I just got back from speaking to dozens of freelance copywriters in Austin, Texas. It was great to see so many freelancers together in one room. But it also made me think that everyone there spent almost all their time working alone, isolated in their own home offices.

Being together at that event gave everyone a huge lift. People were able to mingle, talk, compare notes and get to know other people who were following the same freelance path.

But what about when everyone gets home? Does that sense of being connected have to evaporate?

In a sense it does. But I am hoping that many of the people at that event will find ways to keep in contact. And one of the best ways to do that is to use social media tools. Twitter is one such tool, but they could also use Facebook, LinkedIn and other platforms.

And yes, these are “platforms”. Social media sites are places where people can gather together in groups and keep in contact.

Being a freelancer is a very solitary profession. Using Twitter can help mitigate that a little. Better than that, it can become a fertile source of shared tips, ideas, information and opportunities. Got a question? Ask your followers on Twitter.

I shared my Twitter name at the event, and hope that I’ll soon be receiving Tweets from some of the new people I met.