This happened to me not too long ago. I was writing a regular column for a moderately well subscribed publication. They published me two to three times a week, and a few times, the publisher shared with me that my columns were his most-read pieces, and that they contributed very much to the publication becoming more highly ranked for readership.

Eventually, I thought to myself that instead of peanuts or nothing for compensation, I should ask for meaningful but not overly burdensome pay. I told the publisher that I'd like a raise to a couple hundred dollars an article, but that I could come down to 100 or so.

Well ... Let's just say I don't write for them anymore.