As a freelancer, you’re always hustling. You have to be because you’re your boss, salesperson, and accountant. And even though being a freelancer offers incredible flexibility and freedom it can also be lonely and overwhelming.
We all make mistakes when we start as freelancers but that doesn’t mean we won’t continue making the same mistakes for years to come (been there).
Mistakes happen but if you avoid these 10 common freelancing mistakes then you’ll save time, effort, and money:
| Takeaways |
|---|
| 1. Proper Time Management is Crucial |
| 2. Fear of Upwork’s Permanent Ban is Unnecessary |
| 3. Ethical Client Acquisition is Essential |
| 4. Underrated Skills Can Set You Apart |
| 5. Master Advanced Time Management Techniques |
1. Not Knowing Your Worth
It’s hard enough to find work as a freelancer, but it becomes even more difficult if you don’t know your worth and what other freelancers are charging.
If you start with a low price, then clients will assume that’s all you’re worth. They’ll be less likely to hire you or refer others to your services.
By doing some research and asking around among fellow freelancers (or friends who have been successful at it), you can get an idea of what the going rate is for your skillset. You can also research this on websites like Upwork or FreelanceGigs so that you know what kind of jobs people in similar fields are getting paid for their time and effort.
Finding ways to effectively manage your time can significantly impact your freelancing success. Learn some valuable tips in our article on Time Management Tips for Freelancers to boost productivity and achieve better work-life balance.
2. Quoting Too Low
The most common freelancer mistake is quoting too low. You want to get high-paying clients, but you can’t do that if you start on the wrong foot by underbidding your work. When you are bidding for a job, think about what your time and skill are worth, then add at least 20% to the profit margin.
If a client comes along who will only offer you 15 dollars an hour for your services (or less), it doesn’t matter how much work they throw at you just say no! If someone offers to pay me $5 per article, I’ll politely decline because I know there are quality publishers who will pay me three times as much or more per article.
Don’t take any job or project that doesn’t match up with what other people are paying in your field of expertise; this means saying no to clients who think they’re getting a bargain when they aren’t getting one at all because they aren’t meeting market value standards yet either
3. Not Tracking Your Time On Client Work
When you’re starting, it can be hard to get a handle on your time. You don’t have a lot of experience with estimating and tracking your work, so it’s easy for you to lose track of how much time you spend working on each task.
Without tracking your time, there’s no way for you to know what is and isn’t billable or how much money goes into paying for all the non-billable activities (like going out or socializing) that take up so much space in your calendar.
Discover why Upwork’s permanent ban shouldn’t be a source of anxiety for freelancers. Learn about the platform’s policies and how to navigate them wisely to ensure a successful freelancing career.
4. Working For Free
There are a lot of reasons why you shouldn’t work for free, but here’s the main one: no one ever got rich by giving their time away. Even if you’re working in the non-profit sector (where the pay is often pretty low), there are still some things that should be paid for.
These include research, travel expenses, and other direct costs related to completing your project. If your organization can’t afford to pay you what they owe you when they owe it (or at all), then maybe it’s time to find a new gig!
There are plenty of ways around this problem too it just takes some hustle and creativity on your part! Here are two examples:
- If there isn’t enough budget for content creation, offer up some ideas about how their existing material could be re-purposed or repurposed for other platforms like video or podcasts.
You could also offer them advice on how best to use social media as an outreach tool; just make sure that whatever advice you give them is given freely before agreeing to take on any kind of paid contract with them based on those suggestions alone!
- If there isn’t enough budget available within your company itself but plenty available externally (via grants) then consider asking if any potential funders have interest in supporting content creation efforts such as yours directly through contracts/subscriptions rather than grants alone
This may help both parties save money by not having any overhead associated with running an official 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization either now or in future years once these relationships become more established over time.”
5. Failing To Niche Down Your Business
You may have heard the term “niche” thrown around a lot as though it were some magical key that will unlock all of your financial goals. But what does it mean, exactly?
A niche is simply an area of expertise that focuses on something specific. This could be your industry (e.g., “I am a luxury real estate agent”), or it could be something deeper than that (e.g., “I help students find internships”).
The more narrowly you define yourself in your industry or audience, the easier it is for potential clients to find you, which means more leads and better opportunities for earning money from freelancing!
6. Focusing On The Wrong Things
If you’re going to succeed as a freelancer, you need to focus on the right things. If your business isn’t profitable, then it doesn’t matter if you’re making great work or doing something important to society.
There are plenty of people who are naturally gifted as writers, but they can’t make money from their work because they don’t enjoy writing or aren’t passionate about what they do.
The first rule is not focusing on what everyone else is talking about or trying to sell you it’s about understanding your strengths and using them to build a successful business based on your interests and passions.
Avoid unethical practices and explore ethical strategies for getting more clients on Upwork. Learn how to build a solid reputation, win clients’ trust, and establish yourself as a reputable freelancer.
7. Constantly Pitching Leads (Instead Of Doing What You’re Great At)
You might be wasting a lot of time pitching leads and going after the wrong kind of work. Instead, focus on what you’re great at, what you enjoy doing, and what pays the bills.
Focus on your strengths and passions. You won’t have to worry about whether or not someone is going to hire you for a job because if it doesn’t fall within those two things, then it probably isn’t worth doing anyway.
So instead of pitching leads or trying to get jobs from people who don’t know who they are hiring (because they haven’t found out themselves either), find people who know exactly what they need to be done and then provide them with that service without any fussing around first!
8. Taking Clients Who Are A Bad Fit
When you’re just getting started as a freelancer, it’s natural to want to do anything you can to bring in more money.
But taking on clients who are a bad fit for your business and your skills and expertise can be downright disastrous. For example, I’ve had some clients who were so disorganized that the work I did for them was essentially useless by the time they received it (because their notes were all over the place).
And I’ve had other clients who wanted things done exactly as they’d always done them, which meant missing out on opportunities for innovation or efficiency not only was this frustrating but it also cost me money!
So how do you tell if a client is going to be worth your time? Here are some questions to ask yourself when determining whether or not a potential client is right for you (and vice versa):
What kind of relationship do they want with you? How much direction do they need? Do they understand what’s needed from them during our initial meeting or will there likely be changes later on down the line?.
These are all good indicators that either this particular project isn’t right for now OR perhaps there could be more work done together down further along down road after some upgrades have been made/changes have been made over time.”
Master your time management skills with advanced tips. Freelancers can greatly benefit from exploring 18 Advanced Time Management Tips to boost productivity and efficiency. These time-tested techniques will help you take your freelancing career to new heights.
9. Being Passive About Sales And Marketing Activities
When you’re starting, it can be tempting to put off any sales and marketing activities until after you’ve established your business. But this is a big mistake. You don’t want to leave something so important up to chance; if you do, your efforts will likely go unnoticed.
Instead of putting off sales and marketing activities, it’s better to get started right away but with a plan in place so that you know what works best for your business.
It’s also important not to focus on just one type of niche or audience when it comes time for making sales and marketing decisions: “one size does not fit all.” Each audience has different needs and preferences for how they want information about products or services delivered and different ways they like being marketed as well.
So if possible, find out what kind of person likes working with people like yourself before investing too much time into developing an effective strategy (even though everyone needs help sometimes).
10. Lacking A Business Plan Or Strategy
A business plan is a road map for your business. It will help you stay focused on your goals and make sure that everything is moving in the right direction.
A well-written business plan is a great way to get funding, so it’s one of the most effective marketing tools available for any new entrepreneur.
A well-written business plan can also help investors make an informed decision about whether or not they want to invest in your company.
Discover the underrated skills that can set you apart on Upwork. Check out our article on The 10 Most Underrated Skills and enhance your freelancing profile. These skills can be your secret weapon to stand out in a competitive marketplace.
Final Thoughts
Congrats on making it this far. You made it to the end, and you’re probably feeling pretty motivated to avoid these mistakes. But if you’re anything like me, sometimes you need a little help remembering what your goals are.
Further Reading
Freelancer Mistakes: Tips to Avoid Common Pitfalls: Learn valuable tips and advice to steer clear of common pitfalls that freelancers often encounter in their careers.
Avoid These Financial Mistakes for a Successful Freelancing Journey: Explore the financial aspects of freelancing and discover how to avoid common mistakes that can impact your success as a freelancer.
53 Freelancing Mistakes You Should Stop Making: Delve into an extensive list of freelancing mistakes and find out how to rectify them to improve your freelancing endeavors.
People Also Ask
How Can I Get More Clients?
Well, that’s the million-dollar question and there’s no one right answer. But the first step is knowing who you’re trying to reach out to.
For example, if you’re a writer and want to write for magazines and websites, you should start with those publications’ contact pages, find out who their editors are, and shoot them an email introducing yourself. If they don’t bite at first, keep sending emails until they respond.
Or try cold calling that way, it’s not as much of a commitment on their part and they can say no without feeling like they’re wasting your time.
What Are Some Good Ways To Find Clients?
Networking is huge. Go to local meetups or events where people in your industry hang out (or even just meetup groups for freelancers), introduce yourself, and ask them if they know anyone who could use your services.
Also, check out job boards; there are tons of remote jobs out there if you search hard enough!
How Much Should I Charge Per Hour?
It depends on the type of work you’re doing, but for freelancers in general, about $20-$30 per hour seems like a good starting point. You can always use sites like PayScale or Glassdoor to get a better idea of what others in your field are charging.
How Do I Get Started Freelancing?
If you are a creative professional, it can feel overwhelming to figure out how to start your own business. But the good news is that there are plenty of resources out there to help you get started.
One of our favorites is [link], which offers step-by-step instructions for finding clients, setting up your website, and establishing a brand. Once you’ve got a grip on the basics, it’s time to get out there and start making connections!
How Do I Know If Freelancing Is Right For Me?
Freelancing allows you to work from home or anywhere else where you have an Internet connection but that doesn’t mean that freelancing is right for everyone. If you need structure and routine to stay focused on projects, then freelancing might not be right for you.
On the other hand, if you thrive on flexibility and freedom, then this may be just what you need!
Is It Better To Have A Website Or Social Media Presence?
Having a website is always a good idea as it allows you to showcase your portfolio, show off your skills and make it easy for potential clients to find you. Having social media is also important because it’s a great way of reaching out to potential clients and getting your name out there to build up your reputation.
How Do I Know If Freelancing Is Right For Me?
If you’re a hard-working person who wants to make a living doing what you love, freelancing could be the right choice for you. It can be challenging at times, but it’s also incredibly rewarding and rewarding in ways that are impossible to experience when you have a traditional job.
You’ll get to set your hours, work from anywhere in the world, and be able to work on projects that interest you most. If you have these qualities and are willing to put in some effort at the beginning, freelancing could be an excellent option for you!
How Do I Know If A Client Is Worth Working With?
This is a great question and a common one for freelancers. You must make sure the client is someone who respects your time, pays on time, and will be an enjoyable person to work with.
If you feel like they’re going to be difficult or demanding, it might not be worth taking on their project. You can also ask around; other freelancers in your area may have worked with them before, or even have some insight into their personality or work ethic.
How Do I Avoid Making Mistakes When Freelancing?
It’s easy! Just make sure you’re always asking questions and double-checking the details of your projects. Even if you’re an expert in your field, it’s important to remember that you’re not an expert in every field.
That’s why it’s important to get all the information you need from the start. This will help ensure that your clients are happy and that your work is always up to par.
What Are Your Top Tips For Making The Most Of A Freelance Job?
Know yourself. You have to know what you’re good at, and what you’re not so great at. If you don’t know what you’re good at, start with something small and work up from there. For example, if you’re not great at creating a website but you want to learn, start with making your website and then go from there.
Be flexible with projects. You may find that some projects are better suited for certain types of clients than others (for example, someone who wants a lot of hand-holding or someone who just wants the work done).
If you find yourself taking on too many projects that aren’t right for your style or expertise level, consider charging less per hour so that it’s more profitable for both parties involved (and also makes it easier for you to focus on quality over quantity).
Don’t be afraid to negotiate. If you feel like your client isn’t valuing your time or expertise enough by offering too low of an hourly rate or not enough upfront payment upfront), then be prepared to walk away from the deal altogether if necessary.
Costantine Edward is a digital marketing expert, freelance writer, and entrepreneur who helps people attain financial freedom. I’ve been working in marketing since I was 18 years old and have managed to build a successful career doing what I love.