Freelancing doesn’t mean you have to work by yourself all the time. Read our tips for meeting other freelancers and developing a network of like-minded workers.
Sometimes it’s good to get another perspective. Freelance workers can often feel isolated because of their career choice, but working for yourself doesn’t necessarily mean you need to work by yourself. Meeting other freelancers means you can get another view on your work, feel more productive or just make a friend.Go to sector events
Probably the easiest way to find like-minded individuals is to go to industry events for your sector. Attending a seminar, a lecture or a conference is a great way to mingle with freelancers, meet employees of companies in your sector and make contacts.
Take a course
You can combine meeting new people with developing new skills when you go on a course. Although this option will likely cost you some money, it’s a great way to boost your work skills and cast a wider net for gaining contacts.
Courses are also a good way to make contact with leading professionals in your sector. Those teaching the course are as good a contact as your fellow students, perhaps even more so. It’s worth your while to get your instructor’s details and organise a later meetup.
Join social networks
The internet is an amazing tool for finding other freelancers and developing a network. The best way to maximise your opportunities to meet fellow freelancers is to join online groups on sites such as LinkedIn and Facebook and more niche groups on websites or forums specifically related to your career.
You can have online discussions and share information before organising a meetup with people – why not try searching for people already in your area to kickstart the process?
Go to meetups
For a less pressured environment, a good way to meet other freelancers is to go to local casual meetings or “meetups”, usually organised through websites such as Meetup.com. Whether it’s an event that’s specifically for your career sector, or a casual way to meet other people who also work for themselves, this is a good way to get out of the home office and meet others.
Casual meetings can also provide you with a way to meet people who don’t work the traditional 9 to 5. You can explore great coffee shops to work in during the day, when it’s less busy, and potentially form relationships with people who are there for the same reason.
Join a coworking space
A simple way to meet other freelancers, particularly those in different sectors to your own, is to join a coworking space. Not only will you get the perks of having a space away from home to work in, but you’ll be surrounded by creative, interesting people who can give you new ideas.
You can even organise events specifically to meet other freelancers. Booking a meeting space for an evening will encourage other digital nomads to come and chat about working for themselves and maybe even to collaborate.
Posted by The Secret Businessman