Strategies for Selling Yourself as a Creative Professional

Are you a creative professional looking for ways to promote yourself and your work? Do you want to build a sustainable career in the creative industry? If so, then this blog post is for you!

We’re going to look at some strategies for selling yourself as a creative professional. These strategies will help you get noticed, build your brand, and develop a sustainable career in the creative industry.

Develop a Unique Selling Proposition
The first step in selling yourself as a creative professional is to develop a unique selling proposition. This is a statement that clearly defines what makes you and your work unique. It should include the qualities that make you stand out from the competition and show potential customers what they can expect from you.

Your unique selling proposition should be simple and easy to understand. It should also be memorable and make an impact on potential customers. It should be something that you can use in all your promotional materials, such as your website, social media profiles, and business cards. It should be something that truly speaks to who you are and what you offer, and it should be something that can be easily remembered and communicated.

To create a strong unique selling proposition, you should think about what makes you different from other creative professionals in your field. What sets you apart? What do you offer that no one else does? What are your core values and what do you want potential customers to know about you? Once you’ve identified these qualities, you can create a statement that communicates them.

Create a Professional Brand
The next step is to create a professional brand. This is a visual representation of your unique selling proposition. It should include a logo, tagline, and other elements that help to communicate your message.

Your brand should be consistent and recognisable. It should be something that potential customers can easily identify. It should also reflect the values and qualities that make you and your work unique. You should make sure that your brand is cohesive and that all of the elements work together to create a unified message.

Your brand should also be memorable. It should be something that potential customers can easily recall when they think of you and your work. You should also make sure that your brand is versatile and can be used across different mediums, such as your website, social media profiles, business cards, and promotional materials.

Utilise Social Media
Social media is a great way to promote yourself and your work. It’s an effective way to reach potential customers and build relationships.

When using social media, make sure to post content that is relevant to your unique selling proposition. Share content that is interesting and engaging. Post regularly and respond to comments and messages. Make sure to use hashtags and other keywords to make your content more easily discoverable.

You should also make sure to interact with other creatives in your field. Follow and engage with other creatives and be active in conversations. This will help to build relationships and increase your visibility.

Network with Other Creatives
Networking is an important part of any creative professional’s career. It’s a great way to meet potential customers and collaborate with other creatives.

Attend events, join groups, and connect with other creatives. Make sure to introduce yourself and your work. Offer to help out and be open to collaboration. Make sure to follow up with people you meet and stay in touch.

You should also consider joining professional organisations in your field. These organisations can provide valuable resources and help you to build relationships with other creatives.

Build Your Portfolio
Your portfolio is a great way to showcase your work and demonstrate your skills. It should include samples of your work and any awards or accolades you’ve received.

Make sure to keep your portfolio up to date and include only your best work. Showcase your unique selling proposition and highlight the qualities that make you stand out from the competition. Make sure to include a variety of different projects and samples that showcase your skills and talents.

Your portfolio should also be easily accessible. Make sure to include a link to your portfolio on your website, social media profiles, and business cards.

Follow Up
Finally, make sure to follow up with potential customers. Send them a thank you note or follow up email. This shows that you’re professional and interested in working with them. Make sure to follow up in a timely manner and be sure to include any relevant information.

These are just a few strategies for selling yourself as a creative professional. If you’re looking for more tips and advice, check out the workshop "Building A Sustainable Career As A Multidisciplinary Artist" by Rosa van Iterson. You can also read books and articles about marketing yourself as a creative professional and attend workshops and seminars on the topic.

By taking the time to develop a unique selling proposition, create a professional brand, utilise social media, network with other creatives, build your portfolio, and follow up with potential customers, you’ll be well on your way to building a successful and sustainable career in the creative industry.