If you’re like me, you probably want to avoid making common mistakes that could sabotage your freelance career. Here are 15 of the most common self-sabotaging mistakes I see freelancers make. Review this list, and check off any mistakes that you’ve made so you can get them fixed before they do too much damage.
| Takeaways |
|---|
| 1. Avoid underpricing your services and set fair rates based on your skills and experience. |
| 2. Clearly define project scopes and set realistic expectations with clients to prevent scope creep. |
| 3. Build strong communication skills to effectively communicate with clients and manage expectations. |
| 4. Develop a solid contract or agreement to protect yourself and outline project details and terms. |
| 5. Prioritize self-care and avoid burnout by setting boundaries and taking breaks when needed. |
| 6. Continuously improve and expand your skills to stay competitive in the freelance industry. |
| 7. Cultivate a professional network and seek mentorship to gain valuable insights and guidance. |
| 8. Stay organized and manage your time effectively to meet deadlines and maintain productivity. |
| 9. Embrace a growth mindset and learn from your mistakes to improve and grow as a freelancer. |
| 10. Stay up to date with industry trends and adapt to changes to stay relevant in the freelance market. |
1. Not Knowing Your Worth
If you don’t know what you’re worth, how can you charge what you’re worth? The first step to charging higher rates is to determine your value. What is it that you offer a client?
You have to be able to clearly articulate the value of your services and products. Once you’ve done that, then the next step is determining how much money those services are worth by comparing them with similar products or services in the marketplace.
Once this has been done, it’s time for another reality check are these numbers realistic for your market? Are there other freelancers with similar skills charging more than what we’ve calculated? If so, then we need to raise our prices accordingly until they fall within an acceptable range for our market segment (i.e., well below the industry average).
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2. Working For Free
Working for free, or working for the promise of payment later, is a job killer. You have to have a good reason to work for free.
If you’re working with an organization that doesn’t pay its full-time staff and has no plans to pay your hourly rate, then no. You shouldn’t work for them at all even if they offer you great benefits like “exposure” or “mentorship.” The bar for being worth your time is much higher than these things.
Plus, if these are the only reasons why someone wants to hire you (and not because they value what you do), then it’s probably not going anywhere anyway so why bother?
If it’s not something that will help build up your portfolio in some way (such as by giving readers access to exclusive content) or improve their bottom line (like when companies want freelancers who can find new leads), there might be other people who could do what they need better than you and those people should get paid accordingly!
If a company wants something from my client base but doesn’t know how much money those leads would be worth if she sold them herself…well…that’s just not fair!
3. Taking On Projects You Don’t Want To Take On
In your freelance career, it’s important to stick to your values and strengths. If you don’t enjoy a project or the topic of work, then why are you taking it on? You won’t be able to do your best work and will likely feel uninspired and unmotivated when doing the work. In turn, that can affect how much effort you put into completing each task on time!
When working with clients, take time to get to know them as well as possible so that they’re more comfortable with their decision by hiring you for their projects. Take into account what sort of topics are of interest to them; then suggest some ideas based on those interests and see if any spark interest from them.
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4. Ignoring Naysayers And Doubters.
If you want to be a successful freelancer, you mustn’t let the opinions of others especially negative ones define your career goals or derail them completely. You need to stay focused on what matters: doing work that fulfills your creative needs and advancing your career so that you can earn more money doing what makes you happy.
If someone tells you that your freelance career is impossible because “no one wants to hire writers/designers/developers who work from home” or “you have no experience in my industry, so why would anyone hire me?” don’t let their words discourage or intimidate you from pursuing what could be an amazing opportunity for growth!
5. Comparing Your Career To Others
You can’t compare your career to someone else’s. If you want to achieve the same results as another freelancer, you need to look into what they did and how they got there in the first place. You’ll find that every job and every business is different so don’t worry about what other people are doing, because it has no bearing on your success or failure.
Focus instead on your own goals, and don’t be afraid of asking for help if you need it. Don’t be afraid of asking for a raise (if appropriate) or promotion (again, if appropriate). It may seem scary at first, but these things are common practice in many industries and if you’re working hard enough with good results behind you, then why shouldn’t you ask?
6. Making Excuses
If you want to make excuses, that’s fine. But don’t make them for very long. The truth is, we all make mistakes—and making excuses only delays the work required to correct those mistakes and move forward with your business goals. It also wastes time that could be spent building a better relationship with clients, taking on new projects, or working on existing projects with renewed energy and focus.
One of the best ways to stop making excuses is by taking personal responsibility for your actions (or lack thereof). If something isn’t going as planned? Take responsibility for that too! There are no circumstances beyond our control; there are only attitudes we adopt toward them and those attitudes will determine whether or not those circumstances affect us negatively or positively in the long run.
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7. Depreciating Yourself
When you’re in a new situation, it’s easy to make excuses for your mistakes. You might find yourself thinking that because the client is paying the same amount of money as other clients, they don’t deserve special treatment.
But no one deserves special treatment not even a Fortune 500 corporation with unlimited resources. If you want to stand out as an amazing freelancer, then you need to treat every single client equally and give them the best customer service possible (because every single one will have some sort of budget).
If there’s something about your job that makes it difficult for you or causes stress, don’t be afraid to ask for help from someone who has more experience in that area than yourself.
If there’s something about working with this particular client that’s giving you trouble, then make sure they know how much effort goes into making their project successful so they can appreciate what goes into their product is delivered on time and within budget!
Is there anything else in life besides work that would make life easier for both yourself and others around us? Why not ask them if they could do something about those things right now? For example: “Wouldn’t it be nice if everyone knew how important good customer service is?” Or maybe: “What do we need here right now?”
8. Believing That Hard Work Alone Will Be Enough
I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard that statement in my career, and it’s true. Hard work is important, but it’s not enough. If you’re hoping to succeed as a freelancer, you’ll need more than just diligence and tenacity you’ll need strategy too. You need to know what tasks are worth your time, how long they should take, and what other activities could be better spent on getting the job done.
It’s easy to get swept up with a passion for your work and lose track of your goals amidst all the hustle and bustle of being self-employed. But if you want your freelance career to last longer than six months (or even two!), then being strategic about where your attention goes is an essential skill for success at any stage of life whether it’s getting engaged at age 26 or raising children at age 42!
9. Never Saying No To Clients Or Colleagues Who Push You Around
You have to know yourself and your limits. If you feel that something is wrong, don’t be afraid to stand up for yourself. In the end, it’s not about how much money or fame you want to make but how much satisfaction you get from working on projects that make a difference.
Never say yes without knowing why or considering whether it fits into your life vision. It is perfectly fine if a client asks you to work late hours because they need an urgent project done by tomorrow but if they don’t give any reason other than “it’s just business,” then maybe this isn’t the right relationship for you.
The same goes for colleagues who ask something unreasonable from you because they don’t want to do it themselves (or worse because they think it will benefit them). If someone really needs help with a specific task but doesn’t take care of their responsibilities as well, then chances are good that this person doesn’t respect deadlines and commitments in general which means he/she won’t respect yours either!
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10. Being Focused On The Money, Not The Value Of Your Work
While freelancers often make more than their salaried counterparts, it’s important to remember that at the end of the day, you’re still getting paid for your time, expertise, and talent not for how many hours you’ve put in.
So don’t let yourself get caught up in competing with others who might be charging more or doing less work; focus on delivering results that help your client succeed while keeping a healthy balance between what they pay you and what value they receive from that payment.
11. Staying In A Gig That’s Not Right For You Just Because It Pays The Bills (Although It Only Pays The Bills)
If you’re going to go freelance, don’t do it just because you want to make more money. Don’t stay in a gig that’s not right for you just because it pays the bills (although it only pays the bills).
Don’t sacrifice your happiness for money. Do what makes sense for your life and what will make you happy, not some abstract concept of success or job security.
That could mean doing something different than what got you into this mess in the first place: getting out of debt might mean taking on a side hustle instead of quitting altogether; starting a business project might mean leaving behind an underpaid but stable job; looking at other career paths entirely (e.g., becoming an entrepreneur) might mean making less money than before but having a lot more fun being back on track toward self-actualization and fulfillment.
12. Not Putting Yourself Out There Regularly To Attract New Clients And Opportunities
The first thing you can do to attract new clients and opportunities is to put yourself out there regularly. Networking is essential for all freelancers, but it’s especially important if you’re just getting started. Here are some tips for networking effectively:
- Create a LinkedIn profile and start connecting with people in your industry. This will build your professional network and help you find opportunities for work that may not be posted publicly.
- Join Facebook groups related to your field of expertise, like “Social Media Marketing” or “Social Media Managers,” and add value by sharing helpful information with others in the group. Be sure to include links back to your blog posts on these sites as well!
- Use social media as a platform for discussing relevant topics with fellow professionals in real-time (via Twitter), which makes it easier than ever before (and also helps them remember who you are!).
- As a bonus, it gives potential employers insight into what kind of person they’re hiring when they look at past tweets/posts written by their potential employee’s account name.”
13. Losing Self-Confidence When You’re Rejected Or Ignored
As a freelancer, you’ll have to learn how to deal with rejection. It’s not going to be easy and it won’t always feel fair, but you can’t let it get in the way of your success.
It’s all too easy for freelancers to start feeling like their work isn’t good enough after being rejected by clients, especially when they’ve put their heart into delivering high-quality work for them. But that’s not the case!
By all means, take feedback on board and make changes if necessary, but don’t let negative comments get you down or convince you that your career is over.
Instead of dwelling on rejection or ignoring potential opportunities altogether because they seem too hard (and potentially harmful), take control by using these tips:
14. Giving Up Too Easily On Things Or People Who May Be Good Fits For You
Everyone has their own unique set of skills, talents, and interests. Some of these things will be more in demand than others. It’s important not to let your fear of rejection keep you from exploring opportunities that may well be a perfect fit for you or at least could turn into one if given the chance.
Don’t give up too easily on people or things that may be good fits for you but require a little more effort than what’s comfortable at first glance. For example:
- Give it a shot! Don’t make assumptions about what will work until you try it out for yourself first-hand.
- Don’t be afraid to try new things! You never know when something might become an unexpected passion down the road; taking chances is part of growing as an individual (and professional). Who knows? Maybe by trying something different today, tomorrow could bring new opportunities!
It’s worth taking time to explore just how far those possibilities go even if they seem daunting at first glance because they’re outside your comfort zone.”
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Final Thoughts
One of the best ways to avoid making these mistakes is to remember what makes you an amazing freelancer. If you know your worth, understand your value, and are confident in your skills and abilities, then it’s less likely that you’ll make any of these common mistakes.
By now, you’re probably feeling like a pretty savvy freelance pro. But I hope the biggest takeaway from this post is that you shouldn’t be afraid to admit when you make mistakes. We all do! The important thing is that you learn from them and find new ways of working out how to be better at your job each time.
Further Reading
Here are some additional resources for further reading on freelance career mistakes and how to avoid them:
The 20 Biggest Mistakes Freelancers Make and How to Avoid Them: Explore this insightful article that highlights common mistakes made by freelancers and provides valuable tips to steer clear of them, helping you build a successful freelance career.
Mistakes New Freelancers Make: Check out this blog post that focuses on the specific mistakes often made by new freelancers and offers practical advice and guidance on how to overcome them, setting you up for a strong start in the freelance industry.
Freelance Mistakes to Avoid: Dive into this comprehensive blog post that delves into various freelance mistakes that can hinder your progress and success. Discover actionable tips and insights to avoid these pitfalls and optimize your freelance career.
People Also Ask
What Are The Biggest Mistakes That You See Freelancers Make?
The biggest mistake I see, especially in beginners, is not keeping track of their hours. If you’re a freelancer, you should always be documenting how many hours you worked and how much money you made so that when tax season rolls around, you know exactly what to expect.
What Are Some Ways That A Freelancer Can Avoid Making This Mistake?
It’s easy to lose track of time when you’re working on multiple projects at once but it’s important to take breaks and make sure you’re getting enough sleep! If you’re having trouble staying organized, try using an app like Evernote or Toggl to keep track of your hours. You can also ask for help from your clients if they want to see what kind of hours their freelancers are putting in.
What Are The Biggest Mistakes That Freelance Writers Make?
The most common mistake is not researching their clients before accepting a job. This can lead to problems if a writer doesn’t know exactly what to expect from a client, or if they ever find themselves on the receiving end of any kind of abuse.
Another big mistake is not knowing how to set boundaries and stick to them. Freelancers often feel like they have no choice but to accept all jobs that come their way, but this can lead to burnout and a loss of passion for their work. If you’re feeling overwhelmed by your workload, try setting some time aside each week for things like cleaning your workspace or organizing your files even if it’s just 15 minutes here and there.
How Do I Find My First Client?
The best place to look for your first client is on a job board like Upwork or Guru. Look for clients who are looking for what you offer, and be sure to check out their reviews before reaching out. Also, make sure to join a local meetup group where you can meet potential clients face-to-face!
What If No One Wants To Hire Me?
This happens sometimes. Don’t worry just keep working towards building your portfolio and reviewing it often to make sure it’s up to date and reflects your current skill set accurately.
If you’re having trouble finding clients, try offering free work in exchange for feedback on how they would use your services in the future.
Finally, consider focusing on one specific service (for example, logo design) rather than trying to provide everything under one roof at once!
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.