Photo: Create & Cultivate — **Photo:** Create & Cultivate

One of the greatest freelancing challenges is the basic need to network. If you can’t maintain a healthy network as a freelancer, you’ll likely struggle to attract new customers. The problem is, when you’re working on your own, it can be hard to know where to start.

Fortunately, there are many different options available to an ambitious entrepreneur looking to make their mark. If you’re just beginning your freelance career, here are a few different ways you can successfully network in order to grow your new business.

1. Identify Your Networking Targets

The first thing is to consider what you’re trying to accomplish. Networking is a powerful business tool, but if you dive in without a networking strategy you’re likely to waste a great deal of time. With that said, you need to begin by identifying who it is that you’re trying to reach through your networking. A few common targets include:

Referrals: If you’re trying to get your business off the ground, you may want to look for influencers, thought leaders, and other professionals within your industry or niche who can provide referrals for you.

Job searching: If you’re going to be looking for work regularly, you may want to connect with business leaders, headhunters, and HR reps at companies that you’re interested in freelancing for.
References: If you’re trying to build momentum, you may want to grow your network of professionals that are willing to give you a good reference. This could include your past college professors, bosses, and coworkers.
Mentorship and education: If you’re feeling in over your head, you may want to network with the goal of finding mentors and professionals to help provide you with knowledge, experience, and wisdom. This can be within your field in particular or even an experienced freelancer or businesswoman who can help you in the specific areas where you’re struggling.
Collaborators: Collaboration is naturally akin to networking—and it can be a great way to boost your exposure and revenue. You may want to make looking for other freelancers to work with one of your networking goals.

Begin by identifying which of these you want to accomplish (you can pick more than one). Taking the time to think this through provides a sense of focus as you set about building your professional network.

2. Identify Your Networking Setting

Along with discovering who you’re looking for, you want to figure out where you’re going to network. Here are a few common networking venues for freelancers:

Online: This is the most common scenario for a freelancer. Job boards and social media can help you connect with new clients, while more intimate settings like Slack channels and email threads can be a great option for developing relationships with existing customers, clients, and coworkers.
Group settings: The traditional option is to look for group settings where you can “rub shoulders” with professionals from your vocation and industry. Conventions, training seminars, and gatherings of any nature within your niche are often worth attending in person. Teressa Foglia, founder of Teressa Foglia explained that she “attended and continue to attend workshops, panels, retreats, and any events that can be educational or inspiring with industry leaders.”
Look local: If you have a locally-based freelance business, look for events or activities related to your particular niches such as a Chamber of Commerce educational class or a rec league where you can mingle with potential clients, mentors, and partners.

3. Take Advantage of Existing Networks

While choosing your networking target and location are the two primary starting points, it’s also important to take the time to consider your existing networks. Do you have any connections in the past or present that can help you build towards your freelancing future?

This can take a little detective work, but it’s well worth the effort. For instance, if you spent the last few years since your college graduation working in retail and you’re launching into a brand new freelance writing career, you may write off many of your old college and business connections as irrelevant to your new profession.

However, past professors may be able to provide insight into your writing style. Old coworkers and bosses may be able to give you suggestions for how to market yourself. If you have a disability, you may already have an existing community that can provide mentorship opportunities such as the Disabled Businesspersons Association.

Even family and friends may have skills that are worth connecting over. For instance, a brother-in-law who is an accountant may be an ideal existing network connection that can help you sort out your finances once you begin to find work. The point is, look for the existing connections around you and then integrate them into your networking strategy.

Finding Networking Success in the Freelance World

Whatever your particular freelancing situation is, it’s always worthwhile to spend time networking. If you take the time to identify your networking needs, find the best networking channels, and make sure to tap into your existing networks whenever possible, you’ll be able to go about building your professional freelancing network with confidence and ease.