48. The Freelance Hustle with Danielle Meadows-Stinnett

We’ve been talking a lot about burnout recently. Everyone knows about The Great Resignation. Unless you are lucky enough to have a trust fund or rich parents, you’ll have to find something else to do. Perhaps freelancing is a great way to get out of your company’s toxic culture and work for yourself. Freelancing can be a rewarding way to earn money and be your own boss. Unfortunately, if you’re not careful things can go wrong. Quickly. This week we chat with Danielle Meadows-Stinnett, a life-long freelancer and now owner of Octane Design Studios. Danielle offers some tips and tricks to be successful and avoid some of the pitfalls many freelancers fall prey to. Topics:• 05:53 – Learn when to pivot• 08:40 – How much do you charge?• 11:33 – Treat pricing like an experiment – Don’t be afraid to change it• 12:12 – How do you build a clientele• 14:20 – Explore (not exploit) your existing connections• 19:34 – If you’re not feeling like networking, don’t force it• 21:27 – What clients do you want and go after them where they are• 22:13 – Finding clients is a lot like dating• 24:59 – Tips for introvert freelancers• 27:11 – Communication is critical• 28:12 – Set expectations and don’t be afraid to say no• 33:27 – How might non-designers build their brands?• 36:21 – When is it time to find a partner?• 38:11 – Getting paid is harder than signing a contract• 39:13 – Set up payment milestones in writing• 41:07 – If you’re bartering, make sure the value is equal• 43:06 – All the legal things to cover your ass• 45:02 – Get everything in writing• 46:20 – Some freelance resources• 48:14 – Make friends with your accountant or accounting software Helpful Links:• lexoctane.com• Kentuckycreatives.com • Mtgthepodcast.com • Q1essentials.com• Episode 09. Freelancing for Dummies• Hourly Billing is Nuts About DanielleDanielle is the owner of digital branding agency Octane Design Studios, podcaster, wife, mama of four, and lover of Broadway musicals, chai tea, comics, cosplay and live MMA. With over 12 years of marketing and multimedia agency experience, she’s helped brand and launch over 100 small businesses across America; ⅔ in Kentucky now with an all-female team spanning three countries.In 2021 Danielle launched Kentucky Creatives, a Kentucky-based community of like-minded creative professionals seeking to align with Kentucky businesses and brands.Her hashtag #MoreThanGraphics has become more than just a marketing slogan; it’s become a life principle for herself that she executes through storytelling and life chronicles as producer and co-host of the #MoreThanGraphics podcast. —–