By Guest Poster: Daniel Sherwin
Image via Pexels
Daniel is a single dad raising two children. At DadSolo.com, he aims to provide other single dads with information and resources to help them better equip themselves on the journey that is parenthood.
~ For anyone interested in writing a guest post, please go to the Contact TAB and contact me (Christina Francine) there. ~
As a creative, you have a unique talent, and it is time to get your work out there. With the right
preparation and strategy, you can make sure that your work is seen by the right people. Here are some tips from Daniel Sherwin for getting your work noticed and making a name for yourself.
Create a Detailed Business Plan
Before you start taking steps toward getting your work out there, it is important to create a detailed business plan. This plan should include financial projections, pricing strategies, your target market, and other important information related to running a business. Having this plan in place will help you stay organized and focused on achieving success.
Design a Home Studio
Designing a home studio for your art involves careful consideration of factors such as lighting, storage, and workspace layout to ensure a conducive environment for creativity. It's important to create a space that not only caters to your artistic needs but also inspires and motivates you. Moreover, a well-designed, multifunctional room not only enhances your artistic productivity but could also significantly boost the value of your home, so be sure to save receipts for any work completed.
Showcase Your Portfolio
Creating a portfolio through platforms like Behance for your artwork is an important step in showcasing your work and establishing a presence as an artist. You should select pieces that demonstrate a variety of skills and styles and that highlight the best examples of your work. Digital portfolios are also becoming increasingly popular, as they allow you to reach a wider audience more efficiently. Ensure that these digital portfolios are visually appealing, easy to navigate, and include descriptions or stories about each piece to give viewers insight into your artistic process.
Earn a Business Degree
Going back to school for a business degree can be a transformative step for artists looking to sharpen their business acumen. This educational path equips you with crucial skills in marketing, sales, and strategic planning, enabling you to more effectively market and sell your art. The practical knowledge gained from a business degree can provide insights into the commercial aspects of the art world, from understanding your target audience to mastering online sales techniques.
Moreover, the flexibility of online degree programs allows you to balance your creative pursuits with your studies, ensuring that you don't have to put your artistic endeavors on hold. For artists aiming to elevate their career to new heights, this could be the ticket, offering both the freedom to create and the tools to succeed in the competitive art market.
Research Business Marketing Trends
Learning more about the business world as a creative is essential for success. Researching marketing trends and understanding how to adapt to changing consumer interests can help you stay ahead of the competition. Additionally, it is important to understand basic economic principles so that you can efficiently price and sell your creations.
Expand Your Network
Leveraging the tried-and-true tactic of creating a brochure to market yourself is a powerful strategy, offering a tangible way to showcase your skills, services, or products. Instead of hiring a professional, you can craft a stellar brochure by utilizing a free online template. This approach allows you to inject personal touches by adding your own text, images, and custom design elements, ensuring that the final product is uniquely yours and resonates with your target audience.
Taking advantage of these accessible resources not only saves costs but also empowers you to directly shape how your brand is presented. This may help in significantly enhancing your market appeal and in establishing a memorable connection with potential clients or customers.
Consider Getting a Mentor
Getting a mentor can be invaluable to success. A mentor is someone who has experience in the industry and can offer guidance and expertise that no textbook or online tutorial can provide. Through a mentor, you will also get valuable insight into how the business world works and how to make sure your work is noticed by the right people.
With proper planning and strategy, you can get your work in front of people. Taking steps like earning a business degree, creating a stellar portfolio, and learning about marketing trends can help you find success.
Consider Making a Brochure
by Christina Francine
Create a Brochure
Brochures are an inexpensive way to get your message out to the world. Whether you have a product, a service, or want to promote an idea such as recycling, consider who your audience is. Whose attention are you attempting to obtain?
Be sure to use AIDA when designing your brochure because a brochure is a persuasive document. AIDA uses three forms of rhetorical persuasion: logos (appeal to logic and reasoning), pathos (appeal to emotion), and ethos (language that bases it's credibility in the speaker's authority).
One way to set up your panels that works well:
A - attention. Your brochure should get attention and appear on the front panel.
I - interest. Your brochure should build interest and occur on the second, third, and fourth
panel of a two-fold arrangement. This is the inside spread. Use "landscape" on your printer.
D - desire. Your brochure should create desire. on the fourth and fifth panel.
A - action. Your brochure should inspire action. Know however, that your back panel doesn't
need an action spur. This back panel should, however, not be viewed as a "dead" panel. It
should be as attractive as the rest of your brochure.
5th panel: Desire Testimonials from customers. Biographies of company founders. Possibly your mission statement. | 6th panel (the back panel): Action Contact details. Map. Coupons or special offers. | Front panel: Attention Company logo. Striking graphic. Company name. Slogan. City, if appropriate. Says exactly what the company is offering. |
2nd panel: Interest Concrete and specific details about your product or service, supported by dynamic layout and graphics. | 3rd panel: Interest More details about your product and service, including price if appropriate. | 4th panel: Interest and/or Desire How good your customer will feel after using your product or service. The benefits. Answering any possible objections. |
Source: Business and Professional Writing, A Basic Guide, 2nd edition, by Paul MacRae,
Brochure Examples
