As a freelancer, you’ve probably had a number of people telling you how crucial it is to “build your network”. But for some reason, the word “networking” can feel a little intimidating, uncomfortable, or just downright cringeworthy—especially for new freelancers.
So let’s first redefine it as simply building relationships and connecting with others. (That already seems MUCH less scary, right?!)
Why Bother with Networking?
The goal of networking is simply to make other people aware of your existence and for you to become aware of theirs. And that awareness may then become familiarity, and familiarity may lead to opportunity (woohoo!).
If you ask any successful freelancer, they’ll most likely tell you that networking has opened a lot of doors and been an essential part of their professional growth.
But if you’re already shuddering at the prospect of “putting yourself out there”, we hear you. The idea of forming new connections can be daunting, particularly for the introverts among us. And if you’ve already had a networking experience you’d rather forget, we understand that you might be reluctant to give it another go.
But before you discard the idea entirely, we have five very simple steps to make networking in your industry more enjoyable and boost your chances of finding work.
1. Join LinkedIn Groups
Most people use LinkedIn in the same way that they use Facebook—they set up a page, connect with their friends/colleagues, and sometimes visit the homepage to see what people are posting. But you’ll need to do a bit more than simply throw your LinkedIn profile together and sit and pray that leads and jobs will come to you.
LinkedIn provides a unique opportunity to join—and engage—in various groups on its platform. Start by joining and actively participating in groups that are most relevant to you, what you offer, and the industries you cater to currently. You can also find your ideal clients on LinkedIn to see what groups they are in and join one or two of those.
These groups are invaluable for keeping you up-to-date on new trends, opportunities, and developments in the freelance world.
2. Attend an Industry Event
While social media and other digital communities can be great for making new online connections, there’s still nothing quite like having a shared experience with someone face-to-face, in real life. But we know what you’re thinking…“Giving up an evening to mingle with strangers? Hmm, not so sure about that…”
Ok, we’ll admit it, there *might* be some awkward small talk involved but trust us, if you can move past that, networking events—whether online or in person—can be incredible places to build and nurture relationships. Plus, if you never mingle with strangers, you’ll never meet anyone new.
And if you’re a freelance introvert, don’t worry, you can still network successfully! Even if you get anxious about social situations (join the club!), asking this key question: “How did you get into that?” is a simple hack to eliminate the awkwardness and get the conversation flowing straight away.
Most cities and bigger towns have local business groups designed specifically to help local self-employed people and freelancers find each other. Try searching online for “[industry] networking + [your area]”. Some events might charge a fee to attend or join as a member but there are often events that don’t require membership or have just a small door charge.
To make the most of local events, do some research beforehand, prepare your elevator pitch and business cards, and don’t forget to follow up with the connections you make.
3. Connect with Other Freelancers
If you’re just starting out in your field, you’re probably going to need to rely on other freelancers to support your business. For example, graphic designers will often collaborate with web developers to create polished and user-friendly websites. (Read: Stop grappling with HTML alone and team up with a skilled web developer to enhance your design projects!)
Luckily, connecting with other freelancers is easy. All you have to do is a quick LinkedIn search to find professionals from a specific field in your area and, from there, you can wade through the listings to find the people that you’d like to get in touch with.
Ideally, try to look for someone who’s at your same experience level. Nobody wants to do work for free, but if you both want and need examples for your portfolio, there’s a much better chance they’ll be willing to work with you.
When you find freelancers you’re interested in getting to know, avoid sending them the standard LinkedIn “I’d like to add you to my professional network” message. Personalize the message to let them know what intrigued you about them and, if you’re feeling especially bold, you could even suggest meeting up for coffee to network a bit and talk about what it’s like working as a creative in your town.
Coworking spaces are also a great option for freelancers to connect with each other, with many making community-building a key focus. Next time you reserve a spot, check out what events they’re hosting or ask for intros to people who are doing similar or adjacent work.
4. Check In with Recruiters
If you’re currently looking for work in your field, you’ve probably already sent your information to several recruiters in your town. (And if you haven’t yet, get on it!)
But be aware that recruiters get LOTS of emails, and chances are, it’s been at least a few weeks or months since you’ve been in touch with them. But why wait for a recruiter to get in touch with you? Being proactive is key so make it a priority to reach out to your recruiting contacts and let them know about the new projects you’ve been working on. You never know—the exact job you want could just have landed on their desk!
5. Schedule Your Own Networking Event
Now, before you get carried away envisioning fancy appetizers and formal invites, let’s remember to keep things simple.
When we say, “schedule your own event,” all we mean is pick a location, pick a time, and send out an email to all of your professional contacts to invite them (and encourage them to invite their own contacts, too). If you and your contacts spread the word and really encourage people to come, you could end up meeting dozens of new, interesting, and maybe even valuable contacts.
The more connections we make, the more known we become. And being known can lead to getting an intro here, getting a referral there, and sometimes an entirely new gig!
And let’s not forget: Even though we don’t miss the rigidity of traditional employment, most of us miss the connections. And networking with other freelancers can bridge that gap. Your network can help you cheer you on through the good times and cheer you up in the bad times. Having peers close by who experience the same highs and lows as you can help you feel supported and motivated to grow.
Your Turn
How are you going to start building more connections in your freelance community? Let us know in the comments below!
