Freelancing seems like a dream: freedom, remote work, flexible hours… But after a couple of months, many newcomers face reality: there are few orders, clients disappear, money is unstable. The reason is often not a “bad market”, but mistakes freelancers make themselves.
Let's look at 5 typical mistakes that prevent you from earning a stable income and growing in your profession.
🧱 Ошибка №1: Нет узкой специализации
You "do everything": websites, texts, SEO, design and even SMM for change. Clients don't understand what you're good at and pass you by.
How to fix:
- Choose one direction (for example, “turnkey WordPress websites” or “copywriting for online stores”).
- Package the service into a specific offer.
- Use the same wording in your profile, applications and on the website.
🎯 Помни: Clients are looking for a specialist, not a generalist.
🧱 Ошибка №2: Слабый профиль и портфолио
A profile on the exchange without a photo, an empty "About Me" section, a portfolio of school essays - and you wonder why no one writes?
How to fix:
- Write vivid and clear description: who you are, what you do, who you are useful to.
- Even if there are no orders - create test papers. An example of a website, text, design - all this can be done without a client.
- Add cases and describe the result: not just “wrote the text”, but “increased sales by 20%”.
🧱 Ошибка №3: Отклики без смысла
You give a template answer:
"Hello, I'm ready to do it, please contact me."
Such a response is deleted without reading. The customer needs to understand why you are the solution to his problem.
How to fix:
- Rewrite each application individually.
- Show that you understand the problem.
- Suggest a specific approach.
- If you have experience in similar projects, please indicate it.
📌 Один хороший отклик = 10 шаблонных.
🧱 Ошибка №4: Страх брать предоплату
Many newbies work “until they get results”, are afraid of losing a client, and end up losing money, time and motivation.
How to fix:
- Use it safe ways of transaction: through exchanges or stages.
- Prepayment of 30-50% is normal.
- Do it stages: for example, plan → design → final.
⚠️ Заказчики уважают тех, кто knows how to value his time.
🧱 Ошибка №5: Полная тишина вне бирж
You wait for clients only on one platform, and if it’s “quiet” there, you’re out of work.
How to fix:
- Start a Telegram channel or blog.
- Create a simple business card website (on WordPress).
- Write articles, share cases, answer in groups.
- Facebook, LinkedIn, Behance profile – these are also incoming applications.
📢 Клиенты приходят туда, где you are and where are you active.
✅ Conclusion
Mistakes are normal. The main thing is not to make them over and over again. If you:
- chose a clear niche,
- designed a profile and portfolio,
- you write clear requests,
- respect your time and clients,
— orders will not keep you waiting. Freelancing is not a lottery, but a system.
And when you start playing by its rules, it starts working for you.
Author: Alex
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