Networking events are one of the easiest ways to make new contacts and fill your phone with potential collaborators or clients but what happens next? We've always felt that meeting in person is a stronger connection than social channels, so the foundations should be in place for an approach but how do you make the most out of your networking night? To help expedite the process we've compiled a few tips on developing your contacts whether you're looking to collaborate with other freelancers or hoping to land the job.
WHAT I (A FREELANCER) LEARNED HIRING THROUGH THE FREELANCER CLUB
Remember that olde saying from back in the day…. “Don’t take no for an answer.” It was drilled into us from our mentors, favourite business gurus, and idols alike — those that achieved their dreams by never giving up. We fantasised about the day we would take our sellable skills out into the world and then immediately get rejected with that word — “no” — and then we’d embark on our own fiercely passionate, dedicated journey of discovering that life-changing “yes,” for-as-long-as-it-takes. It’s almost as if this was a time where actually talking to another human who would recognise our existence and give us the courtesy of a reply, was the basic norm. Gosh. They really were simpler times, weren’t they?
MEET MIKE HOGAN, A MEMBER LANDING REGULAR JOBS ON FREELANCER CLUB
Certain individuals become members of the club to learn more about running a freelance business. Others find value in showcasing their portfolio and making industry connections. Additionally, there are members who join the Freelancer Club specifically to secure new clients. While offering general advice on best practices when applying for work is always useful, we decided to ask one of the more successful members of the club who appears to have mastered the art of landing the job!
HOW DATING APPS CAN HELP LAND FREELANCE JOBS
I jumped on the Tinder bandwagon a while back. Albeit a bit reluctantly, I should add. As someone who had the phrase ‘don’t talk to strangers’ drilled into me from the time I could talk, the idea of dating strangers I’d met online seemed a bit dodgy. So, I put off downloading the app for ages.
HOW ELITE FREELANCERS STAND OUT FROM THE CROWD
This is the year of the freelancer, with around 5.1 million people in the UK now classifying themselves as self-employed. As such, competition is steep and it has never been more important to stand out from the crowd to find work in the industry.
WHAT'S YOUR FREELANCE BUSINESS LEVEL?
Freelancing is sky-rocketing. More people and companies are hiring freelancers than ever before and there is a real opportunity for talented individuals to earn a living or generate extra income from their skills and passion. It’s not just the financial rewards either. Many are interested in freelancing for more control and flexibility in their lives. Some choose to run a business to improve their work-life balance and be their own boss. The benefits are endless and yet a large proportion of new freelancers struggle to earn enough to make it past the first year of business.
Freelance Pricing Guide 2025
Pricing. It’s the most common question we get, and there’s no simple answer. How much you charge, or more importantly, how much you get paid, depends on a range of factors: your level of expertise, the equipment you have (or don’t have), where you live, who you know, the sector your client operates in, your ability to sell yourself, and much more. To help you navigate this, we’ve put together a Freelance Pricing Guide for 2025, which you can use to figure out how to get the best rate for your services.
USING AI TO LAND JOBS: CAN A TOOL REPLACE THE HUMAN TOUCH?
As a home for freelancers, we're always looking for ways to improve the lives of our members and AI offers an abundance of opportunity for us to do just that. The question, however, is how should we use AI to support our community? It seems like every other day, there's a new AI tool promising to revolutionise the way we work.