Workers who are thinking about opting for contracting / freelancing , or those who are just starting out as freelancers , often see only the advantages of contracting but do not consider the effort that needs to be put into it. All of these advantages, from being your own boss to choosing the type of work you take on, and from flexible working periods to the increased pay packet ; all of these advantages normally come at some kind of price. That price is the very real possibility of unemployment for days or even months . Occasionally there will be months when work is harder to find and this is where it pays to be out in the market, getting yourself into both your community and the wider job market, searching out jobs and contracts.
Business networking, is crucial to a successful contracting career . One of the very real advantages of this kind of networking is that unlike paid advertising it is very cost effective , whilst still being a highly important tool for getting you and your business recognized . More importantly , it is nigh on impossible to overestimate the value of personal meetings and developing relationships with new people.
That is not to argue that online-networking isn’t just as important, because it is. Joining work providers, organizations, forums and particularly social networking sites from Facebook to Myspace to the more business slanted Linkedin; all are vital moves for the contractor to make.
However, networking in the local or national community is of much more immediate value to your business and is all about nurturing relationships with potential clients in your area. How should you successfully go about networking then? The first thing to do is to join national organizations such as the Institute of Directors or the PCG (the Professional Contractors Group). The PCG, has over 20,000 members and is of value not only for its supporting freelancers on legal and tax issues but also its organization of business events at which members can network. Tuesday 23rd November is their most famous event, National Freelancers Day where portfolio workers can get together across the UK to celebrate the enormous influence of the freelance sector on the British economy and to encourage businesses to come and meet contractors / freelancers .
More importantly , however, are the local groups such as the FSB (Federation of Small Businesses) and the many hundreds of local regional business enterprises. These are wonderful for putting together brunches, lunches and networking meetings .
Finally, once you’ve arrived at these get-togethers it is important to remember to play a subtle hand . Don’t go into these events and simply oversell yourself, annoying people or appearing too desperate for business. Aim to simply chat with other business people , develop relationships and to meet them again. This is a marketing slow-burner , and the end-game is building a network of business clients and contacts.
Secondly, show interest in other people’s businesses . Listen and take an interest . Make new contacts with other freelancers even if they are not likely to be ‘of use’ to you. Get to know people in similar fields . For example if you’re a copy writer, meet up with designers you might want to work with . Also always have business cards ready and always collect other peoples’. Importantly , always follow up. It is crucial to get in touch with fellow attendees swiftly – if you let it slide more than a week , people will certainly forget you. So send that short email or make a quick call, even if it’s just to say hello.
Most importantly, sell your skills and your business. As mentioned above, always be subtle and tactful , but nevertheless be bold, speak to other attendees and get your freelance contracting skills out into the market!
