Freelance Associations
For those in full time employment who are thinking about changing to freelancing / contracting , or for those those people who have just begun their new job in the freelancing sector, it is important to know that a large part of freelancing / contracting involves networking and putting yourself out there. An important part of this is to join a number of clubs, associations and societies and business initiatives that give you the venue to interact not only with members of your own profession, but also with potential clients from other professions .
Most prospective portfolio workers see all the advantages of freelancing , from the idea of being your own boss to deciding your own clients, to more flexible work periods and holidays and of course the improved financial potential . But in return they often ignore the negative career changes that are also possible, from the possibility of periods without any work to the lack of fixed income . This is why it is much more important for contractors to be proactive than those in full time fixed employment. Not only do portfolio workers need to be good at networking and getting out there and sniffing out new clients and new jobs , but they also need to be constantly building new business relationships and making sure of their place in the community of their business peers .
Networking is a must for any freelancer . It has the massive advantage over other forms of marketing and advertising that it is free or nearly free to do. Yet it is a essential tool for any freelancer . And one of the best ways to network is to join the numerous societies, institutes and associations formed specifically to help contractors portfolio workers
and small businesses. There are useful sites on the web , from Linkedin and other social networking tools through to hundreds of forums dedicated to your own field of employment. More important however are the associations and organizations both nationwide and locally , that have been set up to allow people to meet with both their peers and potential clients. From the PCG to the Institute of Directors nationally, as well as locally the hundreds, if not thousands of local regional groups encouraged by both the FSB (The Federation of Small Businesses) and by local councils. These are the perfect place to get together and both network, sell your business and yourself , as well as find out about new tax and legal issues, business initiatives and planning issues in your community .
Another thing to consider is the individual governing bodies for your particular trade . As a journalist and writer , for example it is worth joining the National Union of Journalism, both for its assistance in legal and tax matters, it’s links to other journalists and the recognition of your status that membership confers .
Finally, one other organization that is particularly worth joining for those people doing portfolio work is the PCG (the Professional Contractors Group). This is an association specifically set up to both support contractors on tax and legal issues and also to promote the advantages of freelancers and contractors to potential employers and to market the important place that contracting / freelancing holds in the UK economy. It now has well over 20,000 members and has even organized its own national day, Tuesday 23rd November, now called ‘National Freelancer Day.’
In terms of networking and growing your business, joining associations , both local and national, is a vital part of building your name and getting yourself out there .
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