It's Thursday!
Today we're going to talk about finding your niche as a creative. It took me six years to find mine, and while there is no timeline for this, it's important for your business' survival and ultimately your sanity and happiness. It takes time, but there are ways to do some soul-searching and get you on your way.
There are five questions that you can ask yourself to help you figure out your destination as an "Artrepreneur:"
What are your creative talents?
Of course you know what you're good at. Think a little further, though. Let's say you are a painter, and that's your thing. You could also think about what kind of subject you are best at, whether it be people or animals. Can you draw? Can you sing? Can you write? Make a big list for yourself of everything you have some talent in. Identify all the skills that go hand-in-hand, make a mind map. This is to help you know what you're working with. For example, I am skilled in drawing and painting, and these talents can be utilized through graphic design as well as independently.
Of your talents, which are you best at and enjoy doing the most?
Naturally, being good at a lot of things is great and that means you're a well-rounded, modern renaissance man. However, you are human and you cannot do everything. Besides, you will quickly realize that some of your talents will "sell" better than others, and you want to be known for something that your audience will recognize you for (we will get to that more later).
For myself, I tried adding so many artistic branches to my business that I didn't have the time to focus on the ones I could really polish and sell. One of these branches was sculpture; it took away from my truly marketable skills: photography and design. Therefore, I identify sculpture as a hobby and photography and design as a profession.
I started my photography business doing weddings. I had a lot of fun and learned a lot, and one of the things I learned was that they weren't for me. I shifted my focus to boudoir and now that I have a full-time graphic design job, I am able to specialize in something that only supplements my income. I enjoy shooting boudoir, and by working with a subject I enjoy, It doesn't really feel like work at all.
Of these talents and skills, what do people need?
It's hard to make a living as a creative, but there are ways to market your skills. For example, are you a photographer? What do people need photographs of? What could you sell an everyday person? In this example, you could look at doing senior photos, wedding photography, take pictures of families. Perhaps you are a singer, well you could sing for a wedding band or sing jingles for startup companies. It's true, sometimes the marketable subject matter will not be your favorite, but you have to start somewhere. As you advance in your career, you can build a reputation and do more of what you love because you will have gained experience and built a business already.
Of the above needs, what will people pay big money for?
Back to the example of being a photographer: When I started, I knew people were always getting married and will spend thousands of dollars on this special moment in their life. Even though I don't shoot them anymore, if my situation changed I know I could start taking on weddings again because that industry is infinite and booming. No matter what your creative medium, it is great to identify what will put bread on your table.
How can you use your creativity to make yourself stand out from your competition?
When I started my own business, I entered an oversaturated photography market. Anyone could "set up shop" on Facebook, advertise on Craigslist, and take business away from seasoned professionals because the price was right. At the end of the day, you get what you pay for, and I had to find a way to create a demand for my images.
When it came to marketing my boudoir photography, I wanted to stay away from the Beverly Hills Penthouse appeal and make it lighthearted and fun. Sure, if a client wants to do something a bit more glamorous, that's great...but I decided to create an experience and a business that helps women laugh, smile, and feel good about themselves. I knew I could bring that to the table on top of quality images so I'm running with that.
Finally, you also need to understand there is a lot of trial and error with finding your niche. You may think you're best at one thing, but after doing it realize you dislike it. Perhaps there is a niche out there that you've never considered and have yet to discover. My advice? Try it all, learn from it, find your path. I still laugh at 18-year-old me signing up to do Musical Theatre in college. I loved it, but it wasn't a good career for me. I had never taken a photography class until I decided to try it, and ended up majoring in it. Give yourself time, explore your options, and keep asking yourself the above questions. This is just the beginning to your success. Who knows? Perhaps I have something yet to discover.
xx emily
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