So you’re a creative type. Your trade is making things–visual art, products, paintings, websites, podcasts, designs, whatever the case. If you’re at all worried about paying bills, you’ve already wondered, “How can I make money from this?”
Let’s start with a benchmark truth: No matter how good your work is, you will not make money from it unless someone sees it. Start here.
If you’re at all like me, you’ve at some point believed that if you put in as much passion and time and effort into your work, it would “speak for itself.” This belief will make you blind to failure, and it will eventually make you frustrated, or worse: disappointed.
My art professor once told me a piece of advice that I will always give to others: “Good artists can sell themselves.”
In making most things, you’ll need funding. And if you want it to look and sound good, you will probably need more funding than you think. Smart budgeting is a good step, but you’ve ultimately got no chance of raising a budget unless you can build trust in others.
Proving Your Worth
You know the pain of proving yourself every time you’ve met a new person, gotten a new job, or applied for anything. It feels like an uphill battle, but here’s the good news: there are very basic, actionable steps you can take to prove your worth without meeting face-to-face with people! It’s a win for introverts and extroverts alike, so long as you put in the time.
Make a LinkedIn Account (Example)
If you’re a student, this one’s especially for you. Know how to present yourself professionally. It all starts with a basic resume and almost simultaneously a LinkedIn account. The best steps you can take to make this happen:
- Create the account, of course (this one’s the easiest; get the momentum going!).
- Add a profile picture. Strive for a pleasant, subtle look (bonus for smiles) at the camera and try to make it a good headshot (not much past the shoulders).
- Give a brief description with good verbs and adjectives as needed. Remember, simple is always best.
- Update your work experience. Keep the bullet points brief and action-driven. Ask yourself, “What did I do that made me important to the bigger picture?” Order your bullets with the most impressive and important things near the top.
- Add some Skills to your profile. Ask valuable references to Endorse your skills (and return the favor). The Skills section helps employers scan through your most valuable assets.
Here’s an afterthought: not all people who make things need a beefed-up LinkedIn. But the importance here is a lasting reputation. You won’t be there to talk face-to-face with everyone who wants to learn about you. So make your best impression through your online presence.
Make a Personal Website
When done thoroughly, this will eat up a lot of time. This is a wonderful opportunity to invest back into yourself. There are plenty of valuable online resources to get you started, but here are a few of my pieces of advice:
- Use WordPress if you can. It’s trickier than Squarespace or Wix, but it’s a great longer term choice. WordPress gives you loads of customization, and it’s cheaper than many alternatives. WordPress plugins also really maximize the end result. This website is made using WordPress, and you can get a very solid start after a couple hours of tutorials. I switched from Squarespace because their template options lacked enough customization.
- Keep the website navigation simple and informative. As with resumes, viewers will pass on anything that’s too difficult to understand. Make it easy to learn more about you.
- Include a downloadable resume link, probably on your homepage. Ease of access is essential.
- Put only the work that you’re proud of (and that best represents you) on display. When you’ve got few projects, it’s OK to include enough to fill some space. However, know that what you show others will give an impression of what you like to do and what you can do. So if your website only has dragon illustrations, they’re probably going to assume you only like to make dragons.
- Find good website references. When in doubt, see what other people have done. If you like a website, ask yourself why. More importantly, if you don’t like a website, understand why. Knowing what you do not like will help you endlessly.
- Make it easy to contact you. A Contact Me page will suffice. If you do your due diligence, your website will provide links to your social accounts and resumé (which should have contact info anyway).
- Ask for feedback! While the website is about you, it is not actually for you. If you want work, you need an audience. Make it for their eyes. You will get numb to the same edits and styling, so a fresh set of eyes from others will tell you what you need to hear.
Bridge Your Online Social Presence With Links
Make yourself accessible to others. Make it easy for people to find you without having to use a Google search.
There’s a great, free tool to get you on the right track, and it’s called LinkTree. On my Instagram, I provide a LinkTree link in my bio, and clicking it opens a list of links to my other resources (website, LinkedIn, YouTube, etc.). It saves the need to replace bio links, and it keeps things organized and neatly labeled. Remember, ease of access is #1 here.
Assume the Worst and Be Your Own Agent
A tough pill to swallow: no one is going to make it their mission to find you and fund your dreams. Having a LinkedIn, website, and social presence is only a start. Once you’ve got the “Online You” established, you’ve got to get it in front of people’s faces. I’m no expert on this part, but I have heard some consistent advice from successful freelancers, whose guidance is probably the most critical.
- Be prepared to cast 100 lines and only catch 1 fish. When looking for job opportunities, expect rejection and give your best effort.
- No one will give you money for your dream alone. However, your passion and enthusiasm help others to trust your abilities.
- Similarly, have a good attitude. When I’ve been sought out for film sets, the first thing they mention is that they “heard great things about how helpful and positive you are on set.” When candidate skills are matched, people will always prefer the more positive person.
- If you do not try, you will definitely fail. The concept of “good enough” is a heavy burden, but sometimes you just have to put yourself out there even when your work is not 100% up to your standards. Ideas don’t pay the bills; action does.
When in Doubt, Ask for Help
Ask for advice from trusted friends and family when you need a set of fresh eyes or some “you’ve got this” energy. Always show thanks–thank you letters, lunch, coffee, advice to help them, etc. Share the kindness, and you will never want to turn back.
And when in big doubt, know that you can always reach out to me. I’m still learning, but I’m happy to help. At the very least, everyone can use a friend. In the meantime, do the thing you want to do, and give yourself permission to be your best self! We’re all rooting for you!
