How to Get Your Bad-Ass Work Out Into the World
When you have a creative mind, the world needs to see what’s swirling around in your brain. As a musician, artist, designer, or even home crafter, you deserve to make a living doing what you love. Today, inThrill will take a quick look at how to get your work out of your head and into the arms of consumers.
It Starts with the Web, Duh!
Listen, we’re smack in the middle of a digital age that doesn’t seem to be going anywhere anytime soon. When you are a goal-getter that wants to get your music heard and your art seen and appreciated, you have to have a website. You know what else you need? That’s right, a social media presence. A quick rule of thumb here: focus on engagement instead of follower count. This is advice that some of the most prolific social media artists have shared on the Artsy website.
Make Damn Sure You Stand Out
It doesn’t matter how unique or intense your art form is, if you don’t know how to make it stand out, no one will see it. You do this by building a brand. This begins by understanding your purpose. Identify your target consumer and why they might like what you’ve got over everybody else’s. Your brand should also have a purpose and personality.
Yeah, You Kind of Need a Business Structure
Okay, let’s talk some professional priorities right now. You need an LLC. This is a type of business structure that the stuffy people up at the IRS regulate, but an LLC has many advantages. You can save a few bucks and use an online formation service to make yourself super official. You may even save a few dollars come tax time, but you will need to Google your heart out to make sure that your LLC is formed according to your state rules.
Once you have your business started, it’s time to advertise! In your case, it’s a great idea to put together a digital portfolio containing samples of your work (including videos or audio clips). Using a PDF format is a great way to accommodate these different file types, and if you want to combine multiple PDFs, go here to access a handy free merging tool.
Wear Your Art
We’re not BSing you when we say that your art deserves to be seen. Sometimes, that means simply wearing it yourself or, even better, working with a local T-shirt shop to create a wearable work of art that you can sport around town or sell for profit. Make sure that you are using materials that people will actually want to wear because your creativity deserves fresh air, not the corner of the closet.
Speak Your Brand
Your brand is more than just your logo. Unfortunately, if you are super artsy, you may be an introvert. This can make it harder to speak up when someone’s looking for exactly what you have to offer. But you are a badass, and your voice should be heard just as your brand and art should be seen. Perfect your elevator pitch, which The Interview Guys explains is basically a 30-second commercial you keep on the tip of your tongue at all times. Oh, and did we mention it’s a commercial about yourself?
Spend Eight Weeks Learning How to Be Your Own Webmaster
Yeah, sure, you can hire Storm and pay her a ton of money to create your website (and, really, if you hate technology, that is your best bet). But, if you’re comfortable learning about everything from brand strategy to web design, development, and search engines, you can spend about five hours a week every day for two months, you can learn how to do the work yourself and save.
Watch the Money Come Rolling In
Okay, sorry, we have to circle back to those pesky business practices. You are going to have to open up a business bank account, especially if you’ve already formed an LLC. The last thing you want is for your business and professional funds to mix and swirl together, which kind of defeats the purpose of the autonomy (and reduced liability) of an LLC. You can use your local bank account or an online option, which might be a smart choice if you plan to only accept online payments.
We can’t all make the internet bend to our will. Just kidding – with the right training, it’s totally possible. As a musician or artist, don’t be shy about getting your brand out into the world. Yeah, you have to do the boring stuff, like form an LLC and open a bank account, but the humdrum is worth the hoopla the minute those checks start rolling in.
From music to sports, style, and more, inThrill has you covered! Questions? We’d love to hear from you!
About the Author:
Sally Hook is the creator of freelancingresource.com. She has been a digital nomad for almost 10 years. She enjoys the freedom and flexibility that comes with the digital nomad lifestyle. It has allowed her to do many things that she wouldn’t have otherwise been able to do, like travel the world and start her own business. She started freelancingresource.com as a way to educate and help others who are interested in working remotely. She hopes that through providing resources and information, more people will be able to take advantage of the opportunities that come with freelancing and remote work.