I was talking to another freelancer on Twitter this week and she said something that I think a lot of freelancers, especially Black freelancers, might miss.
I’m paraphrasing, but she something to the effect that when she started freelancing, she had no idea how important continuous change and growth were to growing her freelance career.
I think this is something a lot of
us miss, and that even more of us are flat out intimidated by. The idea of keeping up with a niche or skillset that’s always changing can seem impossible, but I’m going to tell you that it really isn’t. I know that, because I freelance in one of the biggest and most variable industries out there — healthcare.
Early on, I had to figure out a way to not overwhelm myself with all the possibilities and information that was flying at me, and strangely, one of the most
powerful tools I found? li’l ol’ Twitter.
Challenge Week 2: Following the Right Folks
So last week we focused on getting your freelance Twitter set up. This week, we’re going to start following accounts. Skip all those gossip site suggestions Twitter
makes (unless that’s your niche), and get ready to turn your Twitter feed into a living, breathing source of information that feeds you leads, keeps you on top of trends, and moves you toward all the goals you’ve set in your freelance career.
I dedicate my freelance Twitter to following just a few types of accounts. They are
- Prospects (find them in news alerts and hashtags)
- Thought leaders (find them
on LinkedIn and hashtags)
- Competitors (search for your services)
- News sources (Trade mags and other pubs)
- Organizations (Look for professional orgs, schools, and government agencies)
- Networking Connections (Pull names from LinkedIn)
That’s it. Nothing just for entertainment, no friends or family. My freelance Twitter is completely dedicated to my freelance
business and this is why.
I set time aside, multiple times a week, just to spend time engaging on my timeline (like put the date on the calendar and everything) to just immerse myself in the world that my clients are navigating themselves. I’m going to suggest you do the same.
This week, keep an eye out for people and accounts in all the categories above and follow them. Schedule time to stop in, favorite their tweets, reply to your
mentions, and learn. Never underestimate the way consistently taking social media engagement seriously can build your confidence and competence as a freelancer.
Megan.