Trust me, you are not the first person to sit in front of the computer and ask yourself, “What am I doing wrong?” Freelancing can be really tough work, especially if you’re near the beginning of your career. There are so many successful freelancers making top dollar out there, so what is it that’s standing in the way of your success?

Well, there are a few things it could be. In this article, we’ll take a look at three big mistakes freelance writers often make; and tell you just how to fix them!

Mistake #1: You’re undercharging

Clients will often ask you what you charge before hiring you. If you don’t think you’re worth the money, why would your clients?! If your anxiety gets the best of you, then it’s very likely that you won’t even shoot your shot. Sure, asking for a high price is a little daunting – what if they say no? But if you don’t ask, you don’t get!

As a general rule, if every client accepts your quote, then your prices are too low. You could raise it until you get around a 50/50 conversion rate.

How to fix it: If you shoot high, then at least you have a definite answer and aren’t left wondering whether they would have paid you more. So next time you have the chance to set your price, take the plunge: just do it. A good piece of advice is to put your project price together and then add 25%, and that way you avoid any chance of underpricing.

Moreover, adding a little extra means you’ve already covered for any extra time it takes that you didn’t factor in. Perfect!

Mistake #2: You’re not confident

When interviewing with clients and communicating over price, it’s important to give them a reason to hire you. If you don’t think you’re the man for the job, then your clients aren’t going to believe it either. Uncertainty will shine through no matter what you do, so it’s essential to make sure you project the utmost confidence.

How to fix it: Remember to give yourself a pep talk before you start talking to the client. Remind yourself how kick-ass you are as a writer, and why you deserve to be paid for your services. You are the professional copywriter, and you are the one who is bringing expertise to the project. If you go in with that mindset, then you’ll definitely avoid underselling yourself.

Mistake #3: You’re sending a quote

I know what you’re thinking: are you not supposed to do that?! Well, not exactly. A quote focuses entirely on price, but you should be turning the tables and thinking outside the box, making sure that clients don’t consider you as just a commodity.

How to fix it: Turn your quote into a proposal. Basically, you need to persuade clients to hire you in a document that sells you as the perfect employee. Make sure you include things like:

• Your project objectives.
• An overview of your process.
• A description of your service to highlight exactly what benefits you bring to the table.
• Your terms of service.
• Testimonials of happy clients.
• A call to action so that clients know what to do next.

Final thoughts

Yes, it’s that simple! If you make these three quick fixes, then you’ll be on the top shelf for earnings in no time! As you can see, everything in freelancing relies on self-confidence and an ability to sell yourself and highlight all the wonderful benefits that you bring to any team.

Now that you know what you’re doing wrong, hopefully you can make the necessary amendments. Good luck!