by Tina Martin

Turning your passion into a career can feel impossible, especially for those who don't know where to start. Monetizing your creative talents requires a certain amount of business sense in addition to a unique and appealing style. Artists and other creators can benefit from these tips regarding establishing a client base and navigating the ins and outs of business ownership.

Finding Your Audience

Depending on your particular brand of creativity, there's likely someplace in your hometown where you can show off your creations. Craft shows, conventions, and public markets all allow creators and vendors to rent space to display and sell their wares. Check your local event guides to see what sorts of gatherings are planned and which ones would complement your craft.

Artists and writers, in particular, can often find their audience through online forums. Posting samples of their writings or photos of their creations can attract your target demographics and maybe even encourage a couple of online orders. Research which sites other people of your vocation has had success with and emulate their strategies while adding your own identity.

Marketing With Social Media

All creators can benefit from brand awareness, and a great way to encourage that across a large geographic area is by establishing a social media presence. Dedicated pages for your creations will give you a professional appearance while also making you accessible to interested parties. New creators can start taking orders through their social media DMs directly as they begin to establish themselves with more legitimacy.

Purchasing advertising space on social media is an effective way to signal boost your brand. A Facebook ads maker can be used to create personalized advertisements to be shared with your selected demographics in the regions you select. These services give you the tools to make appealing ads with your unique logo and branding without the expense of a pricy graphic designer.

Establishing Your Business

As your customer base and legitimacy grow, you'll want to organize your operation into an official business for legal and tax purposes. Do your research and construct a solid business plan that's relevant to your craft. This plan will serve as a roadmap while you form your business, allowing you to direct more of your attention to the actual work. It will also attract investors if it convinces them your project is viable.

If you're unable to single-handedly meet demand, you may need to outsource some of the less personal and creative aspects of your vocation. For instance, an artist whose prints are sold on shirts may leave the screenprinting to freelancers while they focus on creating custom graphics. A recruiting agency can help you locate freelancers while you focus on the other obligations of your startup, but there are alternatives to a traditional recruiting agency online that are more cost-effective.

As your operation grows, you'll want to protect yourself from potential financial trouble your business might find itself in. Setting your company up as an LLC will protect you from debts, charges, and fines that your LLC encounters, meaning you only stand to lose what you invest in the company. If you don't want to file for the LLC yourself or hire a potentially expensive attorney for the task, an LLC formation service can handle the process for you for a lesser fee.

With careful planning and a little luck, creators can monetize their skills and make a living off their passions. Marketing yourself through social media can ramp up your demand; passing some labor to freelancers can help you meet it.

Tina Martin is a guest writer for My Sketch Journal. Check out her website at ideaspired.com