Web designers are creative people, and like anyone in a creative profession, they sometimes make mistakes. I'm not talking about technical errors, but something much more serious.

A designer working as a freelancer might get so absorbed in a project that they lose track of time or, in an effort to win a client, make promises they can't keep. And while a technical error can be easily fixed, these kinds of mistakes—and their consequences—are much harder to deal with.

Let me say right away: anyone can make mistakes—whether you're a seasoned designer or a beginner. That’s why I believe the following tips will be useful for both groups.

#1. DON'T WORK 24/7

This mistake is more common among beginners who are just getting started with freelancing and want to earn as much as possible, as fast as possible. As a result, they end up overloaded with projects, unrealistic deadlines, and exhausting workloads. This kind of schedule leads to complete physical and mental burnout.

Overworking and trying to hustle 24/7 not only causes health problems and stress, but also drastically lowers the quality of your work. An overworked designer is more likely to overlook mistakes and deliver sloppy results in a rush to meet deadlines.

The result is always the same—poor quality and negative reviews that can ruin your reputation and push your dream of high rates and big earnings out of reach.

#2. DON’T BE DELUDED ABOUT FREELANCE

Almost every second person entering freelancing imagines it as some kind of vacation—lounging on the couch, watching TV, and snacking all day.

Freelance—especially at the beginning—is hard daily work. You work not only on client projects, but also on yourself, your skills, and your discipline. To achieve anything in freelancing, you’ll need to be organized, communicate with clients, create contracts, and most importantly—find clients. In the beginning, you’ll also have to make sacrifices. For example, skipping drinks with friends or weekend trips to stay home working on a deadline for your one and only regular client. You don’t want to lose them, right?

#3. DON’T CLAIM QUALITIES YOU DON’T HAVE

Every professional wants to present themselves in the best possible light—and designers are no exception.

When a promising client is on the horizon, it’s easy to make the mistake of exaggerating your experience or abilities. Maybe adding a few years to your resume, listing skills you don’t really have, or promising impossible turnaround times.

This kind of mistake leads to trouble. Eventually, the truth comes out, and you might find yourself dealing with an angry client. Your reputation will suffer, and that “dream client” will move on to someone else.

#4. DON’T BE ARROGANT

One of the most common mistakes among experienced freelancers is arrogance and ego.

After a few successful projects, a designer may start seeing themselves as a design guru who knows better than everyone else. This mindset keeps you from objectively evaluating your own work and noticing flaws.

#5. DON’T UNDERVALUE OR OVERESTIMATE YOURSELF

When starting out in freelance, it can be tough to figure out how to price your services.

If you’ve worked in an agency before, you have some idea of pricing. But for beginners, it’s easy to either underprice or overprice. Charging too much for your level of experience will scare clients away. On the other hand, underpricing hurts your income—and clients may assume low prices mean low quality and inexperience. Either way, they’ll look elsewhere.

#6. DON’T CONFUSE PROFESSIONAL RELATIONSHIPS WITH FRIENDSHIPS

Friendly relationships are great—they make people feel relaxed and comfortable. But this dynamic doesn’t work well in freelancer-client collaborations.

Every time you begin a new project, you must remain professional. The more you try to befriend a client, the more likely it is that boundaries will blur and problems will arise.

A client might casually ask you to make small changes “as a favor,” contact you on your day off, or ask for a discount—because hey, you’re friends now, right?

Finally, let me say this: don’t be too hard on yourself. Yes, sometimes you’ll need to work more than you’d like—but that doesn’t mean you should push yourself to the limit. Believe me, proper rest and job satisfaction only improve the quality of your work—and that leads to better income in the long run.