Common Freelancer Mistakes, and How to Avoid Them
The chance for independence, new projects and a flexible schedule is exciting! In this new gig economy, opportunities are plentiful but in order to be successful, freelancers must stay informed and aware. Here are some potential mistakes to avoid.
Missing The Opportunity To Upskill or Earn Certifications:
The economy is changing constantly, and with these changes, business is being conducted in new ways. Freelancers will need to stay up to date on new technology and soft skills to thrive in this competitive job market.
Coursera and LinkedIn Learning offer many free opportunities to level up! You can learn the newest project management systems, earn a certificate in instructional design or understand the new marketing and SEO (Search Engine Optimization) trends either for free or at a low cost.
The Virtual Events Institute is an excellent source for event professionals offering certification programs and on-demand training. Learn about the VEIP Certification and the special offer available to you through our partnership here.
Another popular certification is the MPI Pandemic Meeting & Event Design certification, where planners can get up to speed with some of the new protocols coming out because of COVID.
Lastly, Cvent, offers free and discounted courses for Meeting Professionals through Cvent Academy including certifications on Virtual Events, Hybrid Events, and more.
Soundings Thrive members also have the chance to gain hands-on learning opportunities through the Platform Playground Mock Events program. Through this, freelancers can access educational content, sandbox versions of top platforms, and execute events with a team of other Soundings Thrive freelancers - without the high stakes of an actual public event.
Setting Your Rate Too Low:
Be sure to set a rate that is high enough to allow you to be able to afford to freelance. Should you charge an hourly rate or flat rate? Make sure you understand the scope of the project, and charge enough so that you do not have to accept several assignments to make up for a low rate.
Pick a yearly salary. For example, $60,000 a year breaks down to:
$60,000 per year before taxes
20% of salary for health insurance, taxes, and other expenses
Work 40 hours a week (8 hours x 5 days)
4 weeks off (20 days) for vacation and sick time
48 weeks x 40 hours a week = 1,920 hours
$60,000/ 1920 hours = $31.25 per hour
Don’t forget to consider the non-billable time you will spend running your business, handling administrative tasks, and doing business development.
Being Disorganized:
Organization is key if you want to be taken seriously as a freelancer. Without it, you could make many mistakes that could harm your business. Take advantage of the many free project management systems such as Asana and Trello to keep yourself organized and make sure that your home office is free of distractions.
Not Asking For Repeat Work:
Don’t assume your client will always reach out and ask you to bid on new projects. Follow up with your clients to ask for repeat work periodically. You never know what you will get!
Forgetting To Network With The Freelance Community:
Networking is an awesome way to stay connected with like-minded freelance professionals. Want to stay informed of more freelancing tips and resources? Join the Soundings Thrive community today! Click here to learn more.