#7: Letting Your Creativity Stagnate
As a creative professional, it’s important to continue to learn new skills while nurturing old ones. If you specialize in a niche or two, a great way to branch out and improve your professional value is to take a course in a related field you haven’t fully explored yet.
There are plenty of free courses available online, including top-quality free courses, also known as MOOCs, to help keep your skills fresh and ensure you always have plenty of new material to write about.
So don’t get stuck in a rut – take some time out to educate yourself on the latest advances in your field, and let your clients know about it.
#8: Not Having Policies in Place
Before you take on your first project, it’s critical to have your policies in place. Freelance policies typically include things like payment terms and final ownership of completed work.
Another policy you should consider before you begin work is your revisions policy – in other words, how many times can a client request a rewrite or a revision?
Some freelance writers choose to offer unlimited revisions as a selling point. Beware, though, if you go this route, because sooner or later somebody is going to take full advantage of it.
Instead, consider offering a set number of revisions. Don’t feel pressured to make promises you can’t deliver.
Finally, always ensure that both parties understand the work that is to be completed and never start working on a project until you have an agreement in writing.
With these caveats in mind, and with a little time and effort getting your business in order, you can be confident you’re starting off your freelancing career on the right track.
Photo Credit: B Rosen, CollegeDegrees360, Nick Allen, Cordey, Karen via Flickr