Working online has now become a trend for some IT professionals and creative people (writers and artists). And why not? So far there are a lot of potential business to be made online. You can operate as a business or as a professional. Web Worker Daily pinpoints top 5 mistakes that online workers commit:

1. Forget that you’re in business – Not operating as an actual business, with a business structure, a separate bank account, contracts, invoicing, tax withholding, and all the rest.
2. Try to do everything yourself – Not hiring a lawyer, accountant, banker, and insurance agent.
3. Mistake a feature for a product
4. Forget whose time you’re working on – Hopping between personal and professional projects (and billing clients for your personal time)
5. Sell technology instead of results – Selling the arsenal of development tools you’ve invested on rather than results

I wouldn’t argue with these mistakes that probably many web workers commit. As a casual freelancer, it’s often hard to operate as a complete business. It takes capital to invest on hiring lawyers and accountants. But if you’re working on a large paying project, this may be an option.

If you’re earning from a “salary type arrangement, it’s definitely crucial to bill clients for the time you’ve actually spent and your output.

However, the article seemed to focus on developers rather than the larger landscape of web working. Now, I’m thinking, how about on the side of web copywriters, probloggers, and digital artists. While many of these mistakes are valid especially on the business side, I think creative workers sell their portfolio (Mistake 5) over the tools they have.

Now I think doing the following can help you avoid mistakes as a web worker in general. I think these would be simple enough to be done easily.

1. Get a contract/formal arrangement complete with work scope and payment terms
2. If paid by the hour, keep a time sheet and progress sheets
3. Report constantly to your client of progress and setbacks
4. Blast distractions away(including personal projects) during work hours
5. Keep track of earnings
6. Pay your taxes (instead of an accountant, get an enrolled agent)