Working for yourself has a lot of perks. You get to choose your clients, your working hours, and of course, location, which can give you a lot of flexibility around how and when you work. But don’t you ever feel a bit lonely working by yourself? It’s normal to miss the office banter or be able to share ideas with someone, but guess what? Just because you work for yourself, doesn’t mean you have to do it all by yourself. Getting out there and making some connections can help you feel a little less alone, and could even help you grow your business.
Here are some simple ways to make some connections as a freelancer.
Making Connections As A Freelancer – Find a Coworking Hub
Being able to work from home in your PJs is great, but sometimes it’s good to get out there and work in a different environment and work around people. Coworking spaces come with a lot of benefits, including modern facilities, refreshments and of course, a workspace with people in it. What’s great about a lot of coworking spaces is that they become their own communities, with different events designed to get everyone together and meet some new people. Give it a try, you might find it’s a really good move for you.
You may not even have to pay to use a coworking space, like this gorgeous space in London:
@ashleighspili We don’t gatekeep here. Free coworking space for your next wfh day #coworking #wfh #wfhproblems #londonhotspots #london #coworkingspace #shoreditch ♬ original sound – ash
If you are in my neck of the woods, here in North Yorkshire, look up Thirsk Coworking. I set up Thirsk Coworking in 2017, a free coworking group anyone can attend. There’s no membership, tickets, or signing up—just flexible coworking alongside like-minded others. You can find out more on my Thirsk Coworking page.
Making Connections As A Freelancer – Attend Local Networking Events
Networking events have changed a lot in recent years, and with a little research, you could find great events taking place in your local area, especially if you work in a creative role. See what’s out there and attend business brunches, workshops and even group workouts – all aimed at freelancers and people who own their own businesses. It can be a great way to connect with people like you and help your business too. Make sure you get some business cards printed to hand out to any new connections. These events will help you feel more sociable while building some valuable business contacts too.
Join an Online Community
Online communities are a great way to meet like-minded people, especially if you’re a little bit shy about meeting people in person. Online communities can cover a lot of different niches, including people who do the same type of work as you, like copywriting, for example, those who live in your local area or those who are just starting out. These communities work like forums, so you can use them to both give and receive advice, grow your customer base and maybe even meet a few people you click with to pursue some deeper connections.
Meet your Clients Face-To-Face – Making Connections As A Freelancer
A lot of freelancers find their clients online, keeping the majority of communications online. But what if you met some of your clients face-to-face now and then? It can help you enjoy some more social interactions, but it could also help you build better relationships with your clients. If you need to travel, even better – who doesn’t love a business trip?
As you can see, there are a lot of different ways to interact with others as a freelancer. Find ways to make some more social connections and enjoy making working alone a little less lonely.
