After being in the freelancing business for five years now (has it really been that long?!?), I’ve seen too many freelancers pop onto the scene, only to fizzle out after a month or two…

Here are 5 easy to fix reasons why most freelancers fail (and what you can do to avoid these mistakes):

1. Unfocused effort.

Too many people scatter their energy trying to do all the things without focusing on what matters most for their business. They waste time (and money) learning useless skills, watching outdated webinars, listening to podcasts, etc instead of using that time to move the needle forward. Some people call this “shiny object syndrome” or “FOMO” (Fear of Missing Out). Regardless of what you call it, the results are the same. Time wasted and less income earned.

How can you avoid this? By spending the first part of your day on money-making activities. This is especially vital if you are still working in your 9-5 and your time is limited when it comes to growing your business. Secondly, schedule time in your week to check out that shiny object. When you find an article you want to read, a video you want to watch or a new strategy you want to investigate, bookmark it and come back to it during your scheduled “Shiny Object” time. For me, this is Sunday. I typically don’t work on the weekends anymore and Sunday evenings are the best time for me to check out everything that caught my attention during the week.

2. Hiding behind busywork.

When you’re starting & growing your freelance business, it’s easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of getting client work finished, checking emails, scheduling social media posts and all of the other moving parts of your business that you forget to connect with actual people who could possibly hire you later. Set aside time every day to network. Even if it’s only 30 minutes a day, this is one of the easiest ways to grow your business. Make a list of your favorite online communities where your ideal clients hang out and participate in the conversation. Let people get to know you on a personal basis.

3. Staying silent + invisible.

While networking online and participating in the conversations, offer free help when it makes sense. This may mean referring them to a blog post or video that you’ve created (or found) that can help them with their problem. It may mean giving feedback when they are stuck or offering design or copywriting tips when they are struggling. By helping your ideal client with an easy fix in a public community (like a Facebook group), not only do you feel good for helping someone, you also show the entire community that you have the solution to that problem. Sometimes, I’ll even create a video just for them (using the Loom video extension for Chrome). This is a VERY effective way to showcase your skills, make a connection and help someone all at the same time.

4. Over-promising & Under-delivering.

This sounds like a no-brainer but you’d be surprised how many people promise more than they can deliver. When you are honest about the results your clients can expect and set realistic deadlines that you can stick to, you will automatically stand out from the crowd because you mean what you say and you say what you mean. I believe in under-promising and over-delivering.

5. No consistency.

The biggest mistake I see most freelancers make is just not showing up consistently (if at all). They come and go in spurts of motivation and inspiration – and then disappear for months on end. By following #2 (connecting daily), you avoid this major pitfall and, in turn, will outshine the freelancers who come and go. Create a daily to-do checklist as a safety net to make sure you are showing up on a consistent basis. Everyone’s business is different but for me, it is: Check my email, respond to messages on social media (Facebook, LinkedIn, etc) and finally, network in online communities. Once I’ve done those things, it’s time for me to tackle my daily client work. By making sure you’re visible to your potential clients every day, instead of hiding behind your piles of client work, you’re setting yourself up for future business and communicating with your current clients and prospects FIRST.

There you go. It’s just that simple. If you follow these 5 steps consistently, you WILL see growth in your business.

By fixing this ONE thing, I completely turned my business around and was able to quit my job faster than I dreamed possible!