Networking.
For many freelancers, just hearing the word induces anxiety. It conjures images of awkward Zoom mixers, spammy LinkedIn DMs, and the feeling of constantly trying to “sell” yourself to strangers.
But networking is the lifeblood of a successful freelance career. It is how you find high-paying clients, build a referral engine, and find partners to help you scale.
The problem isn’t networking itself; it’s how most people do it. If you feel like you are shouting into the void and getting no response, you are probably making one of these five common mistakes.
Here is what you are doing wrong, and how Feedcoyote helps you fix it.
Mistake #1: The “Spray and Pray” Approach
The Mistake: You write a generic script—“Hi, I’m a graphic designer looking for work”—and copy-paste it to 50 random people. This is spam. It’s impersonal, annoying, and has a near-zero success rate. It ignores the recipient’s needs and focuses entirely on you.
How Feedcoyote Fixes It: Precision Targeting. Stop guessing who needs your help. Feedcoyote allows you to be surgical with your outreach.
- The Fix: Use the “Coyotes” Network Tab and advanced filters. Instead of messaging random business owners, you can filter specifically for:
- Industry: (e.g., “Tech Startups”)
- Role: (e.g., “Marketing Manager”)
- Interests: (e.g., “Collaboration”)
- The Result: You can send a targeted message to 5 people that actually lands, rather than spamming 50 people who don’t care.
Mistake #2: Asking for Work in the First Message
The Mistake: Imagine walking up to a stranger at a party and immediately asking for $500. That is what a transactional DM feels like. When you lead with “Hire me,” you put the other person on the defensive.
How Feedcoyote Fixes It: The “Collaboration” Pitch. Feedcoyote is built on the concept of Teaming Up, not just selling.
- The Fix: Shift your mindset. Instead of asking for a job, propose a partnership.
- Bad: “Do you have any writing work for me?”
- Good: “Hi! I see you’re a Web Developer. I’m a Copywriter. I’d love to connect and see if we can team up to offer full website packages to your clients.”
- The Result: You aren’t asking for a favor; you are offering value. You become a partner, not a pest.
Mistake #3: Reaching Out with an “Invisible” Reputation
The Mistake: You send a great message, but your profile is a ghost town. No photo, no portfolio, no history. In the digital world, if you look anonymous, you look risky. People won’t reply because they don’t know if you are a professional or a bot.
How Feedcoyote Fixes It: Trust Signals. Feedcoyote does the “trust building” for you before you even say hello.
- The Fix: Complete your Feedcoyote Profile.
- Upload a professional photo.
- Add your skills and bio.
- Most importantly, populate your Portfolio.
- The Result: When you message someone, they can click your name and instantly see verified proof of your quality. Your profile acts as your digital handshake.
Mistake #4: Losing Leads in the Chaos
The Mistake: You had a great conversation with a potential lead three weeks ago… on Instagram? Or was it LinkedIn? Or WhatsApp? You forgot to follow up, the conversation got buried under memes and group chats, and the opportunity died. Disorganization kills more deals than bad skills do.
How Feedcoyote Fixes It: Centralized Communication. Feedcoyote acts as a “Personal CRM” (Customer Relationship Management) for your network.
- The Fix: Keep business conversations on a business platform.
- Move the chat to Feedcoyote Messenger.
- If the talk turns serious, create a Project Workspace immediately, even if it’s just a draft.
- The Result: You have a dedicated space for professional conversations. You never lose a lead in the noise of social media.
Mistake #5: Networking Only When You Are Desperate
The Mistake: You only start networking when your current project ends and your bank account looks sad. This is the “Feast or Famine” trap. Desperation smells; people can sense when you need money fast, and it lowers your negotiating power.
How Feedcoyote Fixes It: Building the Bench. Networking should be a habit, not an emergency measure.
- The Fix: Use Feedcoyote to build your “Virtual Bench” continuously. Spend 15 minutes a week connecting with other freelancers—writers, developers, designers—even when you are busy.
- The Result: When a big project lands, you don’t have to scramble. You already have a network of trusted partners ready to Team Up and help you execute.
Networking doesn’t have to be awkward or spammy. It is simply the art of building relationships that benefit both sides.
By moving your networking from chaotic social apps to Feedcoyote, you solve the trust problem, the targeting problem, and the organization problem. You stop being a “beggar” and start being a “builder.”
Ready to build a network that actually pays off? Join Feedcoyote today and start connecting with the right professionals.
