What are some common mistakes to avoid as a freelance designer?

[Jose]

Graphics design is a big field that freelancers tap into to make money. There are many departments which a skillful graphics designer can specialize on and be a pro. Avoiding mistakes will go a long way in making one become an authority in the field.

What are some common mistakes you avoid as a freelance designer?

 

[Ezra]

Never take jobs which you're not certain convinced that you can do perfectly especially from a first client. If you fail on the job, it's going damage your reputation. Bad reputation is devastating for newbies graphics designers.

 

[Kennysplash]

You should be able to take a percentage of your deal before even starting the work. And make use of Escrows when you are starting out with a new client.

 

[Sara]

You should be able to take a percentage of your deal before even starting the work. And make use of Escrows when you are starting out with a new client.

This is very important. The first mistake I did when I was still an amateur was allowing the person to hold back till I am done. It became story upon story when I completed the work. I learnt my lesson so well.

 

[Ryder]

You should be able to take a percentage of your deal before even starting the work. And make use of Escrows when you are starting out with a new client.

I don't know how to use this Escrow service. How can I create one for myself? I know it's available on freelancing website like Fiverr and Seoclerks.

 

[Kennysplash]

I don't know how to use this Escrow service. How can I create one for myself? I know it's available on freelancing website like Fiverr and Seoclerks.

There are Escrow websites that you can make your clients use to validate payments. Just type escrow sites on google and you will see many suggestions.

 

[Brandon]

Under pricing your services is one of the biggest mistake graphic designers make especially because they want to over impress their potential clients in order for them to order their services. This is a mistake that you should avoid making at all cost.

 

[Sara]

Under pricing your services is one of the biggest mistake graphic designers make especially because they want to over impress their potential clients in order for them to order their services. This is a mistake that you should avoid making at all cost.

It's very important and I hope newbies stop making that mistake. Under pricing is like working without being paid and you won't know until you are done with the work. I get to know this earlier.

 

[Maddox]

It's very important and I hope newbies stop making that mistake. Under pricing is like working without being paid and you won't know until you are done with the work. I get to know this earlier.

It's as a result of competition that even older freelancers do the same thing with under pricing their services too because if they don't do it, the newbies will keep taking their jobs.

 

[Sara]

It's as a result of competition that even older freelancers do the same thing with under pricing their services too because if they don't do it, the newbies will keep taking their jobs.

The newbies don't know what it is yet and the people that can teach them are not doing it right. Anyone taking a job and under pricing their services as an older freelancer is doing it out of desperation and I don't blame them.

 

[Andrew]

Not being a professional in your job is another mistake newbies make on the job. This makes some clients to see them as people who are not serious. Some of them take jobs and never put in effort to deliver it when they are supposed to.

 

[Kennysplash]

Not being a professional in your job is another mistake newbies make on the job. This makes some clients to see them as people who are not serious. Some of them take jobs and never put in effort to deliver it when they are supposed to.

Well no one actually started as a professional. But I understand your point, they should be able to give it their best at least. Many of them just do the bare minimum these days.

 

[Andrew]

Well no one actually started as a professional. But I understand your point, they should be able to give it their best at least. Many of them just do the bare minimum these days.

The problem is that some of them start working as a freelancer with a scammer's mentality. This is why some of them will take jobs and will never deliver it after getting paid first.

 

[Heatman]

Make sure that you have a working means of payment to receive your money for the job that you're going to work on as a graphic designer first. Otherwise, it's going to be a total waste of effort if you worked and end up not being able to get your money.

 

[Axel]

I will never work on any freelancer website which doesn't other escrow services. It's the only way I can't be scammed after working for any client on any graphics design job.

 

[Henry]

Never take jobs which you're not certain convinced that you can do perfectly especially from a first client. If you fail on the job, it's going damage your reputation. Bad reputation is devastating for newbies graphics designers.

This is a key advice. There are a couple of tasks that only professionals and more experienced graphic designers can handle. Trying to take up such jobs would only make matters worse for you as a designer. I can only take jobs that I am comfortable doing even if I am paid lower to handle such task.

 

[Maddox]

The newbies don't know what it is yet and the people that can teach them are not doing it right. Anyone taking a job and under pricing their services as an older freelancer is doing it out of desperation and I don't blame them.

I blame them in a way because they are giving into the pressure. To me, they should allow the newbies fizzle out after a while because they can never be consistent.

 

[James]

You should be able to take a percentage of your deal before even starting the work. And make use of Escrows when you are starting out with a new client.

This is a valid advice. One should ask for full or part payment before deciding to resume any job. It is that simple to avoid any issues in the near future.

 

[Kyle]

This is a valid advice. One should ask for full or part payment before deciding to resume any job. It is that simple to avoid any issues in the near future.

I completely agree. This gives a freelancer some sort of leverage to hold on the job because it's going to look so weird when a job is completed 100% without any pay but stories and complaints.

 

[Sara]

I blame them in a way because they are giving into the pressure. To me, they should allow the newbies fizzle out after a while because they can never be consistent.

We all wasn't consistent from the beginning and the newbies ain't to be blamed. They only need guidance and encouragement to stay in and keep grinding.