Challenges in Freelancing: Tips to Overcome Them
Freelancing is a great way to start your own business with the skills you already have. It doesn't take too much from you to build a sustainable career and have steady income. Along with all the positive things you know about freelancing, you should also be aware of the main challenges in freelancing. Today we’ll discuss some of those challenges and give ideas on how to overcome them. So stick around if you are a newbie freelancer or someone who needs our advice about freelancing.
Why Freelancing?
Freelancing is a great alternative to a 9-5. If you are already freelancing then you probably know its advantages including the freedom and flexibility it brings. All the skills, expertise, experience and knowledge you have gained through your education or life experience can serve you in freelancing. The majority of freelancing platforms, including upwork, come with a bunch of categories for different skill sets. You may be a freelancer of different professions in one marketplace and sell your services at your preferable rates.
Now, let’s see the main benefits of freelancing.
Work-life balance
Being your own boss
Maximizing your earnings
More free time
Flexibility in your schedule
Setting your own rate
Challenges
There are plenty of challenges in freelancing. When you get started with freelancing you may be disappointed right from the start because it comes with difficulties that you think you won't overcome. However, we are here to tell you that every freelancer has gone through it and there is no need to give up right from the start. Let’s discuss the challenges in freelancing and find answers to difficult questions.
#1. Finding Clients
It may require some time from you to find clients and succeed in this business, but once you are into it, you find yourself and become the next freelance king/queen like the majority of today’s top-rated freelancers. Many beginner freelancers may spend a lot of time finding a client. But, believe me, there is always a client looking for your skills and talents.
Tip: Don’t rush, be patient. Go through every job post that seems to be a good option for you. Choose wisely, apply with a strong cover letter and showcase a powerful profile and portfolio.
#2 Setting Rates
While setting rates is a big advantage in freelancing, it can also be challenging to set the right rates for specific projects. Of course you can have an hourly rate or a fixed rate for similar tasks but when it comes to something different or more time-consuming, you start thinking of another rate. And here comes the challenge, especially when the client waits for your response.
You may get confused, you may not know what rate to offer to the client to win the job. And sometimes, you don’t even have the time to do some research to learn about the rates for a job your client offers.
Tip: Be a strategist. Ask about the client’s budget and learn about their expectations. Offer a rate and negotiate.
#3 Increasing your Rates
This can be challenging for experienced freelancers who already have great feedback/ testimonials on their profile and they have started to work faster and more effectively. So, they can offer more skills and more productivity. Therefore, they have the right to increase their rate. You may have clients you work with for years and ,maybe you have become friends.
It’s a bit difficult for you to start this discussion with a client-friend but you can find a way to do it. Everyone knows how fast the economy changes and how fast life becomes expensive. However, it’s better to focus on the skills you currently use in your services. If you have expanded your skills that are in demand and you use them in your work, then let the client know about it.
Tip: Discuss this with your previous clients and start increasing your rate for new jobs. Remember, every question finds its answer through communication.
#4 Getting Scammed
It happens a lot of times that beginner freelancers get scammed. This is another big challenge that you may face while freelancing. Scammers usually put a high price on their projects to tempt newbies or offer other “profitable job conditions” to catch freelancers’ attention. They are very polite, kind and pleasant in communication but once you finish the tasks, they disappear without paying a penny.
Tip: Don’t work outside the platform. Don’t agree on payments outside of the platform. Don't believe in huge amounts of money they promise to pay. Start working only after you have a contract with the client.
#5 Stability
People think they have stability with a 9-5 job and it ensures consistency. But the truth is that they confuse the word stability with the word consistency. There is no guarantee that you won’t lose your job anytime.
Actually, many employees from tech companies have lost their jobs during the recent years. And although you don’t have this problem in freelancing, it’s still challenging to find a client who’s going to ensure a steady job that lasts for years.
Tip: Apply for long-term jobs. Cooperate with several clients.
#6 Working Alone
Our last freelancing challenge has a kind of psychological nature. Loneliness is a common problem in freelancing. While you may enjoy working alone for some time, it becomes depressive for you after a while.
Soon or later you realize that you don't have coworkers, you don’t have the opportunity to attend cooperative meetings/events, you don’t have friends to share your lunch break with, and so on. Instead you have just you and your laptop. This can impact on your mental health. To avoid it, follow our advice.
Tip: Connect with other freelancers in freelancers' communities. Attend events that your local freelancers organize. Make new friends and find more time to spend outside. Spend more time in nature, especially on your days off. Sometimes choose to work outside your home.
Summing Up
All of the above-mentioned tips will help you easily overcome freelancing challenges. They will help you increase your productivity and improve your freelancing approaches.
Don’t forget to check the video below to learn more about freelancing challenges from Adam Palmer.
