Have you been thinking about the best way to start your freelance journey? Or perhaps, you have already started your freelance journey but there seem to be too many hurdles?

If your answer to any of the questions above is yes, then this article is for you. The world keeps undergoing continuous improvement daily. The usual archaic system of physically carrying out jobs has been reduced to the barest minimum through the internet. The internet is home to all freelancers who are able to meet clients from different parts of the world, get paid for getting their jobs done without need for physical contact. A freelancer simply meets clients online, carries out tasks assigned by these clients and gets paid. This has become a source of income to many and as a newbie, you are bound to face certain challenges. These challenges will come in different forms and you must never be overwhelmed by them, since they are there to prepare you for the tasks ahead. Overcoming these challenges will be vital to your success as a freelancer.

In the United States of America, freelance made up 36% of the workforce in 2020 and there's a continuous increase to this percentage. This is possible because freelance is a breakaway from the traditional 9-5 jobs and entrance into freedom to choose your workload, projects and clients.

In this article, I will expose the top 5 most prevalent challenges every beginner would face in the world of freelancing. This would be a very short but interesting ride and I hope you'd sit back and enjoy your reading. This should also serve as a guide to a successful outing as a freelancer.

Here are the top 5 common challenges every beginner-freelancer must overcome towards making a successful freelance career.

1.The platform challenge

As a newbie, the most important decision you'd make for a start is to identify with the right platform. Making this decision is actually a herculean task because there are so many freelance platforms available and at that point, you'd get confused. There is a saying that whatever is worth doing is worth doing well. However, whatever is worth doing can only be done best in the right place. Finding this right place for your freelance journey is one challenge you must overcome if you are to make headway. It is essential that you first recognize that this is a challenge and then look for a solution. The best place to start your freelance journey should be that platform that is user-friendly and has all you need to succeed as a freelancer.

2. The niche challenge

Without mincing words, it is important you know that trying to become a jack of all trades, would make you a master of none. There are different skills a freelancer is expected to possess but the challenge here is that you must recognize the need to stick to one particular skill. That skill should become your niche.

You'd face the challenge of trying to fit into every available skill and job description if you are not properly informed on the need to focus on a particular skill or select a group of identical skills. Freelance involves content writing, virtual assistance, social media management, video editing, transcription and a whole lot of other skills. It is therefore important that you select a particular skill and become a master of it. That would be the surest way to becoming a successful freelancer. 

 Recommended: How to Find Your Ideal Freelance Niche

3. The time management challenge

While it is true that freelancing is a breakaway from the traditional 9-5 job system, it is important you know that freelancing ushers you into the world of 24 hours activity. The only difference here is that you have the luxury of selecting your workload, projects and clients. Being able to manage your time would therefore pose a serious challenge if you are not adequately prepared for it. Freelance is that career where you could be called up at odd hours of the day to attend to a client. You'd only do well as a freelancer if and only if you learn how to properly manage your time. You should know the right time to eat, sleep, rest and work. All these must be captured in your time management plan if you are to succeed as a freelancer. In the world of freelancing, no stone is left unturned and every second of the day matters.

4. The taking care of yourself challenge

Freelancing is not a call to meeting up to targets set by clients at the expense of your health. It is very important that you understand that ignoring your well-being and comfort in order to get jobs done will only make you last for a little while before breaking down. A happy client is the result of a competent and dedicated freelancer and a competent and dedicated freelancer is the brainchild of a healthy freelancer. You can only give maximum output as a freelancer when you are mentally and physically sound. Overcoming this challenge means you must be aware of the need to take good care of yourself by making time for leisure, maintaining healthy relationships, exercising regularly and eating a balanced diet. Dutifully doing these alongside freelancing will make you achieve great success in your freelance career.

Recommended:Top 5 Ways to Stay Healthy and Happy as a Freelancer

5. The growth challenge

In the world of freelancing, stagnancy is not acceptable. This therefore means that as a freelancer, you must be making continuous improvement daily. If your niche is content writing, then you should always learn new ways to make better write-ups. You must never be satisfied with where you are and overlook the need to do better. The temptation to become satisfied with what you have achieved as a freelancer is one challenge you must overcome. You must be up and running, making inroads into new ways of doing better in your chosen niche. This you must do every other day if you must make a successful freelance career.

This brings us to the end of this article. If you found this helpful, do well to leave a comment using the comment box below. Do have a fulfilling freelance career.

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