Selling What You Make

The day I became willing to sell used cars was the day I realized that I could sell my music services. How many creative people will gladly take on jobs in retail and in selling other people's stuff instead of selling what they make? It's more common than you might think.

The business plan for a creative is simple but not easy - Make it. Show It. Sell it. For most of us, the making is the best part. It can be difficult but it was the reason we decided to go in this direction. We wanted to spend most of our time making the things we love to make.

For some of us, the showing and sharing of our work is not a bad experience. We find ways and places to show people what we've made and we may even generate some sales this way. With technology, there are now more ways than ever to give people an experience of what we do.

But selling, for many, is the sticking point. There's a self-consciousness that goes with selling our creations that stops us from acting and is our rationale for shooting ourselves in the foot.

Selling can be done in a way that leaves all parties feeling fulfilled and enriched by the transaction. Two suggestions I make:

Don't confuse your creative work with yourself. You're not selling yourself. You aren't for sale. You're selling something you've made.

People have their own reasons for buying art and your self-esteem isn't one of them. They are feeding their souls through your work and they want to pay you for that. Don't get in their way and don't discount what you've made.

I help people find marketing and selling strategies for their creative work that don't force them to compromise their values or use manipulative sales techniques. If this interests you, please get in touch.

#sellingart #creativebusiness #artisticsuccess