Making a success of being a freelancer is not just down to the particular skills you possess in your area of expertise. No matter how organised and reliable you may be or how knowledgeable you are in your field, if potential clients do not know you are out there, work will not be forthcoming. Marketing is of vital importance to a freelancer, just as it is to any business, but can sometimes be costly. Another effective way of increasing awareness of your service, which will not be such a strain on your budget, is networking. Being accomplished at networking can be invaluable in your mission to succeed in the world of freelance.
The Personal Touch.
While networking online, using social media sites such as Facebook and Twitter, remains a vital weapon in a freelancer’s arsenal, there is nothing quite like personal contact. Whether it is a potential client or possible future ally in your work, meeting people face to face gives them the opportunity to get to know you on a more personal level and hopefully develop a relationship with you that could bear fruit in the future. Always make sure you have a number of business cards about your person whenever you are out, even at family social events, as you never know who you might end up meeting.
Online Presence.
As already mentioned, online networking is still incredibly important. Maintaining a regular presence on social media sites keeps your name in the spotlight, while also giving you the opportunity to develop relationships with potential customers. Posting on forums that are relevant to your line of work can also pay great dividends.
Business to Business.
One of the trickiest parts of personal networking is knowing the best places to meet the right people in the first place. Fortunately, there are a number of organisations that can help in this area. The Professional Contractors Group, or PCG for short, is an association with over 20,000 members providing support to freelancers and contractors across the UK. The PCG hold regular events throughout the year, giving freelancers the perfect chance to meet and perhaps build lasting relationships. Local business organisations are another good source of potential networking opportunities.
Be Yourself.
The most important thing to remember when meeting new people is to be yourself. By trying too hard to make a good impression, there is a very real danger you will look desperate for the work. Conversely, come across too nonchalant and people will doubt your reliability and ability to complete work on time. It is not easy, but striking just the right balance and projecting an air of professionalism is key to success. As with friendships, business relationships build over a period of time, so don’t try to do too much at a first meeting.
Although it may not come naturally to many people, the ability to network can have a great bearing on your success as a freelancer. As with many things, practice makes perfect, so get yourself out there as often as you can.
Post by Tony, a UK based blogger for Brookson