Four Mistakes to Avoid When Working as a Freelancer

As Albert Einstein once said, “a person who never made a mistake never tried anything new”.  It is clearly evident that we can’t learn anything new without taking a risk.  Starting a freelance career and looking for finding online freelance jobs is nothing but taking the biggest risk of your life.  If you have enough courage and perseverance to stay put, you are sure to come out of it with flying colors. And making mistakes is the most significant part of starting your business and being your own boss. Even though many mistakes out there cannot be avoided, there are still some preventable ones. Check them out. 

• Working for friends and family 

People in your immediate circle might not have any clue about the market rates for freelance projects.  They might believe they are entitled to a steep discount just because they know you.  There might be instances where you have just started your business and cannot afford to work on a heavy discount.  If the business relationship goes south, the chances of your friendship or relationship being jeopardized are enhanced. 

• Not trusting your instincts 

Freelancing is all about listening to your inner voice and acting upon it.  Freelancing is inevitably the most uncertain business prospect in the industry. No matter how vigilant you are, you can never predict the next step.  At the start of your freelance career, you might think that trusting your gut might be a stupid idea, but you cannot be more wrong.  You don’t have to do the work if their radars are pinging without end at each new step.  Find freelance jobs online, be affirmative for the ones you like and flat-out refuse the ones you don’t. 

• Not being picky about the clients 

This is one of the most prominent mistakes you can make while starting your career as a freelancer.  You might have come across a lot of people saying that you need to get some experience before you can get serious clients.  We are not saying that gaining experience is not right, what we are trying to say is that you don’t have to give up on being picky.  If you do not like the client or the work, be straightforward in rejecting it.  Even if you need work and money pronto, you must never accept the first client that comes your way. 

• Not starting a contract 

No matter how small the work is, you must never start without a written agreement.  It is never a good idea.   You are leaving yourself open to fraud and requests if you do not sign a contract at the starting of the deal.  It’s in rare instances where handshake deals to work.                                                                                                                                  

You can avoid these mistakes the next time freelance services online contact you for jobs.