Freelance Networking for Mutual Benefit

Ask any highly successful freelancer what the most beneficial thing for their business has been and it is highly likely that they will tell you that it was forming trading partnerships with other freelancers. Consider the fact that freelancers usually specialise in a single avenue of expertise. Now consider the fact that most large projects require a whole range of skills provided by a host of different individuals to complete the project. It doesn't take an awful lot to work out that by building a network of freelancers, who work in complimentary aspects of the freelancing industry, you will in effect be building a team of highly qualified professionals.

For example, let us consider a typical project spec upon one of the many excellent freelance job brokerage sites. The project may call for the development of a website with several pages, it may need to include some form of dynamic database driven content, it will need to look good and it will need to read well. Now let's take a look at the skill set needed for this:

• Site design - requires a web designer
• Database code - requires a web developer
• Website graphics - requires a graphic designer
• Website content - requires a writer
• Search engine marketing - requires an SEO expert

So we can see that this simple project actually requires five very different skill sets to complete. Unless you are an extremely gifted individual it is unlikely that you will be able to fulfil the entire project requirement alone. For this reason it can be extremely beneficial to network with other freelancers, if you do this you will find the over time, you will build a close relationship with these people and they will contact you when they require help with their own projects from somebody with your skills.

Commercial history is filled with success stories of businesses that originally started out as a loosely organised group of like-minded freelance workers. Building your own network of freelancing individuals is a great way of ensuring that you have access to a whole range of skills to call upon, should you face a project which you cannot complete alone. In time you may find that your network naturally gels together, forming a virtual corporation who share projects and workload between them.

One of the further reasons why it is good to network with other freelancers is due to the fact that for many people, who have previously worked in an office environment, working from home and spending the day alone can be a stark contrast to what they are used to. By making a few other freelancer buddies you can chat with during the day, either online or by telephone you will find that you will have some like-minded individuals with which to chat with for a few moments and take a well earned break during the workday.

Networking as a freelancer is arguably more beneficial than networking as a company employee, as all of the people you interact with have the possibility of bringing you fresh work and more income.