Just because you are a freelancer doesn’t mean you have to be alone.
One of the toughest things about being a freelancer is that we work alone.
We get up in the morning and site alone at our desks.
We are wholly responsible for everything that happens that day.
There is no one to help us find that next client or assignment. Nobody to critique the work we do. Nobody to give us a nudge when we get distracted or start to lose steam.
This is not a problem for some freelancers who mange to work very effectively every day in every aspect of their business, from cold calling for new clients, getting projects completed and dealing with administrative chores.
But most of us struggle a little from time to time. Not every task comes easy. Not every day is a “good day”.
This can be the downside of working alone, being a freelancer at home.
However, in the world of the web and social networking, you don’t have to be alone.
There are many ways in which you can stay in contact with other freelancers.
You can create a group on Facebook, or on Google Groups. You can even build a list of fellow freelancers on Twitter.
On the face of it, networking online may sound like one more potential distraction.
But it needn’t be.
A group or forum of other freelancers can turn into a valuable support network.
At the simplest end you can simply send a tweet to your followers on Twitter and write, “Somebody say something inspiring please – I need help in getting pumped up for the day!”
It may sound silly, but having a few people tweet back with some inspirational words could make a big difference to your day. Suddenly you’ll feel like you are no longer completely alone. You’ll know there are others out there listening, and caring enough to write back and try to help you.
At the other end of the spectrum you can create a forum or group and actually submit work for peer review and work hard to help one another.
Either way I think it would help most of us who work alone to join or create some kind of group of other freelancers.
It’s tough working alone and being alone day after day.
We may not need help from other freelancers every day, but it’s good to know they are there when we need them...and good to know that you can give others a little help when they ask for it.
(You can follow me on Twitter at @nickusborne)
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