Whatever we think about freelance or freelancing, this term is attractive and interesting to us, many people are now interested in this field, and there are several reasons for this. Due to the variety of freelance work and the availability of opportunities, they have chosen Freelancing as a place of work, many are doing it part-time or alongside office or job.
Freelancing is the freedom, flexibility, or ability to work independently without being directed by someone else. Although freelancing may seem easier than a simple marketing job, if you are new to the industry like any other new freelancer, you may make some mistakes that will hinder your success.
If you are new to the industry and are already aware of common mistakes, you can wisely avoid them.
What is Freelancing?
Freelancing is basically a profession where you can make a career and earn money by doing various types of jobs using your skills/expertise online.
It’s like a regular job, but the difference is that you can work as a freelancer. This means working for different organizations or individuals on contract basis rather than working for a specific organization. Freelancers have the freedom to work when they want and set their own work patterns. Freelancers are not bound by traditional work hours.
Now let’s talk about some common mistakes that a freelancer should avoid to be successful. And we will talk about all the mistakes that can ruin your freelancing career, how you can be aware of them today.
Communication skills
English knowledge is the first requirement to become a freelancer. You need basic skills to communicate with clients. You don’t need to be an English major, but you should be able to exchange messages and speak when needed.
If you can’t deal with clients properly and can’t communicate, then this work will be missed, and if you can’t complete the work, it will have an effect on your profile. If you can’t meet these requirements, freelancing may not be for you.
And not only that you need to be proficient in communication in English, you can communicate with clients in your own language for work in the local market. But in this case the priority will be whether you have been able to convince your client about your work or skills.
And this whole thing depends on your communication. However, not everyone’s communication skills are the same, but it can be improved over time through practice and confidence buildup.
Avoid copying portfolios
A prerequisite to being a successful freelancer is to have a portfolio. If you are a designer, open your account on Behance or Dribble and submit works to your portfolio.
If you are a web designer then you create a website and put your portfolios there. Again if you are an android app developer then put your software on play store.
If you are a content writer then you open a fiver account and put your portfolios there. Basically, you should have a portfolio for every field you work in as a freelancer.
Because when your client gives you a job, he wants to see your previous work, you can show the work as a sample.
Client Mismanagement
The most important aspect of freelancing is client management. When a client interviews you for a job, it’s important how you present yourself as the best candidate for the job. Understand what results the client expects or needs from the work.
And the client is not interested in knowing the details of your work (what software you use, your tricks and tips, etc.), but you should convince him that you can handle the job. And after accepting the project, it is very important to update the work to the clients regularly.
This will give them an idea of whether you can deliver the work they want and whether they would be interested in working with you in the future. Meanwhile you have to take care.
Sharing of personal information
Never share any personal contact number, email etc. with the client. Even if the buyer or client wants it, don’t do it in plain language. Be aware enough about this.
Never share anything from your social media profile to any personal website where you have your phone number, email etc. Sharing personal information may result in your profile being restricted or banned.
To Hurry
Many people send offers to customers as soon as they see a job ad. They feel that if they can present their offer to the client before others apply, they will have a better chance of getting the job.
But in reality the opposite happens. Because people often copy and paste a template to send a proposal quickly without reading the detailed job information. As a result, much of the information the customer wants to know is left out of the job description. As a result no response is received from the customer.
Remember, customers usually wait a certain amount of time after posting a job until they find a quality job. Therefore, sending job offers quickly will not have much impact.
Work for free
As a freelancer, curating your work portfolio is crucial. But that being said, don’t work for free. Nowadays, creating a website is not a difficult task by choosing the best thing you can create.
If you have an idea or knowledge about a website, you can organize your work in PDF or Google Docs format and present it to the client. Avoid working for free if possible.
Working at very low rates
Many of them work on freelancing platforms, many of them charge very low rates even for various difficult tasks. This should not be the case at all. Find out what the minimum standard rate is for your freelance work and don’t settle for a lower rate.
Doing a difficult job for less money will waste your time and effort. Plus other freelancers will be harassed by the same client to work for less for your stupidity. So make sure to charge at least the minimum standard fee for your work.
Not being efficient
Many go into freelancing with little knowledge of their job. This is a completely wrong move. If you are an expert in a subject, work only in that field. When a client submits a job to you, they expect you to do it better than anyone else, the client expects it from you.
You cannot succeed as a freelancer if you don’t have the right skills and if you can’t do the job well.
Failure to submit work within the specified time
Many take up more and more projects but fail to deliver the project to the client on time. If you already have projects in the pipeline or are unsure whether you will be able to complete a new project in the specified time, do not accept the project.
Take on the next project only if you feel you can submit the work on time. Because not submitting projects on time is just as damaging to your freelance profile as it is ironic to clients.
Out of network
Being a freelancer means owning your own business, and there are several factors that you need to keep in mind. As a freelancer, your profile is very important to your clients.
This alone may not be enough to reach your customers. You need connections in the freelancing or client world. The more contacts you have, the more clients will choose you, and the more experience you’ll gain.
Systemic routine
In many cases, our clients are overseas or in different time zones, often for urgent work such as website down to resolve problems as quickly as possible or to deal with different types of clients.
In that case, you should keep in mind that if you take up any task, you will be able to complete the task well with little or no hassle in your daily life. Decide how many hours per week or day you can work and select clients accordingly.
Unconsciousness
The most fatal mistake that more or less everyone makes in a freelancing career is accepting work orders without knowing or understanding and attaching oneself to all kinds of projects.
But you are not obliged to know all the jobs in the world. Again, you have to know the ins and outs of the job you have mastered.
There are many who take orders without knowing or understanding exactly what the client wants, but still fail to provide that service to the customer. Remember never to accept any service order from a client without knowledge or understanding. One negative review of yours can do a huge damage to your freelancing career that can never be recovered.
Not replying to the client
If you are new to the marketplace, never make this mistake. When a client sees your profile and portfolio and tries to hire you for a job, respond quickly no matter how busy you are.
Every freelancer should be aware of the above mistakes and avoid them. This will help you to have a successful freelance career and great prospects. I hope today’s discussion will help you build your freelance career and guide you in the right direction.
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