Mistakes are not failures – they teach us something new, make us stronger and smarter. But let’s be honest, when you’re only just making your first steps into the big world of self-employment, you want everything to go as smoothly as possible. Here are the most common freelancing mistakes you can easily avoid to make your journey less stressful.
Setting random (most probably – too low) rates
Oh, the dreaded money question! Not only newbies but even veteran freelancers often find it hard to discuss costs and expenses or rate their work properly. Sometimes we willingly lower the desired number to land the gig; sometimes we’re feeling so grateful for being picked by an amazing client, we offer them a discount.
Instead of constantly undervaluing your work, start by setting competitive, fair rates but non-negotiable rates. It will be easier if you define your monthly and yearly financial goals first and then calculate the numbers that will bring you closer to your ideal result.
Neglecting contracts
The first clients of many new freelancers are either people they know or people who know people they know. It’s natural, it’s easier, it’s safe. And safe means we often overlook official contracts. Isn’t it enough to simply text or email the arrangements? Well, no. No matter how much you trust the person you work with, having a signed document is the only safe and right way to do business. And you can also use this time to polish your contracts for when the big fish finds your net!
Never turning down the job
Being your own boss can be quite unpredictable financially, that’s why many of us find it hard to say ‘no’ to many extra opportunities. Why not accept all the money that’s basically jumping into your hands while you have the chance, right? But there is only so much you can do! If you’re overloaded and stressed, it will affect the quality of your work. Make sure you know exactly how much time each job requires and how much free time this week or month you have before agreeing to do anything extra.
Waiting for clients to find you
Many freelancers, though amazing at what they do, have literally zero understanding and strategies when it comes to finding clients. It’s great to imagine that you can just sit back and wait for people to queue because of your talent. In real life, it’s you who should be working towards landing jobs in the first place.
Creating an outreach system is a place to start. List all the channels that will help you find new clients – be it reconnecting with your old clients or friends, attending local events, browsing through the clients’ lists of your competitors, etc. Then decide when and how you should approach them and organise a schedule.
Juggling too many hats
When it comes to money, it can be difficult to say ‘no’ to a job you can technically do. That’s how copywriters end up being social media managers, photographers become videographers and graphic designers create websites. But the thing is, the more specific your skills are, the easier it is to find good clients and the better your results will be. Don’t get pulled in too many directions, even if it means making more money right now. In the long term, sticking to what you’re really good at is more beneficial.
Not handling criticism well
It’s understandable – you’re just starting out and you’re likely not boasting confidence yet. Of course, criticism from your clients or colleagues is a hard punch. You can feel demotivated, demoralised and not good enough. We don’t say you should brush off any negative comments entirely but growing a thicker skin to proactively finding solutions and improving your results rather than wallowing in misery will be really helpful.
Try to look at the criticism from a different perspective. It’s not about what you did wrong or that you weren’t good enough, it’s what your client is happy with, what they want. It’s not personal, it’s their vision and expectations.
Assuming you’ll always stay on top
You’re smart, you’re professional, you’re the best in business – no doubt about that. But there is no industry that doesn’t evolve and change all the time. If you want to remain a competitive and sought after specialist, never stop learning! Read articles, listen to podcasts, meet people and keep updated!
It’s not as easy as it sounds because current contracts and deadlines are always the highest priority for a self-employed person, so studying is often left at the bottom of the to-do list. Devote an hour each day / four hours weekly or whatever you feel comfortable with to learning new skills from the very beginning. Make it a routine and never book this time to do anything else.
