We all know how much of a stress reliever art can be. It helps artists free their emotions, distract from stressful thoughts, and it can also be restorative in so many ways one can imagine. Because of that, many use it as a channel to express themselves and to pass time too. But art isn’t merely a hobby or a stress reliever. It can also help you earn a living or even a significant amount of money. However, not many artists know how to start a business and keep it growing. Lucky for you, though, you’ve come to the right place. Starting a business isn’t easy, especially in the field of art. If you don’t know where to start, here are some steps on how you can set up your art business and make it successful.
Know Your Target Market
Just like in any business, knowing your target market even when you’re starting an art business is a must. This will help you better your works and learn the right approach for your target market. Once you know your target market well, it would be easier for you to strategize in marketing your works. You’ll know how you can approach them or sell your work without bombarding them with ads or information that might easily turn them off. Aside from that, you’ll also get a better view of their likes, dislikes, needs, and wants. This will help you create better pieces that they will surely patronize. Knowing your target market also helps you have an edge in the business world. Artists from
say this will help you get to know who your competitors are. With this, you’ll have an idea of their prices, their marketing approach, as well as their styles, and how their clients purchase from them.
Have a Business Plan and Review it
One of the common things that successful companies have is a business plan. And even if you’re just starting up in the business world, you’ll be needing it too as it plays a huge role in growing and developing your business regardless of what industry you’re in. For starters, a
is basically a written document that details your business’s objectives. It also contains the steps that you plan to do to achieve them. It’s like a blueprint or a roadmap for your business. For some entrepreneurs, this isn’t that important. But, believe it or not, it can be a great help as it will serve as your guide to reach your goals - both short-term and long-term. And when things start to go south, this will help you get back on track by reminding you of your plans and the steps that you need to do to reach your objectives. So, make sure to review it too.
Create Fans
For some businesses, it’s easy to start right away even without a solid following. However, it’s quite different when you’re starting an art business. For you to ensure that your art business will grow, you’ll need to have some fans first. This could be anyone who likes your work and/or willing to buy them eventually. They can also help you grow as an artist. However, it’s not easy to gain fans. What you can do, though, is to provide opportunities for them. This way, your works, and even your page will become more visible. You can do that by scoring an exhibition space at art fairs, be featured in other exhibits, run marketing seminars, or hold open studio days. You can also make yourself become more visible online. You can do that through posting images of your works on your social media accounts, updating your website with new content, and/or making use of marketing strategies, such as SEO. But, remember, not all of the fans you can gain will always be willing to buy your artworks. Some of them are merely admirers of your work, but their support will still make a huge difference in your business.
Make it Easy to Connect with You
Once you gain fans, make sure to make it easy for them to connect with you too. Like in other businesses, connecting with your consumers will help them feel more confident about your work. In addition to that, if they like your pieces, it would be easier for them to purchase from you. Thus, improving their customer experience too. To do that, you can keep your comment section open in your social media accounts. However, note that these platforms are just useful to showcase your works. But, they don't offer the same professional experience as much as websites. And if you have a website, you can add a page that will make it easier for users to contact you if they have concerns or if they want to buy from you. Chatbots will be helpful too, especially if you’re away and can’t attend to your clients’ needs right away.
Find a Location
Just like in other industries, your art business’s location matters too. This sets up the image for your business and helps you attract a larger customer base. That said, it’s not ideal to rent or buy a space for your art business merely because it suits your budget. While cost is one of the important
things to consider when choosing a location
for your business, you must consider the demographics in the area you’re eyeing too, so you can attract the right customers.
Prioritize Quality Over Quantity
Remember, art is what you’re selling. Thus, you always prioritize the
. You should put your best foot forward as you’re making every artwork because without quality pieces, you can’t expect people to like and buy your works. No matter what happens, make sure to be very clear about what you’re making, as well as who you’re making them for, even when you’re creating content online when building a fanbase. Starting an art business isn’t always easy as it’s not like other industries where you can always expect numerous frequent customers. But, if you know where and how you can start, growing it would be like a piece of cake.
