My Approach to Freelance Networking

How do you network when you work alone, when you are super careful with your marketing budget, but you still need to make connections?

I got tips for days in this thread👇

Big disclaimer: EVERYONE networks differently. How you choose to go about it depends on your personal style and preferences.

I would call myself an ambivert - sometimes I'm jazzed to meet lots of new people, and other times I want nothing to do with anyone I don't already know. So for me, finding ways to network without exhausting my social battery has been a trial and error.

My freelance business was born out of the pandemic, which also threw a wrench in the traditional concept of networking. I used to go to big events, where an open bar would help me get over my shyness, and walk away with a few new friends and a few new clients each time.

Those kinds of events ended in 2020, and are still only slowly coming back. And there's no getting around the fact that virtual events just don't hold a candle to that kind of networking.

But there are LOTS of ways to build your network completely online, which is where I'm going to focus.

My primary networking channels are LinkedIn and Twitter - no surprises there. LinkedIn has been the best one for me, even though I used to swear I'd never use it.

But a while back, I took part in a competition with a bunch of freelance writers to post on LinkedIn every day for 30 days. And that is what gave me the foundation of the network I have today.

I wrote a big blog about everything I learned while posting on LinkedIn, including the types of posts (with examples) that worked best. Here it is: https://inkwellcontent.com/blog/advice-for-freelance-writers/linkedin-for-writers/

If I'm honest, nothing has built me a stronger network faster than simply posting on LinkedIn a few times a week. But with these posts, 96% of the time I'm not promoting anything specifically.

Instead, I'm sharing my genuine knowledge and tips about SEO and freelancing (which is the sweet spot for my business).

Doing this enough turned me into someone who people could approach with random SEO questions, and the name recognition I got along the way made it easy for people to recommend me to others who were looking for SEO folks.

You'll hear this in any post about promoting yourself on LinkedIn, but the key is not just posting, but also engaging properly.

I have slowed down my posting to 2 - 3 times a week, but when I do, I spend about 20 minutes before and after liking posts, giving comments, and clicking around on the things LinkedIn is suggesting to me in my notification feed.

Doing this majorly increases your chances, because you'll show up on more people's feeds, and the algorithm seems to reward your own post engagement as well.

Beyond LinkedIn and Twitter, there are a number of other networking groups I'd recommend. Heck, we're in one right now.

Facebook is FULL of groups for freelancers, and there are interesting, thought-provoking posts you can comment on in there every day until you're ready to post your own. I've expanded my network this way as well. Here are a few I'm in that are pretty active:

• https://www.facebook.com/groups/DigitalNomadsAroundTheWorld/
• https://www.facebook.com/groups/ahrefsinsider/
• https://www.facebook.com/groups/freelancejungle/

In summary, there are LOTS of places to find people to connect with online.

But once you are in those spaces, how do you actually do the dang networking? 🤔

Here's my advice👇

🛑 STOP trying to sell something in your first few messages. It will get you blocked. You should see how fast I block people on LinkedIn when they open with a pitch.

🤔 Instead, let your curiosity lead the way. Ask questions about the person you're talking to, about how they work, what they do, what they want. Do this without trying to find a way into their pocket.

👋 Don't be afraid to say hello! It's easier said than done, but you can't network without giving out some friendly direct messages. If you follow my advice about not pitching in your first messages, then the worst thing that will happen is that you get ignored. The best thing that will happen is that you'll make a new connection.

🏡 Make sure your "digital homebases" are up to date and give people a clear picture of who you are. If you have a website, great - that makes it super easy. But you also must keep your LinkedIn profile up to date, even if you don't use it for networking - because people are going to go there to find information about you. Even your email signature can do wonders for your ability to network.

💸 Give away free stuff. This has built my network massively. I have a free content calendar, a free SEO checklist, and a few other freebies on my resources page. When people DM me asking for them, I give them away for free no questions asked. Otherwise, people can grab them for free by joining my mailing list, which has built me a sustainable audience and connection.

👻 Don't ghost people. If someone DMs you, responds to a comment, retweets you, etc. respond to them promptly and thoroughly. Yes, this takes time, but if you want a network, you need to prove you are reliable and open to communication. (This applies to dating as well lol.)

🧩 Fill your network with "adjacent" people. Your network doesn't only need to be filled with people who might be potential clients one day. Instead, look to fill it with people who will spread the word about your business. I have lots of graphic designers and web developers in my network - they'll never pay me a dime, but they will recommend me to their clients, who often need SEO guidance.

🏰 Remember your playground rules. Be kind, play fair, tell the truth, and have as much fun as possible. Anything else will make it very hard to grow a network.

Those are my big tips on how I approach networking, but I'd love to hear from other people:

What platforms/groups do you use to build a network?

How do you meet people?

Let me know on Twitter, LinkedIn, or over in TOFU.