HERE I am!

Let's see...we've covered topics such as preparing for entrepreneurship, logos, colors, fonts, photography, business cards, quality workmanship, materials, pricing, and a few more. What are we missing? Publicity. Now that your business is coming together, how will you let other people know you exist?

There are a number of outlets that can be used to "get the word out" about your business. I will list a few:

• Website
• Social networking forums/websites
• Press release
• Blogs
• Friends and relatives
• Newsletters

I can't count the number of times I have been asked, "Do you have a website?" Today, the Internet has become a vital tool in so many household across the globe. Even as a consumer, I shop and compare products online. I will even look for restaurant menus online before choosing a location to dine. I check store hours, weather conditions, current events, etc, etc, etc! Not investing in at least a simple brochure-type website is a costly mistake.

Social networking may or may not bring direct sales, but could give you sales leads and referrals. I have purchased many gifts from independent business I would not have otherwise known about because of these networking groups. http://www.indiepublic.com is a relatively new site, but is quickly growing everyday.

The mysterious press release. In all honesty, I can devote an entire post to this subject, so I will leave it for another day.

Blogs are fun and a purely personal choice for many business owners. Some feel blogs may give out too much personal or proprietary information. Others use them for keeping in touch with friends or family. And, myself, share little tid-bits that I think and hope other new business owners may find of use or can help them become a little more successful.

Friends and family are a great (and free) source for spreading the word about your business. Ask them to post flyers at their places of business, Church bulletin boards or wherever they have access to. Again, the point is to get your name out there and build your brand identity.

Newsletters are also a great resource. If you are vending at a craft show, ask customers and non-customers alike to sign up for your newsletter. There are several free and low cost newsletter dispersing firms that can help you in this area. Again, the point is to have a constant reminder of your business. (But don't be too pushy or every newsletter will end up in the "junk" folder)

Coming SOON

Soon you will find Elements by Dawn at http://www.circlecircledotdot.com along with other talented independent designers. So, if you are looking for a unique handmade gift, check it out!

The GOOD, the BAD, and the UGLY

Networking. It's about meeting other people. Some may be like you, some may be completely different, but more than likely you have something in common with each other.

Why do we network? It may be as simple as camaraderie. Finding a like-minded soul to share a cup of coffee with. Perhaps you are seeking a PR rep, or photographer, or what retail and craft shows are "a sure bet." Networking allows you to find what you might be looking for without having to spend hours researching, making phone calls, and doing some footwork. Basically, it makes your business life a little easier. That's the GOOD.

However, as an artist, the truth is there are folks out there who will want to rip you off. Some will give you false leads just to get you to part with your limited supply of cash. Others will hook-up their friends. (Of course there is nothing wrong with referring friends, as long as the intention is to help a fellow crafter.) Others will copy your designs and present them as their own. Some will try to to blacklist you to up their careers. Unfortunately, the list goes on. That's the BAD.

In life and in business, there are risks. I wish I could wave a magic wand and make everyone successful. But I cannot. We all live and learn. Perhaps the best advice I can give about networking is this:

Don't be lazy! Take advice. But never take someone else's advice as golden. After all, what might have been a success for them, might not work out well for you. That's life. Now go do a little research on your own and couple that with what you have learned from networking to form the best possible advice/leads/scenario. Understand that all risks should be calculated risks! That's the UGLY.

Just a CLICK away

Or maybe a snap.

Great photography. But why is photography important? The obvious reason is that because most crafters either participate in an online gallery of sorts of have their own ecommerce site. Customers cannot touch your product, so you must be able to provide an exceptional visual representation of your product coupled with a wonderful (and accurate) product description.

Therefore, photography is another subject and art form that, besides photogs themselves, crafters need to develop (no pun intended). I'm sure most of us can spot a great photograph right away. It is crisp, clear, bright, in focus, and interesting. More than likely the subject of the photo is quickly identified. These type of photographs are what draw people in. They want to see more, know more, and get their hands on whatever is in the photo. Obviously, this is the type of photography we want to use for our products.

A not-so-great photo is muddy, dull, uninteresting, maybe even distracting. It's a real ho-hum, boring, don't-even-glance-at-it-twice kind of photo. Again, obviously, this is not the kind of photos we want to represent our work.

In my opinion, this is one of the most difficult topics an artist will tackle. How does one get "great photos?" Some folks will tell you it's all about your camera, some will say it's the photo editing software, some will say lighting, and still others will say something entirely different. I have found the truth lies in all of these factors. Some more than others, I must add.

Normally I would just tell you what has worked for me in the past and what learning curves I have had to overcome. However, when it comes to photography the variables are just too great. I don't know what type of camera you have, what your studio set-up is, what type of photo editing software you have access to, what type of spending budget you have, etc.

At this point I am going to make a suggestion that some readers may dislike, and other may love, but....GO READ! Search the bookstore for books on photography, read forums, get a copy of Consumer Reports that discusses cameras, find a few copies of various craft and art magazines that have articles on photography, scour the library, ask friends and fellow crafters for opinions. In a huge nutshell....do some homework. You will save yourself some pain and agony and maybe even some cash by doing some very pointed research.

Where should you start? I love the library. More than likely many of the magazines I have suggested are available (for free) at the library. Ask friends and coworkers. (Some may think photography is a highly guarded secret, so don't be put off if they zip their lips on the subject.)

Of course...take a few shots and choose the ones that YOU think are best and ask for outside opinions. Listen to what they say and ponder it. It is always difficult to separate yourself from your art, and as a human, criticism is hard to swallow. But, hey, when you are able to look at your art or photography with neutral eyes, good things are sure to follow.

Now go do your homework!