Or maybe, in other words, "How to defy the myth of the Starving Artist"...
This past year of running my business full-time has taught me a lot. Probably more than I could ever fit into a single post. But I've had a lot of people ask me questions about how I manage to make a living selling my art, so I figured it's about time to share some of that knowledge with you all! I hope it's helpful to those of you who are looking to start up your own businesses one day.
Have any questions? Have an idea for next week's Inner Circle post? Let me know in the comments!
Many blessings,
Marin
1. Boundaries are essential
This is probably the most important lesson I've learned, and by far the hardest to implement into my daily life. I do all my work from my home studio, so there's not much in the way of work-life separation. If you're an independent artist or crafter, you probably have a similar setup. This lack of physical separation just means that boundaries are that much more important. Always have a separate space in the house for work, even if it's just behind a closed curtain. And always schedule yourself regular time-off from work. Even though your art is fulfilling in some ways, too much of anything is a bad thing. Your body and mind need time to rest, and your creative energy needs time to refuel.
2. "Likes" aren't everything
In fact, "likes" don't mean very much at all. It's so easy to get caught up in the thrill of Instagram popularity, and judge your own work based on the number of likes a post gets. But I'm here to tell you that "likes" won't get you sales or success - connections will. I know it's hard to believe, but some of my most sales-driving posts have actually been my worst-performing in terms of "like" count. So my suggestion? Don't even look at the likes. Look at the comments, shares, and messages. Look at the real connections you're making with your followers and customer base. Focus on what you can control, and strike up meaningful conversations instead of striving for a number.
3. Optimize your time
I find that when I try to do two things at once, I either make mistakes, or it takes me much longer than if I had just focused on both separately. It's also a huge energy drain. My secret? I never multi-task. When I'm working on something, I focus on that process completely for a scheduled amount of time. And when I take a break, I completely set aside work. I like to think of this as "trimming the fat".
I generally divide up my work schedule into full days: On Sundays, I design. On Mondays and Thursdays, I work on orders. On Tuesdays, I work on Custom Projects. On Wednesdays, I work on marketing and planning. And on Fridays, I work on building stock for my next update. Of course, sometimes I get thrown off course... But having the general structure really helps me keep my focus in the right place.
4. Organize your space
Just like your time, your space needs to be optimized as well. Living in the city definitely has its challenges sometimes - for me, it means working out of a 150 square foot studio room. As you can imagine, organization is essential for me to get the most out of this small space. I've completely re-organized my studio a couple of times, when I felt that it was time to re-evaluate how best to optimize it for my evolving work.
Often our workspaces evolve over time, as our work evolves, and outdated supplies or tools end up accumulating in the background. If we don't take a moment to think about what we're actively using the space for, and redesign it with that in mind, then it just ends up being a graveyard for former projects, bulky furniture, and obsolete tools. When you feel like you have a good sense of where your work is headed for the next couple years, set aside a few days to empty your workspace, and start from scratch. Think about where each item will go, in order to make your process as straightforward as possible. Only allow items that are directly relevant to your work back into the room.
5. Don't be afraid to experiment
This has been a constant motto for me as I navigate running an online business during a global pandemic and economic shutdown... And unfortunately, I'm sure that this won't be the last of our challenges as artists. The worlds of art, online marketing, and ecommerce are all very fluid industries. They can change with a moments notice, and you have to be flexible in order to take advantage of those changes. There are hundreds of books on how to run a business, but ultimately experimentation is the only thing that will make your craft and content stand out in the modern world. So take risks, chase your ideas, and don't be afraid of failure!
6. Build your community
I always maintain that no one can do it completely alone. Looking back, the most life-changing moments for my business involved connecting and networking with others in my community of makers. If you feel like there isn't an online community for your specific type of work or craft, make one! I guarantee there are others who are looking for that sense of comradery as well. Start a message group with other makers in your niche, and support each other. Organize a group giveaway or a collaboration. Use your creative minds to figure out how to best support each other and share your customers bases.
7. Deduct everything you can
From a business perspective, one of the most important things you can do is educate yourself on the legal side of running a business. How do taxes work in your state or country? What kind of paperwork do you need to file with your city or town in order to run a legal business? These are all questions that you need to find answers to, as soon as possible. And once you have a basic understanding of that system, this tip will make more sense.
Basically, at the end of the year, you subtract your expenses from your revenue and end up with your profit. You only pay taxes on your profit, so make sure that you're including as many expenses as possible into that equation. As an art business, this includes all the basics, like supplies, tools, listing fees, any paid advertisement, etc... But it can also include any travel expenses (if you traveled for vending or for a photoshoot), any books or subscriptions you purchased for the sake of relevant education or skill-building, or even utilities for your studio space!
8. Be true to yourself
Always try to be as authentic as you can. Not only will it save your sanity in the long-run, your followers and customers will be happy to talk to a real person, rather than a fake persona or a bot. When people follow artists, they don't just want to buy your products - they want to support you, as the artist. Don't be afraid to show them who you are.
I think authenticity has been a bit of a struggle for some artists in the recent months, in the face of the Black Lives Matter Movement, and other political discord. It can be hard to stand up for what you believe in, especially when it might mean losing business. However, I always maintain that any business lost from standing up for those in need, was never good business. I consider it a necessary "cleaning house" - trust me, you don't want to allow hate or bigotry to grow in your customer base... Because once it takes hold, it's harder to get rid of.
9. Go vertical
I know it's tempting to make beautiful landscape pictures, and full-width cinema style videos. But I'm here to tell you that, unfortunately, they won't be viewed that way. They'll be seen in a flash when your viewer is scrolling by on their smartphone, and if your pictures don't fill the screen in an eye-catching way, they won't be noticed. Because of this new handheld technology, the status quo is shifting to vertical media across the board (even YouTube is introducing vertical videos now!). So, it's time to adjust your marketing. And on a similar note, keep watching for future shifts in how your audience is viewing your art. Marketing is an ever-changing science, so keep learning!
10. Plan for growth
Whenever you make a decision for your business, think 5 years ahead. Plan for the best possible outcome, and set yourself up with the room you need to grow. Even if your own website is still a stretch goal, go purchase your favorite domain name now (usually no more than $12/year) so that no one else grabs it in the meantime. When ordering supplies, consider sourcing from places that offer wholesale accounts, and can guarantee consistency. Price your work so that you can actually afford to be running your business full-time. Basically, set yourself up for success!