Jess shares her own networking tips for freelancers – from attending live/online networking events to coworking and social media usage. #YouthVoice
Whether you do it temporarily or as a long-term career strategy, freelancing can be incredibly rewarding. A freelancer is a self-employed person who offers their services to multiple clients and is not tied to one specific company or employer. Freelancing is particularly common in industries such as writing, graphic design, IT, web design, PR and marketing, and many of the creative arts. There are over 2 million freelancers in the UK.
I’ve been freelancing since 2017, and full time since 2020. One of the first things people ask me about freelancing is “how do you find clients?” All freelancers have slightly different answers to this but for me, networking was the key.
Read on for some of my top networking tips for freelance workers in all industries.
Start with people you already know
How many people do you know? Chances are it’s more than you think. Starting with those you know is always a great networking strategy, because people are more likely to trust those with whom they have some kind of existing relational context.
You can start with friends and family, but then think beyond your immediate circle. Consider former coworkers and bosses, contacts from hobbies and voluntary activities, people you know from school or university, and even friends of friends. By casting your net as widely as possible, you may well find someone who either needs your services or knows somebody who does.
The trick here is to put yourself out there without being pushy. Let people know what you do and ask them to keep you in mind if they or anyone they know needs the service you provide. These kinds of word-of-mouth recommendations are very powerful.
Go to live networking events
This was the single biggest game changer for me when I started freelancing. Most cities and many larger towns have local business groups designed specifically to help local self-employed people and business owners find each other. Try searching online for “business networking + [your area]”.
Some events charge a fee to attend or join as a member. Others allow you to attend your first event for free as a guest to see if you like it. Remember that more expensive networks are not necessarily better! Don’t be afraid to try a few out to see how you get on.
Tips for live networking events:
- Arrive in plenty of time, especially if you’re relying on public transport or will need to find a place to park.
- Dress in business casual unless the event has a different dress code specified.
- Stay sober (it’s fine to have a drink at evening events, which are often held in pubs or bars, but limit yourself to one to keep things professional).
- Talk to everyone, not just people who you think might hire you. You never know who someone might introduce or recommend you to.
- Bring business cards and give them out to the people you speak to.
- Ask questions about others’ work and listen at least as much as you speak.
Try online networking events
Since the start of the pandemic, more and more business networking groups have begun online or adopted a hybrid approach (where you can attend either online or in person). While I don’t like these as much as in-person events, they’re a great alternative if you’re busy, unable to travel, or still feeling cautious about Covid.
The great thing about online events is that you can potentially meet a much wider array of people as you’re not constrained by geography. If your work is something you can do from anywhere, there is no need to restrict yourself to people in your city or region.
Tips for online networking:
- If you’ll get to do an “elevator pitch” (a short summary of who you are and what you do), practice it in advance.
- Dress smartly if you will be appearing on camera.
- Do not talk over people. This can make it impossible to hear each other in an online format.
- If there is a “chat” function, post your contact information (think of this as a virtual form of a business card).
- Stay focused and do not try to “multitask” during the meeting.
Use social media… but not too much
When I first started freelancing, I thought I had to do as much on social media as possible. At one stage I was trying to run channels on all the major platforms, plus Facebook groups and adding new connections on LinkedIn every day. The problem? It didn’t work for me. It sucked up enormous amounts of time and didn’t achieve anything.
If social media works for you, then by all means use it. But if you’re struggling to get engagement on your posts or find that you don’t get any work from your social channels, it’s okay to stop using them or to use them less.
Consider coworking
If you find working by yourself at home lonely, you can counteract this by using a coworking space. Coworking can also have significant networking benefits. Coworking allows you to meet other freelancers, self-employed people, and business owners, and build the kinds of relationships that come from working side by side.
Tips for coworking:
- Don’t bother people when they’re engrossed in work. This is more likely to be annoying than productive.
- Make the most of opportunities to chat while people are taking a break from work, such as while you’re eating lunch or in the shared kitchen.
- Always have a few business cards available.
- Ask questions and be genuinely interested in others and their work.
- Be authentic and don’t try to “sell”. This is about relationship building, not hard selling.
- As you’re wrapping up a conversation with someone, ask if they’re happy for you to send them a connection request on LinkedIn to keep in touch.
The downside to coworking is that it does have a cost attached. Using a space can cost anything from a few pounds per visit to hundreds of pounds per month, depending on location, facilities, and membership options. But if you can afford it, it can be a great way to make connections. And don’t forget you can write off coworking fees as a business expense on your tax return!
Experiment to see what works
Networking is not one-size-fits-all. What works best for you will depend on the nature of your work as well as your skills, personality, and availability. Try out a few different strategies during your first few months as a freelancer. Then you can keep doing what works and stop doing what doesn’t.
Happy networking!
