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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.