Art is a universal language that means different things to everyone. The world would be a duller place without art to brighten it up. Art in all its forms adds meaning, joy, beauty, and purpose to our lives. But for you, the craftspeople who create it for us and have devoted your life to perfecting your art, you need to earn an income doing what you love so you can keep on making more of it. You need to start thinking like a businessperson. Read on for some pointers from Clear Vision Media.
A Plan That Includes Forming Your Business
As in any business, the first step is to create a business plan. Your business plan should describe your company, detail how you’ll sell your art, describe how your business will be structured, and include what funding you’ll need and any financial projections. Remember that your business plan is a living document, so you can revisit this as needed to make changes as your business grows.
One of the most important aspects of your business plan is the type of structure you’ll file your company under. An LLC is a good choice for artists. LLCs protect your personal assets from being involved in your business affairs, and they offer tax advantages. An S corp may also be the right fit since you’ll benefit from self-employment tax savings and you can claim company losses as deductions on your taxes. Do some research to see if this or another entity makes the most sense for your business, and keep in mind you can work with an online service to have your paperwork filed.
You can find online templates and tutorials to walk you through the process of creating a business plan. You can also learn the detailed steps to creating your LLC and other must-dos for launching your company by following this helpful guide on how to start an LLC in Indiana.
Who Are You Targeting?
If your answer is the whole wide world, you’re going to have to narrow that down at first, at least in the beginning. Think about your target audience, the group of people that prefers the type of artwork you create. Do you have a niche? Narrowing down your work into a category isn’t pigeonholing you, it’s helping you find the people who love what you love.
Find Them Where They Are
Better Up notes that networking is the key to a successful career in the arts. The more people you know and work with, the better your chances of having your work seen and you get discovered. Working, volunteering, and assisting in areas where you can make yourself and your work known can have a huge ripple effect. Word of mouth is one of the best ways for artists to market themselves.
Social Media
Platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter have millions of users and accounts that cover every interest imaginable. For artists, social media can be a world of opportunity. But it can be more time-consuming than creating your work. The Two Lauras points out that hiring a professional to manage your online presence is no longer just a luxury, it’s almost necessary in order to break through the vast amount of content out there.
You will need to have a great website for a number of reasons. First, having a website helps to get exposure to your work. It can be where people not only see your work but connect with you as well. And it establishes credibility for your work.
Create a Brand
A brand is not just a logo (though you’ll definitely need one of those) or a set of colors. A brand is much more than that. In fact, it’s what you are trying to convey, what reflects your style and personality. Knowing your audience and creating a brand that speaks to them is an important step in setting yourself apart.
Creating a well-designed logo for your business that makes a strong first impression can create brand awareness and separate your business from the competition. Instead of paying for logo design services, you can use an online logo maker to design an appealing and creative logo on your own. Simply choose a style and icon and add in any text you’ll need, and you’ll be able to view an assortment of logos and adjust their fonts and colors.
Most creatives are not the business type in the traditional sense. However, having some business skills to get noticed and allow your art to support you is well worth the time you spend mastering it.
Clear Vision Media specializes in SEO and website traffic optimization, as well as creating unique and engaging content for our clients. Contact us today to learn more!
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