Podcast appearances and mentions of hilary sutton

In this episode of Hustle & Grace, host Hilary Sutton interviews Kelli Thompson, a women's leadership coach, speaker, and author. Kelli discusses how a lack of confidence holds women back in the workplace and shares tips for women to gain more confidence and lead with more authority. They also do a deep dive on salary negotiating, the Enneagram, executive presence, and leadership styles.  This episode offers valuable advice for women looking to advance in their careers and become more effective leaders. Learn more about Kelli Thompson Closing the Confidence Gap Take the Career Motivation Quiz  Connect with Hilary Sutton on Instagram This episode is sponsored by HSL Digital. Do you know what kind of marketing support you (really) need?

Is it possible to sell yourself without selling your soul? Absolutely. In this episode, Hilary discusses five tips to build a thoughtful personal brand that opens doors for professional growth. Grow your visibility and opportunities without feeding the beasts of narcissism or perfectionism paralysis. Here's how.  Learn more about Hustle & Grace Coaching Building a StoryBrand  How to Plan a Social Media Sabbatical  Take the Career Motivation Quiz  Connect with Hilary Sutton on Instagram This episode is sponsored by HSL Digital. Do you know what kind of marketing support you (really) need?

How do you manage the tension between your personal and professional life when you work from home? Today our guest is Hilary Sutton, a fractional CMO, writer, speaker, and host of the Hustle & Grace Podcast, where she serves as the chief explorer in helping people cultivate a flourishing career in life. Join us as we discuss both the challenges and freedoms of working from home. We'll share important tips, strategies, and tools that will help you optimize your productivity and find your own unique rhythm!   Podcast Outline: [0:00] Introduction to Hilary Sutton and the topic of work-from-home productivity - Hilary shares her story and describes what she's been doing over the years. [2:42] Craig shares his story and describes what it was like going back to working in a cubicle - how he longed to go back to working from home. [3:49] How working from home has been important to Hilary - explains her work style and the challenges she faced when working outside the home. [6:01] The challenges faced by extroverts who work from home - Craig shares helpful strategies he and his wife/business partner have used to fulfill their need for social interaction. [6:30] The remote work revolution - Hilary shares her take on what the trends will be.   The Challenges of Working from Home (Productivity Pitfalls) [10:06] #1 Not having a dedicated workspace - some strategies to help carve out a space dedicated to work. [10:40] #2 Not maximizing your time - the limitations you might face and how to prioritize what needs to get done by time blocking and “big rock” strategies. [14:28] The concept of energy management - how “50-minute hustles” and other strategies can help you grow your business during the times that are most energetic and creative for you. [17:54] How using different spaces for different levels of work can improve productivity - Craig explains how you need to figure out the best environment and type of day for you. [19:17] Managing the tension between personal and professional life - Hilary shares her experience and strategies that have worked for her. [22:44] The importance of finding a rhythm - Craig describes his experience of dedicating a certain amount of time to work and life. [24:15] Tips to improve productivity - Hilary lists software and hardware that have helped her track time, avoid scope creep, collaborate with contractors or clients, and work remotely. Craig recommends additional hardware and software to include in your home office. [28:03] Using digital tools and apps versus analog planners or books - Hilary explains her preference for using digital tools for some planning and a physical journal for others. [31:57] How to learn more about Hilary   Resources and tools discussed in this episode: Freelance University   Learn more about Hilary Sutton: HilarySutton.com  Hustle & Grace Podcast  The “What's Your Career Motivation?” Quiz    Resources and tools: Laura Vanderkam - Writer, Author, Speaker  Toggl  Basecamp  Apple desktops and laptops Zoom  Asana  Bullet Journal  The Bullet Journal Method  Google Calendar  Kindle Amazon

Today's guest is Portia Wofford, an award-winning nurse, writer and content marketer who lives in Alabama. After dedicating her nursing career to creating content and solutions for employers, Portia now runs a content marketing agency, The PW Agency.  Her agency empowers health and nursing brands to grow their communities through engaging content that connects and converts. As part of her mission to help nurses earn extra income, beyond the bedside, Portia teaches nurses how to get paid and published by showing them how to land their first paid freelance writing gig. Nurses can learn more about her courses and training packages at http://pwenterprises.co/nurses-who-write. Portia began freelancing in 2018, leaving her home health care nursing career. She created The PW Agency in 2020, so she could bring on more nurse writers and help more health care brands. Nurses are used to writing in a more academic style, so Portia started teaching nurses how to write blog posts for consumers or a health care audience. Portia's agency hires other nurses as freelancers to write for her clients. She also trains nurses how to write, whether they choose to leave nursing or write as a side gig. She has seen an uptick in interest during the pandemic as more nurses leave nursing. A few lessons Portia has learned that has helped her freelance career: Never stop learning and learn how to take constructive criticism of your work. Portia says some freelancers rely too much on social media to get clients. You need to get uncomfortable and reach out to potential clients. Understand you're going to get a lot of “no”s. If a potential client says no, Portia likes to ask if there's a reason they said no or if there's a better way she should approach them. Their feedback can be helpful in how she approaches other prospects. That doesn't mean Portia doesn't believe in social media, but it's only one aspect of marketing. She positioned herself as an expert in content marketing (not a freelancer) and a go-to thought leader in her industry. Good marketing requires a lot of research. Portia researched specific brands, then went to their websites to try to find the decision makers. She then uses LinkedIn to contact them. Portia's research focuses on finding out who the decision-maker is, instead of the gatekeeper. If a contact says no, Portia will reach back out in 60-90 days and asks “How's your business doing now? or “How's your content doing?” Portia's social media strategy as a freelancer was to offer a lot of content marketing tips to her potential clients. She doesn't focus on sales. She always includes a call to action, which could be something like “if you have any questions, contact me at …” She'll also say, “drop ‘freelancer' in the comments if you understand.” When you create or revise your content marketing strategy, start with your goals and consider what avenue you want to use (certain social media platforms, a blog, etc.). Having a niche also makes it easier to zero in on who your clients are. Don't just think of your clients. Think of the end reader—your client's customers. Who are they? Where are they? Portia walks us through how she thinks about pricing and what she recommends for nurses. Portia gives each client a content brief to fill out to gain plenty of information to be able to price the project properly and prepare to work with them. In this episode, she provided a long list of questions to ask clients. Portia also recommends having a minimum rate. You can tell each client upfront by email: “My minimum rate is $XXX. Are you prepared to invest in this service?” That weeds out clients whose budgets aren't large enough for your services, without either of you wasting time on a discovery call. In The PW Agency, Portia has a virtual assistant and several nurses who are sub-contractors, not employees. She has been an LLC from the beginning of her freelance career, which made the transition to an agency smoother. When she switched to an agency model, she told established clients: “I enjoy working with you. My business has expanded; I've brought on some other writers, and I would love for them to be able to take over some of your pieces.” Portia believes that her strong reputation and rapport with her existing clients reassured them that the agency work would remain high quality. She trains all of her nurse writers in her writing style, and now clients can get more content pieces in a faster amount of time. Portia recently hired an editing team that reviews the content. She also reviews every piece of content herself before it goes to a client. But the writers get the bylines. All of her subcontractors sign a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) and a contract that covers confidentiality and other issues. She has protections written in so subcontractors cannot “steal” her clients. Portia found a local attorney who understands freelancing and whom she can meet with in person and establish a relationship with. Hiring an attorney is an important investment in your business to protect yourself. Hiring a diverse range of nurse writers is important to Portia. Diversity improves the content she creates for her clients too. She tells her clients she won't work with clients who don't believe in diversity and promoting health equity. She's transparent about her values upfront.   Biz Bite: Don't Procrastinate. Break down a project into bite sizes and do a little bit a day at a time.   Resources: ThePWAgency.com TheWriteNurse.com Portia's courses for nurses Portia on Twitter Portia on Instagram   Join the Deliberate Freelancer Facebook group.    Support Deliberate Freelancer at Buy Me a Coffee.   Subscribe to the Deliberate Freelancer newsletter.   Episode #88 of Deliberate Freelancer: Positioning Yourself as an Agency and Partnering with Other Freelancers, with Reggie Holmes   Episode #68 of Deliberate Freelancer: Yes, You Need to Build a Personal Brand, with Hilary Sutton

Hilary Sutton is CEO of HSL Digital, a content marketing consultancy that she runs from a loft above her bedroom. She is a keynote speaker and writer who has contributed to HuffPost, the Washington Post, USA Today, Yahoo! Singapore, and HuffPost United Kingdom. The author of several eBooks and courses, Hilary also hosts the popular Hustle & Grace Podcast where she serves as chief explorer in cultivating a flourishing career and life.Hilary began her career as a theatre actress, then transitioned to academics serving as professor of communications at Southern New Hampshire University. She has also held digital marketing roles at SpotCo, Pursuant, and McKinley Marketing Partners. In this episode, Hilary provides recommendations for showing up and serving your audience AND your business as a podcaster. She encourages podcasters to think about what is sustainable for them and how they can build a personal brand through their shows. Everything we say and do contributes to this brand, and we want to make sure we are managing it well and optimizing the opportunities podcasting provides.See the full show notes here.CONNECT WITH HILARYWebsiteHSL DigitalInstagramFacebookLinkedInTwitterPodcast31 Day Personal Brand ChallengeRead Hilary's Washington Post articleCONNECT WITH LAURATake a screenshot of this episode, post it on your Instagram stories, and tag @laurabauderco  Clubhouse: @laurabauderFree Facebook groupThe Podcast Vault - A curated collection of resources for podcasters at all experience levelsLOOKING TO OUTSOURCE?Check out this directory of podcast service providers.

On the season finale of Hustle & Grace Hilary is sharing a five-step process to get your dream off the ground.  Hilary Sutton's signature course, "Get Your Dream Off the Ground" is a 21-day process that helps you get clear on how to take a good idea, a passion in your heart, from dream to reality.  Save $48 on the Get Your Dream Off the Ground Course with discount code: PODCAST21 Show Notes: www.hilarysutton.com/podcast Instagram: www.instagram.com/hilary.sutton Twitter: www.twitter.com/hilarysutton Facebook: www.facebook.com/hilarysutton 

New Year’s resolutions fail for a lot of reasons, but January can still be a good time to take a new look at your business and personal life. Instead of resolutions, I like to choose a word (or two, or three) of the year. It sets my theme for the year and reminds me to focus on something in particular all year long.   I was inspired to do this a few years ago by marketer Chris Brogan, who actually chooses three words every year. I started out with three words, but in 2019 I chose just one word: Leap. I wanted a visible reminder throughout the year to try new things outside my comfort zone. It reminded me that before I say no to something in my business, think big and truly consider leaping forward instead. It isn’t a coincidence that I started this podcast in 2019, finally taking the steps to make the leap after thinking about it for more than a year.   In 2020, I started with one word: Explore. I wanted to explore new directions and new projects in my business, as well as new places with my husband. Sadly, the pandemic halted any travel plans we had. But before the pandemic, as I considered my word “explore” I reread James Clear’s book “Atomic Habits” to start off my year right. In the book, he talks about the idea of “motion versus action.” Basically, sometimes we feel like we’re doing new things, working on projects, being productive, but everything we’re doing is just “motion.” Motion is the research, the planning, the preparation, but it’s not the action of actually doing something.   That really hit me, and I realized that I loved motion and was really good at it, but I needed something to push me to act. So, I added the word “act” to my word “explore” and made a sign that hung on my wall throughout 2020: Explore + Act.   While 2020 didn’t turn out like anyone had planned, I was able to do some exploring and acting in my business anyway, as I had to figure out how to pivot when the pandemic hit and I lost business.   For 2021, I chose the word: Simplicity.   Simplicity feels like meditation or curling up with a good book. It feels like relaxation and leaning into the slow life and the calm. And I really need that during the pandemic and the political upheaval in my country.   Simplicity in my business means focusing on the work and projects I love to do and going after that type of work. But, for me, 2021 does not feel like the “go big or go home” year. I want to take it easy, do the work I need to and keep it simple.   How will you choose your word of the year? Here’s what I recommend: Think briefly about what you want your year to look like. Set a timer for five minutes and write a bunch of words on a piece of paper. Narrow down your list and maybe look up the words in the dictionary and thesaurus.   Say each word out loud. How does each word make you feel? What does it make you think about? Then, choose your word of the year!     Biz Bite: Calendar blocking and batching   The Bookshelf: “The Stranger Diaries” by Elly Griffiths   Resources   Psychology Today article “Why New Year's Resolutions Fail”   My January 2020 blog post “Choose a Word of the Year”   Twitter thread about people’s words of the year   Chris Brogan’s three words for 2021, his words in past years, and tips for choosing your words   Hilary Sutton’s podcast Hustle & Grace   Episode #68 of Deliberate Freelancer: Yes, You Need to Build a Personal Brand, with Hilary Sutton  

Are you interested in freelancing or becoming an entrepreneur? Hilary Sutton has some advice for you. As the CEO of HSL Digital she runs a content marketing consultancy from a loft above her bedroom, with a little one in tow! We talked about how the pandemic has created a resurgence in the freelance world, mindset shifts to make when transitioning to working for yourself and working from home, and the best freelance opportunities to get started with. Show Notes: https://kickinitwithdaree.com/episode/freelancing-hilary-sutton

Are you wondering how to build a personal brand?   Sit back and let today’s guest, Hilary Sutton, teach you how!    Hilary is the CEO of HSL Digital, a content marketing consultancy that she runs from a loft above her bedroom. Hilary is a keynote speaker and writer who has contributed to HuffPost, the Washington Post, USA Today, Yahoo Singapore, and HuffPost United Kingdom. She's also the author of several ebooks and courses, and she hosts the popular Hustle and Grace podcast, where she explores how to cultivate a flourishing career and life, which is very much what we're all about here at the Free Mama.   Today Hilary is sharing a glimpse into her journey from actress, to academia and journalism, to entrepreneur. She’s also talking all about what she knows best: building a personal brand.    We’re getting into career paths, being a mom, networking, branding, and more.    If you want to know how you can up your brand, tune in to today’s episode!     Don’t forget to join The Free Mama Movement community on Facebook and follow me on Instagram!    Show notes available at www.thefreemama.com/31

Whether we mean to or not, we all project an image of who we are, both online and off. When looking for a job or trying to gain new clients, it's often our online image – not us directly – that creates a first impression. This week I'm talking with Hilary Sutton about what personal branding really means, and the simple but often overlooked steps everyone should take to be in control of their online image. We also discuss the challenge and importance of managing your personal brand when returning from a career break, and how to create a thriving professional and personal life.   About the Guest: Hilary Sutton is a writer, consultant, and speaker who is passionate about telling stories that are begging to be told. She is CEO of HSL Digital, a content marketing consultancy that relieves time-strapped entrepreneurs of the burden of content strategy and execution, so they can focus on their highest and best use. She is also an avid researcher on cultivating not only a flourishing career, but a flourishing life. She investigates and shares her findings through writing, speaking, coaching, and on her podcast, Hustle & Grace with Hilary Sutton. Hilary is a keynote speaker and writer who has contributed to HuffPost, the Washington Post, USA Today, Yahoo Singapore, and HuffPost United Kingdom.  Unlock the free 31-Day Personal Brand Challenge here.  Connect with Hilary: Instagram: www.instagram.com/hilary.sutton Twitter: www.twitter.com/hilarysutton Facebook: www.facebook.com/hilarysutton      About the Host: Janice Scholl helps moms navigate the money and career transitions that come with the different stages of motherhood through her work as coach, speaker, workshop facilitator, and host of The Money, Career & Motherhood Podcast. Janice is passionate about helping mothers gain confidence and understanding about money, career & business topics as they relate to motherhood and family – the way many women actually think about money.  Her key areas of focus to help mothers succeed are navigating maternity leave, career breaks & transitions, as well as values based budgeting.   Sign up here for a FREE 30-minute strategy session with Janice here. Visit the Money, Career, & Motherhood website, Facebook page, Facebook group, or on Instagram.     Thanks for listening! Thanks so much for listening to our podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and think that others could benefit from listening, please share it using the social media buttons on this page. Do you have some feedback or questions about this episode? Leave a comment in the section below! Subscribe to the podcast If you would like to get automatic updates of new podcast episodes, you can subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or Stitcher. You can also subscribe from the podcast app on your mobile device. Leave us an iTunes review Ratings and reviews from our listeners are extremely valuable to us and greatly appreciated. They help our podcast rank higher on iTunes, which exposes our show to more awesome listeners like you. If you have a minute, please leave an honest review on iTunes.

You have the freedom to invent each and every day of your life. In this episode, hosts Lyssa Wales and Sheila Galligan speak with Hilary Sutton, writer, speaker and consultant who is passionate about helping people spend their days in work that is wildly fulfilling. She lets us in on how to live a life of hustle and grace! Everyone has a unique message to tell! …    Find ways in your life to flourish in your business while keeping that flow for your personal health. How do you balance your work life and personal life? There are ways to share your unique message with the world What does it mean to live a life of “hustle and grace?” In this episode, hosts Lyssa Wales and Sheila Galligan speak with Hilary Sutton. They discuss… She shares her journey as an entrepreneur and how she loves being a freelancer! Hilary shares about her podcast and life motto. Learn how to find ways to find those sparks in your life! Tune into this 30-minute episode + hosts Lyssa Wales and Sheila Galligan speak with Hilary Sutton + She lets us in on some of her secrets to a happy life! Key Points: You have the ability to invent each and every day in your life how you want it. You can check out Hilary’s podcast called, Hustle and Grace. You need to have boundaries within your business to keep your life flowing and flourishing. Sometimes we tend to be plugged into our electronic devices rather than being plugged into our everyday real lives. Having time blocks set up where you complete only one set task can help you be more productive. Hilary shares about an article she wrote on podcasting and what led her to write it. Blogs, YouTube Channels, and Social Media are examples of free platforms that give you the opportunities to get your message out into the world. Everyone has their own unique story and message to share with everyone! Hilary shares some of her favorite interviews on her podcast and why they really impacted her. Hustle and grace means, to be committed to your life, and career of excellence but not to be afraid to roll up your sleeves and get to work. You should take the time to learn about people before speaking with them or interviewing on their podcast. It’s not about you when you’re on a podcast, it’s about the value you can bring to the show and the message that you share. Hilary shares about her “side hustle starter kit.” This kit can help you find ways to get your side hustle off the ground. It can be found on her website. As a freelancer, you need to have a few things that can make you money on the side. This includes templates and more. “To accomplish great things, we must dream as well as act.” -Anatole France Links to connect with Hilary Sutton: Website: hilarysutton.com Facebook: Hilary Sutton Instagram: hilary.sutton Thanks for tuning in to Quit Your Pitching Podcast! If you liked the show or want to find out more, be sure to visit our website at www.bigpicturepodcasting.com

Today’s guest is Hilary Sutton. Hilary is the CEO of HSL Digital, a content marketing consultancy. She is a keynote speaker and writer who has contributed to HuffPost, the Washington Post and USA Today. The author of several eBooks and courses, Hilary also hosts the popular Hustle & Grace Podcast where she explores cultivating a flourishing career and life. Hilary began her career as an actress performing in theaters up and down the East Coast, then transitioned to academics, serving as professor of communications, social media and journalism at Southern New Hampshire University. She has also held digital marketing roles at SpotCo, Pursuant and McKinley Marketing Partners. Hilary lives outside of Washington, DC, with her husband and daughter. The pandemic affected Hilary when her primary client lost some of their clients, furloughed employees and cut her hours dramatically. But new clients popped up, keeping her income stable. That showed her the importance of always building your personal brand and always connecting with people. “I have personally found a lot of power and control in being freelancer who works in the digital landscape because that is always going to be there, even if you’re in a pandemic.” Online communities are powerful, but meeting people in person at conferences and other events has solidified relationships and lead to new clients and new projects. Hilary defines personal branding as a combination of two things: the content that already exists about you (if someone Googles your name) and what people think of when they think of you. Everyone has a personal brand, whether you want it or not. There is information out there already telling a story about you. Shouldn’t you take control of that? A personal brand is not self-promoting. Reframe it to think of it as you telling people how you can help them. If you don’t tell people how you can help them, they won’t know that you can help them. You don’t have to focus on personal branding 24/7. While you should be consistent with your branding and timing, it is OK to take breaks from branding and social media. We need to prioritize mental health and “building space” in our lives so we don’t experience burnout. In summer 2019, for the first time in years, Hilary took a one-month break from social media, which was a healthy break and reminder of who is important in her real life. She gained clarity on the friendships and relationships of her inner circle. She also increased her productivity. The break quieted the social media noise. She says it was healthy to be bored, observe the world around her and be present, especially with her young daughter. Personal branding started for Hilary when she was a theater actress. She wanted to build a marketing writing career and inform people about the services she offered. She started by launching a blog to share her expertise. She also began to build her personal brand on LinkedIn. Having two websites—one for acting, one for content marketing—was critical to make it very clear what she did for two different audiences. Consider these three questions things when building—or rebuilding—an intentional personal brand: What do you do in your business? Who do you serve in your business? (Get clear on who your target audience is.) What do you want people to think about when they think about you? Next, consider how to concretely build that personal brand: build a website, have photos of yourself taken that reflect your brand. Also, claim your name or business name on multiple social media channels. Even if you don’t have a social media plan for all of those platforms now, claim the name and add your contact info, because those sites will rank high in Google when people search your name. In fact, Pinterest is more of a search engine than a social media platform and that can help your rankings. For more ideas, take Hilary’s 31-day personal brand challenge. As you build your intentional personal brand, remember to always keep your target audience in mind. And be aware that anything you say online—even if you think it’s via a private message—can be made public. Hilary created a three-module course to teach you the building blocks of developing a personal brand, available on her website. Hilary’s course: 3 Steps to Start Building a Personal Brand Hilary also has a podcast, Hustle & Grace, where she interviews high-performing creatives and talks about how to cultivate a flourishing career and a flourishing life. Biz Bite: Take inventory of your social media presence and Google results Resources: Hilary’s course: 3 Steps to Start Building a Personal Brand Hilary’s 31-day personal brand challenge HSL Digital HilarySutton.com Hilary on Twitter Hilary on LinkedIn Hilary on Instagram Hustle & Grace Podcast Hustle & Grace Podcast episode with Dan Pink Episode #55 of Deliberate Freelancer: How to Use Pinterest to Grow Your Business, with Julia Bocchese

With over 50 episodes featuring a cross-section of guests, Hilary Sutton, host of Hustle & Grace, is in season three of her show. Her show focuses on how entrepreneurs can enjoy the hustle of business and yet, still have a life. Her preference is to interview guests who share their story rather than focus on a specific area of expertise. Her recommendations •Strive for balance •Create an intentional career •Have goals and passion in your business •Advice to Experts Seeking Interviews •Hosts are interested in guests who bring value to the audience •Focus on collaboration with the host Read full post.  http://powerupforprofitspodcast.com/hilary-sutton-hustle-grace/

Hilary Sutton joins us on The Authors Unite Show! This episode is brought to you by Authors Unite. Authors Unite provides you with all the resources you need to become a successful author. You can learn more about Authors Unite here: https://authorsunite.com/ Thank you for listening to The Authors Unite Show! Tyler --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/authorsunite/support

This is episode 86 of the Advanced Freelancing podcast. I'm doing a separate introduction here because this is the first time that I've interviewed a guest in this new format and reboot of my podcast.  I was super excited to talk to her because of her expertise. Today’s podcast guest is fellow freelance superstar Hilary Sutton. She is a writer, speaker, and consultant that is passionate about helping people spend their days in work that is wildly fulfilling. She is the host of the podcast Hustle and Grace, which you should totally go check out right now.  Binge some of that after you're done with this episode. She's also the author of several ebooks and courses including “More in Less: 21 Productivity Hacks for Creatives”.  She has also served as a Professor of Communications, Social Media and Journalism, at Southern New Hampshire for five years.  And she's also a freelance writer for hire with expertise in direct response, copywriting, and content marketing. As a freelancer, she has served clients ranging from Broadway shows to non profits large and small, creatives of all stripes, and consumer brands.  And she has written hundreds of articles in dozens of publications, including USA Today and The Washington Post. She and her family live in the DC metro area.  We will post all of her contact information at the bottom of the show notes. This episode is for you if you've been thinking that perhaps full time freelancing or full time remote work might not be for you. And how could you create a hybrid blend, where you've got essentially an employee-employer relationship as part of the mix, but not as your full time gig. I hear from more and more freelancers these days who are looking to build an intentional freelance business. They don't want to be working 40 or 60 hours a week as a freelancer. For some of them freelancing was their ticket out of working in a dead-end job, but they're now realizing that freelancing full time isn't quite the right fit either. The cool thing about these side hustlers is that we can rearrange our business and client load whenever we want to reflect the new dreams and goals that we have.  Hilary is the perfect example of that. So stay tuned in this episode to hear more about the different transition she's made and how she recommends you do things like how to pick which industry or type of skill to focus on how to keep clients thrilled about coming back to work with you on retainer. With that, let’s get into Hilary’s story. Hilary shared that she has been a person from the beginning who liked a lot of different things. She’s always been a person who loved writing.  She’s always loved theater. And she loved connecting with people in college.  She could not decide on a major for the longest time and actually ended up with three or four minors as a consolation prize. She started freelancing around 2007-2008.  Which, if you'll remember, that was around the time that the great recession hit. So freelancing was something that she wanted to do, but it was also something she was kind of forced to do.  Because at that time, companies were on hiring freezes. People weren't hiring full time. So Hilary said that it was sort of like a happy accident that she got into freelancing at that time when people were actually sort of looking for some freelancers. So she started freelance writing, then she was also balancing it with a career as an actress in theater, especially musical theatre.  It got to a point were in between performing, she was doing some writing here and there. But it wasn't really enough to pay the bills. And so she was also working retail and doing some different things. Back to School And so she thought she would go back to school and get a masters degree so she could at least possibly get into the online education boom that was happening at that time. She thought, if she could maybe teach online, she could still have this autonomous lifestyle that she loved.  She could work from anywhere. And she could go audition in the middle of the day.  There was something about a full time job that felt very limiting to her.  It felt very stifling to her and her personality, because in the beginning she had three or four different minors and a love for lots of different things. So she always really liked variety. So back to school she went.  She studied media and communications with a focus on media.  She really dove into the social media space.  That was also really interesting timing because that's when companies started realizing, “Hey, we should hire someone or we should hire a freelancer or a consultant to help with our social media.”  And so that's sort of how she really got started as a full time freelancer. She did social media. And she did a ton of blog writing. She still did article writing for magazines. That sort of grew into a career as a content marketer and a direct response copywriter that she has today. Her Life Now Now she lives in the DC metro area right outside of DC.  She works as a full time freelancer. There was a time just a couple of years ago that she thought that maybe what she really wanted was to work remotely.  She thought that it would give her the flexibility and autonomy that she wanted. Well, it turns out she really likes working for herself. So she works as a part time consultant with an agency.  That's sort of her anchor client. She’s technically a W2 there, but she’s part time.  She works remotely. She feels like they're her client to be honest. But she is part of a team. So she does that part time. And then she sprinkles in whatever she has time for around that. So she does direct response copy.  She does freelance career coaching.  And she has some online courses and intellectual property. She does public speaking.  Basically, she does lots of different things. She likes to keep the variety going. But she does have this dependable anchor client in the staffing agency. I think it reflects a lot of what we freelancers like. A lot of us get that feeling of being stifled in a traditional job where you're doing the same thing all day every day. Even though sometimes the variety can be a little bit crazy, it's often a welcome part of the freelancer's life.  Why? Because you do get to decide who you work with and who you don't. It's interesting that Hilary brought up that she has this anchor client.  To her, they're kind of a client, but not really because it's also like an employee employer situation, but it's super flexible. So you view it like a client. It's very interesting because a lot of times for people that are looking to do full time freelancing, I tell them to never just have one client,  That's super dangerous, right?  You should never put all your eggs in one basket. And obviously, Hilary done that. But what advice does Hilary have for freelancers who maybe get an offer like that? I see a lot of people who are like, “Oh, a recruiter contacted me about a remote opportunity or a part time opportunity. They want to pay me W2.  How do you set that up for success in the rest of your business being in the context of freelance?” It sounds like they're very much like a client for Hilary. How can freelancers tell the difference between an employer that really wants to treat you like an employee and someone who's more like a willing to be flexible with the remote work? Hilary shared that she thinks some of it is that you just have to feel out in the interview process. But she thinks you also have to be honest from the beginning about what your values are and what you care about.  Be honest with them that they're going to get your 110% effort. But you're not going to have that same approach to the company that other people might go in there from 9 to 5. Hilary shared that in her situation, she doesn’t view them as an employer. And she also feels like they put her in my own special category as well. So you know, there are times when it's so beneficial because she’s outside of the office politics.  She’s outside of the water cooler chatter.  Those parts of working in an office that she frankly, doesn't feel comfortable with and doesn’t really like. So she thinks it's important to be honest from the get go. She thinks it's important to ask the tough questions in that process in the beginning.  You have to yourself, “Self, what is important to me?”  You have to ask how much anxiety does it bring me to have five different clients that all get 20% of my time or, 10 different clients still get 10% of my time?  Is it less for you to worry about? Is it less for you to think about? Does it bring you some peace of mind to have a client that's 40%? Hilary said that to her, it's all about a happy medium. Because a lot of times she thinks a freelance line item on a budget feels unemotional to cut at the end of the year. Whereas, if you are a W2, she thinks that employers and companies don't feel as comfortable just being like, “Oh, we'll just reallocate that money.” She has had that experience herself. She had a client that was about 20%- 25% of her income recently. And at the end of the year, they just said, “Oh, we're just going to rearrange some things. And we're going to hire someone in house.”  It was over an email and was so impersonal. And all year, they had been a huge piece of her pie. But, she was just a line item for them. So Hilary thinks there is something beneficial about having that relationship where you're not full time, you don't do the commute every day, and you're not there every day, but they rely on you. You rely on them almost like a retainer. Hilary thinks it's a good thing. It's a good situation, depending on what you want and what your goals are. So Hilary is talking about a setup that's a little bit different than your traditional freelance setup. Most freelancers have defined channels for marketing.  They know how they're going to find their clients.  I asked Hilary what she suggests that freelancers interested in a client like hers go and do to fine someone like that. Do you use different terminology or pitching techniques or networking to find a client like that and to kind of convince them that you're the right one for the role? Because like Hilary mentioned, a lot of times, we are seen as outsiders.  Freelancers are brought in to work on specific projects.  Or as a writer, they might do some of the content marketing. How do you kind of bridge that gap between being a freelancer and working as a part time employee or W2? Hilary thinks it depends on where you're coming from and what you're doing just prior to that.   For me and her situation, she had been working full time for a company remotely. And she just put the flag on her LinkedIn saying that she was open to conversations with recruiters. She moved my location to the DC metro area because she was moving to DC and almost immediately when she got there, a local company reached out to me. It was a marketing staffing agency So they didn't take long for them to find someone who was the right fit.  Hilary shared that she was a great fit for them not only because she was looking and open to freelance and part time and remote opportunities, but also in her previous job, she was doing the marketing writing.  Which is the kind of writing that I liked, but the topic wasn't something that I was passionate about. So in her off times from when she wasn't working on the projects for her job, she was contributing to newspapers like the USA Today writing about careers.  She was writing about how to nail your internship.  Those kinds of topics that actually aligned really beautifully with this client and part time gig that she has now. Hilary thinks it's important before you find that perfect sweet spot that you're really putting it out there and cultivating your own personal brand around the topics and the things that you love to write about or the projects that you just love to do. Don't just get bogged down in whatever it is that your current job and the projects assigned to you.  Create your own work. Hilary thinks that really attracts those special opportunities. And it will also show that you're more than just a writer.  You're more than just a designer. Whatever it is that you do, you also have a passion for this specific niche. Because when you have a passion for a specific niche and someone needs someone like you, they're more willing to be flexible.  They're more willing to be like, “Okay, well we really want somebody in the office.  We really want to pay this.  But maybe we can rework some things because who's gonna be more perfect for this job that you? Probably no one. So we'll do what you want to do. We'll make it work.” I love that youHilary brought up a couple of things there that I think are so important for any business owner or even someone who's looking to be a professional and work as an employee. That is making yourself visible to recruiters on LinkedIn. I probably post about this several times a month in my Facebook Group.  Why?  Because it's just takes three minutes.  Go turn the button on and tell the recruiters exactly what you're available for. Because that is always the most searched person. Every time I go into who's viewed my profile on LinkedIn, recruiters are always number one.  Those are great relationships to cultivate. It's free and easy.  If your profile is optimized, that's perfect. And then Hilary also talked about building your own brand.  I think this is so important.  People get bogged down in that too. If you don't have a lead at USA Today or Business Insider where you can post, then use your LinkedIn and your website to build your brand.  You need to be posting articles and content that are relevant to your industry.  People also find you that way through the hashtags, through the words that you use, and how frequently you post. I think Hilary has a really great perspective because she’s worked in these different industries. And one thing I'd love for her to break down is the difference between working remotely and working as a freelancer. The reason I bring this up is because I'm in a lot of communities with other military spouses and a lot of them are looking for remote opportunities.  Because, obviously, they move a lot. They want a job that's going to travel with them. And there's sometimes this confusion between, What's the difference between working remotely and something like starting my own business as a virtual assistant or something like that you've actually done it.  I asked Hilary to share from her perspective, what would you say those primary differences are? And how do you know which one might be right for you? Hilary said when it comes to what are the differences, it's pretty cut and dry to start with. A remote job is a job where you might as well be in an office because you have like one client.  You have one job.  And you have one supervisor.  You're probably benefited and get things like  401k and insurance.  You're an employee just like anyone else, except that you don't have that commitment to the office. Whereas a freelancer, you can kind of like cultivate it and make it whatever you want it to be. It's where you are the business.  You don't work for another business.   But you are the business. So you not only do the work, but you also do the business development.  You go and find the clients.  And you take care of billing and invoices.  So if you're thinking about if a business is like the office, then you are everybody in the office. Hilary was referring to The Office TV show because she’s finally catching up on it. It's like 10 years too late, but she’s in the final season. When you are the business, you are fearless. You are Michael. You are Angela.  You're everyone if you're a freelancer.  But if you work as a remote employee, then you are just one of those guys and you work from home. I think that's a great way to explain it. And I think some of it also comes down to the level of risk you're willing to absorb at the outset.  Because honestly, I know a lot of people are like, “Oh, a full time job, whether it's remote or an office, it's so much more stable.” There's a lot of arguments to make that your job could be eliminated or like the company that I used to work for before freelancing completely closed. So stability and risk is a questionable thing at that. But when you're starting out, like you said, as a freelancer, you have to go create your own paycheck.  At a job you're showing up and they're telling you these are the things we need you to do. You're going to get the benefits. This is going to be your paycheck,  It's going to drop in your account every two weeks. A freelancer is taking on more of that upfront risk of saying, “Okay, I have to go chase the clients. I'm going to take on the responsibility of paying the taxes as a self employed person.  I'm going to figure out what to do with my benefits, etc.” Some people are a little bit more averse to that. And others might be like, “Oh, yeah, I absolutely want to be my own boss.” So those are the important differences between remote and freelancing. I think it's helpful for people to know that,  The good thing too, is you could work remotely and still have a freelance side hustle.  There's lots of different ways that you could set it up. Hilary talked about doing a lot of different activities and using those to land where she is now.  So I asked, for people who are just getting started with digital marketing and freelancing, how do you figure out what it is you want to specialize in or do and pitch that when there's so many options? I know a lot of people who are like,  “I'm kind of into social media and maybe a little bit of writing and some other things.”  I asked Hilary how do you decide to narrow down or do you not recommend doing that? Hilary thinks it depends on your personality. She thinks it depends on how much time you have on your hands that is available. And how much of a learning curve there is.  If you got a degree in marketing, and you've kind of been in that world and you already have specialized interests, pay attention to the things that catch your eye. Pay attention to the pages that you follow on Facebook, the brands that you scroll through on Instagram, and the accounts that you follow on Twitter.  What are the topics that catch your eye that you have a natural interest in? She thinks that's a really great place to start. Because she thinks that you're going to be more invested.  You're going to have more of a passion for those projects. If you're still in the stage of  building a portfolio and finding who you are as a marketer then she thinks that it's good to start small.  Build those personal relationships and personal connections. Start spreading the word that you're building a freelance business.  Maybe you don't want to ask someone directly for them to hire you or for their business.  Maybe you do.  You can minimally start spreading the word in your network by saying, “Hey, like I'm getting into this. I've always kind of had a knack for social media. I really think that I could help small like mom and pop restaurants, in particular, really nail their social media. I see so many bad pictures of food on Instagram. I really love taking pictures with this amazing portrait mode that I have on my latest iPhone. I really think that I could help people.” Just start one email at a time or one Facebook message at a time.  You could do one coffee meet up at a time and build, build, build.  Spread the word about what it is that you like. And she  thinks starting with some that you're passionate about and pairing that with a skill that you're confident in is a really, really great place to start. And she thinks that there are lots of different things that you could do. But the more that you narrow down in the beginning, the more success that you can have because you can be confident that this is what you do well and you can really serve your clients well that way. I love that advice, because I think it helps to be a little bit of a generalist when you get started because you don't know what you like or don't yet. But I feel like when you say, “Alright, I'm going to be a social media marketer. I'm going to do content strategy. I'm going to do SEO and pay per click ads.” When you take on 6 or 7 different specialities, it's really hard to keep up with the changes and software in six or seven industries. Claim competency in one or two where you're like, “Yes, these are the blogs I follow. These are the podcasts I listened to. I do it enough within my day that I know what works as a best practice and what things are coming down the pike as trends.” But I feel like I see a lot of freelancers, especially VAs, post on their website, “These are the 45 different services I can do for you.” That sets you up to be so frazzled and constantly having to go back and be like, “Okay, have there been updates in Facebook ads? I haven't worked at the Facebook Ads client in four months. So now I have to go back to the drawing board reteach myself that again.”  That can be really stressful. So I think it's good, like Hilary mentioned, as soon as you get started, start seeing what you gravitate to.  Start seeing what you like and what converts well with clients.  What are clients asking you to do with them? Are your sales calls easy and they're like, “Oh, sold! I so don't want to do this.  You sound like the expert.”? Those are all signals that you can take and apply to your life. I asked Hilary, what would be one of her best tips for getting clients to work with you consistently? This big hurdle for a lot of freelancers both new and experienced.  They do a lot of one time projects. Since Hilary seems to develop relationships with her clients where it's more of a long term situation, how does she suggest that freelancers set themselves up to be open to more of those opportunities? Firstoff, she thinks this is so important.  A few different things come to mind. The first is to  say yes to projects that you know you can nail.  I think it's nice to stretch yourself.  It's nice to try new things.  But in terms of building relationships with clients that you're going to have for a long time, you really want to build that dependability and that trust. So say yes to things that you feel very confident in. Also cultivate real relationships. When you hop on a call, don't just get right down to business.  Ask someone about their family or how their sports team did.  You can ask things like what's the weather like today or where you are. She knows it sounds silly to always start with the weather, but it's such a nice icebreaker. And such a reminder of, “Yes, I'm here alone in my home in Northern Virginia, but you might be in your home office in Nashville.” She thinks it's so important to take the time to build a relationship besides just getting down to business. I love that!  And especially notice that if you live somewhere unique, that can also really be a great icebreaker. My husband and I just relocated to Minnesota a few months ago. And every single person who finds that out wants to know how cold it is.  They want to know how bad the winters are and why on earth would we move to Minnesota.   It just it instantly breaks people down from that level of professionalism when you show up to a call.  I used to say when people would ask me where I lived.  I would share that my husband is in the military. So we live wherever the Navy sends us.   And it would always disarm people to make them feel like they're talking to a person and less salesy and everything. So I totally agree. And another one of my tips for that is when you are preparing to talk to a client or to start building that relationship, check out what you can about them online. A lot of people will share things on their LinkedIn or on other social media.  And I just openly admit to it like, “Hey, I kind of stalked you a little bit. I saw you run marathons. That's amazing.”  People are so flattered by that.  They're like, “Oh, yeah, I started doing it five years ago.” It starts this whole honest communication thing, where you really are trying to get to know them. And you can ask questions about it or use that as an icebreaker. And you're right, it really sets people up to want to continue to work with you, because you took that little bit of extra effort to build a relationship and to have communication. Move from email to the phone as quickly as possible When I was talking about hopping on the phone and talking about something like that is one reason that Hilary is a big believer in moving some conversations from email to phone as quickly as possible.  When they email her and ask what her rates are or something like that, she wants to move that conversation from like cut and dry email to the phone as quickly as possible because she wants them to know that she’s a human. She wants to know that they're human. She wants to figure out how she can help them succeed at their job. If she can write the perfect thing for them, then that's going to help them put food on the table for their family. So as soon as you can, move from email to phone.  She thinks that's something that is really not done as much these days as it used to be. But she thinks that that can really be a game changer and building that rapport and building that connection with a client. I am the same way, I always want my clients to get on the phone with me, even if it is for five minutes, because people can present themselves differently on paper than even in like phone or zoom or Skype communication. So I want them to know I am a real person.  I also feel like it's a much better chance for you to convert the sale.  If you get one of those emails with like, “Oh, send me your rates.”  And then you write back with your rate sheet. It's so impersonal. There's no value demonstrated there. And the whole conversation is revolving around money, which does not put you in a positive negotiation situation at all.  It's very easy for the person on the other end of that computer to open it and think it’s too expensive. But when they've had that conversation with you, they're like, “Man, she really knew her stuff. She seems pretty organized. I saw her website and clients are raving about her. I just need to get this off my plate.  Why waste further time thinking about it?”  You built up that value there. So I could not agree with Hilary’s advice more. So many freelancers are like, “Oh, we live in a digital world. Let me just close it over email.”  And not everyone can close over email.   You're still a stranger to them. So let's take that off the table a little bit and have even a 5-10 minute phone conversation. You're in a much better position there. So I love that advice, because I try to do the same thing. I want to thank Hilary for agreeing to come on the show and sharing so much of her insight. I think that's going to be really helpful for people who are either new to freelancing or who are thinking about expanding their freelance business.  She shared a lot of really valuable insights. Thanks for tuning in to another episode of the advanced freelancing podcast.  For more freelance advice, get a copy of my book Start Your Own Freelance Writing Business—available now! Buy it from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Apple Books, and more. Hilary Sutton is a writer, speaker, and consultant passionate about helping people spend their days in work that is wildly fulfilling. She is the host of the podcast, “Hustle and Grace” and the author of several eBooks and courses including More in Less: 21 Productivity Hacks for Creatives. Hilary served as professor of communications, social media, and journalism at Southern New Hampshire for five years. She is a freelance writer for hire with expertise in direct response copywriting and content marketing. As a freelancer she has served clients ranging from Broadway shows, to nonprofits large and small, creatives of all stripes, and consumer brands. She has written hundreds of articles in dozens of publications including USA Today and The Washington Post. Hilary and her family live in the DC metro area. Connect with Hilary on Facebook and Twitter @hilarysutton, on Instagram @hilary.sutton and on her website at hilarysutton.com.

On today's episode I am chatting my friend Hilary Sutton. She is a mom to a 7 month old and a freelance writer, podcast host, and consultant. She lives in the DC metro area with her hubby and daughter. I loved Hilary's perspective on motherhood as a new Mama. Enjoy my conversation with my friend Hilary and check out her podcast at Hustle & Grace with Hilary Sutton!

On this special crossover episode with Everyday Creative People Podcast, Dena Adriance interviews Hilary Sutton on her career journey from acting to writing and entrepreneurship. Hilary shares what she loves about theatre, how she stumbled into being a full-time professional actor in her early twenties, and how she navigates the challenges of balancing multi-gig work with life outside of work.  Show notes available at hilarysutton.com/podcast. Connect with Hilary on Instagram,Twitter, and Facebook. This episode is sponsored by Get Your Dream Off the Ground.

Learn about the benefits (and challenges) of working from home with author Hilary Sutton.

In this special episode, Hilary Sutton shares her goals for the third quarter of the year, her strategies to accomplish them, and then 4 hacks to avoid mid-year burnout. How to Avoid Mid-Year Burnout: 1. Schedule a Quarterly Zoom Out (QZO). 2. Get enough sleep. 3. Make time to exercise. 4. Designate escape time. Further Reading: 4 Non-negotiables of a Quarterly Zoom Out (QZO) 10 Commandments of Sleep Hygiene for Adults (World Sleep Society) More In Less: 21 Productivity Hacks for Creatives Links: Library of Congress Reader Registration Burning Man Exhibit at the Renwick Gallery Connect with Hilary on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. This episode is brought to you by the Side Hustle Starter Kit.

In the inaugural Hustle & Grace with Hilary Sutton podcast episode, Hilary pulls back the curtain on what the new podcast is all about.

“I’m at the point where a gig is not just a gig anymore. I have to ask myself, am I getting so caught up in the ‘paying the bills’ jobs, or am I making time for what really energizes me? It’s a constant tight rope.” Hilary Sutton is a writer, speaker, consultant, coach, and sometimes actor. She runs HSL Enterprises where she helps people spend their days in work that is wildly fulfilling. Five years ago Hilary started a blog at hilarysutton.com to explore social media, creativity, personal development, and writing. Shortly after, she launched HSL Enterprises Courses to provide workshop-style teaching around concepts that had grown popular on her blog. She is the author of an ecourse, three workshops, and two eBooks including More in Less: 21 Productivity Hacks for Creatives, Blogging: Grow Your Business with Content, Going Freelance: How to Launch, Market, and Build Your Creative Career, Get Your Dream Off the Ground, and Art of the Side Hustle: How to Supplement Your Creative Career. As a writer, Hilary is often tapped for feature writing, content marketing, and direct response copy. Hilary has worked with clients ranging from Broadway shows, to nonprofits large and small, creatives of all stripes, and consumer brands. She is a contributor to USA Today where she writes about careers. You can follow Hilary @hilarysutton (facebook & twitter) or @hilary.sutton (instagram). Highlights from this week’s episode: * Making tough decisions about what is worth your time and energy, creatively * Learning how to approach paid opportunities without letting desperation get in your way

On this episode we talk with Hilary Sutton about all things social media and how nonprofits should be using social media in 2016. Hilary Sutton is a millennial creative who embraces a multi-hyphenate label: writer-social media strategist-actor-entrepreneur. Her work has a common thread: she’s passionate about telling stories that are begging to be told. Hilary currently works as brand journalist, social media manager and PR director for Pursuant. Pursuant is a full-service fundraising agency based in Dallas. When not at Pursuant Hilary also works as a freelance consultant, writer and actor. She’s an instructor at Southern New Hampshire University in social media, journalism and communication and blogs weekly at hilarysutton.com covering creativity, personal development, marketing and social media. SHOW NOTES: *Pursuant ~ https://www.pursuant.com/ *Relationship Fundraising Report ~ http://www.pursuant.com/relationshipfundraising *Hilary's personal blog ~ http://www.hilarysutton.com/ *Social media management tool, TweetDeck ~ https://tweetdeck.twitter.com/ *Social Media Fundraising Webinar Recording ~ https://resources.causevox.com/webinar/social-media-fundraising-for-nonprofits Find more episodes on iTunes (bit.ly/CVpodcast) or our website (www.causevox.com/podcast). Looking for more nonprofit insights? Visit our blog (bit.ly/nonprofit_blog) and see our collection of 400+ posts sharing all things fundraising and marketing. Easily create a powerful fundraising campaign in minutes. Try CauseVox for free! ~ www.causevox.com