You’re just starting out as a freelance developer and you don’t know which path to take to succeed. Your confusion is understandable, as everyone knows there is a fine line between success and failure. Due to lack of information or misinformation, we often take a step in the wrong direction, jeopardizing everything we work so hard for. Knowing when you’ve made a mistake is a great way to avoid making more mistakes. Here are some of the most common mistakes freelance developers make:
- The price is too low. You have just started and are trying to build a name for yourself. You are not yet sure of your value, so you may want to lower the price. You should always be paid appropriately for your skills and experience, and you should not be afraid to ask for it, even if it means losing some bids. You’ll be better off in the long run.
- modesty. People tell you that humility from birth is a good thing, but in a world where you have to sell yourself, your skills and your image, it shouldn’t take up too much space. If you believe in your skills, your customers will too.
- Do you feel like you have a lot of work to do, even though you know you don’t have the time? Learn to say “no”. Take a step back. You have to realize that working too hard and missing your boss’ deadline doesn’t help anyone.
- Stay in touch with satisfied past clients because you never know when they’ll send you new work or recommend you to others. Don’t be afraid to send a friendly email or card on your special day. That’s called public relations.
- Don’t settle for just one job. Stability sounds appealing, but if you only work for one person, you lose the benefits of freelancing and potentially miss out on great opportunities.
- get sloppy. Yes, it has happened before. Once you’ve built a good relationship with your client, you may be tempted to rush your work or not double-check its quality. It’s best for you and your customers if you stop doing this, because no one wants to be sloppy, no matter how long you’ve been working together.
- Try to understand what your boss wants. Even if you were hired because of your skills and experience, you should always consider the needs of the employer. If you don’t, you run the risk of delivering an end product that the customer doesn’t like.
- Always talk to your boss and don’t leave unanswered questions. It’s good for both of you.