Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Julie Cortés. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Hi Julie, thanks for joining us today. So let’s jump to your mission – what’s the backstory behind how you developed the mission that drives your brand?

Most of us creatives went to school to learn our craft (design, writing, photography, etc.), yet we didn’t take business classes because they either weren’t required or we didn’t think we would ever need them. We were wrong. So many of us end up freelancing or being self-employed—whether by choice or by default—and don’t know HOW to run a business. This is a huge void and one that I’ve made my life’s mission to rectify.

Julie, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

Hi! I’m Julie Cortés. Copywriter by day. Freelance Rockstar by night. I’ve run my own business for more than 25 years.

As a copywriter, I partner with ad agencies, design studios, large corporations, and small businesses, offering brand strategy, high-level concepts, creative solutions, and promotional copywriting. I’ve written for most mediums and a variety of industries.

This year marks the 20th anniversary of the professional organization I founded: The Freelance Exchange of KC. Seeing the success of the organization locally and now getting requests from other cities, we’re prepping to expand the not-for-profit nationally.

I’m continuing to teach as an adjunct professor at the KC Art Institute, where I’ve taught since 2017. I developed a much-needed, college-level course, Freelancing 101, and enjoy sharing tips and tricks of the trade with both commercial and fine artists.

The coaching arm of my business is rapidly growing, and I’m honored to be able to help freelancers and solopreneurs not just locally, but around the world. While I offer 1:1 coaching now, I’ll soon also be offering group coaching for those seeking a more affordable option.

Being a public speaker was never on my Bingo card. Yet, here I am … and absolutely loving it. Whether I’m presenting on freelancing and self-employment, branding and promotions, or mindset and badassery, being able to share my energy and ideas on stages near and far has been incredibly rewarding.

We’d love to hear the story of how you built up your social media audience?

Not that I have a huge following, yet my followers seem to be pretty loyal and come from all over the world. I think I started out like many others, not really knowing what I was doing. Then I attended a few seminars, did some research, and really started putting forth the effort into it.

I think if you’re first starting out, the most important thing to do is to set up your profiles as professionally as possible. That means with a polished brand, professionally-designed cover photos, a well-written bio, consistent / matching handles, etc. Even on the platforms that don’t allow for a cover photo, there are ways to brand. For example, on Instagram, you can create custom story highlight covers or pin three branded posts to the top.

Beyond that, consistency is key. Algorithms tend to pay favor to those profiles that are active on the platform. So think: post regularly, share to your stories, and engage with other accounts. What you post may very well depend on your business and what your followers find valuable. Don’t always sell. Add some personal connection. And be authentic.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

A few years back, I’d confided in a colleague (someone I’d considered a friend) about my plans to open up a business coaching arm for my business. What I didn’t realize in telling her is that she’d immediately steal my idea and beat me to the punch … doing exactly what I wanted to do for the same exact target audience (and we ran in the same professional circles).

I tried to be the bigger person, as there’s plenty of room and need in this space. But then she started copying my brand and promotional posts. She started gaslighting and demoralizing me anytime I’d say something to her. And then, the final straw was when she legit started trying to steal clients and prospects right out from underneath me.

If you’ve ever dealt with an individual with narcissistic personality disorder, you know the only choice for survival is to go “no contact.” And so I did. I removed her and blocked her in as many aspects of my personal and professional life as I could. There was, of course, some backlash – not only from her yet also from people who couldn’t believe she’d do such things … even though she 100% did.

What it did for me is light a fire underneath me. I was bound and determined to take back my power, my brand, and my business idea. Today, my confidence is restored, my business plan is back on track, and I’m proudly coaching not only creative freelancers here in Kansas City yet also around the globe.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.juliecortes.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/freelancerockstar
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FreelanceRockstar
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/freelancerockstar
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@freelancerockstar

Image Credits
Professional headshots: Alison Barnes Martin