Intro
Are you struggling to make ends meet as a freelancer? You’re not alone – but there are solutions! This list of problems faced by freelancers, along with the best ways to solve them, will help you stay organized, find new clients and spend more time doing what you love and less time worrying about money. Let’s get started!
1) Being rejected by clients
It can be disheartening when a client turns you down. You put in all that hard work and they don’t want it. Sometimes, it can feel like you’re not good enough and all your hard work is for nothing. It’s a tough pill to swallow but there are ways to get back up on your feet and keep going. 1) Have a back-up plan: If it’s really important for you to get this gig, then have some other jobs in mind just in case they say no. 2) Ask them why: Sometimes rejection is due to something that’s fixable so ask them why they didn’t go with your proposal and see if there’s anything you can do about it. 3) Keep doing what you do best: Once again, it may sound a little cliché, but the best way to improve is by practicing. There’s always room for improvement and being rejected isn’t an excuse to give up on your dreams. 4) Take time off: When I’m feeling burned out from pitching my services too much I take time off freelancing altogether and take care of myself instead. 5) Remind yourself how valuable your skills are: Some clients might not know exactly what they need until they find themselves in need of someone with specific skills which could be you!
2) Wanting more projects
Freelancers want more work. That is a given. But how can they get it? There are many ways, and there are many freelancers who have overcome this problem. One thing you can do is increase your freelance job search network on social media sites like LinkedIn. Another option is create an online presence for your freelance business. A website with blog posts about your skills will be very helpful in attracting new clients. You could also use a site like Elance or Upwork as well. These types of platforms allow employers to find and hire freelancers without searching through listings one by one. The downside is that these type of platforms take around 20% commission from what the employer pays to the freelancer (although sometimes less). However, there are other options. Some freelancers opt to go into business with their spouse and charge their client a flat rate instead of taking a percentage. Other freelancers choose to open up their own virtual office where they can store files, send invoices, communicate with employees and clients all in one place. When creating the virtual office make sure it’s protected by state law or comply with federal regulations such as HIPAA regulations for health care providers.
3) Wanting more confidence
You might not be sure how to solve your freelancer problem, but you know you want more confidence. Here are some tips for overcoming the top five freelancers problems that can help boost your self-esteem:
- Fear of rejection – One way to combat this is by asking someone who’s opinion you trust for feedback on your work before you post it. The two of you can go back and forth over it until both agree that it’s ready for public viewing. Another option is to look at what other people are doing in a similar field and try copying their style instead of coming up with something new yourself. You might find that this gives them more confidence in themselves as well! 2. Feeling overwhelmed – It’s easy to feel overwhelmed when you’re trying to do too many things at once or if there just isn’t enough time in the day for everything you have planned. To avoid this feeling, put together a realistic list of all of the tasks that need completing, then prioritize based on importance and urgency. If possible, set deadlines for each task as well so you’ll know exactly when they’re due so there will be no surprises later on down the line.
4) Wanting more income
In order to make more money, you have two options. You can take on more clients or increase your rates. It’s a good idea to start by analyzing why you are not making as much as you would like. Once you know what needs work, it will be easier to decide how to proceed. Do you need to update your profile? Maybe you need better skills? Or maybe you just need better marketing techniques. With this information in hand, it should be easy to address the problem and find a solution that suits your needs. If you feel overwhelmed with clients, then one option is to charge a higher rate so that fewer people bid on your projects. On the other hand, if you’re not earning enough from each client, then either consider raising prices or get some new marketing techniques going to help attract more business.
If nothing else seems to be working and you’re feeling frustrated by freelancing altogether, it might be time for an entirely new career path. If the benefits of freelancing seem worth exploring further, try these six tips for tackling each of the top five problems faced by freelancers today: wanting more income; finding clients; getting paid quickly; having downtime between jobs; gaining feedback from past employers; and being underpaid for skill level/experience.
5) Facing rejections
It is a common misconception that freelancers live an easy life with no obligations. In reality, freelancers are constantly facing rejections and setbacks from their clients. You may feel like you’re not good enough or lacking in experience when it comes to your freelancing job. The truth is, rejection can happen for any number of reasons: clients might have projects that are too big for you, they might be overbooked and unable to take on new work for a while, or they may not have anything in particular in mind that requires your skillset at this time. If you find yourself facing frequent rejections, it’s worth taking some time out of your day to figure out what could be causing these incidents and how you can avoid them going forward. For example, if many of your potential clients have been turning down your bids because they need someone who speaks German, try speaking up about this as soon as possible. Provide more information about what other languages you speak and include links to examples of work that showcase your fluency in German as well as English so they know they don’t need to worry about language barriers in the future.