Top 5 Best Freelancer Communities For Support & Advice 2024

Top 5 Best Freelancer Communities to Join & Learn in 2024

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Becoming a freelancer means you have the freedom and flexibility to enjoy your independent work schedule. Further, this remote work-from-home trend has been a revolution since the COVID-19 pandemic started.

Especially with sites like Upwork and Fiverr, students and professionals can join those freelancing communities for remote jobs and receive adequate support from other experts in the field.

However, one of the biggest challenges faced by freelancers is isolation and loneliness.

That is the reason I write this article to provide the top 5 communities for freelancers so that they can leverage those platforms to apply for remote jobs, network with others, mutual support, and professional growth.

Key Takeaways

• With the rise of freelancer communities, more and more people prefer to work as freelancers or on a project basis. This provides the flexibility and enjoy their independent work schedule.
• There are many reasons why people join the freelance online community. Some popular ones include tackle isolation, networking, brainstorming, and niches.
• The list of 5 top communities for freelancers that cater to different industries and niches. Select the one you believe can deliver value for your career development and network with both clients and other experienced freelancers.

A recent 2023 research study by Upwork indicated that over 53.7 million people in America are now freelancers, which equals 34% of the country’s total workforce, and the number continues to rise over the next few years ( Freelancing in America, Upwork).

The most in-demand freelance skills that the Upwork research team found are IT & Web development ( freelance web developers), Accounting, and customer services ( Future Workforce Report, Upwork).

While finding the exact number of freelancers who join communities worldwide is a difficult task, a LinkedIn survey on community membership in the US found that around 80% of active members are involved in offline and online communities. ( TechCrunch+).

Let’s dive into the main reasons why people prefer to join freelance online communities:

The main reasons people join freelancing communities

So what are the hidden sources that make more and more freelancers stick with those freelancing communities?

The following are 3 main reasons why joining freelancer communities can bring many benefits to your career and personal development:

• Networking: unlike other freelancing sites that only offer gig works, communities are often a great place for a freelancer online support and networking. By getting to know other more experienced and successful freelancers, they will give peer-to-peer advice and may seek other project collaborations.
• Brainstorming: another benefit of joining the freelance online community is you can find a hive of knowledge and experience, in particular, you can ask any question related to your concerns or seek guidance from other more successful persons.
• Niche communities: the rise of niche communities that cater to specific help and provide in-depth knowledge to individual freelancers. Specifically, increase collaboration and support within industries, including freelance web developers, freelance copywriters, or graphic design.

The top 5 communities for freelancers

Freelancers and businesses of all sizes can join those communities to engage and interact with each other to foster relationships and fill in their firm’s short-term positions.

Fiverr

When it comes to finding online jobs to work from home, Fiverr is one of the largest freelance marketplaces that not only provides gig work opportunities but also has several impactful communities you can benefit from.

Here are a few freelancer communities you can join to learn, grow, and network:

• Fiverr forum: this is a great place to support freelancers, where members can ask questions, share tips, and connect with others. The forum has a wide range of industry categories, and it is always a good place for freelancers to find relevant topics for discussion.
• Fiverr community: members can access the Fiverr community website for learning and improving their skill sets via blog posts, webinars, and online courses.
• Fiverr life events: Fiverr hosts regular online and offline events featuring different freelancing topics and case scenarios, you should join live events to network with other freelancers and learn from experts in the field.

Besides those Fiverr communities, you can also check out the Fiverr seller group, where you can connect and learn from others in the same industry.

TopTal

Toptal is a premium site for freelancers, where the platform takes serious consideration of screening candidates and only admits 3% of talented freelancers to join their freelance marketplace.

In addition, Total provides community support for freelancers and businesses to foster their connection and help each other.

• Client community: this community provides support for different types of clients’ needs, specifically they can connect with other business leaders, and managers and share insights about their best practices of finding and collaborating with talented freelancers.
• Freelancer community: only 3% of talented freelancers are in the platform, which means this unique environment is an excellent place for professionals to connect with other peers who have similar skills and technical experience.
• Mentorship program: Toptal also provides a mentorship program, where successful and experienced freelancers can provide advice and support newer freelancers, helping them to develop both their personal and professional level.

Toptal’s communities provide different support to talented freelancers and businesses in different industry categories. These communities actively connect members and share knowledge frequently.

Freelancer Union

Whether you are a freelancer, solopreneur, or founder, Freelancer Union offers support and connections in different industries, including writing, web design, human resources, IT & Web development, etc.

Here are several popular online and offline communities for freelancers:

• Freelancer hub: Freelancer Union offers a few co-working spaces across the US, where freelancers can take advantage of networking, joining offline events, and attending workshops.
• Facebook group: Members also can join the Freelancer Union’s official Facebook page to learn from others, participate in topic discussions, and stay updated with the community.
• Online Forum: Similar to other freelancing websites, you can use the live forum to ask questions, seek advice, and connect with other freelancers.

If you want to develop your freelancing career, network with others, and receive practical advice, then Freelancer Union is the right community for you.

Upwork

When it comes to top sites for freelancers, Upwork is always on the radar due to its global popularity and millions of members, including independent contractors and businesses all over the world.

While Upwork doesn’t have any formal freelancing communities, it provides freelance resources and avenues to support and connect among members within the platform. 

• Upwork connect feature: Members use this feature to connect with other talented freelancers with similar skills and experience. This is a good opportunity for potential project collaboration and mutual exchange of knowledge.
• Upwork’s events and webinars: You can join online and offline events hosted by Upwork, like webinars, conferences, and workshops. This offers a golden opportunity to learn new skills, improve existing skills, and foster relationships with clients and other freelancers.
• Upwork forums: Upwork has different forums that serve different industries and niches. You can join in and ask questions, learn from other people’s tips, and interact and engage with them to grow your career.

With support features and available resources, members can confidently connect, learn, and find potential project opportunities to grow with the platform.

LinkedIn

We all know LinkedIn is the top professional network site, connecting millions of businesses and employees through its powerful search tools and vibrant online communities.

LinkedIn has some freelance communities that serve different industries and niches. The following are some popular communities you should join in:

• Freelance Alliance: This established freelance online community has over 768,000 members, the advantage of joining this group is to establish relationships with others, learn new skills, and industry trends, and find potential work-from-home jobs.
• Freelancer & Solopreneurs: This group has around 200,000 active members from different industries, members can ask any question related to their freelance career, like managing workloads, finding clients, or overcoming financial challenges. 

Those freelancing communities on LinkedIn are a few examples, depending on your niche and interests, you can narrow your search and explore freelancer communities that resonate with you.

My suggestion is to participate and contribute your knowledge and insights to the community. Over time, you slowly establish your personal brand awareness and build credibility on LinkedIn.

That is where the opportunities come in, potential clients may knock on your door.

Further reading resources related to freelance work are here:

How to Become A Virtual Assistant: 5 Steps

Toptal Review 2024: Is It The Reliable Site To Search For Freelance Jobs? (Updated)

The Top Freelancer Tools List in 2024

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