How much time, effort, and money have you spent improving your art? Maybe you've taken workshops. You have a few art books. Maybe some DVDs. You may have even gone to some kind of art school. Or you might be self taught. Whatever the case, you've likely spent considerable time learning and practicing, trying to get better. If you are like most artists, you intend to continue perfecting your art until the day you die. Learning is an important part of art. You see it as an investment.
But what about your business and marketing skills?
How much time, effort, and money have you put into learning how to run your business and market your work?
If you are like most artists, you've done very little. If you are the exception, good for you.
But learning the business and marketing side of things is also an important part of your career in art. It, too, is an investment in yourself.
For the first several years of my career, I was like most. I did very little by way of learning the business. I would mostly wing it, which isn't very good business practice. [I did have some courses in college, which helped. But I didn't have any specific art business courses. I didn't have entrepreneurial courses. I had more general business and marketing classes.]
Eventually, I realized that I needed to invest time, effort, and even money into learning the business and marketing side of things.
For the past couple years, I have followed several blogs. I have read several books. Some have been specific to art business. Others have focused on entrepreneurship. Still others have been more general. And some have focused on finances, investing, etc. I have spent time learning how to grow my business and how to improve my marketing. I realize that there is still so much more to learn, and that this too is a lifelong endeavor.
If I want to grow my business and connect with more collectors, it is worth it to me to continue to spend time improving both my art and business/marketing. I am a small business owner. I am an entrepreneur. And I am an artist.
Regardless of where you are in your career, it is worth your time and effort to learn the business. Invest in yourself. Will you?
Best Wishes,
Keith Bond
