If your goal is to win more work, get out and network. This is a tried-and-true tactic that applies to nearly every industry. Surrounding yourself with fellow professionals can help your business thrive long-term, as it can open the door to a variety of opportunities. Whether bouncing ideas off each other, collaborating on joint projects, or providing referrals when a client is looking for work outside your scope, the growth potential is endless.
We’ve already discussed how to effectively network via Facebook groups, but there are a variety of other ways to accomplish this goal.
If you haven’t heard of Clubhouse, it’s an audio-based social media app. No images, no video, just a platform that focuses on facilitating discussion. This is widely used in a professional capacity for industries to discuss trends, learnings, or innovations. It’s free to join and though previously an invite-only platform, it’s now open to the public.
In the app, you can search for “rooms” that appeal to your niche. From marketing and tech to crypto and entrepreneurship, there is a discussion room or chat event for pretty much anything.
You can network through Clubhouse by contributing to a discussion, connecting with an organizer post-event to share how their tips helped your business, follow various members via the social platforms included in their Clubhouse bios and more.
Depending on where you live, it’s likely that your local community hosts networking events. Do some research and see if there are any upcoming gatherings that are applicable to your business. By attending a networking event for small business owners or an industry conference within your niche, you have the ability to connect with other individuals who may have a need for your service in the future. In the very least, it gets your name out there and exposes you to different perspectives that may benefit your business long-term.
Don’t be afraid to slide in the DMs because this can actually be a worthwhile networking strategy. Partnering with other freelancers on social media is a great way to cross-promote. If you see a freelancer that has cultivated an audience that you would love to get in front of, send them a message about pursuing a collaborative partnership.
You could do joint Instagram lives, an educational series that features each other as supporting experts, podcast episodes, etc. Even something as simple as sharing each other’s content via Instagram or TikTok is beneficial, as its generating more buzz and awareness around the content you’re creating.
Putting yourself out there may be outside your comfort zone, so feel free to start small. You’ll get more comfortable over time and will naturally start branching out more and more.
Now that we’ve shared a variety of strategies to help boost your freelancing business, it’s time to get out there and win more work. We hope you feel more confident and prepared after reading this series and look forward to seeing the stellar portfolios you’ll create on RitersBlock and beyond.
