When I graduated from college, I decided to be a freelance writer. I didn’t know what else to do, so it just seemed like a reasonable option. There’s no other industry where you can make money without having any relevant experience or skills.
That was 10 years ago, and since then freelance writing has become a lot more common…but the vast majority of people who try it end up failing. In this article, we’ll look at some of the reasons why freelancing is so hard and what you can do to succeed in this very competitive field.
| Takeaways |
|---|
| 1. Freelance writing jobs may come with vulnerabilities and risks that need to be understood and managed. |
| 2. Understanding the potential pitfalls can help freelancers take proactive steps to protect their careers and income. |
| 3. Mitigating vulnerabilities may involve diversifying client sources, building a strong portfolio, and improving contract negotiation skills. |
| 4. Freelancers should stay updated on industry trends and best practices to navigate challenges effectively. |
| 5. Building a support network and seeking guidance from experienced freelancers can provide valuable insights and support. |
1. Not Doing Enough Research On The Client
You need to research the client. The more you know about them, the better off you will be. Do not take a job unless you have done your due diligence and can say with certainty that the company’s mission aligns with yours and that they are reputable and respectable.
If there is anything in your gut telling you something isn’t right, listen to it and run away as fast as possible!
If certain questions lead to dead ends, stop asking them (but do not stop researching). If all else fails, reach out directly via email or phone call and ask for answers directly from someone at the company who can help clarify things for you.
Freelancing mistakes can significantly impact your financial stability. If you want to avoid these pitfalls, take a look at our guide on 10 freelancing mistakes that are keeping you broke and pave your way to a more secure freelancing career.
2. Not Learning How To Say “No”
The second way in which you can protect yourself from falling victim to a bad client is by learning how to say no. In most cases, this means saying no to projects that aren’t a good fit for you and your skillset.
You should also learn when it’s time to say no when clients are asking for work outside of your scope of expertise or on topics with which you have little experience. As much as possible, avoid taking on more than one major project at once unless you have the resources (time, money) and ability (skillset) necessary to take them all on at once.
Finally, freelancers must learn how they’re going to respond when clients come asking for work outside their scope or offer compensation below market rates.
You may need some practice getting comfortable saying these words out loud before being able to do so during an actual conversation but if there’s anything worth practicing over and over again until it feels natural, it’s saying “no.”
3. Taking On Too Many Projects
On the other hand, if you accept too many projects at once, your workload will become unmanageable. You’re better off taking on one or two large tasks than 20 small ones.
If your freelancing schedule is already too full, try to work with clients who are local to you (or even in the same city!) so that you can meet with them face-to-face and collaborate in person.
The bottom line is that when it comes to freelance writing jobs, it’s better to be picky than sorry. At some point at least one of your projects will likely fall through whether because of flakiness or lack of payment and then what do you do?
4. Not Charging Enough Per Project Or Per Word
If you’re not charging enough, then it’s time to re-evaluate your rates. While there are no hard-and-fast rules about what constitutes “enough,” most freelancers will agree that $20/hour or $0.02/word are good benchmarks for setting your freelance writing rate.
If you’re new to freelancing, then it may be difficult for clients to understand how valuable your services are especially when they have no idea what other writers charge their clients.
You can combat this by having a portfolio of successful projects that demonstrates the quality of work you can provide (and also shows potential clients why they should pay more than the going rate). But if you’ve been in business for some time and still feel like people aren’t valuing your expertise at its true worth, then consider raising those rates!
Effective time management is crucial for freelancers to succeed. Learn valuable time management tips and techniques in our comprehensive article on time management tips for freelancers and enhance your productivity and work-life balance.
5. Not Negotiating Work Hours Or Deadlines
It’s important to negotiate with clients about your work hours and deadlines. If it’s a one-off article, you may be able to get away with working all night or over the weekend if you have no other commitments.
But if you’re working with a client for a long time, it’s worth negotiating an actual contract with them so both parties know what they are agreeing on.
If you’re writing articles as part of your freelance business and need to complete them on time, then make sure that both parties agree on deadlines before starting work. This way, neither of you will be surprised by unexpected delays!
6. Underestimating The Time To Complete A Project
When you’re starting as a freelance writer, it’s easy to feel like there is no time for anything beyond the work you have already lined up. But some important things can help you better understand your clients’ needs, which will make it easier to deliver high-quality writing on time.
Understand their needs: If the client hasn’t been clear about what they want, ask questions like “What do think would be most helpful?”, “Can you give me an example of what kind of content?” and “What are some challenges this content will help with?”.
Ask for clarification: If they haven’t given any examples of similar work or if they tell you something doesn’t sound right in terms of how they want their product described ask them to clarify.
You don’t need to get into a formal contract at this point (the scope may change later), but asking for an outline or brief will give both parties an idea of what’s expected from each other so that everyone knows exactly where their boundaries lie by the end of the project!
7. Underestimating The Time To Market Yourself
After you’ve completed a project and you’re waiting for the payment to arrive, it’s important to keep your name out there. If you don’t do this, no one will know who you are or what services you provide.
You need to constantly be marketing yourself and building a reputation as a writer. This means making sure people know about your work: where it’s published, how much traffic those publications get, how widely read those publications are by their target audience (your potential clients), etc.,
If freelancers don’t market themselves properly then they’ll struggle with finding clients because they won’t have any reputation or branding in their field of expertise.
They may not even be able to get anyone’s attention if they’re not also doing something else “great” with their time such as blogging/vlogging/being active on social media channels like Twitter and Facebook which helps build exposure for both the individuals themselves but also what services or products that person offers such as freelance writing gigs!
If you’re a freelancer considering using Upwork, you should understand how the platform works. Check out our insightful breakdown on how Upwork works for freelancers and get a head start in navigating this popular freelancing platform.
8. Taking On Projects That Have No Pay-Off
If you’re looking for freelance writing jobs, it’s important to understand that you need to be able to see the value of every project. This means being able to recognize the importance of your work and the point it serves in helping clients out. It also means being able to see what a client is paying for and why they think their product is worth it.
For this process to work, you’ll need a firm grasp on what exactly makes up value when we’re talking about writing services and there are many factors at play here. For instance:
- You must be able-minded enough (and energetic enough) to complete any given task within its deadline without straining yourself too much or taking on too much at once;
- You must know how long each task takes so that you can realistically estimate how much time each one will require from start until finish before scheduling them into your calendar;
9. Not Saving Enough Money
Avoid spending too much on marketing. Marketing is important for your business, but it can also be an expense that eats into your profits. If you’re spending more on advertising than you’re earning through clients, then your business won’t last long.
Not saving enough for emergencies and retirement. You need to have a financial cushion in case of emergencies, such as job loss or illness; the same goes for retirement planning. Don’t put off saving until later–you never know what life will throw at you next!
Not saving enough for taxes (or not knowing how much tax is owed). Tax laws change every year, so make sure to consult with an accountant or tax professional before filing your taxes if this is something new to you this year!
10. Taking Bad Advice From Other Freelancers
So, you’re ready to start freelancing. You’ve read this far, and now you know the risks involved in becoming a freelance writer. You should also be aware that many other people want to make money by sharing their knowledge about freelance writing.
What I mean by this is that most of the advice given out by non-experts on how to succeed as a freelance writer is not only misleading but can be harmful if followed blindly. It’s important that as a new freelancer, you watch out for advice from others that is too good to be true or makes promises they cannot keep.
Are you a freelance writer looking to monetize your business effectively? Discover actionable strategies in our article on how to monetize your freelance writing business and turn your passion for writing into a profitable venture.
Becoming A Successful Freelancer Doesn’t Happen Overnight
Becoming a successful freelancer doesn’t happen overnight, and you should be aware of these pitfalls before you start freelancing:
Not Doing Enough Research On The Client
There’s no way around this one. You need to do your homework, or else you’ll end up with a client who is difficult or impossible to work with. That’s not only bad for your career (and it can lead to all kinds of bad feelings), but also means that the client won’t get what they want out of working with you in the first place.
Not Learning How To Say “No”
Being able to turn down projects and clients is an important part of being successful as a freelancer especially if other people are waiting for your time and attention!
You need some kind of system in place so that when someone asks whether they could get five pages written by tomorrow morning at nine A.M., you don’t feel pressured into saying yes even though there’s another project due in two days.
Instead, use this opportunity as an excuse rather than an encouragement: “Sorry! I’m backed up right now,” or whatever works best for your situation.
Freelance writing jobs are valuable but also come with vulnerabilities. Learn about the potential risks and how to mitigate them in our comprehensive post on why freelance writing jobs are vulnerable and safeguard your freelancing career.
Conclusion
It’s not all doom and gloom, though. Despite the setbacks, there are still plenty of positive things happening in the world of freelance writing. The internet is constantly changing and evolving, giving rise to new opportunities for freelancers every day.
The best thing you can do if you want to keep working as a freelance writer stays on top of these changes by taking online courses that teach you about SEO or data analytics; this way, your skills will never get stale.
In addition to being an informed consumer yourself (which should be easy enough with all those LinkedIn articles!), try sharing relevant content from other sources so that your clients have access to it as well this will only show them how knowledgeable you are about the field.
Lastly, remember that no matter what happens with technology or other trends outside your control, no one can take away your passion for writing someone always needs good writers in their corner!
Further Reading
Overcoming Impostor Syndrome as a Freelance Writer: Learn how to conquer impostor syndrome and gain confidence in your freelance writing journey.
Protecting the Craft: A Guide for Freelance Writers: Discover essential tips and strategies to safeguard your freelance writing career and protect your craft.
How to Stop Worrying and Achieve Freelance Writing Success: Get insights into overcoming worries and anxieties to achieve success as a freelance writer.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is There A Freelance Writing Bubble?
Yes! Freelance writing jobs are in danger and here’s why: as more people become freelancers and find success, the number of available jobs decreases. It’s also true that many companies have switched over to hiring remote employees instead of hiring freelancers. The combination of these factors makes it difficult for new writers to break into the industry.
How Can I Make Sure My Business Succeeds?
There are several ways to ensure that your business thrives and continues to grow throughout all phases of its development (from infancy through adulthood).
One way is by investing in yourself, which includes taking classes on SEO, content creation, copywriting, etc., so that you stay up-to-date with industry trends and best practices.
Another way would be by working with other freelancers who can help you establish relationships within your niche markets or even refer clients directly to
What Is A Good Way To Get Started As A Freelancer?
A good way to get started as a freelancer is to choose an industry and narrow it down to one niche.
For example, if you want to write about food, choose cooking or baking instead of writing about all types of food. That way you will have more opportunities to find clients who need your services at all times rather than just when they need help with cooking or baking-related topics.
How Do I Know If An Offer Is Legitimate?
A legitimate offer should provide you with details about the work involved so that you can decide whether or not it fits your schedule as well as your expertise level before accepting it.
You should also check reviews for any company offering this type of work before accepting anything from them because some companies charge exorbitant fees for their services while others don’t even pay their freelancers on time (or at all).
I am a content writer, and I love what I do! Writing makes me feel like the words are flowing through my fingers, and then onto the keyboard, like magic. My experience as a writer has taught me that writing makes me feel good, as well as helps others to feel better too!