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There’s a whole world out there filled with business owners waiting in anticipation to hire a freelancer for website design, freelance writing or even freelance fashion design. However, if you want to capture the attention of new customers, here are 3 mistakes you will want to avoid making.

Don’t be a private message spammer

Social media is a great way to promote a business but if you send out spam messages to your followers, you’re going to lose people. Otherwise, you will be placed on your followers black list.  There’s nothing more annoying than receiving an influx of spam messages about a person’s new book release or how fabulous their web design services are. If you want to promote your talents on sites like Facebook, avoid sending private messages about your services. You will also want to avoid placing unsolicited ads on other people’s walls without asking permission. You’re only going to tick people off and run the risk of getting deleted as a friend.  .

Don’t use tricky email marketing tactics.

If you’re starting an email marketing campaign, be straight forward. Let’s say you’re promoting web design services to auto dealerships. Don’t try to trick people into opening up your email. For example, don’t write:

Subject: New Car Question

When you write tricky subject headings like ‘New Car Question’ or “New Car” you’re getting people’s hopes up. They will be under the impress that you’re a potential customer looking to buy a new car. In this economy, time is money. Just be straight forward with your emails. If you’re promoting something you’re better off writing something like:

Subject: Auto Web Design Services.

Remember, you get more bees with honey than vinegar.

Be careful about advertising on forums.

If you’re going to promote your freelance business on forums, make sure you use caution.   It may be tempting to post unsolicited ads on a forum that generates thousands visitors daily.  Make sure you read the forum guidelines about posting ads. If you post spam ads, your registration could get suspended from the form.

I remember posting about my freelance services a few years ago. I was so green and naïve.  I registered to a forum and started posting advertisements like there was no tomorrow.  Then about an hour later, people started posting negative comments about my site. One forum poster wrote:

“Your site looks amateurish. Before you start advertising your service, you need to do something about your website design.”

I was floored. I couldn’t believe the comments I was receiving. I was certainly not going to get sales from that post.

The point I’m trying to make here is, if you’re going to promote your services through any kind of social media site or forum, use caution. Make sure you’re conversational and offer people something with value. Its okay to discuss your product, just don’t become a spammer.

I had a discussion with a taxi driver a while back and she asked me, “Do you know of an online business where I can start making money? I’m sick of being a cab driver. I’m sick of earning peanuts. How can I quit my job and work from home.”

I gave her sound advice and shared my experience as an entrepreneur on the web. Then she replied, “Yeah, but I’m not good at anything. I need something that will sell itself. I need to make $8,000 a month like today.”

I explained that the Internet offers many opportunities to earn an unlimited amount of money. However, it doesn’t happen overnight. The easiest way to start making money online is to first think of something that you like to do. The next step is to do research and see if you can turn your passion into cash.

For example, let’s say that you love drawing and design. Find a way to make money from your talent. Maybe you can start earning a living creating logos or banner ads for website owners. There are many opportunities, just make sure you do your research.

Don’t have time for research? Make time!

Research is a crucial step in finding the right work from home opportunity. Unfortunately, people do not take the out time to conduct thorough research.  As a result, they end up choosing the wrong opportunity. They become so adamant about making money online that they choose any online gig just to make a quick buck.

When I first started my online writing business, I had that mentality. I was so anxious to quit my dead end day job that I chose the wrong online opportunity.

I failed to conduct research and chose online gigs that I didn’t particularly like just to earn a living. If I did thorough research, I could have earned a better living working from home.

Finally, I concluded the conversation by reminding her about the importance of conducting research before plunging into the online business world. Hopefully, she will take my advice and choose the right online business.