The Freelance Blueprint

  • Expand your networth by growing your network of Freelancers

    Expand your networth by growing your network of Freelancers

    As you know from this earlier blog: Your network is your net worth. So today we’re going to exploit everyone’s generous Holiday mood to connect, collaborate and expand that network 🤫

    a man sticking sticky notes on the mirror
    Photo by ANTONI SHKRABA production on Pexels.com

    Ok, “exploit” is not the nicest word. But when it comes to asking people for help, it’s always good to consider timing.

    You’re not going to invite a friend to your wedding after they’ve just ended a relationship with their partner. You’ll wait a little.

    And you’re not going to ask for a salary raise after your company just lost their biggest client.

    So we’ll take advantage of people’s “good mood” during the holiday season where everyone is trying to get a good deed in before the end of the year.

    But we don’t just take, we also give! 🎁

    Find people to collaborate with

    Collaboration isn’t one sided, you’ll need both parties to participate. But this is where the magic happens.

    Let me show you how ⬇️

    What do you need?

    First of all, you need to figure out what you need right now. And this can be different for everyone.

    Are you working on your portfolio but procrastinate with other tasks?

    👉 Find an accountability buddy

    Are you having your portfolio and CV in place but haven’t gotten that first client yet?

    👉 Find another freelancer with a complementing skill (more about that below)

    Are you suffering from imposter syndrome or are you overwhelmed?

    👉 Find a mentor or coach

    Collaborate with other freelancers

    One of the best ways to get a new client is via referrals. As mentioned in the recommendation blog, having someone refer you is great. But if you don’t have a previous client to refer you, you can also have other freelancers refer you.

    So how does it work?

    If you’re a UX Designer, you’ll work with developers. If you’re a graphic designer, you’ll work with copywriters. Your network isn’t just people up or down the hierarchy, it’s also the people on the same level as you.

    When I work on a new app or website, I often get asked if I know copywriters. And I often refer those who I worked on previous projects, because I know they’re good at what they’re doing. And sometimes they refer me if one of their clients is looking to hire a UX Designer.

    But where do I find other freelancers?

    You can find them on Linkedin, Instagram, Twitter (or X, still not gotten used to call it that) and yes, Facebook is still a thing.

    Use their search function to find other freelancers. Create a rapport with them, hop on a call, show each other your work. And then see if you both click and are willing to refer each other.

    I’ve gotten messages in the past where people offered me a percentage of their rate if I recommended them.

    Personally, I don’t recommend anyone who I haven’t worked with before. And that’s also what I tell the people who ask me to refer them. Because it’s also my reputation that’s on the line: If your current client asks you to refer a developer and it turns out that developer isn’t good, they’ll trust you less.

    Your referral is strong, don’t misuse it. But because it’s so powerful, it can go a long way for fellow freelancers.

    Ok, but we all have to start somewhere

    If you’re hesitant to cold outreach to other freelancers, maybe you’ll find this post useful.

    It can be tough to find freelancers in specific niches if you don’t have them in your current network. Hopefully, this post will help you find fellow freelancers who are also looking for you.

    Just leave a comment below this post with

    1. Who you are
    2. Your offer
    3. What you need help with
    4. What you can help with
    5. Who you want to connect with

    This could look something like:

    I’m Lisi, a UX Designer who wants to help startups turn their ideas into reality. I need help with finding my first client and can help others by being an accountability buddy. I’m looking to connect with other UX Designers and Developers.

    For me, it looks like this:

    I’m Lisi, a freelance UX Designer who wants to help people who are frustrated with their jobs create a work life that works for them. I need help with my podcast and can help others with coaching and mentoring. I’m looking to connect with other UX Designers, freelancers, mentors and coaches.  

    Heads up: Be patient! This won’t get you a client instantly. But it’ll plant a seed. I once had a collaboration call with a developer who was looking for UX Designers to refer him if their clients are looking for devs. In the end, it was him who referred me to a freelance gig 5 months later. You never know where things might take you.

    Who knows, adding a little comment to the post might get you a gig in the future. Or as my friend Rachel calls it: build an opportunity creation system.

    Go plant a seed 🌱

    If you don’t find a referral partner through this post, you might find yourself a cheerleader or accountability buddy. You never know where things might lead to.

    👩🏻‍💻 Free Guide

    The exercise described in this blog article is one of the steps of my free guide for people who want to create a work life that works for them.

    Get the guide for free.

    If you found this useful, follow for more content on instagram @elisabethmayr or buy me a coffee.

  • How to expand your network and find your peers

    How to expand your network and find your peers

    The whole point of freelancing is that you’re in control. If you feel like working, go for it. If you want to rest, you can. It’s up to you to create the work life balance that works for you.

    a couple walking on the hallway
    Photo by Liliana Drew on Pexels.com

    But once you start the freelance lifestyle…

    It can become very lonely. When I started freelancing, none of my close friends had their own business. None of them understood why I decided to work on my portfolio while I could’ve joined them for brunch. Or why I was surfing the whole morning when everyone else was working (well, you can’t control the waves, can you?)

    Becoming a freelancer can feel lonely. But you’re not alone in this!

    Join a community

    I highly recommend that you join IRL communities in your city. If there are non, you can even create your own meet ups. But in today’s world, you can very easily find a community online.

    Depending on your niche and offer, there’ll be plenty of online communities you can join. Here are some of the communities I’m in:

    1. Ladies that UX
    2. DevelopHer
    3. FemmePalette

    Not all of these communities are very active. But every now and then someone posts a job offer or asks for help with a problem. And it’s nice to see you’re not alone.

    What you need to do

    Simply google “{your services} online community” eg. “UX Designers online community” and see what comes up. Join a couple of those groups because not many are very active.

    Do you want to join my community?

    When I launched my first course for freelancers, I communicated with the cohort via a Whatsapp group. I mentioned that in the future, I’d love to have a community platform with several freelancers where people can exchange tips and projects.

    You can now join this group through this link. It’s a free Discord channel. I’m not heavily promoting it much yet and at the moment my focus is on the Freelance Blueprint Podcast. But once I wrap up season 5 I will focus on the Discord community, so make sure you’re ready to join.

    👩🏻‍💻 Free Guide

    The exercise described in this blog article is one of the steps of my free guide for people who want to create a work life that works for them.

    Get the guide for free.

    If you found this useful, follow for more content on instagram @elisabethmayr or buy me a coffee.

  • How to build and extend your network

    How to build and extend your network

    photo of people doing handshakes
    Photo by fauxels on Pexels.com

    You’ve probably heard it a thousand times: Your network is your net worth.

    It’s not about how many people you know or who you know. It’s about finding the link to the right people!

    And it’s about reminding them that you exist! But we get to that later.

    This is one of the exercises of my free guide to help you create a work life that works for you. You can get it here to get more quick and easy tasks like this to progress your freelance career.

    But remember that working on becoming a freelancer is… well, work.

    But the fact that you’re reading this blog article shows you’re keen and are willing to put in the effort.

    This task may be an easy one, but it’s also very benenfical.

    Collect your network

    People always talk about building your network. But to build on something, you need to know what you are building on.

    So today, you’re exploring your existing network. And it might be better than you think.

    Grab Pen and Paper and let’s go ✍️

    Step 1

    Think of all the people who you ever worked with. Include the time you were waiting tables as an intern or when you watered your neighbour’s garden or walked a dog.

    Include all the colleagues from existing and previous employments. There’s more people than just previous managers ☝️ don’t just look up, but look at all directions of the hierarchy.

    Write down the names of every single person that you remember ever having worked with or for.

    Step 2

    Now think of all the people you know who have a link to companies you’d like to work for. Miriam from the running club who told you that she just got a job at Google. Your friend’s mum who said that her cousin got a job at Spotify. Those people might not be your direct link, but they’re the one connection to the link you need. Write down their names.

    Step 3

    Look at this list of people. That’s your network. Probably more people than you thought, right?

    👉 Save this list. Now we’ve looked at your existing network, we’ll build on your network in a future task.

    Brownie points

    If you have more time today, put those names into an excel spreadsheet or notion. Add any contact details you might have, emails, phone numbers or the phone number of the connection to that connection.

    All these people can be your leads or biggest cheerleaders.

    Why does it matter?

    The warmest leads come through referrals. It’s when you don’t have to show people proof through your portfolio or CV. They’re already keen on working with you because someone they trust has referred you.

    It’s the same when you’re thinking of going to a restaurant because of good reviews on Google vs. a restaurant that your best friend recommends to you personally.

    Your network will be your cheerleaders and support. It’s the people who know you who will refer you to others. It’s those people that know your work ethics and even though some of them might not be “beneficial” now, you never know how far their career might take them.

    The colleague you had back during your internship might have founded their own startup and needs your services. Or they know other company founders who will hire you.

    But remember: People are people. Be nice, don’t ask without giving in return. Help those who ask you for help, even when you don’t think you’ll get anything in return.

    You never know who you might know

    Hopefully this exercise helped you realise the connections you already have. You can always expand your network from here.

    👩🏻‍💻 Free Guide

    The exercise described in this blog article is one of the steps of my free guide for people who want to create a work life that works for them.

    Get the guide for free.

    If you found this useful, follow for more content on instagram @elisabethmayr or buy me a coffee.