Freelancing has been an exciting six-year ride for me, filled with victories, mistakes, and countless lessons. But if I had a toy gun to my head and asked whether I would love to go back and start again, knowing what I know now, Yes, I will go back, but there are things I would do differently. 

A few days ago, while scrolling through the internet, a statistic caught my attention: “All freelance writers earning over 100,000 dollars have been freelancing for at least two years, and 65% have been writing for over six years”. At that point, it occurred to me that it’s been almost six years since I started this freelancing journey. There are a lot of wins and, you guessed right, there are also losses. After reflecting on everything so far, here are ten key things I would do differently if I were to start again. These changes aren’t just from hindsight (laughs out loud ); they come from real-life mistakes, advice from mentors, and even tough client experiences. So, let me walk you through them.

1. Niche Down from Day One

Imagery by Cacaroot on adobe stocks  

When I first started, I tried to be a freelancer for everyone and everything from writing to content, designing, and managing social media, you name it. I experienced a backlog of pieces of information that made me feel I wasn’t digging enough as an expert in a field. The result? I spread myself too thin and never really stood out. It wasn’t until I read The Power of Focus by Jack Canfield, Mark Victor Hansen, and Les Hewitt that I realised how much more profitable it is to specialise. 

If I could do it again, I’d focus on one area of expertise from day one. It not only helps you build credibility but also makes clients more willing to pay premium rates for your specialised skills.

2. Create a Portfolio Before Sending Pitches to Clients

One time, I was really eager to land an online client, so I sent my first pitch to a potential client without having any actual work to show them. As expected, it didn’t go well. They completely ignored me, and that’s when I realised my mistake. A friend in the industry advised me to work on mock projects, even if I didn’t have any paid work yet. This piece of advice completely changed my approach. 

If I could start over, I would focus on creating sample projects before approaching clients and finding helpful resources. As I always say, “YouTube is your best friend.” You can hear stories, lessons, and mistakes from someone who has been in your shoes, and it will help get the pitch successfully approved. This simple step can truly make or break your chances of landing that first gig.

Resources: 

• Why Pitching a Guest Post Is Often About Doing Stuff AGAINST What the Publisher Expects
• 10 Steps to Building the Crappiest Guest Post Pitch That’ll Never Get You Published
• Sending a Guest Post Right Away vs. Sending the Pitch First
• ABC of guest post pitching
• Career Portfolios: Examples and How To Make One

3. Set Clear Boundaries and Expectations

Ah, boundaries. I learned this the hard way. One of my early clients loved to text me at all hours of the day, even on weekends and expected immediate responses. At first, I was too eager to please, but that wore me down. After reading Boundaries by Dr. Henry Cloud, I realised the importance of protecting my time. If I had to do it over again, I’d set precise work hours and stick to them, using contracts to set expectations from the start.

4. Charge What I’m Worth from the Beginning

One of the biggest mistakes I made early on was undercharging. I was scared to ask for what I thought I was worth, and a client once actually said, “This is way too cheap. Are you sure you can deliver?” That was an eye-opener. From that point on, I started researching market rates and setting prices that reflected the value I brought to the table. If I could start again, I’d never be afraid to charge what I deserve.

5. Learn to Say “No” Early

Imagery from Freepik 

I’ll never forget the project that burned me out like “yesterday”. A client wanted everything and constantly added tasks outside the original scope. I was too nervous to say no, and it cost me sleep, energy, and peace of mind. My older brother, who’s also a freelancer, pulled me aside and said, “You have to learn to say no, or you’ll never last.” That advice changed the way I interacted in my freelance business. If I could rewind, I’d say no to projects that didn’t align with my goals or values much sooner.

6. Focus on Building Long-Term Relationships, Not Just One-Off Gigs

For a significant period of my early freelance beginnings, I focused on acquiring a large number of clients rather than prioritising the quality of those relationships. I was more interested in getting as much work as possible, even if it was just a one-time project. I believed that this was the key to building a successful business. However, my perspective shifted after reading an enlightening blog post that emphasised the importance of fostering long-term client relationships. It dawned on me that repeat clients not only save time that would be spent searching for new opportunities, but they also tend to offer better compensation over time. 

If I could go back and start over, I would dedicate more effort to nurturing these enduring relationships rather than constantly pursuing new clients. You might want to read this blog post on 10 Business Rules You Should Live By. 

7. Invest in Quality Tools

When I first started working, I used free design software and writing apps. Even as I began making money, I kept looking for free tools. This affected my productivity. For example, when I needed an image for a blog post, I spent a lot of time searching for free images, which slowed down my writing and uploading process. I learned that free tools have limitations when I lost hours of work due to a glitch in a free platform. 

This made me switch to paid, professional tools. Since then, my work has improved, and I’ve saved time. I wish I had invested in high-quality tools from the beginning. If you are still a beginner, please don’t pressurise yourself, but if you can afford to pay for premium tools, then consider investing in them because they will save you time and improve the quality of your output, which is well worth the investment.

8. Create Multiple Income Streams

I’ve come to realise that relying solely on client work can lead to making desperate and selfish decisions. This became apparent to me when a major client suddenly stopped working with me. I had to quickly find new work and it made me realize how vulnerable I was with only one source of income. 

You may want to consider offering digital products and passive income services on the side, which can provide you with earnings even while you’re sleeping. You can check out this helpful YouTube video by Pat Flynn on Passive Income. If I could do it again, I would diversify my income from the beginning to ensure financial stability.

9. Network Like a Pro

When I started freelancing, I thought my work would speak for itself, and I wouldn’t need to network. Boy, was I wrong? After months of struggling to find clients, a colleague recommended I attend a local freelance event. Not only opened my eyes to the importance of community and networking events but also led to two new clients! If I were starting again, I’d network much sooner, online and offline, because your connections often determine your opportunities.

10. Keep Learning and Evolving

A significant lesson that greatly impacted me was realising that despite my strong desire to gain knowledge, I was failing to put into practice what I was learning promptly. This led to feeling overwhelmed by the sheer volume of information, resulting in an information overload. As a result, I found myself constantly chasing after new tools and trends, which hindered my ability to integrate my personal experiences with the information, courses, tutorials, and books I was consuming. This lack of integration prevented me from developing my own narrative and experiences, which was detrimental.

Reflecting on this, if I were to start this journey anew, I would take a more strategic approach to my learning. I would commit to ongoing learning while simultaneously experimenting with the knowledge I acquire, whether it involves reading industry blogs, watching tutorials, or undertaking courses. I am determined that, if given the opportunity to start afresh, I would not allow my learning to stagnate, recognising that the industry evolves rapidly and remaining stationary is not a viable option.

Conclusion

Freelancing can be a rewarding journey, but it also comes with lessons that are often learned through experience or from the mistakes of others. If you are new to freelancing or looking to enhance your freelancing skills, I hope these insights can help you avoid some of the challenges I’ve encountered. If you’ve been freelancing for a while, what changes would you make if you could start over? I look forward to reading yours in the comments!