Running an online business as a creative is challenging enough without the added pressure of operating within a niche market and competing with businesses that are more established, have more financial resources available, and have a wider reach. Despite the challenges you may face, running your own creative business can be done successfully. Here, New York City artist Hillel Selznick shares 5 amazing tips on how to run your online business successfully as a creative:
Be Proactive
In order to run a successful online business as a creative, you must be proactive. Establishing a strategic plan for your business and understanding your strengths and weaknesses is essential to success. It is also important to know what your next steps are and what steps you will take next.
As a business owner, you must be aware of your competition, their strengths and weaknesses, and what steps you can take to keep your clients and grow your business. It’s also important to have a plan on how you will promote your business. You can’t expect customers to come to you. You have to go to them. If you are proactive in your business, you will also be able to stay organized, avoid burnout and achieve your business goals. By being proactive, you will also stay organized and not get behind or behind on tasks. You will also avoid getting burned out and stressed because you are too busy and overwhelmed.
Network
An important part of running a creative business is building relationships. You can’t expect to be successful in a certain market if you don’t know how to build relationships. Whether it’s through networking at events or finding groups of creative entrepreneurs online, building relationships is essential to running your creative business. As Hillel Selznick explains, while networking is not only an important aspect of business for creative individuals, it is especially important for those who operate online. You can’t expect to make a sale if you don’t meet your customer in person. This means networking online as well as meeting people in person. Networking online allows you to connect with other entrepreneurs in your industry and grow your business even further by securing new clients and getting referrals.
Be a Confident Negotiator
If you are feeling shy and anxious when you meet a potential client in person, you will likely be intimidated in negotiations. It is essential to be confident in negotiations when you meet clients in person. You must be confident that you have the experience and expertise required to complete the project and deliver outstanding work. Be flexible with your price and always be willing to negotiate. This shows that you are confident in your abilities and your pricing.
Always be learning
Be curious and always be learning. You never know what new resources, tools, or techniques may come along that will help you and your business. According to abstract painter Hillel Selznick, learning new things is essential to succeeding in any business. Whether it’s through reading books, attending workshops, or taking courses, learning new things is important to staying successful and growing your business. New resources and techniques are available every day. It is important to stay on top of new trends in your industry and be aware of what is going on in your market to stay ahead of your competition.
Show, Don’t Tell
While it is important to be proactive and build relationships with your clients, it is also important to be transparent and honest with them. This will create trust and rapport with your clients and help you build a strong relationship with them. Showing your clients that you care about their business and delivering high-quality work is much more effective than telling your clients that you care about their business. When you show your clients that you care, they will be much more likely to refer them to other clients and recommend your business to others.
Conclusion
Running a creative business can be challenging and difficult, but it is possible with the right mindset, strategic plan, and a little luck. It’s important to be proactive and confident when negotiating with clients. You also have to network with other entrepreneurs in your field and build relationships by being a confident negotiator. Hopefully, these tips offered by Hillel Selznick will help you run your creative business successfully.