The Quiet Power of Freelance Communities Outside of Social Media

Freelancing makes it easy to stay in your bubble and only chat with your family, friends and clients. While it’s fun, it can sometimes feel isolating. You can connect with thousands of people online, but when a client project goes south or you need genuine feedback, a large social media feed can feel overwhelming.

Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and X are essential for client acquisition and brand building. However, there are places and communities beyond these platforms that offer valuable professional and personal support.

In the absence of a shared office, self-employed individuals may need a sense of community to connect, share experiences and forge a group that surpasses the boundaries of solo work. With freelancers comprising 38% of the workforce in the United States, there’s an increasing need for shared connection, support and growth.

A robust freelance community provides essential human connection. It’s a safe place to share your career’s highs and lows with peers who truly understand. From dealing with a difficult client to celebrating a project win, your working life won’t feel isolating anymore.

Social media platforms are powerful tools for freelancers, offering access and visibility to new clients, collaborators and opportunities. For instance, Facebook groups and LinkedIn communities make it easy to share your work and connect with potential clients. In the U.S. alone, 14.4 million employees have used social media to find their ideal job.

While you may have landed a major client or built valuable relationships through these platforms, searching for meaningful community doesn’t have to stop there. By branching out, you can discover even richer connections and resources to help you thrive.

Discover the benefits of joining groups outside of the social grid.

Deeper Connections

Some communities outside social media are invite-only or application-based, ensuring all members share similar goals. This exclusivity creates a space where individuals can feel comfortable sharing their challenges, celebrating their successes and receiving honest feedback without fear of public judgment.

High-Quality Interactions

These communities are not driven by viral content or algorithmic processes like those on social media. Conversations remain on-topic, free from the noise of trending issues and unrelated content. It creates a space where you can share and access advice, ideas and vetted resources.

Exclusive Opportunities

Many jobs, collaborations and referrals are shared privately within these groups before they hit public job boards. Additionally, these spaces provide personal access to industry experts willing to offer mentorship and guidance. Such a benefit is nearly impossible to cultivate in a crowded social feed.

Improved Mental Health and Well-Being

Frequent social media use is linked to anxiety, depression, stress and insomnia. The demand for self-promotion and content creation can also impact your work-life balance. Communities outside of social media allow you to be more vulnerable and offer support to others. Many of these groups prioritize accountability partnerships and peer encouragement.

Long-Term Professional and Personal Growth

Connections formed in these environments are built on trust and shared experiences. When one feels safe in a community, it sustains professional relationships and long-lasting friendships. Beyond networking, it’s an environment where you can meet people with similar interests.

These impactful communities come in two forms, each offering unique benefits. Your perfect fit might be in a digital space or in the energy of a real-life meeting.

Online Communities Beyond Social Media

These communities are digital spaces that connect people around shared interests, but operate away from public view. These groups often use platforms like Discord and Slack. Here, there is no public performance to maintain.

It’s a space where a copywriter can ask a nuanced question about writing a landing page, a designer can share a half-finished project for honest feedback, and everyone can celebrate a win without the pressure of a public highlight reel.

These communities offer focused interaction, which is ideal for in-depth discussions and building relationships. These platforms facilitate immediate and interactive conversations with features like text, voice and video calls.

In-Person Communities

Nothing can replace the energy of a physical meetup. Freelancers can meet other solo workers through local meetups, industry events, past work connections and informal gatherings. You might meet a fantastic collaborator or a major client.

You’ll get the excitement of knowing individuals deeply without being influenced by what you see on their social media. The best part is that the most meaningful connections often blossom into valuable in-person friendships. In-person community members can also hold each other accountable for goals, share progress and find collective motivation.

Finding or building your community requires intentional participation. Here’s how you can connect with fellow freelancers outside of social media.

1. Go Where Your People Are

Actively seek out communities dedicated to your niche. Search for a designers’ meetup, a local writers’ group or a developers’ conference. Find a local event or workshop and show up. If you’re not ready to actively participate, just be present, listen to the conversation and be open to making connections. Always bring professional business cards when attending in-person meetups to leave a good impression on possible clients or collaborators.

Do a quick search for “[Your Niche] Freelancers” or “[Your Niche] Freelancers in [Your Area]” on Discord and Slack. Use social media to ask your connections for any leads. Next, look for a community with an application process or a strong code of conduct. These often indicate a high-quality group. Once you’re in, read and observe. How do people answer queries? What do they share? When you’re ready, introduce yourself and contribute insightful ideas.

You can also find meaningful communities in the Fiverr Forum and the Upwork Community. These are ideal platforms for self-employed professionals who struggle with finding suitable gigs. In these platforms, you can connect with other freelancers in the same field as you, view answers to frequently asked questions and get inspired by success stories.

1. Be an Active Participant

Just like in relationships, community members must give and receive. Your biggest benefit comes from investing in others. Don’t wait until you need something to participate. Share a helpful resource, offer encouragement or provide honest feedback on a project. Giving back to your group makes you a trustworthy member, which may lead to more meaningful connections and opportunities.

1. Frequent a Coworking Space

If working from home feels isolating, a coworking space can be a game-changer. You’ll gain a productive work routine and a sense of professionalism. More importantly, you’ll be surrounded by the buzz of busy professionals, which can feel motivating, like working in an office.

Look for a space with short-term memberships or flexible day passes to assess how well you’ll work in this environment. Once you’ve settled in, approach fellow professionals during your lunch break or in the pantry.

1. Join a Professional Association

Joining a professional organization is a great career move. Unlike social media platforms or local meetups, these groups are often nonprofit entities dedicated to advancing a specific profession. They can provide access to field experts, affordable rates to attend meetings and industry standard updates.

Find Your People

Freelancing is challenging, but it doesn’t have to feel lonely. Connect with people who understand your journey to receive and offer support. You might find your community in a quiet corner of the internet or at a local meetup over coffee. Regardless of where you connect, these relationships will help you overcome challenges, celebrate your successes and provide the support you need to thrive.

Keep the conversation going…

Over 10,000 of us are having daily conversations over in our free Facebook group and we’d love to see you there. Join us!