Freelancing is an exciting and lucrative line of work these days. In a world where the need for programmers, writers, and other specialists seems to be growing without bounds, it makes a lot of sense to use their skills online to make money while working from home.
Being your own boss can be wonderful in some ways, but it also means that you are responsible for all the details of your work — including the mistakes.
Below are five common mistakes that freelancers make, as well as what you can do to avoid them.
1: Taking Too Many Jobs At Once
It can be tempting to take on every job that comes your way, but that may not be the best strategy for success. Overloading yourself with work increases the risk of burnout and may reduce the quality of your work and thus hurt your reputation as a freelancer.
It’s more profitable in the long run to focus on good-fit clients who pay well and don’t demand too much of your time.
2. You’re Not Charging Enough
You’re undercharging because you’re afraid to lose out on a potential client. But what you don’t realize is that you will lose money in the long run by undercutting your worth.
If a potential client wants to negotiate with you underprice, it’s a red flag. If someone isn’t willing to pay your rate, then he or she isn’t the right person for the job.
3. You Only Have One Client
When you only have one client, and he or she decides to stop working with you for whatever reason, your business will be in trouble if you don’t have another client lined up. This is a scary situation that every freelancer needs to guard against by taking the appropriate action steps.
[Learn how Upwork Works For Freelancers]
4. Not Saving Enough Money
There are plenty of reasons you might run out of money as a freelancer when you don’t have a steady paycheck coming in; you might have some lean months in terms of work, for example. Or your business might have some significant upfront costs that you weren’t expecting.
For whatever reason, if you don’t save enough money as a freelancer, then something that could have been temporary – like a month or two with no work – will quickly become permanent.
A lack of savings is one of the biggest causes of failure for freelancers, so make sure you keep building up your emergency fund until it’s large enough to cover at least three months’ worth of expenses.
5. Not Having A Plan
If you want to succeed as a freelancer, you will need to plan your time. You should know where your focus should be, what your goals are and how you will achieve them. You can start by using a calendar or planner to write down all your tasks and deadlines. A good plan will help keep you organized and productive.
Final Thought
Creating more freedom in your career often means you’ll have to make choices that may not be in your best interest. Keeping clients happy is important, but it shouldn’t come at the expense of your own sanity or finances.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: I’m new to freelancing, and the first job I got from Upwork was a bust. I worked for a week, but the client never paid me at all. What should I do?
A: Clients who don’t pay are unfortunately common in freelancing. Sticking to some simple rules can help you avoid them.
Q. Why I am not getting freelancing jobs?
A. What is your experience? You need to have a complete profile with a good description and portfolio. Also, you need to improve your skills by doing online courses.
A. What kind of projects you are bidding for? You need to bid for the right jobs which you can do. Do not aim for high budget jobs if you are not experienced enough.
A. Which platform you are using? You may get fewer projects on Upwork because it is more competitive now than before. However, there are many websites where you can find freelancing jobs such as Fiver, Freelancer.com, People Per Hour. I suggest you stick with Upwork and learn how to do it better as I am getting almost all my clients from there.
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.