Why Community Matters in Freelancing

The more conversations I've had with fellow freelancers, the more I realized many of us were looking for the same thing: community.

We needed a space where we could ask questions and connect with people who understood the realities of the work.

That is what led me to start Crafted Connections, a free virtual networking hour for freelancers in ag communications designed to create a supportive space for freelancers navigating the industry.

Since launching the group in fall 2025, we’ve hosted four sessions with freelancers from across the U.S. and Canada. Every session has brought together a new combination of attendees sharing ideas, questions and experiences from different corners of the industry. Some participants are exploring freelancing for the first time, while others have been running successful businesses for years.

Just within the last eight months, there have already been a lot of insightful discussions. Here are some of the common themes that continue to surface:

1. Collaboration works better than competition

During one of the first Crafted Connections sessions, someone joked that we had “a little agency right here on the call.” And honestly, when looking at the range of skill sets across the group, they weren’t wrong.

Looking at the entire Crafted Connections network, we have people specializing in public relations, paid media, writing, photography, social media, communications strategy, event planning, ag tech marketing and more.

A huge part of what makes the conversations so engaging is that attendees help shape them. After our initial introductions, freelancers jump into asking questions about business challenges, sharing advice, discussing projects they’re navigating or mentioning if they’re looking for collaborators in the months ahead.

Because of that openness, collaboration has naturally become a recurring theme throughout the discussions. In an October 2025 session, one attendee shared that they were “always looking for collaborators” to help with projects outside their own skill set. Since then, conversations have naturally evolved into referrals, partnerships and brainstorming sessions where attendees help connect each other with opportunities and resources.

After all, fellow freelancers are not your competition. In reality, we can all work together to share job leads, recommend contractors, reach out for help and connect clients with freelancers who may be a better fit for a specific need.

Bonus: You strengthen client relationships when you’re honest about your skillset or availability. Connecting current or potential clients with talented, trustworthy professionals when a project falls outside your expertise or bandwidth still shows a genuine willingness to help people find the right fit.

2. Sustainability and structure are key

Creative work is only one part of running a freelance business. Invoices, project timelines, networking, client communication, scheduling and business development are all happening behind the scenes too.

Several Crafted Connections conversations have centered around the systems and structure freelancers build to keep everything moving. One recurring piece of advice was the importance of protecting focused work time whenever possible.

For many freelancers, that means blocking specific windows of time on the calendar for writing, editing, strategy work or administrative tasks instead of reacting to every email, meeting invite or project request as it comes in throughout the day. Even while staying responsive to urgent client needs, attendees shared how protected focus time often leads to deeper thinking, fewer mistakes and stronger overall work.

The conversations have also explored the organizational systems freelancers rely on to manage multiple moving pieces at once. Attendees discussed everything from Google Tasks and Notion to platforms like Wrike, Asana and Teams, along with transcription tools like Otter.ai and Rev that help capture meeting notes and client conversations more efficiently.

Looking at the client-facing side of organization, several attendees emphasized the value of creating shared project status sheets or tracking systems for ongoing clients so everyone involved can easily monitor timelines, deliverables and next steps without constant back-and-forth communication. Many shared how those systems can then guide weekly or monthly check-in meetings.

3. Career growth rarely follows a straight line

No matter what started our freelancing journey, we are all continually learning as our businesses grow and evolve. One attendee described freelancing as a constant process of adapting, refining and figuring out what works best for both your business and your clients over time.

During another fall 2025 session, a longtime freelancer shared that one of the biggest lessons they learned was simply staying connected and continuing to show up in industry spaces. As they explained, some job opportunities come from “just being places, by saying yes” and checking in with clients or contacts consistently.

The conversation also touched on the importance of nurturing professional relationships in genuine ways over time. Sometimes that looks like grabbing coffee with someone in your network, checking in after a conference or simply staying connected as people move throughout the industry.

Those relationships can become valuable in many different ways. Sometimes a conversation, recommendation or introduction leads to a future opportunity months or years later when the timing is right. Other times, it simply means having someone in your corner to talk shop with, ask questions or lean on for support along the way.

4. Creative work comes with vulnerability

One of the most moving conversations we had in May centered around how vulnerable creative work can feel.

No matter how many years of experience you have, how many awards you’ve won or how many degrees are hanging on the wall, most creatives still battle moments of imposter syndrome from time to time.

What struck me most was hearing those conversations come from freelancers with decades of experience, impressive client lists or highly specialized expertise. In many ways, it became a reminder that moments of self-doubt can surface at any stage of a creative career because, at the end of the day, we are all human.

Another attendee shared that earning their master’s degree did not make imposter syndrome disappear. If anything, it created more pressure to feel like they should already have all the answers, when in reality this industry is constantly evolving.

All of this to say, our May conversation highlighted that feedback, revisions and tough creative days are part of the process, not a reflection of someone’s value or talent.

5. Community creates space to learn and grow together

A one-hour networking session is really just the beginning. Freelancing is constantly evolving. New projects, career pivots, business questions and challenges continue surfacing long after a Zoom call ends.

That is why, after attending their first Crafted Connections call, freelancers are invited into a private LinkedIn group where attendees from past and future sessions can continue building relationships, exchanging ideas and supporting one another as their businesses grow. Past attendees are also encouraged to join future Zoom sessions to continue meeting new freelancers and reconnecting with familiar faces as the community expands.

Crafted Connections was never meant to just be another networking group. I wanted it to become a space where freelancers in ag communications could feel supported, ask honest questions, collaborate more openly and realize they do not have to figure everything out alone.

“This has been so cool. Thank you, Ashley, for all the thought you put into this and gathering us like this.” — current Crafted Connections member

👉 Interested in joining one of the upcoming sessions? Add your name to the list! I look forward to getting you connected with our group.

The next session is July 8, 2026, at 4 p.m. CST.