The 7 Top Freelancing Mistakes

 

Freelancing can be a great way to make a living. There's no clock to punch, no boss hovering over your shoulder. You can set your own schedule, eat at your desk. You can even work in your pajamas.

The downside to freelancing is that no one has your back. You're responsible for every detail of a freelance transaction, from start to finish - which isn't necessarily negative, as long as you know what to avoid. Here are 7 of the most common freelancing mistakes and how to avoid them:

1. Not charging enough for your time and effort. Don't give it away. All to often, I see people on Elance or Guru who are willing to practically work for free. Not only do you devalue your work, you also devalue the work of others in your field.

2. Know what you're getting into before you get into it. Do the research. Calculate how much research, work, communication is involved in the job before you set your compensation rate. If you fail here, you're likely to find that instead of making $20 an hour, you're making $5.

3. Agree to a deadline and stick to it. One of the most important aspects of freelancing as a career is establishing and maintaining your good reputation. Do what you say you're going to do, when you say you're going to do it.

4. Get it in writing beforehand. It's always important to have the client's expectations and your own in writing before beginning a job. If it's all spelled out on paper or in an online document, there can be no confusion. This can be vital if a client fails to pay you, and you have to resort to legal resolution.

5. Keep your relationship friendly, but professional. This sets the tone for all your future interactions. The client will respect you more, and thus treat you and your work with the respect it deserves.

6. Don't put all your eggs in one basket. It's a worn-out saying. But today, more than ever, it's true. Relying on one or two clients for work can put you in a real bind if one or both of them goes out of business or goes through a lean time financially. Constantly seek new streams of income.

7. Stick to a schedule. Although one of the benefits of freelancing is that you are your own boss and therefore can work when you like, you'll find you're much more productive and make more money when you set a daily schedule and work within it. You can still take the occasional day off. But working within a planned time frame will help you to avoid the stress of running up on a tight deadline. Get the work done, then relax.

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