Common Mistakes to Avoid in Freelancing

Freelance experts: “Be more selective with clients!” Freelancers: “Super. Thanks. And how, pray tell?” Use these 10 practices to identify bad-fit clients before you become entangled: 1. Institute a minimum engagement, meaning don’t accept projects below a certain value. This is the easiest way to minimize the time you’d otherwise spend on price-sensitive tire kickers. 2. Institute a minimum timeline, meaning don’t agree to turnarounds time of less than X days. This will protect you from clients whose urgent deadlines are a result of their own poor planning. 3. Don’t do spec work or free “test” projects. If a client needs to see “what you can do,” send the link to your portfolio. If you don’t have a portfolio, produce some work you’re proud of, on your own—no clients asking for free samples required. 4. Require a deposit before you start the project. The client doesn’t work for free, and you don’t either. Oh, they really must get started asap? Oh look, here’s the link for paying with a credit card! How convenient. 5. Don’t offer discounts in exchange for future referrals. In fact, don’t offer discounts at all. If a client doesn’t have a big enough budget for everything they originally wanted, dial back on the scope. 6. Don’t jump into big projects or retainer relationships until you’ve tested the relationship with a one-off planning project. A paid audit, project roadmapping engagement, or strategy session can give you significant insight into what the person will be like to work with and save you many unpaid hours of discovery and project scoping. 7. Use a solid agreement. A living, breathing attorney created mine. It’s long and dense and I hate it and I love it because it’s better than Advil for preventing headaches. Maybe you know the feeling. If you don’t have a good one, sign up for Moxie. Their contracts alone are worth the monthly subscription. 8. Tie installment payments to dates in the calendar not to project milestones. If the project value is less than $5,000, I charge 100% up front. If it’s more than that, I charge 50% up front, 25% at 30 days, and the final 25% at 60 days. I don’t want my money held hostage by client delays. 9. “When people show you who they are, believe them the first time.” Maya Angelou said that once to Oprah, but she might have been saying it to every freelancer ever. Keep your peepers peeled. Notice what clients do more than what they say. 10. Remember that people are remarkably consistent. The client who’s sloppy with communication early on will grind your gears throughout the project. The client who’s prompt, respectful, detail-oriented, and decisive early on will continue to continue to be easy to work with. You still “go positive and go first,” as Peter Kaufman recommends, but as you see yellow flags and notice a familiar pattern emerging, you discreetly protect yourself by sticking to these practices—project deposits, et al—or by finding the nearest door.

Ten ways to DESTROY an analytics solopreneurship 💣 After 5+ years running an analytics solopreneurship, I've learned a lot about success -- and, even more so, failure! Want to steer clear of pitfalls in your journey? Here are some missteps to avoid. 1. Taking excessively small contracts: Jumping at small contracts seems tempting, but it's a rookie mistake. The admin burden just isn't worth it for minor gains. 2. Not vetting potential clients enough: Not every client fits. Some undervalue your expertise and drain your resources. Be selective and value your worth. 3. Going above and beyond on scope: Going beyond the project scope without compensation is a quick route to burnout. Stick to your contract terms firmly. 4. Depending on a single client: Relying on one client is risky business. Diversify your client base to build a resilient income stream. 5. Chasing the shiny new technology: It's tempting to chase the latest tech. However, focus on what your clients actually need, which might be more basic but essential tools. 6. Ignoring your authority building: Don't neglect building your brand. Consistent content marketing can cement your reputation as a field expert. 7. Underestimating project scope and timeline: Inaccurate project estimates can be costly. Track your time, plan meticulously, and charge accordingly. 8. Assuming you have to be viral to be successful: You don't need to go viral to succeed. Focus on quality content for your niche audience. 9. Thinking success has to look a certain way: Success isn't one-size-fits-all. Set personal goals and celebrate your unique journey. 10. Thinking the next big achievement will solve everything: Don't chase the illusion that one big break will fix it all. Embrace the journey and find balance. What other challenges have you faced as a solopreneur? Let's discuss 👇 You can read the full post at my website: https://lnkd.in/gJcxBPQs

I’ve been a freelance writer for 3.5 years, but hands down, the first year was the hardest (writing for minimum wage, burning out [twice], chasing invoices). This is the business advice I wish someone could’ve told me sooner: ⤵ 1. Clauses Are Key 🔑. Create a project proposal that includes clauses to protect your time and set boundaries. For example: • 1.1 Schedule. Proposal serves as a partnership agreement, which begins on the date of deposit receipt. Why It's Important ➜ You don’t start the project until the client pays your deposit. This protects you from doing unpaid labor. 1.2 Consultation. Retainer includes up to (insert hours) of video conferencing for the duration of the retainer. If additional calls are required, they are billed as a line-item cost of ($X) per hour. • Why It's Important ➜ This protects you from the dreaded “Can you hop on a call really quickly?” If clients want your time, they can pay for it. (I cover more must-have clauses in my newsletter – link below!) 2. Zero People-Pleasing Allowed 🚫. You can’t run a successful business if you are a people-pleaser. What are you going to say when your client wants to include something that’s not in the scope? When they want you to lower your price? When they keep delaying the start date? “It’s fine, don’t worry!” is not going to build a profitable business. Be firm. You’re not being rude: You’re just running a business. 3. Stay Put. 🏠 A lot of people become freelancers so they can work from anywhere (like me!). But your first year is *not* the time to be traveling around the world. To get your business off the ground, you'll need to be focused – which means staying put in one location. The last thing I'll say: That first year is the hardest, but if you can get past it, you *will* succeed for the long run. You got this. 🤞 Is there any freelancing business advice you wish you knew sooner? ------------------ #freelancewriting #freelanceadvice #remotework

🚨 Personal story time: Don’t work for free. Ever. Not even for a “good cause.” Not even as a “favor.” A while back, a local charity reached out, asking if I could design a flyer for their fundraising event. They had no budget but promised to give me a “shoutout” on social media. I thought, "It’s a small task, and I believe in their cause," so I agreed. Fast forward to the day of the event, and suddenly, I was getting emails and messages asking for multiple revisions. Then they wanted social media banners, custom invitations, even extra designs for their sponsors. Each request came with the same line: "It’s for the cause!" And guess what? It didn’t end there. The next week, they asked me to redesign their entire website—again, for free. Here’s the truth: when you work for free, people often stop seeing your work as a valuable service and start treating it as a never-ending resource. The requests keep coming, and the appreciation quickly fades. The takeaway? Don’t work for free. Even when it feels like a favor, it rarely stays that way. Your time and expertise are worth something. Don’t let anyone take advantage of that. Got it? #StaySharp #KnowYourWorth #FreelancerLife