Community-building is all about bringing people together. COVID forced us to think about online communities – connecting people at a time we were physically separated.
Building online communities feels natural now, we no longer need to convince people they’re important.
I’ve always been someone who seeks out communities and new connections. I love to feel a sense of belonging.
It made sense that my career straight out of university was all about connecting with the local community. I worked with various charities and community projects, eventually transitioning into digital engagement and online community-building.
So, when I started out as a freelance writer, finding an online community was my first goal.
At the beginning of 2022, I took my first steps towards a freelance writing career.
It felt pretty scary, and kind of lonely. I knew I needed a community – for tips and support, but also friends who may have shared some similar experiences.
I set up a Twitter account. I wasn’t a fan of Twitter previously, I’d found it a bit “ranty” in the past. But it was a platform I knew people used professionally and I was already on LinkedIn for my 9-5. I wanted something separate, a fresh start.
I had ten followers when I posted a Tweet asking if anyone would be interested in a freelance writing community for newbies – anyone who’d started their freelancing journey less than two years ago.
I had to turn my push notifications off. There was so much interest, I needed to re-think my approach. My plan had been a small, book-club vibe group. Suddenly, I had well over 100 people asking to join.
I didn’t have the answers immediately. So, I put a holding message on Twitter while I figured it out. And I asked people what would work for them.
They wanted a friendly, safe space to share learnings and ask questions. It didn’t need to be an all-singing-all-dancing platform. We weren't looking for experienced professionals to tell us exactly what we needed to do next. It was more about connecting with people who are on the same journey.
I chose Slack as the place to host the community. It offered an informal space that people were already familiar with in a professional and social context – both of which felt important to a community looking for friendship and support as part of their career journey. It’s light-touch and can be used as an app or on desktop – I wanted it to feel like an easy extra for people to contribute.
I set up a few Channels that I felt reflected the group’s purpose. These included things like a place to ask questions, a place to share job opportunities and a place to celebrate wins.
Since then, the group has elected to add Channels for collaboration and to share tips and tricks. Keeping the conversation open is an important part of community-building, as it helps it stay relevant.
It’s free, it’s pretty tight knit, and it’s all about creating a collective brain to help solve each other’s problems.
The best part is that I don’t feel like a community-owner. I don’t feel the need to organise activities or push engagement.
Since starting the ‘New To Freelance’ community, I’ve asked for advice; people have read my drafts; people have offered support reviewing contracts; and I’ve been able to ask technical questions when I otherwise wouldn’t have known where to start.
We also have monthly “hang-outs” – opportunities to jump on a call and chat. We talk a lot about freelancing, but also about a hundred other things. We’ve swapped book recommendations, holiday destinations and even family recipes.
And, I’ve loved how much it’s helping others too…
Amazing group of freelancer folk. We are all on a similar journey. Sharing tips, advice and resources together feels less isolating! Love it.
The opportunity to connect with others who are experiencing the same challenges is priceless. Not only encouragement, but practical tips are freely offered.
Supportive group. Not one of those groups where you hear hush hush and crickets after introductions. Engaging always.
As time goes on and our group of “newbies” becomes more experienced, the community will need to adapt. The great thing about community-building is that it’s an ongoing process. You don’t build it, dust off your hands and walk away.
The best communities will continue to develop and grow. Who knows, maybe I’ll become one of those incredibly organised writers, who leads training and sends out newsletters containing pure gold dust… we’ll see.
The point is, it’s important to embrace change. Communicate openly with your communities and networks – find out what they want and how the wider community can help.