There are innumerable lies, myths and half-truths about freelancing, sometimes created by the community 
and sometimes by freelancers themselves. These myths develop as a story first and then turn out as a fact believed by many of us. This can prompt buyers to take a wrong decision as they might believe these myths before hiring a freelancer. Similarly, an individual can also get skeptical before jump starting as a freelancer. Hence, it is really important to understand the difference between a myth and a fact.
Here are some of the common freelancing myths which you must have heard many a times:
Myth 1- Freelancers remain busy with their personal stuff, I can’t rely on them for my work.
Fact – Freelancers believe in having a flexible lifestyle. They leave their jobs to give quality time to their family and make their own identity as an entrepreneur. Work is equally important for them because without that they just can’t meet their basic necessities. Their basic objective is to pursue their dreams for ultimate happiness within. We should not ignore the hard work they put in to accomplish the assignments successfully they have taken. This will not only give them credibility in the market but also the money to survive.
Myth 2- Freelancers have less resources, I am not sure about the quality of work I would get.
Fact- Freelancers are good workers and opt for this mode of career only to stand out of the league of crowd that works 9-5. Agreed they have less resources but they make sure that they have everything required for seamless execution of your project. Unlike your company’s employees, freelancers provide their specialized services at competitive costs cutting your overhead costs and giving you excellent work results.
Myth 3- Freelancer’s “NO boss” theory is dangerous, what if they don’t deliver my work on time.
Fact- Freelancers are responsible professionals as they own the business. They are accountable for their business growth as well as for their reputation in the market. Timeliness is considered to be the most essential requirement of freelancing. Hence, they believe in working to the best of their abilities to make goodwill in the market. They manage their time, make plans and focus on different goals each day.
Myth 4- Freelancers provide their services at affordable prices and it is easy for me to bargain.
Fact- Freelancers might not have a big corporate office or appropriate resources but quality professionals never compromise on the prices they charge for their services. They may agree to negotiate on their charges but for a good business deal it’s better to pay them what they are worth for.
Myth 5- Freelancers are unstable, they may find a good job one day then how can I assure my future.
Fact- The prevailing economic slowdown and resulting job layoffs have given a boost to freelancing across the globe. In such a scenario, people are looking for more and more sources to make money. Hence, freelancer would never lose these sources to earn some extra money as this will help them when their company for which they had worked for years show them a pink slip.
Myth 6- Freelancers need to put a lot of money to start up their freelance career and I don’t have much.
Fact- Yes, at initial stage freelancing do demand an investment of dedication, discipline, time and hard work. You need to spend a small amount of money on some basic resources like computer or some times for software, office space, furniture etc. At a very early stage of freelancing you can put in small amount of money and as you expand you can plan to spend more money to enhance your services.
Myth 7- Getting into freelancing doesn’t mean I will get projects easily I need marketing skills to get a project.
Fact- As many online service marketplaces are available these days like LimeExchange it is easier to get projects online. You just have to choose one matching your area of expertise, bid on them and get awarded instantly. You don’t need marketing strategies to get one but to build strong business relationships you may need networking skills. However, a basic word of mouth strategy can also help you to get project from your satisfied buyers.
Myth 8- Freelancers earn hundreds of dollars by working on their own terms. I will work less and charge per hour.
Fact- Freelancing is not a money-generating machine. You get paid for your skills, experience as per the industry standards. It also varies from country to country; like if you are working for a U.S. client you will get paid in dollars and then you can convert them into your own currency. You can also charge for a special service but at an initial stage of freelancing you cannot get truckload of money in a single go. It is important to build credibility before thinking of making money.
Myth 9- I have registered on freelance job website now projects will flow in.
Fact – Freelancers generally think that after registering on online services marketplace they don’t need to make any effort to get projects as they will automatically flow in to their way. But to get good projects freelancers should keep their profile completed, take online skill tests, get certified tags to attract buyers. You can also get your educational credentials verified to acquire better work projects.
Myth 10- As a freelancer I will always get buyers as per my choice and they will be supportive.
Fact- You may or may not get nice or supportive buyers always. As nobody is perfect, you need to develop good communication skills, collaborate with them using collaboration tools like PMB and IM and build strong relationships. You never know you may turn a bad client to a really nice business partner.
Hope now before making a business decision as a buyer or as a freelancer you will think more about the facts rather than the myths and work with more realistic approach.
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