3 reasons non-freelancers should attend a freelancer networking event

May 1st, 2024

Whenever I talk about Portsmouth Freelancers Meet and suggest a person come along, the most frequent response I get is “But, I’m not a freelancer!”. Fair enough, so why would I suggest this?

Usually it’s because the person I’m speaking to has a startup, runs their own business or event, or is a creative type that works for one of the above.

Freelancer networking events are like a melting pot of creativity and diversity, where you’ll meet people with unique perspectives and talents that’ll leave you feeling inspired and energized.

It’s a great place to find employees

The meetup often sees individuals from agencies or marketing companies that come along, usually for the social aspect, but often because agencies and large businesses like to work with freelancers.

Perhaps you have a project that you don’t have the right skill set for in-house – a networking group is a great place to scout talent so that you can fulfill your client briefs.

As an example – I often fill the gap as a developer when agencies don’t have the capacity to take on a client project or need to fill a staff gap.

It’s always good to have people in your contacts that you know and trust (and vice versa!), just in case you find yourself needing a freelancer!

Get other perspectives and stay ahead of the curve

Freelancers are always staying one step ahead of the game in their fields. By rubbing elbows with these savvy professionals, you’ll get a sneak peek into the latest industry trends, tools, and techniques.

Speaking from my own point of view as a front-end developer; software and coding practices change all the time. I learn a lot from working with a variety of agencies and freelancers who use different tools and techniques, and I’m happy to share that knowledge with others!

Whether it’s learning about the hottest design trends or picking up tips for mastering social media marketing, you’ll walk away from these events armed with fresh insights to take your own work to the next level.

Pay it forward and impart your own wisdom

Networking isn’t just about what you can get – it’s also about what you can give.

A lot of our meetup events have students attending who are in their final years of University, or a person who wants to take the plunge into freelancing or starting their own business. While you may not be a freelancer yourself, if you run a business or work for an agency, you will have a lot of inside knowledge on what it’s like to work in your particular field.

By lending a helping hand or sharing your own expertise, you can make a real difference in someone else’s journey. Who knows, you may find yourself a new employee, or even a lifelong friendship or partnership along the way.

Sound good?

Why not pop along to one of our upcoming networking events? We meet every 2nd Thursday of the month – check out our event calendar for the next meetups!

Some pics from some of our recent meetups: