Ebukun Gbemisola OgunyemiJust like every other career, Freelancing is one that is not devoid of its own challenges, and as Freelancers in Africa, it is important to know how to navigate and overcome these challenges in order to achieve and sustain our long-term career goals and aspirations as African Freelancers.
In that light, below are some of the challenges of freelancing that Freelancers in Africa seldom face alongside tips on how to overcome them.
1. Finding Clients/Work Opportunities – This is one of the foremost challenges of freelancing as most of the time, African Freelancers are saddled with the responsibility of finding clients who need the services they offer and as such, this could become a tedious task because it would require more than Freelancers utilizing the social media apps and cyber spaces to market their services but also knowing the right online avenues to sell themselves and get clients who are not just looking for Freelancers to meet their work needs for free but for a price.
How to overcome this challenge: Freelancers in Africa can overcome this challenge of finding clients/work opportunities by maximizing Freelance platforms in Africa via subscriptions and registrations on those platforms. In other words, Freelancers can sign up on Freelance platforms like africanfreelancers.com, upwork.com, freelancer.com, etc. to get work opportunities and clients in addition to the maximization of their personal social media spaces.
2. Inconsistency/Instability – Another challenge Freelancers face is lack of steady work flow. Most of the time, African Freelancers have had to deal with the reality of instability and inconsistency when it comes to getting jobs. Sometimes, getting a job as a Freelancer may seem like a seasonal thing; one minute, there is a heavy work flow and the next minute, the Freelancer has little to no job at hand which can be more than a little discouraging and frustrating that if not handled well, the Freelancer’s motivation may begin to wane.
How to overcome this challenge: Freelancers can overcome this challenge by first of all, working with freelance platforms with steady work flow and second, by diversifying and being sensitive to other freelance platforms that share gigs other than their patronized regulars. Above all, Freelancers in Africa should also use moments with little to no work flow to take on/focus more on personal projects that could help increase their creativity and improve the services they provide.
3. Meeting Deadlines – Meeting deadlines can also be another challenge for Freelancers. Sometimes, clients can demand that a Freelancer work within a specified time that may really not be feasible and some other time, a Freelancer can find him/herself unable to meet an approved deadline he/she had willfully set and had been agreed to by the client.
How to overcome this challenge: In overcoming this challenge, Freelancers should be as logical as possible when committing themselves to a set deadline. Do not be in a hurry to make an impression or be hesitant in negotiating with a client about deadlines that you allow yourself to accept an unrealistic work timeline. Take time to plan. Do not make an assumption about how long it’s going to take you to finish a job, be sure.
4. Boredom/Lack of Self-motivation – Often times, Freelancers run out of work excitement and this is quite normal to every other career. A lot of times, human beings need something more than their passion and the desire to work in a particular field to get a job done. More so, Freelancers can become unexplainably bored on and outside a job that it may affect their dedication and consistency to their craft without an iota of self-motivation to pull them through.
How to overcome this challenge: Freelancers can overcome this challenge by taking an inventory of self and services rendered over the period they noticed the boredom. By so doing, a Freelancer is able to identify why he/she has been bored and displaying lassitude to work. Also, Freelancers can find self-motivation by reminding themselves of their achievements and also read through client mails that gave them positive vibes and made them feel good about what they do. Furthermore, it is also important that a Freelancer discusses his/her ongoing plight with other Freelancers that he/she knows. It will go a long way to help.
5. Distractions/Time Management – This is another big challenge of freelancing that can truncate a Freelancer’s set goals and dedication. Most of the time and as human beings, Freelancers can become engrossed with certain distractions like social media, internet surfing, etc. which are bound to affect their productivity if not properly managed.
How to overcome this challenge: To overcome this, Freelancers need to be more intentional about their time and its management. A Freelancer should have a work-to-do list in order to aid self-accountability and most importantly, a Freelancer should try to stick strictly to work during the working hours and not alternate between one social media app and the other. Let me say again that this takes being very intentional and planning to achieve.
6. Placing value on work – Placing a monetary value on work/services is another big challenge African Freelancers tend to face. Most times, this challenge can become quite enormous that it can lead to a situation of undercharging or overpricing. The former puts a Freelancer at a financial disadvantage while the latter may scare off a potential client.
How to overcome this challenge: Freelancers can manage this challenge efficiently by working with a defined form of pricing that’s Freelancer-centred but not client-hostile. What this means is that, a Freelancer should have a fixed pricing system that also gives room for flexibility; that is, your prices should also cover for possibilities like client negotiations and more. Basically, a Freelancer’s pricing system should be one that works and also favours him/her without having to feel undervalued or underpriced at the end of the day.
7. Getting overworked – A lot of times, Freelancers experience too much work influx that becomes too much to handle. They become so submerged that it maligns and jeopardizes their health and well being. Suffice it to say that a lot of Freelancers don’t know how to effectively balance their work life with self care without putting their mental health at risk.
How to overcome this challenge: In overcoming this challenge, Freelancers in Africa need to learn and understand the importance of taking a break. Sometimes, the fear of being broke and the rush to do more in a little while could lead to Freelancers taking jobs nonstop till there is a mental breakdown that may affect their ability to work for a while. So, in order to avoid this, Freelancers should learn to take it easy with themselves and give room for self care. Don’t just take every job offer, take only what you can do and commit yourself to effectively at a time. Also, go on vacations and let people know when you’ll be open to work again. You don’t always have to be working all through the year. Rest!
8. Procrastination – This is one big challenge for everyone and it can be worse in Freelancing because a Freelancer is under no one’s supervision but himself/herself and deadlines. More so, Freelancers sometimes push forward starting/getting a job done with the mindset that the deadline is still far off which leads to not starting the job at all until the deadline is much closer which leads to a shaky work reputation and lack of integrity.
How to overcome this challenge: To say we’ve all been here one time or the other is not a hasty generalization. In fact, this is some Freelancers current struggle but it can be effectively managed by being intentional and renewing work commitment daily. A Freelancer can make use of sticky notes that reads I will not procrastinate today pasted at their work space and another one that helps me is backdating the deadline. It means, if I have a work scheduled for delivery in two weeks time, I set a one week timeline for myself. Most times, I fail but I try not to allow it define me. Another one is to have set goals for each day – more like, this is what I’m going to do to advance my freelance career or integrity today.
9. Choosing Clients over self – A lot of times, Freelancers are faced with the challenge of choosing clients over themselves or vice versa especially in situations where there is a mind-struggle about whether to keep or let a client go and especially if such a client is not the type that pays them for what they’re worth. Don’t just say at least, he/she brings job. Does he/she pay you well? Do you feel satisfied or used for every time you work but you won’t tell them because half bread is better than none or it’s been a long time coming with such a client?
How to overcome this challenge: It is important for Freelancers to understand that they are as important as clients and sometimes, letting a client go is as important as doing everything to keep them. It is important to know when to choose loyalty over your purse and vice versa. It is not just enough to have a long list of clients but worthy clients. Learn to place a value on yourself. Sometimes, some clients still want to relate with you financially the way they used to before your growth. It’s not as if your growth and expansion are not visible to them, but they’d choose not to see it because it pays them. So, in such situations, it’s better to talk about it with such client. Let him/her know that you now charge differently and from there on, you will know if you’re to keep them or drop them. Don’t be homely with your business.
10. Late/Overdue Payment – This is one of the most frustrating challenges of freelancing and believe me, it is one that Freelancers hardly find funny. A lot of times, Freelancers find themselves dealing with employers who have very strong regard for deadlines but strong disregard for payment and in most of this situations, Freelancers become the ones chasing these employers for payment which is sometimes late or overdue and appalling.
How to overcome this challenge: Freelancers can overcome this challenge by having a well defined and signed agreement with their employers and the mode of payment clearly stated and understood by both parties. Second, in situations where the payment is late and overdue, Freelancers can send reminder mails or text messages to the client and in a worst case scenario, employ the legal means or write it off as a bad debt in overbearing situations or in a situation where the balance is one the Freelancer can painfully afford to let go. Most of the time, a Freelancer can be a victim of late/overdue payments even with an old client and not necessarily a new client. Don’t just dabble into trust, build it one step at a time and legally.
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