The Perils of Hiring Freelancers: A Business Owner’s Perspective

Anangsha Alammyan

Dec 5, 2022 • 5 min read

I started my career as a freelancer. Today, I hesitate to hire freelancers for my business. Here’s why.

I’m a business owner who started out as a freelancer about 1.5 years ago.

I have a unique perspective on the challenges and pitfalls of hiring freelancers.

In my current role, I work with freelancers on a regular basis, and I have noticed some common mistakes that many freelancers make.

In this article, I’ll share my insights and offer some tips on how to avoid these mistakes that will improve your chances of success.

Whether you are a seasoned professional or just starting out in the world of freelancing, it’s important to be aware of the common pitfalls and mistakes that can damage your reputation and hinder your success.

1. Missed deadlines

Many freelancers I’ve worked with fail to inform me when they are unable to meet a deadline, leaving me scrambling last minute to find a replacement.

This causes unnecessary stress and inconvenience, and negatively impacts my business.

I’ve been through several instances when a freelancer misses a deadline without any prior warning, and then a few days later they finally reply to my message saying they were sick and unable to submit the work.

While I understand that being sick is not within one’s control, it’s important to inform the clients as soon as possible so that alternative arrangements can be made.

The takeaway

As a freelancer, try your best to stick to deadlines.

If that’s not possible, at least inform the clients beforehand.

Failing to do so can damage your reputation and harm the client’s business.

If you’re a freelancer, remember this: Always communicate openly and transparently with your clients. Never “ghost” them or leave their messages on “seen,” especially with a deadline approaching.

2. Not allowing the client access to deliverables

I have often encountered a frustrating situation where the freelancer submits their work through a platform such as Google Docs, but fails to grant me edit access.

Recently, a freelancer submitted a document and I was not able to check it immediately. When I finally got around to reading it, I was unable to access the document because the freelancer hadn’t granted me access.

I left a message for the freelancer, but they were not available for the next 12 hours. I was left stressing about the article, wondering whether or not I should outsource it to someone else.

This situation could have easily been avoided if the freelancer had simply double-checked before submitting the document to ensure that I had the necessary access.

The takeaway

It is basic freelancer etiquette to double-check before submitting deliverables to ensure that the client has the necessary access.

Failing to do so can cause unnecessary stress and delays for the client.

Pro tip: If you aren’t sure if the client has access after sharing the document, try opening it in incognito mode. If you can view and edit the document then, your client will surely be able to edit it too.

3. Not reading the instructions properly

I have often encountered the frustration of having simple instructions not followed by the freelancer.

One instance that stands out in my mind is when I spent two hours writing a detailed content brief for one of my freelance writers, only to find that they had not followed the most basic rule that I’d asked of them: to use US English spellings.

This may seem like a small mistake, but it can be extremely frustrating for the client to go through every line and make changes.

The takeaway

As a freelancer, it is important to carefully read the instructions and rules provided by the client and to follow them to the letter. Failing to do so can harm your relationship with the client.

This way, you can build trust and establish a long-term working relationship. This will lead to greater wealth-building opportunities for both you and your client.

Summing up: Avoid these 3 mistakes as a freelancer

Here are the common mistakes many freelancers make:

Failing to stick to deadlines and not communicating transparently with clients
Not ensuring the client has edit access to your deliverables.
Missing out important points in the content brief by not adhering to the client’s instructions.

Here are some tips for avoiding these mistakes:

Communicate openly and regularly with your clients.
Respond to their messages promptly, especially when deadlines are looming.
Take deadlines seriously and make sure you can meet them before agreeing to a project.
Carefully read and follow the instructions and rules provided by the client

In conclusion, it is important for freelancers to avoid common mistakes and to carefully follow the instructions and rules provided by their clients. By doing so, you ensure success for both you and your clients.

Are you guilty of committing any of these mistakes? Let me know your thoughts in the comments.

If you’re curious about how to land high-paying freelance clients, I’ve designed a detailed 90-day action plan to shortlist, pitch to, and convert high-value global clients. 80+ writers have benefited from this framework so far. You can be the next.