When I first started freelancing, I didn’t understand the power of freelance networking; I thought great work alone would carry me.
I thought talent was the currency. Craft, skill, effort – that’s what mattered most.
But then reality hit me like a brick: the projects I thought I’d land? I didn’t. The opportunities that seemed tailor-made for me? They went to someone else.
And the people who got those jobs? They weren’t always better than me. Sometimes they weren’t even close. That’s when I realized: freelancing isn’t a pure meritocracy.
Here’s the truth nobody likes to admit:
Great work gets you shortlisted. Connections get you hired. That’s freelance networking in action.
I’d put that at a 9 out of 10 on the truth scale.
Why not a full 10? Because, yes, every so often, talent alone breaks through. A design goes viral, a case study lands in the right inbox, or your timing is impeccable. But those are lightning-strike moments — you can’t build a business waiting on them.
For 90% of your career, it looks like this:
- Your work gets you in the room. Without proof of results, you don’t make the cut. You need the skill, the craft, the portfolio. That part’s non-negotiable.
- Your network decides what happens next. Referrals, recommendations, and relationships push your name across the finish line. Clients don’t just hire the most talented — they hire the most trusted.
- Trust outweighs talent. The reality is, people are wired to reduce risk. Hiring is always a risk. And if a trusted connection tells them, “This freelancer delivers,” that voice carries more weight than a polished PDF ever will.
That stings, doesn’t it? Especially for those of us who’ve spent years perfecting our craft. But here’s the flip side: it’s actually empowering.
Because networking isn’t luck. It’s not some mysterious club you’re either in or out of. It’s a skill. It’s something you can build.
- Show up where your clients are.
- Nurture the relationships you already have.
- Follow up — not just when you want something, but when you can give value.
- Make it easy for people to recommend you.
The formula is simple but uncomfortable:
- Be undeniably good at what you do.
- Then get known for being good at it.
I wish I had learned this earlier. It would’ve saved me years of frustration, waiting for “my work to speak for itself.”
The truth is, your work whispers, but freelance networking shouts.
And that’s what gets you hired.