Your quality work benefits no one if you can't get recognized by the people and institutions who need and appreciate what you offer. Studies cited by The National News determine nations benefit from tens of billions of dollars from the creative economy, and you can grab a piece.
Take these tips from Beadie Productions for presenting your work to a broader audience so you can generate a living from your passion.
Develop a Creative Process
Simplifying your creative process allows you to spend time on the business side of things where you're still a novice. Follow this five-step system to complete each project:
Prepare: Brainstorm, research, and gather information to plan a project's needs and formulate a rough timeline.
Incubate: Give yourself time without distraction or interruption to gestate ideas freely without judgment.
Illuminate: Compile thoughts from the first two stages and reach a eureka moment of your project focus.
Evaluate: Set a time limit to refine ideas and decide which aspects are worth pursuing.
Implement: Execute the work.
Make Your Business Official
An official company helps you copyright and catalog your projects in one spot to keep you from getting ripped off and gives you more freedom in changing your company's future operations. Legal action against you during work or tax concerns affects only business assets, not money or property in your personal account.
You could file as a sole trader or limited company on your own, but business formation services are easily found online. Using these services ensures that you meet the standards and don't miss a vital form. In addition to legitimize your business, start a separate credit and banking account for business transactions to simplify accounting.
Promote Your Company
Make sure each brochure, website, and business card bear a well-designed logo that makes an impactful first impression. Professionals with spending power may have difficulty distinguishing between you and others in your field, but a distinctive emblem separates you from the competition and builds awareness.
Design services are one option, but an online logo maker helps you create a unique and eye-catching brand insignia on your own. Choose a style and icon and insert your text. Then the logo maker provides various designs to choose from to modify the colors and fonts.
Market Yourself Through Social Media
Today, if you’re not active and engage in social media to promote your brand, you’re missing out on an opportunity to reach enormous audiences. To illustrate this, there are nearly 3 billion people on Facebook alone, according to Meta Platforms.
For example, if you have a Facebook business page, you may be able to upload a PDF of your product catalog. This can be a great way to spread the word about your business and let people know what you have to offer. You can also use Facebook to share news and updates about your company, and to connect with potential customers and clients. In addition, you can use Facebook to create ads that target specific demographics. This means you could target people who live in your city or who have expressed interest in similar products or services. By using Facebook to reach out to potential customers, you can dramatically increase the visibility of your business.
Network in the Right Circles
Networking is an invaluable tool for small businesses. Look for speaking opportunities where you can enlighten individuals in adjacent industries about the value of hiring someone like you to create a professional product with real artistic value. Look for other artists with whom you can collaborate on shows and projects to exhibit your works. For example, fashion designers should locate an excellent photographer who can bring their designs to life in pictures.
If you're at a loss of where to start with networking, reach out to old friends and acquaintances from years ago who may be in complementary industries and can help you launch your business.
Teach Others the Craft
By sharing your knowledge of your craft with others, you build a reputation for quality and find potential customers. You can even find a source of income. A subscription model is a great way to generate recurring interest and income.
Build Resilience
Continual rejection is a part of art and sales. Prioritize self-care and build self-worth to remain resilient in facing struggles and rejection.
Adequate business skills go hand-in-hand with promoting exceptional craftsmanship. Find your niche and community with astute marketing – including marketing yourself through social media – and clever publicity to keep doing what you love.
Image via Pexels
Do you need business portraits for your website? Connect with Beadie Productions today to set up a session for professional portraits that will add an air of elegance to your site.
Written by Virginia Cooper
