When starting a freelancing business, it’s important to have a plan in mind. If you don’t, your chances of failure are much higher.
There are always people who will try to help you by offering their invaluable advice on what to do and avoid doing when freelancing.
In this blog post, I am going to share with you things you should avoid if you are getting started with freelancing and I will tell you why.
1. Don’t give up your day job too soon
When starting a freelancing business, it’s important to have a plan in mind and to be patient.
Don’t give up your day job until you are confident that you can make a living from freelancing.
Why I am saying this is because many people think of making money, but aren’t patient.
They want to make money fast and they give up everything overnight for freelancing.
So what you need to do is get started small and gradually grow as your business starts to take off.
2. Don’t work only on one project
It is very important that you need to explore all kinds of projects and see what you like and dislike.
It doesn’t make sense to spend all day working on something that you don’t like.
You will end up frustrated and probably won’t do a good job, which can have negative consequences for your business.
So what you need to do is find something that you are passionate about so that the work doesn’t feel like work at all.
3. Don’t try to be everything to everyone
It’s critical to have a niche and focus on it while establishing a freelancing business.
If you try to be everything to everyone then you will just end up being nothing for no one.
You need to find something that you are passionate about and specialize in that area.
Also, don’t work with every client who approaches you. Be selective because most of the time clients will take advantage of you if they find that your services are accessible to everyone.
4. Don’t leave money on the table
When you get started with a freelancing business, it’s important to charge fair rates for your services and only work with clients who value them.
If you undercharge your services or work with someone who doesn’t value them, they will most likely take advantage of you.
You need to find out what your services are worth and how much other freelancers in the same field are charging. Then, charge accordingly.
5. Don’t take on every project
At the beginning of your freelancing business, it’s important to say no sometimes.
If you take on every project that comes your way then eventually you will burn out.
You need to learn how to say no and spend more time on the things that really matter.
But if you are going to say no, be sure that this isn’t going to damage your relationship with a client.
You can say no by offering referrals, pointing them towards other freelancers, or suggesting revisions on their projects.
6. Don’t undervalue your time
As a new freelancer, it is important to be aware of how much money you are making and spending from your services.
If you are spending more time working than you are earning money then it’s not worth taking the project.
You should avoid saying yes to projects or clients that won’t benefit your business or that will be too demanding on your time.
7. Don’t outsource everything
When you are at the start of freelancing, it’s important to get personal with your clients and get to know them.
If you completely outsource your work and aren’t involved in the business side of things, then you won’t be able to establish a relationship with your client.
You need to take a proactive role in the project management process and learn how to lead a team of freelancers.
8. Don’t rely on 1 or 2 high-paying clients
If you rely on one or two high-paying clients, then you might find yourself in trouble if anything goes wrong with the relationship, or if something happens that forces them to stop working with you.
You need to diversify your income so that you can weather any storms in the future. If possible, aim for 5 different types of clients in your first year.
9. Don’t neglect marketing and business development
If you fail to market yourself and your services, you won’t be able to grow your business. You need to get out there and build a brand for yourself so that people know who you are and what you offer.
10. A freelancing business is not an easy job
If you think freelancing will be an easy job where you can sit at home, work in your pajamas and make a lot of money, then think again.
It is nowhere near as simple as that and most people who try to do it fail. If you want to build a successful business, then you need to have a lot of patience and persistence.
If you have all of these things, then you will be on your way to creating a successful freelancing business!
11. Don’t compete on popular freelancing sites
When you are getting started with freelancing, it’s important to not rely completely on sites like Fiverr, Upwork, or Freelancer.
If you think that your only way of finding work is by bidding on projects on popular freelance websites like Upwork and Freelancer, then you will quickly find yourself out of business.
A few clients might be happy with this, but in the long run, it’s not a great way to make money.
You need to build your own website and market yourself to your target audience directly. Use social media or blogging to get exposure for yourself.
You can then approach potential clients directly which will give you much more power in the negotiation process.
Conclusion
As a freelancer, it is important to be aware of the common mistakes that people make when getting started.
If you can avoid these pitfalls, then you will be on your way to a successful freelance business.
I advise against taking on every project, undervaluing your time, outsourcing everything, relying on high-paying clients, and neglecting marketing and business development. By following these tips, you can set yourself up for success!
I hope you enjoyed the article! I’m sure there are a lot of new freelancers that might have made one of these mistakes in their early days, but this is why it’s important to get advice from people who have been there before.
Please leave your feedback in the comments section below! Which mistake did you make when you first started? What can you take away from this article that would benefit you in the future?
Thanks for reading and have a great day!