4 mistakes you should avoid making as a freelancer
News flash: no one is perfect.
But that doesn’t mean that we should remain stagnant and not work at improving ourselves. The same goes for your working life. You might be *pretty darn good*, not just at your craft but how you handle your duties, obligations and communication, but there is always room for growth and improvement.
Another thing you should probably make peace with sooner rather than later is that you are going to stuff up occasionally, and that’s okay! But there are some common mistakes which, if you avoid, can stand you in good stead for a prosperous freelancing career. Because when you know better, you do better!
1. Taking on too much work
We get it — you are very enthusiastic and worry that if you turn down a gig now, you are burning a potentially-lucrative bridge. But if you over promise and under deliver — whether it’s for one client or a number of them — not only do you run the risk of burning out 🥵, but you will most likely also produce rushed, sub-par work, which could negatively impact that good reputation you have worked so hard to build.
2. Not charging enough for your services
While you are deciding on your rates, remember that the first step is to familiarise yourself with the industry standard. It’s also not a good idea to go low with your price to undercut your competitors as this can bring the prices down throughout your field, meaning everyone gets screwed. It’s also crucial to not sell yourself short, literally and figuratively, and keep your financial wants and needs in mind when coming up with a figure.
3. Working for ‘exposure’
This is something that has become increasingly common, especially in the creative industries. While there are times that this can be beneficial, like when you are a fledgeling in your field and want to get your name out there, you can’t pay rent and buy groceries with exposure. Know your worth, put a numerical value to it, and require that people pay you for your services. It doesn’t have to be much but, as the old saying goes, business is business.
4. Not having a savings account
Whether this comes in the form of a legitimate bank account (we recommend!) or a sock stuffed under your mattress (not so much!), it’s important to have enough cash set aside for when work is scarce. You might be rolling in the dough — and the jobs — right now, but this doesn’t mean that you won’t experience the occasional dry spell. Consider yourself warned and get saving!
