Social networks for freelancers: a new breakthrough?
Social media networks like Facebook and Twitter enjoy significant popularity among people of all ages and backgrounds. Recently, however, several topic-specific social media sites have surfaced, offering people in specific industries and with particular interests to consolidate their platforms, build reputations, and find work. The opportunity for a similar site devoted specifically to freelancers is intriguing.
Social Networks for Freelancers
One example, the Washington Post Talent Network, aims to connect freelancers all over the world with the editorial needs of the Washington Post, a popular and world-renowned newspaper. Users sign up for the service via their LinkedIn accounts, then pitch stories and ideas to the Post’s editors or wait to be solicited for work based on their portfolios and expertise.
The goal, according to Nieman Lab, is to make it easier for the Post to find freelance talent when they need it, especially when it comes to breaking news. Rather than scouring through databases, sending emails, placing phone calls, and making educated guesses, editors can turn to the Talent Network and find freelancers who meet their specific needs.
It poses an equally advantageous solution for both the Post and freelancers. Professionals gain work experience with a world-recognized publication and the Post contracts with professionals much more quickly. This leads to higher-quality work and more varied talent.
Advantages of Niche Social Media
Several social media websites focus on professional niche markets, according to Hongkiat, including Zerply (for entertainment industry professionals) and NetParty (for young professionals). These social networks bring together professionals who fit a certain mold and cater to their needs specifically. It stands to reason that freelancers could benefit from such a niche social community.
Freelancers rely on word of mouth, online portfolios, and freelance marketplaces, such as Upwork and Elance, to find jobs. Social media offers a less structured platform to connect freelancers with employers. Additionally, it creates a social environment that allows like-minded people to talk, compare notes, and share strategies.
Although freelancers can use standard social media sites like Twitter to market their services and enhance their brands, niche sites might provide a more concentrated environment. Since all members are either freelancers or people who hire freelancers, there are fewer distractions to get in the way of those connections.
Opportunities for Growth
The Washington Post Talent Network is just the first example of a freelance social network. It focuses on accruing talent for that particular publication, but what if such a network existed for all different types of freelancers and employers?
This could provide several benefits, particularly when it comes to the global marketplace. With resources to process cross-border payments and facilitate different methods of payments, professionals in separate countries can work together with fewer barriers.
Additionally, the number of freelancers working worldwide has grown substantially in recent years. According to the research commissioned by European Forum of Independent Professionals (EFIP) the number of freelancers in European Union have increased by 45% from just under 6.2 million in 2004 to 8.9 million in 2013. This rapid expansion of self-employed professionals demands specific online communities to foster their growth and development.