Why Should You Join A Freelance Community? 8 Best Options for You

Working as a freelancer can be a lonely path. Even if you are an introvert and prefer to work alone versus in an open space in the corporate world with all the office politics, everyone needs a community of like-minded people to share ideas and learn from.

Joining a freelance community will help you connect with other freelancers and give you a platform to learn how to grow your freelance business and troubleshoot any problems that you may encounter. Fortunately, there are several of them where you can join other freelancers who wish to connect and support each other to grow their careers.

So where can you find one that fits your needs? This article explains the four main benefits of joining a freelance community and shares the top eight freelance communities you can join.

4 Main Benefits of Joining a Freelance Community

You don’t have to feel alone just because you are a freelancer with no workmates, and all alone in your home office. Here are some of the reasons why you should join a freelance community.

1. Get a sense of belonging

We all crave to belong. As a freelancer joining freelance communities helps you get encouragement from others who are going through similar challenges as yourself.

You can ask questions and share your issues and you will get help from other freelancers. You can also share tips with other freelancers, answer their questions, and share what you know. It is very rewarding to help others just as it is to get help.

The advantage of these communities is that they are virtual so you don’t have the pressure to meet up or talk especially if you are an introvert.

Also Read: What Is The Best Payment Method For Freelancers? (9 Options)

2. Get job opportunities

Freelancing communities are not just about asking and answering questions. You will be surprised that some freelancers find work in these freelance communities faster than they do on job boards. Networking with other freelancers is a good way to find job opportunities.

Often most freelancers outsource work when they get overwhelmed and the community is the first place to ask for a subcontractor. Just like in the corporate world where people get jobs that never make it into the job boards because they first look within the networks.

Also Read: Top 10 Interview Tips For Freelancers

3. Get scam alerts

There are scam jobs in the online world just as there are scam jobs. In most freelance communities you will find alerts on companies that are not legit. Thus you’ll be protected from getting duped and losing your money.

For example, in the Upwork freelance community, you will find posts about how to know a client is legit and ways to protect yourself from scam jobs on Upwork. You can also use the platforms to share about scam jobs you’ve come across to protect other freelancers from them.

4. Get mentors

If you are a beginner in the freelancing journey it is easy to get discouraged or confused on how to choose a niche, find clients, and build your expertise. When you ask questions in a freelance community you will find many people are willing to help and mentor newbies. Some freelancers offer consulting and mentorship and share their expertise in such communities.

Also Read: How to Manage Finances as a Freelancer (10 Amazing Tips)

8 Best Freelance Community to Join

So how can you find a freelance community to join? Here are some of the top freelance communities you can join.

1. Upwork Freelance Community

Upwork is one of the best freelance platforms to find work. Starting on Upwork has a steep learning curve. You need to know how to set up a professional profile, set up payments, apply for jobs, and avoid scam clients.

Luckily, they have a community that connects freelancers who work on the platform. The Upwork community will come in handy for helpful conversations around work thriving on Upwork.

You can view other answered questions in the community or ask a new question. Freelancers in the Upwork community are always willing to help you troubleshoot problems around the platform. To join the platform you need to have an Upwork profile and use it to log in.

2. Quora

Quora is more than a learning and publishing platform. Anyone can post a question and anything. However, it is a good platform for freelancers to learn more about freelancing and network with others. You will find discussions about freelance platforms such as Upwork, Fiverr, and Freelancer, freelancing tips and hacks.

The best part is that you can use it to share your insights on the questions asked on the platform and establish your credibility in your niche as an expert. For example, you can follow the writing and author’s space which has 7.7 million while the writing space has over 42.8 million followers.

3. Facebook Groups

There are many freelance communities built using Facebook groups. You can search for a group in your locality or country to join those that allow freelancers worldwide. Here are some you can consider to join:

• Freelancing Females
• Being Freelance Community
• Female Freelance Writers
• The Freelance Content Marketing Writer

4. Reddit

Reddit is also another great place to find freelancing communities for free. You will find helpful articles about how to hack the freelancing career and grow your business. You can also post questions or answer other freelancers. This Reddit community has over 550,000 members and you will find answers to any question about freelancing, where to find jobs, or how to be productive as a freelancer.

Also Read: How to Start Freelancing As a Student Online in 9 Easy Steps

5. Freelancer Community

Freelancer is another freelance platform that has millions of different jobs from writing to social media management to web development. Just like Upwork, they have a Freelancer Community where you can get tips, tutorials, and resources to help you grow your freelance business.

The only catch with the Freelancer community is that you get all the resources you need about freelancing but don’t have a platform to interact with others except in the comment section. You also don’t need to sign up to get the resources. You can do a simple search and get answers to the questions you have.

6. Black Freelance Network

The Black Freelance network is a community targeting black freelancers worldwide. It was created by Megan Williams who is a full-time freelancer who wishes to help others benefit from the freelancing life.

You need to request to join the network by signing up with your name and email address.

7. The Freelancer Talk Community

The aim of Freelancer Talk is to provide a platform for freelancers to connect, belong, learn, and network. The community invites freelancers from all over the world to join for free. However, they also have a paid monthly subscription of about £4.99 to access the Freelancer Plus membership.

Aside from the online platforms Freelancer Talk also has live events in different cities mainly Amsterdam and Rotterdam. This gives a chance for freelancers in those areas or those who love physical events to meet and network.

You can join from the website or download their app which is available on Google and Apple Play stores.

8. Peak Freelance Community

The Peak Freelance community aims to help freelance writers grow their freelance business. It has both a free and paid membership pricing model. The free community is on Slack while the paid membership has pro resources with live sessions and workshops.

The free community has monthly events, a platform to ask questions, a podcast, and blueprints to help you earn better as a freelancer.

FAQs

• What are the best things about being a freelancer?

Some of the best things about being a freelancer are that you can work remotely from anywhere in the work and have flexible working hours. You can also pursue your passions, improve your skills, and get the right compensation for your effort.

• What are the benefits of joining a freelance community?

Some of the benefits of joining a freelance community are that you get to learn from other freelancers get encouragement when you face hurdles in your journey and also find work opportunities shared in the community.

• How do I create a paid freelance community?

If you want to create a paid freelance community you need to choose the right platform on Facebook, Telegram, or your website. You also need to have a unique selling point that will be attractive to your target audience, set a pricing model, and invite freelancers to join.

• How do I start freelancing and get clients?

If you want to start freelancing as a beginner you should learn a high-demand skill like writing, social media management, or web development. Then, build your portfolio and an online presence, and apply for work on job boards such as Flex jobs, Upwork, and LinkedIn.

Final Thoughts

You don’t have to operate in isolation just because you are a freelancer. There are several freelance communities where you can network with other freelancers and get support, mentorship, job opportunities or help other freelancers with your expertise.

Choose the best freelance community according to your needs and preferences. Some communities are niche like Upwork which is for freelancers who work on Upwork. So you need to consider what you relate best before joining.

Which freelance community did we leave out? Share in the comments below.

Read Next:

• Where Can I get Freelance Jobs? 9 Best Freelance Websites to Find Work
• Top 10 High Demand Freelancing Skills That Will Get You Hired In 2024
• Can You Work On Upwork With No Experience? How to Earn Money from Upwork
• Can I Make Money Online from Fiverr? 11 Best Tips for Beginners.