A cheeky guide to start selling your creative stuff with almost no cost up front.
So, you want to start a creative business but you’re broke? Join the club! The good news is, you don’t need a dragon’s hoard of gold to get started. Let’s dive into this guide like a kid into a ball pit, but with fewer germs and more laughs.
First, do you sell goods or services?
How to tell the difference:
Goods: If you can create it once and sell it again and again, like the Energizer Bunny of products (e.g., books, prints, on-demand items), it's a good.
Services: If you have to show up and do your thing, like a magician or a mime (e.g., teaching, coaching, designing), it's a service.
Now, let's talk gray areas.
Combination: If you’re selling goods but also throwing in delivery or customization, congratulations, you’ve made a combo meal! Extra fries, anyone?
Automated Services: If your service runs on autopilot, you might be in SaaS-land, where the only thing more confusing than the acronym is explaining it to your grandma.
Note: Customer Service is its own thing!
No matter what you sell, think of customer service as the gravy on your mashed potatoes. It’s not the main dish, but it sure makes everything better.
Choosing the Right Place to Sell Your Art
The internet is like a giant shopping mall with no parking issues. Here’s where to set up shop:
Ecommerce Platforms
Shopify
Etsy
Bandcamp
Soundcloud
Vimeo
Wix stores
Squarespace
Square Marketplace
It’s like playing Monopoly, but with real money. Hopefully.
Licensing Communities
Unsplash
Envato
iStock Photo
Shutterstock
Soundcloud
Think of these as your digital pawnshops where your art can be rented out like a classy escort.
Subscription Platforms
Vimeo
Patreon
Wix (paid subscription feature)
Stripe (recurring billing)
Because who wouldn’t want to be paid monthly to exist?
Teaching Platforms
Teachable
Skillshare
Tuts+
Because those who can, do. And those who can do and want extra cash, teach.
Crowdfunding
Indiegogo
Kickstarter
GoFundMe
Ko-fi
It’s like busking, but online. Spare change, anyone?
Building a Trustworthy Web Presence
To turn curious clickers into loyal buyers, you need a web presence that screams "I’m legit!"
Choose a Professional Name and Email
Avoid email addresses that suggest you’re stuck in the '90s (e.g., AOL, Yahoo, Hotmail). Nothing says "trust me" like a business email that isn’t from your mom’s account.
Building Trust
Keep it classy with your business name. No Scrubz2Cleanz unless your target market is people who also think LOL stands for Lots of Love.
Verify your accounts where possible. If a blue checkmark is good enough for celebrities, it’s good enough for you.
Deciding What to Sell
Pick something you can make or do repeatedly without losing your sanity. Remember, if you don’t enjoy it, neither will your customers.
Bundling and Discounts
Reward customers who buy in bulk. Think of it as the Costco effect.
Entice new customers with deals that are as hard to resist as a free sample at the grocery store.
Marketing and Audience Engagement
Marketing is like dating: you need to find your audience, engage with them, and hope they like you back.
Find Your Audience
Picture where your potential customers hang out. Online, that is. Stalking them IRL is generally frowned upon.
Join communities and be present. It’s like crashing a party—be cool, don’t hog the dip, and mention your project when the time is right.
Be Patient and Persistent
Building an audience takes time. It’s like growing a beard. You might look patchy at first, but keep at it, and soon enough, you’ll have a magnificent mane.
Conclusion
Selling your creative work requires knowing what you’ve got, choosing the right platforms, and building trust with your audience. Stay patient and persistent, and eventually, your creative business will be the talk of the town—or at least the internet.
Cheers,
AMV
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