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12 Steps of Entrepreneurship Every Creative Person Needs to Know

Updated: Aug 24, 2022

#Entrepreneurship#Creative#Artist#Art#ArtisanPreneur


Photo by RODNAE Productions: https://www.pexels.com/photo/a-man-looking-at-a-website-on-the-internet-7309483/

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As an artist or creative person, you know the importance of turning your passion into a career. But too often, we forget the basics of entrepreneurship when it comes to running our own business. In this blog post, we will outline 12 essential steps that every artist and creative person needs to know in order to turn their craft into a successful business!


What's in this blog?


Let's set the stage:

Mandy is an artist. She loves painting and focuses on creating large abstract paintings that she displays and sells at local art shows and craft fairs. Mandy has been an artist for almost 15 years but has just recently decided to turn this passion into an income-generating business.


She gathers some of her favorite pieces, creates super cute and elaborate packaging, and heads to a show to start making some serious dough.


Her expenses weren't that bad. She only paid $75 for her booth space, $50 for her truck rental, and $25 for lunch. She sold 3 pieces that day and made $500! She's feeling pretty good until she reviews her notes from the event.


Note #1:

A customer asked me how I got started as an artist. I began telling them my story but in the middle of the conversation, they just walked away. What did I do wrong?


Note #2:

I sold my largest piece for 25% off! It originally was $100 but I sold it for $75. My customer loved it and got a great deal! But how much money did I make on that sale? If I remember right, all my supplies cost $65 and since I'm starting out, I don't need to pay myself.


Note #3:

A customer asked if I had a website but I told them I despise websites and I don't need one. Also, it's more intimate when a customer can just text me one on one. If I have any sales information, I'll tell them through text message. What was that person's name?


Ouch. It looks like Mandy has a lot to learn about entrepreneurship! Let's help her out by sharing 12 essential steps that every creative person needs to know in order to turn their passion into a successful business:


Photo by Andrew Neel on Unsplash
Have a clear vision for your business

Step #1

The first step is to have a clear vision for your business. What are your goals and objectives? What are your targets? What can you realistically achieve in the short and long term? What does success look like to you? Once you have a clear vision, you can start to develop a business plan. This will help you map out the steps you need to take to achieve your goals.


Step#2

The second step is to validate your business idea. This means testing it out with potential customers or clients to see if there is a market for what you're selling. This can be done through market research, surveys, interviews, or focus groups. If your business idea was validated you can move on to the next step, but if it wasn’t, then it's time to go back to the drawing board!


Step#3

Third, once you've validated your business idea, it's time to start building your brand. This includes developing a strong name, logo, and identity that will make you stand out from the competition. Branding is a hot topic, so let's take a quick dive.


How do you develop a strong business name?


Your business name is one of the first things potential customers will see, so it's important to choose something that is eye-catching and easy to remember. How do you create a logo? Your logo is a key part of your branding and should be unique to your business. It should be simple, yet memorable, and should reflect the values of your business.


What are the most important parts of a logo and how do you design one?


The most important thing to remember when designing a logo is that it should be simple and easy to understand. The best logos are often the ones that are memorable and easy to recognize. Many times, less is more when it comes to logo design. Try to avoid using too many colors or intricate designs, as this can make your logo appear busy and difficult to understand.