What NOT to Do in the Freelance Industry

Freelancing is not easy! Most people end up making mistakes that derail their Freelancing  journey. A report by the International Freelancers Academy shows that most people who join this industry are attracted to flexibility and freedom it offers. Making mistakes could affect your work and ruin your relationships with clients. Here are five traps and how to avoid them to accelerate your success in the industry. 

Five Things to Avoid in Freelancing 

1. Settling for Lower Pay

Establish your worth! Many people are stuck into accepting lower rates when starting. It might be a good strategy to raise your profile rating, but consider revising your rates as soon as you have closed several deals. A low figure will leave clients judging your services as low quality. It might even get you struggling to make ends meet.

To escape this perplexity, consider checking what others are charging for similar services. Determine your work quality by gauging it between the lowest charging and the highest. If it is a must that you have to settle for a bargain price then make sure it is for a good cause such as being able to strike a long-term deal with the client by winning his trust, or gaining insights or access to a more larger opportunities connected to it, that might open up by going ahead with the current deal.

2. Not Specializing in a Niche

Beginners will always rush to grab any gig that comes by. A good piece of advice—don’t pick any project that comes by. If you have to, determine a maximum of three areas you excel at and take projects from them. Specializing in a particular field improves quality. Clients consider specialized skills when hiring. If your portfolio displays several unrelated skills, clients will judge you as a disorganized person and avoid you.

3. Working Without Signing a Contract

Whether simple or little, always get into an agreement before starting to work. It will help you get assurance of receiving your payment. As an employer, you will get work done per your instructions, ensuring your funds are put into good use. Freelance marketplaces will always offer a platform to get in a detailed agreement with the terms and conditions needed. Having a written agreement will eliminate the chances of disputes arising. Software such as eversign helps in the signing of legally binding agreements.

4. Overworking

Most newbies are tempted to take every gig that comes on their way. You risk getting burnt out, which limits you from delivering quality work. You’ll always have piles of work waiting for you to complete, and much attention is paid to completing the work rather than offering quality work. Only consider accepting the Freelance jobs you can manage. After all, it is better to work on a few manageable projects rather than taking breaks to recover from illnesses.      

5. Giving Up

Succeeding in the freelance industry takes time. Don’t base success on the number of hours you’ve worked. Experience will always take the day. Keep on practicing and improving until you can deliver quality work without any challenges. Starting is hard. As you keep moving, you unlock new skills that will build your portfolio. Remember to keep tracking progress and celebrate milestones achieved. Employers are more interested in your past experiences and achievements and will pay more for quality.

Bottom-line

Proper making of decisions is a key to succeeding in the freelance industry. Mistakes, however, can deter one from establishing a successful Freelance career. To make it in the industry, make sure to specialize in your best field and then offer quality work. Do not overburden yourself with work. Keep on giving your best, and don’t lose hope. After all, quitters never win! Passion and dedication will propel you to unimaginable heights.