Let me tell you something I wish someone had told me early on.
When you are new to freelancing, it does not feel like you have many choices. Every message feels important. Every potential client feels like an opportunity you cannot waste.
So when someone says, “Just get more clients,” it sounds like the right move.
But honestly, it is not always right.
The Experienced and the Lesson
When I was starting out, I heard that advice everywhere. Get more clients. Do not limit yourself. Try every platform. Send more proposals.
And I believed it.
I thought, maybe if I spread myself everywhere, something would work.
So I bought Connects on Upwork and sent proposals. I opened a Fiverr account, which already felt overwhelming. I even created an account on Freelance.com and added my past admin experience.
Most of the messages I received were scams.
This is just my experience. I am not saying those platforms are bad. A lot of people succeed on them. For me, it was messy and confusing at that stage.
I did get clients though. Two from Upwork and one from Freelance.com.
At first, I was relieved. I thought, okay, this is it. I am doing it.
But I made a mistake when I saw many beginners make.
“I said yes too fast and charged very low rates.”
I finished the work, but the experience was rough.
One client ended the contract suddenly with no real explanation. I lost access to the files after organizing a big part of the work. I still got paid, but barely.
Another client kept asking for revisions. I followed instructions exactly and did not change anything without permission. Still, the client was unhappy. The contract ended. Again, low pay.
By the time everything was done, I was tired.
Not the good kind of tired. The drained kind 😞
That is when it hit me.
Getting clients is not the same as getting good clients.
And freelance platforms can only do so much. They can verify accounts, but they cannot control how people behave.
Looking back, I ignored warning signs. I saw okay ratings and skipped over negative reviews because I really wanted the work. I was more focused on getting a project than protecting myself.
If I am honest, chasing too many clients early on usually leads to the same things.
You get overworked.
You deal with endless revisions.
You feel emotionally drained fast.
Sometimes the contract ends early and you walk away with less than you expected.
None of that helps you grow.
A realistic look at freelance platforms
Freelance platforms do try to protect users. Many clients and freelancers there are legitimate.
But again, platforms cannot control how people behave.
This is why feedback really matters. Not just the star rating, but the actual comments.
One of my biggest mistakes was ignoring negative reviews. Even when ratings looked fine, there were warning signs. I ignored them because I was desperate to get work.
That desperation cost me energy, confidence, and time.
What I would tell you now
If you are just starting out, you do not need more clients.
You need fewer, better ones.
You need time to learn.
Space to make mistakes.
One skill you can slowly get better at.
It is okay to say no.
It is okay to slow down.
It is okay to choose work that feels manageable instead of chasing everything that moves.
Slow progress with the right clients feels boring at first.
But it saves your energy and your confidence in the long run 🤍
You can also find me here:
Post to you soon 📩
Charmaine 🩷😊