Top 3 Reasons Why You Need to Build and Maintain Your Freelancing Network

For some freelancers, networking is a tad like dating. They're not sure where or how to begin, what to say during conversations, and how to sustain the relationship. And so they meet with people only when they need to. Or only if they're relatives. And then, they don't take the time to nurture and build their connections.

This is all well and good if you already have enough clients to last you a lifetime. But, if you don't or if your goal is to excel in freelancing, then you've got to put more effort into networking.

Not convinced? Here are three excellent reasons why you should build and maintain your freelancing network.

Reason 1: Networking increases your knowledge
Let's suppose that you're just starting out in your freelancing career. You have all these questions but you don't know where to get the answers. And then, you meet some veteran freelancers who are eager to share what they know. What luck, right? By learning from these experts, you can acquire new tips and at the same time, avoid common mistakes that newbs are bound to commit.

Not only does networking provide you with the golden opportunity to increase your knowledge, it can also help you develop and establish your expertise.

Reason 2: Networking allows you to get more work
And it's actually one of the quickest ways to get work. Relationships are the key to acquiring more clients - we're likely to recommend a person to others if we know them. And that's the power of networking. The bigger your networks, the likelier you are to get more work.

Reason 3: Networking allows you to connect and collaborate with like-minded freelancers
Only freelancers know the struggles, the joys, and the fulfillment that freelancing brings. And sometimes, the journey becomes easier when you have a support system that backs you up. Besides, freelancing can sometimes get lonely. What better way to combat this than to connect and collaborate with other freelancers as well.

Now for some practical tips to build your networks:

• Be ready to connect with people on a daily basis. Networking doesn't just happen at networking events and conferences, you know. If you meet some potential contacts, don't spook them away with sales talk. In fact, keep those sales-y pitches to a minimum. Just keep things casual. And then a simple follow-up email would suffice.
• Be helpful. Helping others can be as simple as offering tips to your network forums or groups or writing a blog post or guides related to your work, or even promptly responding to an email or returning a phone call.
• Be visible. Make sure to attend networking events when you can. Feel free to connect with others at co-working spaces. Co-working spaces often host events where you can meet with other contacts such as freelancers, entrepreneurs, and even business owners.

Now over to you. How do you network? What are the most valuable things that your networks contribute to your freelance work?

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