above a rainbow & cheesy fairytale music tune*
Let’s start a gratitude revolution on blogs! Pass it on!
[ One Velvet Morning ] 
You are so right… And I’m guilty! I’m always so excited about the freebie and I’ve not always left a ‘thank you’. Let me start to make it right and say Thank You now… May be late but it is from the heart!
I love your freebies and have downloaded all of them. I’m sorry to say I have never left a comment thanking you for your time and efforts even though I am so grateful for all of you that do this. I will do better in the future and if I have time to download a freebie I will also take time to let you know how much it is appreciated.
Hangs head in shame… I’ll try to do better. Oh, and your stuff is awesome or we wouldn’t be downloading it. Thanks.
Guilty. I haven’t own loaded yet, but isn’t following your work and not expressing gratitude equally as crappy? You have changed my ways! Thank you or calling me out on it!
Thank for you this reminder. I am incredibly guilty of this. I am greatly appreciative…but I don’t express it. I am sorry for all the times I have not said thank you. THANK YOU for all your generosity for creating and sharing the incredible freebies with us!
Thanks for pointing this out! I really am grateful and inspired by all the things you guys do! I will say thanks for every freebie I will download from now on 🙂
I love your blog by the way 🙂
I recently found you site and I did download a couple easter things for PL. I am quilty of not thanking you and I have no excuse why. You message was well written and well recieved. I am a highschool math teacher and I often feel like a simple thank you or even a gesture of appreciation would be nice. Why I didn’t think that would make a differenece for someone else is beside me. Thank you for the reminder to BE KIND. Not only do I appreciate you time and efforts but I appreciate you desire for better things.
Thank you.
I always leave a thank you on the designers page but must admit I haven’t left enough Thank yous to you. Thanks for all your hard work searching out such great things for PL. take care.
it’s an excellent point and good for u for saying it. i just stumbled upon this site and started downloading some of ur stuff. it’s so super fresh and creative and i just love it. Thank you Thank you!!
Funny thing. I always wonder why I almost never get comments on my printables (OK well some, but out of…let me just check my stats…something in the range of 1000 downloads in the last month, maybe 10 comments across them all) and yet I ALMOST read this and just moved on. First time I’ve been here and read this, scrolling back. As someone who does make stuff, provides it for free, and gets little feedback except for the stats, I know the gentle reminder is appreciated. Sometimes I feel like I am talking to myself on my blog 🙂 so it’s really nice when someone takes a moment to comment, even just one word. What I would love EVEN MORE is if they would post a link to their own blog and show what they did with the printables.
Sorry, this is getting long. I guess it’s just been on my mind and finding your post was serendipitous 🙂
Mary Anne
(also wordpress :))
I’m so glad you posted this. I tend to go on freebie-download-benders, so taking the time to leave a comment at each stop can really start to add up & I’ll find myself reluctant to do so, especially on blogger blogs that have that draconian CIA-level security system where I have to go through 6 captchas just to get to post a comment. HOWEVER, this is no excuse! Thanks for reminding me of the time someone has lovingly spent making something to offer for free, and that knowing they’ve made others happy is probably what is motivating them. And they won’t know if I don’t tell them. 🙂 You even inspired me to email someone a thank-you tonight when her blog’s commenting system wasn’t working!
awesome!
Here, here and snap… I’m like a lunatic on one of those benders… stayed up until 4am… my computer was being slooooooooooooooooooowwwwwwwwww and leaving comments made it worse… now I just have to go back and say thanks to about 6 different bloggers! 😉
I feel SO MUCH better knowing I’m not the only one to go on all-night digital scrapbooking freebie benders! 😉
I’ll admit to it… I am guilty of not leaving thank yous enough of the time… I get so enthralled in finding all the fabulous stuff and … well… yeah NO EXCUSES…. thank you for your freebies… you (and freebie makers like you) make the world a better place… you know what? I just made my OWN freebie to share… I hope the pay it forward makes your day even more special ❤
I don’t make New Year’s Resolutions but this year, one of the things I decided to start doing more of was saying thank you for freebies! I think so far I have done that! Thanks so much for your freebies! They really are appreciated!
Thank you Donna! 🙂
thanks for the great freebies!! 🙂 You have a great style, and I very much appreciate them! 🙂
I’m another guilty party, I love all the freebies you share and I’m very grateful for you taking the time to organise it all. Thank You so much!!!
Add me to all of the above. We all love a freebie and it is just common courtesy to say Thank You. I have just come across your blog and will definitely be following you. Thank you for your generosity. It is truly appreciated. As a new Project Lifer I know how much a comment means when you share. From now on I will be acknowledging the efforts of all those who are so generous. Keep up the good work and Thank you again.
Sorry, I have downloaded freebies and not left comments but I really appreeciate them, so will definitely comment in future. Thanks for pointing this out.
Thank you for reminding us about basic politeness.
Thank you so much for all you do and all you freely give 🙂
well spoken and right on the mark. I am always so excited to see your freebies! I download them and love them and use them and never even think about the fact that you have taken the time to create them and offer them to us FOR FREE! I hate being underappreciated myself, so there is no excuse for my lack of consideration. Thank you, thank you, thank you!!
Thank you, thank you! One reason I sometimes don’t leave notes of appreciation when I download things around the ‘Net is some sites make it so hard to do – having to create a user name, yet another password, etc. That should only be required if you are making purchases and need to verify a credit card billing address. When it’s a simple as email address and name, it’s only fair to comment – I couldn’t agree more! I just found you today and promptly downloaded two of the freebie templates. They both immediately made me think of photos I would use with them. But I tell ya, I’d never have come up with the cute arrangements you made on my own! I *do* appreciate your efforts to inspire. Sign me A Happy Newbie 🙂
I just read this post….and wanted to first say, I’m so sorry, and second, THANK YOU OH SO MUCH TO YOU AND EVERY OTHER BLOGGER OUT THERE FOR ALL OF YOUR BEAUTIFUL WORK THAT HAS BEEN MADE!!! You not only offer it for FREE, but THANK YOU for the INSPIRATION you bring to me, to let my own brain create my own work! 🙂 THANK YOU again for opening my eyes to NOT forget to let someone know they are appreciated for their hard work! P.S…LOVE your BLOG!!!
Awww…you rock!