Thinking of Becoming a Freelancer? (Avoid These Mistakes)

Freelancing is fairly new but increasingly popular because it allows people to work from anywhere. And now, more people (stay-at-home moms, college students, and even seasoned professionals) are beginning to veer in this direction, even as a full-time job.

As with every career, there are a few stumbles, and the same applies to becoming a freelancer.

Most people with a successful freelance career had to learn through trial and error. Hence, it is not surprising that they might have had a few pitfalls that led to a strained ongoing working relationship with a client and even cancelled contracts.

So, whether you are just getting started or are a seasoned writer, here are a few costly blunders and how you can avoid them.

Table of contents
1. Poor marketing and visibility
2. Failing to communicate effectively
3. Financial mismanagement
4. Stop downplaying your experience
5. Not effectively managing your growth

1. Poor marketing and visibility

Poor marketing and limited visibility will doom your services, inhibiting your search for an ideal client. The main highlights of this problem revolve around poor advertising or promotion and not knowing the right places to find and pitch to prospects.

a. Self promotion

Finding work as a freelancer is the first step toward “gaining freedom,” but it requires selling your services. You can do this through online advertising, targeted SEO-friendly blog posts, email marketing, or social media posts.

These days, many dedicated people don’t rely solely on social media platforms but also use traditional methods, such as word of mouth and community engagement.

But whatever promotion method you choose, always remember that your time and energy costs too. So, focus on the lever that matters most.

Remember, you can land yourself a new employer only when you are able to demonstrate what differentiates you from other freelancers. And that is why one of the basic skills for a freelance career is knowing how to draft an in-depth proposal.

While promotions generate leads, converting prospects into clients depends on your ability to provide clarity. A good proposal will not only help you gain clients but also ensure that both parties are on the same page.

Yes, it might be time-consuming, but it’s totally worth it.

Sadly, this aspect is often overlooked by many who choose this new career path. To stay competitive, write compelling proposals that are tailored to each project. Once you land an employer and the proposal is accepted, these contents will be included in the contract.

b. Freelance websites

Freelancing does not solely operate as a two-way street. Aside from you contacting prospects or clients, freelance platforms are also available for job listings.

On such platforms, many companies post their jobs, review talents and contracts, and initiate transactions.

Using a job board, you can find open listings, filtering each option based on your set skills. However, things may get dicey, as scams abound, and the risks heighten with these freelance jobs being remote.

Take this as advice: conduct in-depth research and choose legitimate job boards. There are several tested platforms, such as Upwork, Fiverr, and Flexjobs.

So, visit such legitimate platforms and spend time setting up your profile. Demonstrate your skills and stay ahead of the competition by creating a compelling portfolio.

Then, you can start searching for freelance jobs and submitting proposals. Assess the client’s problems and offer your services as a prompt and effective solution.

One mistake people make is giving up after a few tries; you must understand that every rejection and negative feedback is an integral part of the process.

Don’t quit!

Stay consistent, improve your proposals and pitch, and you’ll be surprised at how many clients you’ll end up with.

2. Failing to communicate effectively

Freelancing gigs involves client-facing roles, and not exactly a “behind the scene” setup. Although remote, you need to communicate effectively and set clear expectations.

a. Avoiding Vague Expectations

It is imperative to set clear expectations for each freelancing gig to improve project management.

There have been a few cases where many freelancers didn’t get paid because they either didn’t discuss the pricing earlier, delivered projects that didn’t meet the client’s requirements, or didn’t submit the task on time.

Clarifying expectations and keeping them up to date would definitely help avoid certain issues, as it is the best way to protect the interests of both parties in business.

Thus, assumptions can be risky, and it is important to clearly define project pricing, scope, and deadlines through a clearly written contract.

Sometimes we tend to believe we understand everything included or excluded from the service, only to end up in murky waters.

Without clear communication, you may not realize that the client expects extra work or revisions; as a result, you risk being underpaid or overworked.

Clear expectations benefit both clients and service providers. Interestingly, you can clarify expectations from the onset and during the process. Educate clients on the hours required for each task and endeavor to stick to the timeframe.

If you exceed the stipulated hours, be transparent and keep the client informed. Also, conduct brief checks in between to gauge how the client feels about the work and communicate your progress as you advance.

b. Maintaining good relationshis

As an art, freelancing depends on long-term relationships with good clients. A good relationship encourages mutual growth, fostering trust and loyalty. Begin by taking critical steps to build confidence and respect with each task.

Deliver on time and be on time to each meeting. Don’t forget to stay fully engaged during meetings, avoid distractions, and conduct camera and mic checks ahead of time.

Also, be open to addressing issues or revisions with a solution-oriented approach. Ensure you seek feedback and reviews at the end of each task. Such an action helps keep clients comfortable and fosters an environment for ongoing projects.

Your success not only revolves around the quality of your work, but also the strength of the connections you have with your clients, even after the project.

Can you secure future businesses with your previous employer? It is not solely the client’s responsibility to “return,” as freelancers also need to nudge companies for a rehire.

Open up clear communication lines; you can send a quick email to past clients to remind them about your services and availability for future freelance jobs.

Now, this doesn’t have to sound pleading or pushy; it’s just a short, friendly reminder.

You might be surprised at the number of responses and companies willing to keep you as their go-to freelancer.

3. Financial mismanagement

Growing a freelancing career and business requires a lot of work, and a critical focus should be on your finances. Freelancing offers the opportunity to earn decent money, with statistics showing that US freelancers earn an average annual income of around $80,610.

However, you must set decent prices, make proper accounting, and request deposits when needed.

a. Reasonable pricing

There is this misconception that you need to set lower rates to land new clients, especially for those who have just hopped into this career change. Rather than beating competition with poor pricing, focus on landing a better freelance work.

Good employers don’t go for cheap freelancers, as it usually results in decreased productivity and poor-quality work. This does not imply that you charge an overly high rate, but rather that you have a decent rate.

Depending on your skill level and experience, your set fees may evolve over time. Generally, a content writer may charge around $25-$50/hour, and this price may go higher for top professionals. Also, some writers may prefer pricing on a per-word basis.

Ditch that impostor syndrome, and remember that your clients will get better quality when they pay well. The exact charging rate varies by industry, so you might want to do some digging to determine yours.

Again, your rate remains an all-inclusive price for the services covered, and you must ensure that you are not running at a loss. Consider your taxes, advertising costs, and business insurance.

Don’t forget other expenses and time spent on necessary (non-billable) tasks that get things running. Treat this career as a business, and you’ll be glad at the outcome.

b. Accounting and budgets

As you yearn for more flexibility, ensure that you are ready for better financial management. It is proper for your hard work to earn you a sustainable income, either with a part-time or full-time job.

Although freelancing can ensure you earn a lot of money, sometimes the inflow is not stable. Your earnings from each week vary, depending on the client or signed contracts.

In essence, you must acknowledge that this is not a steady paycheck source like a salaried position.

Whether you are a part-time or full-time freelancer, you must be willing to grow your career, and doing so requires adequate accounting.

Most of the time, manual accounting using a spreadsheet may be insufficient. There may be unknowing double entries, and preparing comprehensive reports can be time-consuming. Thus, for more accurate, efficient results, take advantage of accounting tools.

A suitable accounting tool will help you understand how much you need to earn to comfortably cover your expenses.

And this brings us to financial planning! This is a critical aspect, especially if freelancing is your main source of income. After learning how much you earn upon conducting proper accounting, you must focus on creating a realistic budget.

This way, you can determine how much you can afford to spend each month on necessities and emergencies. Don’t forget the money you set aside for taxes and business promotions.

Having a financial planner handy can help you keep track of these and improve your financial health.

c. Deposits at the start of work

Many freelance workers never saw the need for deposits until they eventually learnt the hard way. Imagine managing and completing a gig work project worth $4,000, and after delivery, the client ghosts you or eventually calls it quits while you’re deep into the work.

That’s quite scary, considering the time and effort involved. Even signed contracts and lawsuits may not necessarily help you get your money back.

Thus, it is a basic pricing strategy to request a deposit when the contract is being put together. Develop the habit of asking, and often, an ideal client will not hesitate to agree to such terms.

This upfront payment could be a specific percentage of the original fee, say 40 – 60%.

Now, we know that many job platforms, like Upwork, offer some level of protection through escrow payments. But this is not the case with some other freelance jobs, especially those you may land through networking or your series of promotional activities.

4. Stop downplaying your experience

Trying to make the switch to freelancing? Well, just start! You don’t necessarily need experience to do so. Most newbies are scared to venture into this career because they think only those with years of experience thrive.

Also, many freelancers shy away from potential clients because they fear competition and assume their experience isn’t enough.

Nevertheless, landing your first client or a new employer with little to no experience is doable. In this path, skills and initiatives matter the most, and here are some tips that might help:

• Figure out what skills you have to offer and get to work. Whether it is email correspondence, phone support, web research, or even programming, fine-tune your profitable skills and pitch to people.
• Try choosing a specific niche and work on some passionate projects that will go into your portfolio and don’t hesitate to showcase it. You can do this by creating a simple website where prospects can see for themselves.
• Since you lack sufficient experience, make up for it by networking and knowing where to look for freelance jobs.

5. Not effectively managing your growth

Growth is a critical aspect, and it comes in varying forms, ranging from courses to a proper professional network for niche-specific ideas and critiques. Also, a flexible work schedule is necessary, whether as stay-at-home moms or part-time workers.

A good balance between your career and personal life supports a natural flow of success. So, here are two key aspects required to help refine and develop your craft.

a. Learning & skill developments

Many people diving into freelancing are too focused on finding clients that they forget to keep building their skills. It is understandable that you know your way around a specific industry or niche.

However, it is imperative to stay up to date with ongoing changes and recent trends to compete with other freelancers. You do so by gaining more knowledge and upskilling to grow your business.

At this point, you want to offer services that are highly in demand among your clients and earn extra money.

For instance, those in graphic design may want to learn about generative design and how it can be incorporated into business models, as well as trendy concepts like bold minimalism. These days, learning new skills or sharpening your old skillset is quite easy.

You can set a flexible work schedule and start taking online courses or engaging in self-taught sessions.

There are plenty of tutorials on YouTube and Behance covering new concepts for using Adobe Creative Suite, Figma, and Canva.

Upon learning a new skill, it is equally important to take a moment to work on relevant projects to apply it in practice. Doing this will add to your experience and make you more confident in your skills.

b. Creating personal time

Many people become freelancers to gain more flexibility.

But often, some folks work too many hours and don’t leave their desks, especially as they transition to full-time freelancing.

Unlike an office job, a freelance business lacks an HR department to handle leave and time off; you have to schedule them yourself. However, the ultimate goal is to remain efficient, and you can only do so by taking short breaks.

You could make this a short break per day to take walks, play games, and even get a refreshing bath, or take a few days off in a week.

Ensure you create time for social engagements such as staycations, vacations, or sports. Don’t forget to slip in some sick days to help you bounce back. When properly rested, you sharpen your work and organizational skills.

Conclusion

As you take on this journey of becoming a freelancer, you should know that there’s more to choosing a specific industry, earning extra money, or having a strong online presence.

Freelancing is more than just an activity you do during your spare time or for extra income.

There are a few common pitfalls with freelance gigs, ranging from poor skills, not knowing how to manage and market your services/finances, and being inconsistent with work.

Ensure you avoid these common freelancer mistakes using the tips provided in this guide.