Networking With Other Freelancers- The How Of It

If you are a freelancer it is important that you learn how to network and why it is so valuable to your business. Your networking is about much more than just making friends. It is about making more money and being more successful.

Every freelancer needs a solid foundation: In terms of skills, knowledge and support. Skills and knowledge come with learning and experience. Support, however, is another matter. Support goes hand in hand with networking. Only by networking with other freelancers can you get to know and understand the nuances that matter within the industry.

There are many reasons as to why a freelancer needs to be in constant contact with other freelancers who work in the same or similar fields. Apart from getting tips about the latest projects which are to be outsourced, bids placed, charges levied, and advice on business and legal matters, networking also helps you find a few friends on whom you can rely for any unexpected happenings. So how does one get about networking?

For a start, let’s look at the physical manner of networking. It’s all about showing up, mingling and getting to know people. Be it a glittering party, a freelancers’ symposium, or a book fair; the enterprising freelancer must try to mingle and get himself known to those in the same field of business.

However, in the last decade, the physical aspect of networking has been taken over by the internet. Virtual networking only began with the advent of blogging. The true potential of networking was first discovered with sites such as Blogger and Wordpress, where being placed on the blogroll of a friend or work mate could lead to amazing opportunities opening up. Soon, every leading website had a blog to its name. And then started the social media craze.

Sites such as My Space, Facebook, StumbleUpon, Twitter and Orkut all began to make their mark in the world of freelancers. They still do. However, different social networking sites work in different ways. For Twitter, you need to have a following, and be a follower yourself. Orkut has forums. My Space has it all. Facebook: The new economy. You get it? Digg it.

All one needs to do is to sign up, and go with the flow. The rewards may be even greater than you could ever have imagined. And all it takes is an hour a day.

Get more about freelance ideas at FreelanceSprout.com.

Source: Free Articles from ArticlesFactory.com

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

April Boone is the owner of Global Marketing Solutions in Foley Alabama.