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I see a lot of advice that encourages the freelance tropes - the idea that we’re all workaholic night owls, perpetually hunched over keyboards, waiting at the beck and call of potential clients.

If you needed an experienced professional to give you permission, in plain words, here it is: 

Never give out free work. No samples. No mockups. Period. That’s what your portfolio is for! If they can’t judge the quality and capability of your work from your portfolio, they’re likely going to be a pain anyway. (Editing to add: make sure your portfolio DOES reflect your capability, though - if it’s just an image with some text like 

, change that. If a client can’t see your work within a few seconds, statistically you’ve probably already lost them!)

Do not offer discounts or give in to buyers begging for one because they’re a “start up.” You were a start up too, and no one paid you more because you were new, right? Don’t give them something they’d never extend to you.

No arbitrary discounts, especially for new clients asking “can you just…” or promising future work. Spoiler alert: that future work, 

 it even manifests, is going to be expected at the lower rate. You wouldn’t let your boss at a conventional job just randomly pay you less per hour because they felt like it, right? So don’t do it here.

Do not feel bad about taking days where you don’t schedule work or respond to messages. In conventional jobs, people don’t “swing by the office” to see if they can work on something - they enjoy their days off and use them to get personal things accomplished. Do that. Your sanity will thank you.

Some clients are going to be in different time zones. Answer when it’s appropriate for 

 time zone. Otherwise, you’re setting up a precedent of answering questions at 3am in your time and the client’s going to get testy when that’s not the norm.

Value yourself, your time, and your work - a freelancer is no different than any other worker, and we deserve the same dignity and consideration as those “protected” under a conventional job. It may mean we have to be a little more firm about boundaries with clients, but you can do so while remaining polite and businesslike.

I reject at least 2 or 3 jobs every day because I know in my heart they’re a poor fit, either price-wise, effort-wise, or expectation-wise. I just steer those clients back to the Fiverr marketplace and explain there’s a ton of talent that would suit their needs better than me, and they’re all ready to work.

Stand Your Ground: Setting Boundaries as a Seller

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