Freelancing is usually a solo activity, but that doesn’t mean it has to be lonely.
If you want to connect with other freelancers to exchange advice, share stories, or build a support system, then consider joining a freelance community.
Here are a few reasons to join a freelance community and where to find them.
What is a Freelance Community?
A freelance community is any type of space where freelancers can connect with other freelancers to discuss topics around freelancing. Common online platforms for freelance communities are Slack groups, Facebook Groups, and other social media channels.
Think of a freelance community as a virtual water cooler: It’s a place to have casual, work-related conversations where you can get inspired, learn new things, and get to know your peers.
If you’re looking to form in-person connections, you can also find freelance communities through a membership group like an association, or networking events.
Benefits of Joining a Freelance Community
No matter where you’re at in your freelance career, it’s never too early or late to join a freelancing community. Maybe you decided to start freelancing because you prefer to work solo, but you want someone to bounce ideas off of now and again. Or perhaps you’ve found freelancing to feel isolating at times and are looking to form genuine connections with like-minded people.
In any case, joining a freelance community can help you become better at your profession, grow your network, and ultimately scale your business. Here are a few specific benefits of joining a freelance community.
Build your network
There’s no built-in network with freelancing like there is at a full-time job. To make connections, get referred for new projects, or find people to collaborate with, you need to build your network. An easy way to do this is by joining a freelance community.
When you’re part of a freelance community, you instantly meet other freelancers who understand what you do. The beauty of freelancing communities is that you can expand your network as wide or as niche as you’d like. You can join niche communities that focus solely on your industry, whether that’s graphic design, writing, or photography. Or, you can join broad freelancing communities to connect with people outside of your area of expertise. With every community you join, the more freelancers you connect with, the bigger your network becomes.
Get advice
Imagine this: You’re working from home, alone at your desk, when you get a client inquiry that you’re not sure how to answer. Who do you turn to? In a traditional 9-5 role, you’d likely have a teammate you could quickly exchange advice with. As a freelancer, it can sometimes feel like you’re all alone in navigating tough client conversations or uncertainties around business, but that’s why it’s essential to join a freelance community.
When you’re part of a like-minded community of freelancers, you have access to hundreds of freelancers who have been in your shoes. There’s probably no situation or question you could bring up that someone doesn’t have the answer to. If you get a client inquiry that you’re not sure how to answer, simply pop into one of your online communities, ask other freelancers how they’d handle the situation, and you’ll receive a range of thoughtful answers in minutes.
Discover opportunities
Another benefit of joining a freelance community is that the connections made there can lead to collaboration or job opportunities. If you’re active in the communities you join — joining conversations, sharing your advice, celebrating other freelancers’ wins — then you’re bound to leave an impression and stay top of mind whenever a potential project comes up.
Plus, it’s common for clients to join freelancing communities to connect with people for projects. In fact, for freelance projects, some people will post opportunities exclusively in these communities instead of sharing them on a job board. This means that you can get in front of potential clients simply by joining a community rather than going out looking for new work.
Joining a freelance community is a great way to expand your network, discover business opportunities, and make freelancing more fun. Just remember that to get the most out of communities, you have to be engaged, actively contribute, and be genuine.
