Entrepreneurship can grant you the flexibility that you need to balance your career and your personal life. If you’ve always had a creative streak, this could be the perfect time to launch a business centered around your art! Today, Greenville Center for Creative Arts shares some tips from Anya with Fitkids to help you formally establish your business, create a multi-purpose office, and assemble a stellar portfolio – all while preserving your work/life balance.

1. Legally Establish Your Business

Once you’ve created a business plan, determined your specific offerings, and opened a bank account and credit card for your company, you’ll be ready to tackle the business formation process. Registering your company as a particular entity will determine everything from your tax filing requirements to your personal liability.

It’s possible to file on your own, but you might benefit from working with an online formation service to free up time in your own schedule. A service like this will file all of your required paperwork with your state and send you the additional paperwork you need.

2. Develop Your Business Acumen

Improving your business savvy is a pivotal step towards advancing your creative career, and one of the most effective ways to achieve this is by completing the process of a Master’s of Business Administration (MBA) degree online. An online MBA program offers the flexibility to learn at your own pace, making it ideal for professionals who are balancing their careers with further education. It equips you with advanced skills in leadership, strategic thinking, and decision-making, all crucial for navigating the complex world of business. Additionally, an MBA broadens your understanding of core business principles such as finance, marketing, and operations management.

3. Curate Your Portfolio

Whether you’re a writer, photographer, or graphic designer, a strong portfolio will help you stand out amongst your competition. To assemble your portfolio, Creative Bloq recommends putting a collage with your finest work on your homepage, creating a unique “About” page, adding testimonials, and hosting about 20 pieces of work on your website so that you don’t overwhelm visitors.

4. Digital Marketing Strategies

Social media platforms serve as valuable marketing channels for creatives. To promote your work across social media, Art Business News recommends sharing the stories behind your pieces, scheduling live videos to connect with your audience, and consistently posting examples of your art.

It’s also important to make any digital content – from your website to your social media posts – include SEO (search engine optimization) strategies. If you’re not sure what that means then. This guide explains the basics of SEO and how to implement it in your digital marketing to organically grow your customer base. 

5. Physical Media Marketing

Marketing your creative work effectively often involves a blend of digital and physical strategies. One timeless approach is using business cards to get your name out there. In the digital age, the tangibility of a business card can make a lasting impression. By utilizing business cards templates, you can design a card that not only reflects your personal brand but also stands out in a sea of digital information. These templates offer a variety of designs and styles, ensuring that your business card aligns with your creative work’s aesthetic and message.

6. Join Online Groups

You can learn a lot from other creatives! By joining groups for creative business owners on social media platforms like Facebook and LinkedIn, you can network with people in your field, ask for advice, get referrals for new clients, and help out your fellow entrepreneurs.

7. Make Time for Self-Promotion

Running a business takes plenty of time, so you might be wondering how you can create room in your schedule for promotional activities. It’s important to include marketing tasks in your weekly schedule as an obligation. Designate a few tasks to take on each day, like creating two social media posts, commenting in three online groups, or responding to comments on social media. 

Grow a Successful Creative Business

Creating and promoting a creative business takes effort and dedication, but with proper planning, it can be an incredibly rewarding venture both financially and personally. With a little bit of creativity, hard work, and resilience, your creative business can thrive and make a difference in the world.

Established in 2015 by a dedicated group of artists, educators, and community leaders, Greenville Center for Creative Arts is the area’s only nonprofit community art center focused on providing high-quality visual arts instruction and engagement. Be on the lookout for our business toolkit series which covers many of the tips above and more in various workshops. Visit us online to learn more!

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