April 18, 2025 • 15 mins
Have you ever felt uncomfortable promoting your creative work? That internal resistance to "shouting from the rooftops" is something nearly every artist faces. Today, I'm diving into why self-promotion isn't selfish—it's necessary.
As creatives running small businesses, we wear countless hats. The marketing hat often feels most awkward, but it's essential for connecting your work with the people who need it. I share my own journey of promoting my studio through everything from $5 social media boosts to local billboards, while emphasizing that authenticity trumps perfection every time. Your unique creative voice—the way you draw a line, mix colors, or approach your craft—deserves to be seen and celebrated.
The community you build around your work becomes your most powerful marketing engine. When someone experiences what you offer and tells a friend, that connection sparks a chain reaction that no paid advertisement can match. I've witnessed this firsthand as my studio has grown, with visitors often mentioning they followed me online or heard about my space from someone else. These connections fuel my transition from healthcare professional to full-time studio owner, allowing me to fully invest in my creative community.
Remember that sharing your work isn't about ego—it's about inspiration. Your creative journey might be exactly what someone else needs to see to begin their own. Whether you're creating to sell or simply for personal fulfillment, your authentic voice matters. What creative passion are you ready to share with the world?
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Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:06):
Hello, hello, happy Friday, happy Good Friday.
It is a beautiful day out today, at least here in my little
neck of the woods of Ohio, andjust wanted to come on and talk
about a little bit of what I'vebeen doing to raise awareness of
the studio and the space and alittle bit about self-promotion.
(00:30):
I feel like we, as artists,wear many hats when we are a
small business and sometimesit's really hard to shout it
from the rooftops abouteverything that we do without it
feeling like we're like look atme, look at me.
That's not really one way youshould look at it.
(00:51):
It's a way of promoting whatyou're doing, inspiring others,
and it's absolutely necessary.
So I just think that it'simportant to give yourself a
little bit of freedom to do that, permission to do that, and if
that's something you need fromsomeone, I am here to give you
that permission.
I want to know what you'redoing and no one is going to
(01:13):
tell me I do, let alone thebusiness itself and the location
and really everybody that isbeing represented in the studio.
So when I have an exhibit andthe artist is showcasing their
(01:38):
work, I want it to make it worth, their worthwhile.
I want it to sell for them.
I'm hoping that at a showsomething is sold from everybody
that's exhibiting the newexhibit coming up next month.
That will be our firstphotographer.
I'm really excited to introduceyou to him next month.
Hopefully, he'll make anepisode of the podcast.
(01:59):
I hope that it is somethingthat the people in the community
love to come by and take a lookat and check that out.
I don't believe he wants toteach, which is absolutely an
option.
It's just something I offerbecause I think that it's kind
of exciting to see how manypeople want to learn what you do
, and we've had great successwith a lot of the exhibitors
(02:23):
teaching and I think almost 100%taught for the first time in my
studio if they exhibited.
We've had a couple that didn'tteach and that's totally fine
too.
Again, that's an option, butI'm really excited to have a
photographer coming up.
So I want to find layers andways to promote them, as well as
(02:47):
the space itself and the thingsthat I do.
I think that it's just reallyimportant.
So when you think about like,how do I self promote, how do
you present what you do ininteresting ways, it's really
important really to start fromthe beginning.
You know, how did you get intoyour art?
What inspired you?
What made you want to start?
(03:08):
When did you start?
Was there something thatsparked the interest?
Or do you have this series ofdrawings and sketches from when
you were a child to showcase?
This is where I started andthis is where I am, is where I
started and this is where I am.
There's always, always, a reasonthat someone creates is either
(03:30):
through necessity or inspiration.
For me, it's like breathing.
I have to create somethingevery day.
It's just part of me.
That's what makes me who I am.
I've always been a creative andI love it.
I absolutely love the challengeof it.
I love learning creativity andI will never, ever stop
(03:51):
exploring.
And so another part I thinkthat's important to be willing
to explore and showcase and talkabout when you're
self-promoting is your style andyou know what sets you apart
from everybody else.
Everybody may know how to draw,but they're not drawing like
you.
Their line, their straight line, will not be the same straight
(04:14):
line as the next person.
You think that a straight lineis a straight line?
It really is not.
There is a style and a voice towhat you do, and it's so
intriguing and interesting foryou to share that and maybe show
where you started and whereyou're at now and did something
influence that.
How did it evolve to where youare now?
(04:35):
And then do you stay authenticto one style or do you like to
evolve, maybe every year?
Or you throw in a color, maybeyou have a certain color palette
that you use all the time andthen you toss in a new color
once in a while.
Talk about that.
That's so interesting and Ijust find it fascinating to hear
people share that.
(04:57):
Show up, show up with yourself,be consistent, share something
on some sort of cadence that youselect, then keep it going.
If you can't keep up with it,it's okay, you don't have to
like, come on and apologize forit.
I tend to do that quite a bit,especially with the podcast and
(05:18):
some other things too,especially with the new studio.
But you know, don't feel likeyou're at an airport and you
have to announce every littlething.
It's totally okay.
But just share, be authenticand share the good, the bad, the
imperfections.
It makes you human andeverybody can relate to that and
(05:39):
that's so, so important.
And I would rather be authenticthan try to have everything
edited over and, over and overagain and then it's not
relatable.
So keep that in mind.
And then if you want to put somemoney or monetize some of the
(05:59):
things that you're doing behindyour self-promotion, you know
you can do it in ways that feelapproachable and real and
authentic.
I do run ads for my classes,especially when I have a teacher
outside of my studio going toteach a class, and I'm not
talking hundreds of dollars, Idon't have any kind of budget
(06:19):
like that at all, but I'mtelling you like five bucks, 10
bucks behind a class promotion.
But I'm telling you like fivebucks, 10 bucks behind a class
promotion, especially on socialmedia, goes a very long way and
there's no way that someone canfind me right now other than on
social media.
Or if they do Google search,because one of the first things
that I did was secure my profileon Google and then, you know,
(06:41):
update that all the time.
If I am closing, I update myhours.
If I have a Q&A that someonehas asked me over and over in
the studio, I make that a Q&A onGoogle.
I want to own as muchinformation that I can control
on that platform because it is asearch engine and so sharing
(07:01):
that helps market yourself.
And then I also have beenexploring, doing commercials and
maybe some billboards, and Imean like really inexpensive,
like the electronic ones thatyou may be up for like five
seconds just to see.
Will someone see it?
Is it going to be effective?
What can I do to promote this?
(07:23):
So just exploring with maybe$50, $100.
I just I don't have a hugebudget but I'm trying to see
what will stick.
So do it in ways that reallyrepresent you and make it fun
and catchy and connect with thepeople in your community.
(07:43):
That's huge.
Their word of mouth is going tobe your best marketing.
Having somebody tell a friendhave you gone here?
Have you seen this?
Do you collect this?
Have you experienced that?
And then that person visits andtells the next person I'm
telling you it's amazing.
And even if it's an onlinecommunity person, I'm telling
(08:07):
you it's amazing.
And even if it's an onlinecommunity, that I mean look at
Reddit, look at how people sharea cute little five 10 second
video and it's inspiring orfunny and like I, like this, I
connected with this.
That's huge.
And then you're building acommunity really around yourself
and I am finding that out thelonger that I own my studio.
When people come in, I followyou on Facebook, or I follow you
(08:31):
in doing this, or I've seen youdo that, or I was at this event
and I still, to this day.
I'm blown away, like I can'tbelieve that that connection is
there, this little communitythat is evolving from people
that want to have a moment to becreative or mindful, or create
a memory with friends or try anew thing that maybe I have the
(08:52):
supplies for.
I absolutely love it and itinspires me.
Okay, I want to try this, Iwant to get materials to do that
, and that is what I'm buildingmy life surrounding that kind of
energy.
So, turning my passion intowhat my livelihood will be,
that's my goal.
That's why I am retiring frommy full-time healthcare job.
(09:16):
That is why I'm staying at mystudio full-time.
At my studio, full time, Ireally am investing myself into
my work, my art, my community,and I have like 110% involved
(09:38):
and invested in this.
I can't even explain it and I'mtrying to be as diversified as
possible.
You know, sharing by teaching,selling things that I make,
helping people create, and I tryto give back.
I try to donate time, donateart, really just the whole gamut
, and so finding that nicebalance is important, but it is
(09:59):
also a way to promote what youdo and promote yourself, and
that's okay.
And I don't get every job thatI have applied for.
When it comes to submittingcommissions or requests to do
art, I don't get selected foreverything and that's okay.
I'll learn.
Okay, maybe I need to be morecreative or do something in a
(10:20):
different way, or maybe my pricewasn't in the right you know
vein that they needed and that'sa lesson learned.
And it's okay if someone tellsyou, no, it's not the end of the
world, you just need to learnfrom it.
Make it a lesson and that'swhat is most important.
And then, really, as an artist,you know what do you want your
(10:42):
work to represent?
What do you want it to do forothers?
Maybe you just want it to beseen and maybe you don't want to
sell it.
There's a lot of artists outthere who don't want to monetize
their art.
They just want to create it.
Maybe they don't even want toshow it, they just want to enjoy
it for themselves, and that isabsolutely fine.
You're not forced to show yourwork.
(11:03):
You're not forced to share yourwork.
Just create, just find thespace to just make something.
Do something writing, drawing,it could be, you know, uh,
creating poetry.
It could be creating songs.
It could be practicing amusical instrument.
It doesn't have to be, you know, traditional paint or pastels
(11:24):
or pencil or charcoal there's,so you know.
It could be cooking.
You could be a creativebusiness person.
Try something.
Try something that's going tolight you up and make you happy,
and I think that promoting thatlove, just sharing that you're
doing something, that's whatcounts, that's what's most
(11:45):
important, keeping in mind thatpeople really are here to
inspire one another.
You don't know what that energyis going to do for someone else
.
It could be a catalyst forsomeone to try something on
their own when they see that'show you have done it, if you're
willing to share it, and it canbe in a group setting where it's
(12:08):
one-on-one, you know peoplearound you doesn't have to be
online.
If you've shared it online,just talk about what you love to
do and be authentic about itand don't be afraid.
Don't be afraid to share whatmakes you unique and what you
love to do.
I'm telling you there'ssomebody else out there that is
(12:28):
going to connect with that, andit's going to be wonderful to
finally find someone else thathas this passion that you do
about the things that you love,I absolutely guarantee it will
just give you such energy tofind that connection with others
.
It does for me, and so ifyou're kind of lost in wanting
(12:51):
to explore what there is outthere to do creatively and it's
something that maybe I have atool or materials for and you
want to try it, you know you cancontact me or stop by my studio
and I will set you up in a wayto explore that, try it out.
Anything I really, you know,have found out this week we had
(13:15):
our first sewing classes and Igot to help a lot of people.
So either for the first time ortry their machines for the
first time, or someone had youknow there, there's a lot of
machines out there right nowthat are really inexpensive and
they're almost like a toy level,and so it was really
frustrating for them becauseneedles were bending or the
(13:38):
thread was breaking or they wereso lightweight like you
couldn't even put two pieces ofcotton through it without it
getting jammed up, and so once Iput them on a different machine
that was a little heavier dutyand that it was more like a real
sewing machine, you could seehow excited they were that this
was actually working and Ireally maybe could sew and I
(14:00):
could do this.
And you know you have to havethe exploration of some of the
right tools in front of you tofeel a little bit of
satisfaction and lessfrustration.
So it's okay if you can't, youknow, invest in something.
Find a place that has theoffers to borrow or try out
(14:23):
something.
So you know that, oh, I maylike this.
Try your local libraries too.
I know you can reserve a sewingmachine or materials to try new
things.
That's a great resource andthey're free.
Just sign up for your librarycard.
So I just wanted to hop on andtalk about that and
self-promotion.
And if you happen to see any ofmy ads or any of my billboards
(14:48):
or any of my commercials locallyhere in the Stark County area,
I would love for you to let meknow, because they are out there
in the world for a little bitto see if they are measurable
and are doing what they'resupposed to do.
But have a wonderful Easter anda beautiful weekend and thanks
for following along.
I appreciate the support and Ican't wait to come back here
(15:12):
next time and talk to you aboutmore art inspiration.
So have a wonderful weekend, besafe, take care, and I will
talk to you about more artinspiration.
So have a wonderful weekend.
No-transcript.
Hello, hello, happy Friday, happy Good Friday.
It is a beautiful day out today, at least here in my little
neck of the woods of Ohio, andjust wanted to come on and talk
about a little bit of what I'vebeen doing to raise awareness of
the studio and the space and alittle bit about self-promotion.
(00:30):
I feel like we, as artists,wear many hats when we are a
small business and sometimesit's really hard to shout it
from the rooftops abouteverything that we do without it
feeling like we're like look atme, look at me.
That's not really one way youshould look at it.
(00:51):
It's a way of promoting whatyou're doing, inspiring others,
and it's absolutely necessary.
So I just think that it'simportant to give yourself a
little bit of freedom to do that, permission to do that, and if
that's something you need fromsomeone, I am here to give you
that permission.
I want to know what you'redoing and no one is going to
(01:13):
tell me I do, let alone thebusiness itself and the location
and really everybody that isbeing represented in the studio.
So when I have an exhibit andthe artist is showcasing their
(01:38):
work, I want it to make it worth, their worthwhile.
I want it to sell for them.
I'm hoping that at a showsomething is sold from everybody
that's exhibiting the newexhibit coming up next month.
That will be our firstphotographer.
I'm really excited to introduceyou to him next month.
Hopefully, he'll make anepisode of the podcast.
(01:59):
I hope that it is somethingthat the people in the community
love to come by and take a lookat and check that out.
I don't believe he wants toteach, which is absolutely an
option.
It's just something I offerbecause I think that it's kind
of exciting to see how manypeople want to learn what you do
, and we've had great successwith a lot of the exhibitors
(02:23):
teaching and I think almost 100%taught for the first time in my
studio if they exhibited.
We've had a couple that didn'tteach and that's totally fine
too.
Again, that's an option, butI'm really excited to have a
photographer coming up.
So I want to find layers andways to promote them, as well as
(02:47):
the space itself and the thingsthat I do.
I think that it's just reallyimportant.
So when you think about like,how do I self promote, how do
you present what you do ininteresting ways, it's really
important really to start fromthe beginning.
You know, how did you get intoyour art?
What inspired you?
What made you want to start?
(03:08):
When did you start?
Was there something thatsparked the interest?
Or do you have this series ofdrawings and sketches from when
you were a child to showcase?
This is where I started andthis is where I am, is where I
started and this is where I am.
There's always, always, a reasonthat someone creates is either
(03:30):
through necessity or inspiration.
For me, it's like breathing.
I have to create somethingevery day.
It's just part of me.
That's what makes me who I am.
I've always been a creative andI love it.
I absolutely love the challengeof it.
I love learning creativity andI will never, ever stop
(03:51):
exploring.
And so another part I thinkthat's important to be willing
to explore and showcase and talkabout when you're
self-promoting is your style andyou know what sets you apart
from everybody else.
Everybody may know how to draw,but they're not drawing like
you.
Their line, their straight line, will not be the same straight
(04:14):
line as the next person.
You think that a straight lineis a straight line?
It really is not.
There is a style and a voice towhat you do, and it's so
intriguing and interesting foryou to share that and maybe show
where you started and whereyou're at now and did something
influence that.
How did it evolve to where youare now?
(04:35):
And then do you stay authenticto one style or do you like to
evolve, maybe every year?
Or you throw in a color, maybeyou have a certain color palette
that you use all the time andthen you toss in a new color
once in a while.
Talk about that.
That's so interesting and Ijust find it fascinating to hear
people share that.
(04:57):
Show up, show up with yourself,be consistent, share something
on some sort of cadence that youselect, then keep it going.
If you can't keep up with it,it's okay, you don't have to
like, come on and apologize forit.
I tend to do that quite a bit,especially with the podcast and
(05:18):
some other things too,especially with the new studio.
But you know, don't feel likeyou're at an airport and you
have to announce every littlething.
It's totally okay.
But just share, be authenticand share the good, the bad, the
imperfections.
It makes you human andeverybody can relate to that and
(05:39):
that's so, so important.
And I would rather be authenticthan try to have everything
edited over and, over and overagain and then it's not
relatable.
So keep that in mind.
And then if you want to put somemoney or monetize some of the
(05:59):
things that you're doing behindyour self-promotion, you know
you can do it in ways that feelapproachable and real and
authentic.
I do run ads for my classes,especially when I have a teacher
outside of my studio going toteach a class, and I'm not
talking hundreds of dollars, Idon't have any kind of budget
(06:19):
like that at all, but I'mtelling you like five bucks, 10
bucks behind a class promotion.
But I'm telling you like fivebucks, 10 bucks behind a class
promotion, especially on socialmedia, goes a very long way and
there's no way that someone canfind me right now other than on
social media.
Or if they do Google search,because one of the first things
that I did was secure my profileon Google and then, you know,
(06:41):
update that all the time.
If I am closing, I update myhours.
If I have a Q&A that someonehas asked me over and over in
the studio, I make that a Q&A onGoogle.
I want to own as muchinformation that I can control
on that platform because it is asearch engine and so sharing
(07:01):
that helps market yourself.
And then I also have beenexploring, doing commercials and
maybe some billboards, and Imean like really inexpensive,
like the electronic ones thatyou may be up for like five
seconds just to see.
Will someone see it?
Is it going to be effective?
What can I do to promote this?
(07:23):
So just exploring with maybe$50, $100.
I just I don't have a hugebudget but I'm trying to see
what will stick.
So do it in ways that reallyrepresent you and make it fun
and catchy and connect with thepeople in your community.
(07:43):
That's huge.
Their word of mouth is going tobe your best marketing.
Having somebody tell a friendhave you gone here?
Have you seen this?
Do you collect this?
Have you experienced that?
And then that person visits andtells the next person I'm
telling you it's amazing.
And even if it's an onlinecommunity person, I'm telling
(08:07):
you it's amazing.
And even if it's an onlinecommunity, that I mean look at
Reddit, look at how people sharea cute little five 10 second
video and it's inspiring orfunny and like I, like this, I
connected with this.
That's huge.
And then you're building acommunity really around yourself
and I am finding that out thelonger that I own my studio.
When people come in, I followyou on Facebook, or I follow you
(08:31):
in doing this, or I've seen youdo that, or I was at this event
and I still, to this day.
I'm blown away, like I can'tbelieve that that connection is
there, this little communitythat is evolving from people
that want to have a moment to becreative or mindful, or create
a memory with friends or try anew thing that maybe I have the
(08:52):
supplies for.
I absolutely love it and itinspires me.
Okay, I want to try this, Iwant to get materials to do that
, and that is what I'm buildingmy life surrounding that kind of
energy.
So, turning my passion intowhat my livelihood will be,
that's my goal.
That's why I am retiring frommy full-time healthcare job.
(09:16):
That is why I'm staying at mystudio full-time.
At my studio, full time, Ireally am investing myself into
my work, my art, my community,and I have like 110% involved
(09:38):
and invested in this.
I can't even explain it and I'mtrying to be as diversified as
possible.
You know, sharing by teaching,selling things that I make,
helping people create, and I tryto give back.
I try to donate time, donateart, really just the whole gamut
, and so finding that nicebalance is important, but it is
(09:59):
also a way to promote what youdo and promote yourself, and
that's okay.
And I don't get every job thatI have applied for.
When it comes to submittingcommissions or requests to do
art, I don't get selected foreverything and that's okay.
I'll learn.
Okay, maybe I need to be morecreative or do something in a
(10:20):
different way, or maybe my pricewasn't in the right you know
vein that they needed and that'sa lesson learned.
And it's okay if someone tellsyou, no, it's not the end of the
world, you just need to learnfrom it.
Make it a lesson and that'swhat is most important.
And then, really, as an artist,you know what do you want your
(10:42):
work to represent?
What do you want it to do forothers?
Maybe you just want it to beseen and maybe you don't want to
sell it.
There's a lot of artists outthere who don't want to monetize
their art.
They just want to create it.
Maybe they don't even want toshow it, they just want to enjoy
it for themselves, and that isabsolutely fine.
You're not forced to show yourwork.
(11:03):
You're not forced to share yourwork.
Just create, just find thespace to just make something.
Do something writing, drawing,it could be, you know, uh,
creating poetry.
It could be creating songs.
It could be practicing amusical instrument.
It doesn't have to be, you know, traditional paint or pastels
(11:24):
or pencil or charcoal there's,so you know.
It could be cooking.
You could be a creativebusiness person.
Try something.
Try something that's going tolight you up and make you happy,
and I think that promoting thatlove, just sharing that you're
doing something, that's whatcounts, that's what's most
(11:45):
important, keeping in mind thatpeople really are here to
inspire one another.
You don't know what that energyis going to do for someone else
.
It could be a catalyst forsomeone to try something on
their own when they see that'show you have done it, if you're
willing to share it, and it canbe in a group setting where it's
(12:08):
one-on-one, you know peoplearound you doesn't have to be
online.
If you've shared it online,just talk about what you love to
do and be authentic about itand don't be afraid.
Don't be afraid to share whatmakes you unique and what you
love to do.
I'm telling you there'ssomebody else out there that is
(12:28):
going to connect with that, andit's going to be wonderful to
finally find someone else thathas this passion that you do
about the things that you love,I absolutely guarantee it will
just give you such energy tofind that connection with others
.
It does for me, and so ifyou're kind of lost in wanting
(12:51):
to explore what there is outthere to do creatively and it's
something that maybe I have atool or materials for and you
want to try it, you know you cancontact me or stop by my studio
and I will set you up in a wayto explore that, try it out.
Anything I really, you know,have found out this week we had
(13:15):
our first sewing classes and Igot to help a lot of people.
So either for the first time ortry their machines for the
first time, or someone had youknow there, there's a lot of
machines out there right nowthat are really inexpensive and
they're almost like a toy level,and so it was really
frustrating for them becauseneedles were bending or the
(13:38):
thread was breaking or they wereso lightweight like you
couldn't even put two pieces ofcotton through it without it
getting jammed up, and so once Iput them on a different machine
that was a little heavier dutyand that it was more like a real
sewing machine, you could seehow excited they were that this
was actually working and Ireally maybe could sew and I
(14:00):
could do this.
And you know you have to havethe exploration of some of the
right tools in front of you tofeel a little bit of
satisfaction and lessfrustration.
So it's okay if you can't, youknow, invest in something.
Find a place that has theoffers to borrow or try out
(14:23):
something.
So you know that, oh, I maylike this.
Try your local libraries too.
I know you can reserve a sewingmachine or materials to try new
things.
That's a great resource andthey're free.
Just sign up for your librarycard.
So I just wanted to hop on andtalk about that and
self-promotion.
And if you happen to see any ofmy ads or any of my billboards
(14:48):
or any of my commercials locallyhere in the Stark County area,
I would love for you to let meknow, because they are out there
in the world for a little bitto see if they are measurable
and are doing what they'resupposed to do.
But have a wonderful Easter anda beautiful weekend and thanks
for following along.
I appreciate the support and Ican't wait to come back here
(15:12):
next time and talk to you aboutmore art inspiration.
So have a wonderful weekend, besafe, take care, and I will
talk to you about more artinspiration.
So have a wonderful weekend.
No-transcript.
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