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For many creatives, the primary goal is to make their hobby into a career. The pathway to discovery can seem challenging, but there are some simple ways you can increase the chances of getting discovered and having your business take off. Smart Choice Domains encourages you to try out some of these six ideas to get started.
1. Start a YouTube Channel
YouTube is one of the most popular websites around. Hootsuite statistics show that over a billion unique visitors access the website monthly and over half of them use YouTube daily. This makes it a prime first stop for showcasing your talents. Don’t just hope for the best, though. Make your videos more likely to be seen by using relevant keywords, branding, and YouTube cards.
2. Create a Website
Even if you haven’t started an official business yet, having a website establishes credibility and professionalism. It’s also an easy way to attract attention if you use blog posts. Blogging allows you to implement search engine optimization, which uses keywords to put you higher up on a list of search engine results. Post engaging, informative content on a regular basis to get more eyes on your website.
3. Get Active on Social Media with a Focus on Content Marketing
Social media is one of the easiest ways you can interact with people and have your creativity shared. Some of the best social media sites for creatives include Discord, TikTok, Instagram, and Patreon, but there are some newer apps that are popular in the artist community. Use social media not just to share your work but to network. Networking is a must if you’re trying to get seen. Based on the seven degrees of separation, you never know who knows who.
You likely will have several social media accounts to keep up with, so it can help to create personalized banners for any platform to visually tie your accounts together. An online tool can make it a simple process: just choose a template to start with, then customize it to your preferences, and then download it once you’ve created a design you like. Your accounts will be easier for your followers to recognize after you upload your new banner.
Much of your online branding efforts, from social media posts to initiating an SEO strategy for your website, is what content marketing is all about. Here, content is king when it comes to branding and growing your business. As a specialized area of advertising, content marketing should be a key element in your overall marketing strategy, so research the concept to ensure you're effectively using it. Turn to online resources like Cornerstone Content to help you learn what you need to know.
4. Hire Help
At some point as a creative, you’ll need to treat your work like a business, but your experience may not leave you feeling ready to start a new company by yourself. Fortunately, a formation service can help walk you through all the major steps you’ll need to take to establish your own business. They can also help you file the necessary paperwork to get you set up and ready to market yourself.
You don’t have to do all the work yourself. You can hire influencers to promote your art to a much larger audience than you have access to. Smart Insights notes that most marketers find the use of influencers to be an effective marketing strategy, but it’s all about hiring the right person for the job. Unfortunately, hiring isn’t always simple, but the right influencer will be someone who believes in you and will work well with you.
5. Attend Live Events
Not all marketing has to be digital. You can perform at coffeehouses, attend farmer’s and craft markets, or sign up for competitions to gain exposure. When you're at these events, having a business card can make a world of difference. This way, people will remember your name and be able to contact you about your work. Use both sides of your card to show off your personality and design it with simplicity in mind.
6. Collaborate
Once you have a website and a social media presence, take the initiative and reach out to brands or other artists that you’d like to work with. Bigger artists can make you more visible with one successful collaboration. Creative collaboration can be tricky because it’s often personal, but constant communication, transparency, and openness can make the process go swimmingly.
If you prefer to collaborate in person, it can be helpful to have a dedicated workspace at home. If you don’t have one at present, you may want to consider converting an unused room to that purpose. Keep in mind that any upgrades you do to your home can positively affect its value. Be sure to take before and after photos and keep receipts and records of the upgrade work that’s done. You don't have to keep your hobby to yourself. Sometimes, all it takes is finding the right person who can help your creative career take off. Use the above tips – including creating an effective website, optimizing content marketing, attending live events, and collaborating – to get more eyes on your work and increase the chances of you getting discovered.
