Freelancers/self-employed...how do you network??

I never thought about networking before--I had so much work pouring in that it never occured to me that activities like drinking, rock climbing, bowling etc. were networking activities. Now that I have kids and can't be out as much, I find it is harder to find freelance work....right at the time when freelancing is most important to my life. So just curious (without giving away any prized secrets) how DO self-employed people find new clients now? Cold calling? Beign obnoxious and telling everyone you know, giving up and getting a job? I have gotten two big clients through cold calling but I really hate it and find it demoralizing and can't face it again.

net working doesnt really work for my field. i try it a few times. but this other jerk van driver keep sending work my way he doesnt want to do. the stuff be too hard and demanding. but learn later on to turn a way jobs, when we both have too much work.

you could always hook up with people on your field and try to send each other work when there is too much for yourself or them to do.

depends on your field. when i was freelance writing and editing i was in touch with lots of writers, etc., through nyc groups like mediabistro.

I'm currently freelancing (advertising - AD) and have gotten my nibbles through a combination of friends in the industry and putting together a really simple work site through .mac that has all of my stuff on it. The site is what got me my current gig. I found it easy to send e-mails to the addresses provided by the agencies I was looking at (on their website, usually under the employment section), and just sending along a link. The link, in this instance, got someone's attention, and now I'm working.

the_dude wrote: I'm currently freelancing (advertising - AD) and have gotten my nibbles through a combination of friends in the industry and putting together a really simple work site through .mac that has all of my stuff on it. The site is what got me my current gig. I found it easy to send e-mails to the addresses provided by the agencies I was looking at (on their website, usually under the employment section), and just sending along a link. The link, in this instance, got someone's attention, and now I'm working.

Thanks. I do think I need some kind of website link considering I am an art director. I usually send PDF samples but maybe that is already looking dated!!

Thanks. I do think I need some kind of website link considering I am an art director. I usually send PDF samples but maybe that is already looking dated!!

I was doing the same for a while. I wouldn't worry about it looking too outdated...I've never gotten that impression. The site just seemed more immediate to me, and it's a way to include tv spots also, which is a big plus.

You can certainly have a site built (unless you know how to do that), but for $99/year, .Mac was easy for me.

I get a lot of word of mouth, but put a lot of money into the yellow pages and now I'm starting direct mail. These kind of tactics may work better for my type of business (IT Consultant) than most, but they work great for me, and most importantly when clients come to me, they need me, as opposed to me sniffing about for work cold calling people or whatnot.

I also did a business friendship with Celebrate Brooklyn this summer, which while it didn't really produce anything that I know of, is indicative of how I will network in the future to supplement the above. Anyone with similar Brooklyn based oppurtunities, feel free to PM me. For that matter, anyone that would be interested in doing a joint DM to Brownstone Brooklyn Professionals can get in touch too.
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