How to brand your business as an artist (without selling out!)
Making money from something you love, creating art and supporting your dreams... isn’t that what we all want?
Mixing business with your own creativity and passion; sounds like a dream, right?
Well it can be your reality.
IF you are able to find a way to brand your business without selling out as an artist.
So here we go! Some tips and tricks to make sure you are expressing your creativity, being your authentic self and also paying the bills!
It’s all about personal branding!
Most of the brands we know and love when we walk into a store are not only recognizable, they are desirable. So what makes a brand desirable? People often do not relate (or trust) large businesses or corporations and their soulless marketing tactics... but they do connect with people. They want to see a face and personality connected with a brand. This provides a personal touch, an authentic element.
It’s no longer just about what a business creates or produces, it is also about who they are.
This is especially true when it comes to artists; people want to know the creator behind the work.
Now, that doesn’t mean you need to spill all your dark and dirty secrets. There are simple ways to make your brand more personal and unique through your visuals. Add in elements of YOU like your signature, a simple heart you always draw or other elements that make your brand even more personal. Not only will personal touches like this resonate on a deeper level with your audience, but they will also ensure that no one else’s content looks like yours – easily setting you apart from your competitors.
Call in reinforcements
Remember, branding is not about making up some new or interesting story. It’s about telling your story! But it’s a lot easier said than done. Seeing your brand objectively is not always easy, which is why working with a professional graphic designer can be so incredibly helpful.
Not only can a graphic designer wave a magic Adobe wand and turn your story and personality into visuals, but a good one also injects the value and beauty your story is!
That’s the real wizardry behind branding!
Celebrate your artistic strengths
What are your most distinguishable traits that make you stand out as an artist? Which of these traits most clearly embody you or your brand?
Focus on the marketable traits
You don’t want to give your customers TOO much information because they will get bogged down and end up remembering nothing distinguishable about your brand.
So, stick to the important stuff. Start brainstorming what you really want to be ‘known for’. Is it your photography skills, painting abilities, or your sculptures that you want to be your main focus?
Build a narrative
A story sells. People are drawn by more than just the product. It’s the essence of the product, what you stand for as an artist, and the purpose for your creation.
Rather than being separate from the creative process, this can be very much a part of it. Understanding the intention of your work and designing a brand that embodies this purpose and fully represents YOU.
Where to start:
1) Name your business
Unsure where to start with this? Check out my blog post on how to finally choose the perfect name for your business. Remember, your business name is the first impression people will get. Make sure it’s clear what you do/what is important to your company.
2) Create a moodboard
A moodboard can help you visually see the personality of your brand in real life and inspire you as you build your narrative! You might be asking, “But what IS a moodboard anyway?”
A moodboard is the visual roadmap for your brand. It provides the tone, style and overall feel you want to convey through your messaging and visuals. When done correctly, it becomes an essential tool for keeping your marketing efforts consistent and recognizable to your audience. Think of it as an inspiring post-it note that will remind you of your vision every time you see it!!
How to make one: Choose a few stand-out traits you want to portray to your audience (quirky, lover of disney, vulnerable, and fun!) then create a visual moodboard that showcases how these traits will look & feel when working together to build your unique brand style.
3) Build a brand & stick to it!
Choose a font, logo, and color palette you will repeatedly use to build your brand. Also, remember, BE CONSISTENT! Use visuals that best represents you and stick with it. People love repetition and recognition.
Your brand is very much your personality shining through your business. People want to feel like they are getting to know you and sharing your personal interests is a great way to get that across.
Social media presence
Even though you are busy creating, and inspiring, having a social media presence is still important. This can seem like a drag when you want your focus to be on your one-of-a-kind creations.
creating should remain your main focus.
You don’t need to spend hours each day, posting or working on your social. Instead, find the platform that best portrays your art and put more energy in that platform. Instead of producing a bunch of meaningless posts, build a social media that embodies YOUR personality, and what your art stands for.
The visuals you post on your social media matter. You want to showcase your custom artwork, but don’t have strong graphics or designs that effectively embody your work or your brand? This can be incredibly frustrating.
Hiring a graphic designer can help bring your vision into a reality! Creating a cohesive social media presence with visuals and graphics that make sense for your brand can get more eyes on your creations, sell more of your artwork, and allow you to establish yourself as a professional artist.
Build your brand without selling out!
I’m here to help you brand your passion in a way that feels good to you and will support the life you want!
