I regularly do PIFs on my blog, so I thought it would be easier to have a page devoted to the subject.

PIF stands for “Pay it Forward”.  If you respond to a PIF offer on a blog, you sign up to receive a handcrafted piece of art from the person offering the PIF.  They have 12 months to send you the gift.

In return for signing up for someone’s PIF, you are obligated to make an offer on your blog – you will send to between three and five (or more) people within the following 12 months.

Since there are often a number of PIFs making the rounds in the blogging world at one time, sometimes there are no takers when you offer to do a PIF.  In the spirit of the PIF, this doesn’t let you off the hook.  It just means that you have to be inventive – you can either anonymously send a stitched gift to a stranger (sometimes referred to as a “RAK” – a Random Act of Kindness,) or you can offer blog giveaways.   I’ve done both of these in the past when I’ve had no volunteers.

Remember, if you sign up for a PIF, you have 12 months to follow through with your obligation to send something, but you need to make the offer on your blog as soon as convenient.