3 Reasons to Join an Online Freelance Community
Have you ever considered joining an online freelance community? While there are many benefits to freelancing, it can be a lonely occupation. Freelancers often work remotely, meaning there are far fewer opportunities to connect with other people.
This is where online freelance communities come in! Whatever industry you’re in, there is likely to be a freelance community you can join. In this blog post, we’ll discuss some of the many benefits of joining a freelance community and share some examples of groups for freelancers in general and groups specifically for writers, proofreaders, and editors.
What Is a Freelance Community?
A freelance community is a group, either in person or online, that comes together to discuss the highs and lows of freelancing, share knowledge, and support each other in their freelance careers.
Freelance communities can take many forms, including online forums, social media groups, and dedicated websites or platforms.
Types of Freelance Communities
Freelance communities vary widely in what they offer, so it’s worth spending some time exploring the options to see what best suits your needs and goals. Some key types of freelance communities include:
- General Freelance Communities: These groups bring together freelancers from a variety of backgrounds, industries, and niches. They can be a great way to network with like-minded people and gain valuable insights on how to approach running a freelance business. For instance, Being Freelance hosts an online community with features like a forum, virtual coworking, and live Q&As.
- Industry-Specific Communities: These communities are tailored to a particular niche, such as writing, editing, or graphic design. Members often share field-specific tips, trends, and opportunities. One such example is the Superpath Slack community, which is specifically designed for content marketers.
- Platform-Based Communities: These are built around specific tools or services, like Fiverr’s community forum. These often include advice on maximizing your success within the platform as well as more general discussion.
- Local Meetups and Hybrid Communities: While many freelance communities are online, local or hybrid versions (i.e., in-person meetups supported by an online group) can help you make connections in your area. For example, SPARK – which is run by Freelancer’s Union – facilitates meetups in cities across the US.
What Are the Benefits of Joining a Freelance Community?
Joining a freelance community has many benefits (too many to list here!), but below are a few of the most important benefits.
1. Support and Mentorship
They say that a smart person learns from their mistakes, but a wise person learns from the mistakes of others! Mentors are an invaluable part of life in general, but they are especially useful when you are starting something new.
Freelancing has many benefits, but it also has its challenges. Finding new clients, managing your finances, marketing your business – it can be daunting, especially when you’re just starting out. When you join an online freelance community, you essentially have access to the experience of however many people are in that group. They can share their experiences, offer advice, and provide valuable emotional support. Just talking to someone who has been in your position can be hugely reassuring!
2. A Sense of Belonging
Freelancing can be lonely. Typically, freelancers work from home, which can be isolating in itself. But it also goes beyond this. People who have never freelanced often struggle to understand the challenges freelancers face – but the people who join online freelance communities know exactly what you are going through. Having a sense of belonging can help you feel more confident about the path you’re pursuing and give you that extra push to reach your goals.
3. Potential New Opportunities
These communities can be a great place to seek new work opportunities. Some communities will have job boards or listings, and members will post about opportunities. For example, a freelancer may need to outsource part of a project or even turn down work (and, therefore, be able to pass the opportunity on to someone else). Or they may spot another job that isn’t right for them but may interest someone in the community. Whatever the case may be, these groups may help you gain clients.
Examples of Freelance Communities
Now that you know how useful joining a freelance community can be, below are some examples of freelance communities you can join.
General Freelance Communities
Popular general freelance communities include:
- Freelancers Union
Freelancers Union provides education, advocacy, and resources for freelancers across the United States. It also arranges events and meetups for freelancers to network and support each other. - Being Freelance
Being Freelance is a hybrid community that helps freelancers connect virtually and in-person. It’s UK-based, but freelancers can join from anywhere in the world. - Groove
Groove matches freelancers for structured, one-hour coworking sessions. Groove is a good option for anyone looking for some extra encouragement, motivation, or accountability while they work. - Freelancing Females
Freelancing Females hosts a Slack community, workshops, and webinars, as well as access to other tools and resources. - #FreelanceTwitter
FreelanceTwitter is a space where freelancers can share tips, ask questions, and generally support one another.
Freelance Communities for Proofreaders and Editors
Some of the best communities for freelance proofreaders and editors are:
- Women Writers, Editors, Agents, and Publishers
This is a Facebook group just for women in the industry. Here, you can post snippets of your work for feedback, ask craft-related questions, or find an editor or publisher if you need one. - Editpreneurs
Editpreneurs is a Facebook group that supports freelance editors and proofreaders, with a focus on building a successful business. - Louise Harnby – Training for Editors & Proofreaders
This Facebook group provides a space for editors and proofreaders to discuss marketing, professional development, and training. - Chartered Institute of Editing and Proofreading
The Chartered Institute of Editing and Proofreading is a non-profit body that promotes excellence in English language editing and proofreading. It offers training, membership accreditation, and a forum where proofreaders and editors can ask questions and provide or receive support. - Freelance Editors Club
Freelance Editors Club offers a private community, live coaching, a monthly book club, coworking sessions…and more!
Freelance Communities for Writers
Some of the best communities for freelance writers are:
- Freelance Writers Den: This community is so popular, there’s a waiting list! Members have access to a writing support forum, accountability partners, live events, bootcamps, and group coaching.
- Peak Freelance: Hosts a Slack group with over 900 members where you can share gigs, talk through issues, and make freelance friends. Also includes a job board and Q&A sessions.
- Superpath: A community dedicated to content marketing and writing, with Slack channels, job board, webinars, and more. Paid members get coworking, networking, and AMAs.
- The Write Life: The community has both a website and Facebook group where writers network and ask questions about writing or publishing.
- Writers Helping Writers: Offers a website full of writing craft content and a Facebook group for peer support.
- Ask A Book Editor: A Facebook group where writers can ask editors/proofreaders questions—no promotions allowed.
- The Freelance Writers’ Connection: A LinkedIn group for advice, support, and networking among freelance writers.
Becoming A Freelancer
Considering going freelance? Want to build new, in-demand freelance skills? Our comprehensive online courses are designed to help you build the skills you need to succeed as a freelance proofreader, editor, content writer, or copywriter. We’ve also got a course dedicated to setting up a freelance business from scratch. You can try them all for free – so give some a go and see what appeals to you the most!
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