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Freelancer Or Solopreneur? 14 Tips For Landing Your First Sale
When you run a business in a creative industry, it might not always be clear how to monetize your work. Whether you're an independent artist, a freelance creator or any other form of solopreneur, one of the first steps on your road to success is managing to land your first sale — and that can be a tricky endeavor on your own.
Having each worked in the culture space for some time, the members of Rolling Stone Culture Council know what it takes to run successful businesses in creative industries. Here, they weigh in with words of wisdom for aspiring or current entrepreneurs on how to land that elusive first sale, and what it takes to keep your business going even after you've earned your first customer.
Master Your CraftConsumers are organically magnetized to you when you focus your energy on improving the value of your offerings — whether it be a product, artwork, writing or, in our case, a seed. Independent entrepreneurs who really shine are thriving in their lane. Master your craft and tell your story across digital platforms, and that first buyer will be drawn to you. – Lindsey Bartlett, Fast Buds
Focus on What You Can ControlRefine your value proposition. Develop win-win relationships. Remember, if you're at the beginning stages of your career, your sole focus should be gaining experience, learning and building relationships with people in your industry. As you grow, you can continue to scale pricing and expectations. – Sam Saideman, Innovo Management
Build Genuine Connections With Your AudienceFocus on building genuine connections. Whether through social media, local events or personal outreach, engage with your audience authentically. People buy from those they trust, especially in creative fields. Show your passion, share your story and let potential customers see the person behind the product. Your first sale often comes from building that personal rapport. – Red Rodriguez, GRAV
Offer Exclusive Promos or DiscountsOne effective tip for independent artists, freelance creators and solopreneurs to get their first sale is to offer an exclusive promotion or discount to early adopters. This can create a sense of urgency and value, encouraging potential customers to act quickly. Additionally, providing a special deal can help generate word-of-mouth referrals as satisfied customers share their positive experiences. – Mark Paulda, Mark Paulda & Co
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I see this in new artists a lot — the desire to express their creativity through their art. The problem is when you want to sell your art, it is a matter of the buyer's taste unless you manage to find an agent or mentor who can sell your art the way you made it. To some, the word "commercialize" reeks of "selling out." Think of it as simply adjusting your expression to what the market wants. – Zain Jaffer, Zain Jaffer Foundation
Understand the Value You're OfferingAsk yourself the question: "Why would anyone be willing to pay for what I have to offer them?" Your answer should be solid, honest, easy to understand and, very importantly, you must have the ability to hit that "hip pocket nerve" that will make a person say, "Hey, I want that." If and after you win your first sale, understand that anyone can do it once. What makes a customer come back for more? – Wayne Bell, Really Big Coloring Books® IncColoringBook.Com
The Rolling Stone Culture Council is an invitation-only community for Influencers, Innovators and Creatives. Do I qualify?
Leverage the Power of Your NetworkStay in touch with your network. Freelancers and solopreneurs don't come out of nowhere. You likely already have established influence, mentors and potential clients. Networking — from attending industry events to simply reaching out to old colleagues — is critical to kicking off success, providing you with a starting point to gain contacts, campaign support and investors. – Cynthia Johnson, Bell + Ivy
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Integrity and trust are the cornerstones of any business relationship. Understand the needs of your client and deliver a solution that you can be proud of. Honor your word and deliver on what you say you will do. When you do these things, a client will stay with you for repeat business and you will attract new business. – Matt Altman, Headline Booking
Find Your ConfidenceBe confident. You're not asking anyone for a favor; you are offering something of value in exchange for payment. No need to apologize for your pricing. Be confident with your pricing and deliver high value to your customers. – Dan Giuliani, Volt Athletics
Earn a Strong ReferenceOffer a small, high-value project for free to a well-connected client in exchange for a testimonial. This builds credibility and trust, providing social proof to attract paying clients. A strong reference can showcase your work, boost your portfolio and lead to word-of-mouth recommendations, increasing your chances of getting your first sale. – Jessica Billingsley, Sona Capital
Build a Strong Online PresenceFocus on building a strong online presence by showcasing your unique value and engaging with your target audience on social media. Use content to tell your story, demonstrate expertise and connect personally. This builds trust and visibility and makes it easier to attract customers who relate to and believe in your work, leading to that first crucial sale. – Stephen Nalley, Black Briar Advisors
Create Demand Through ScarcityCreate demand through scarcity for your initial audience. Think limited-time offers, "one-night only" promotions or exclusive deals. This creates urgency, builds trust, generates buzz and shows value by offering something exclusive or unique. – Matthew Forster, CMS Nashville
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MrBeast Announces Investigation Findings: Sexual Misconduct Allegations Are 'Without Basis' Start With Those Likeliest to Hire You
Start with people who are likeliest to hire you — those who already know you and currently need what you offer. Most people would prefer to work with someone they know and trust. And if they're in the market for a product or service you provide, why not choose you? Be bold and have that conversation. It might feel scary at first, but it will get easier over time — particularly as people say "yes." – Jed Brewer, Good Loud Media
Focus on Doing Great WorkDo great work. If you're genuine, passionate and hardworking — and there's a need for the type of work that you're doing — your first customers will be attracted to your demonstrated success. Limited marketing can give you a boost, but don't lose focus on the work at the core of your business by trying to run a huge marketing campaign right off the bat. – Evan Nison, NisonCo
B2B Product Marketing Offers: Capturing An Audience
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Social Media Marketing For Startups – A Guide For Beginners
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Most startups have limited resources and tight budgets. So, they need an affordable and efficient way to build brand awareness, engage with customers, and generate leads. Fortunately, social media marketing (SMM) ticks all the boxes.
However, SMM is more than creating an account on any social media channel and uploading posts. It requires considerable planning and developing strategies that tap into the power of SMM. If this is all new to you, this blog is for you. We'll guide you through the essentials of social media marketing, providing practical steps to help your startup thrive in the competitive market.
But first, let's understand the basics. So, let's dive right in!
Why Social Media Marketing Matters for StartupsBillions of people across the globe use social media. This provides startups access to a vast and diverse audience. Whether your target market is local or global, you can now reach potential customers more efficiently.
But besides increasing reach, there are several reasons why SMM is crucial for startups, including:
Cost-Effective MarketingStartups often operate on limited budgets. With SMM, you can promote your business with little financial investment. With the bare minimal resources, you can achieve significant reach and engagement. This makes social media an ideal tool for building brand visibility without breaking the bank.
Direct EngagementSocial media enables startups to interact directly with their target audience, helping to build stronger relationships and a bigger loyal customer base. It's also an excellent platform for customer service, where queries, complaints, and feedback can be addressed in real-time.
Grow Brand Awareness and VisibilitySince billions use social media daily, creating a strong social media presence increases your brand's visibility, helping people to become familiar with your startup and what it offers. Posting regularly and engaging with potential customers also encourages a strong following.
Social Media Marketing – How to Do It RightOkay, now that you know why you should invest in SMM, let's get down to business. SMM is consistently evolving. So, understanding how to navigate it effectively can allow you to stand out in the overcrowded digital space. Here are some essential ways to ensure your social media marketing efforts are effective:
1. Set Clear Social Media GoalsBefore jumping into social media marketing, it's crucial to establish what you want to achieve. Needless to say, every startup has a different goal. So start by setting clear, measurable goals to help give you direction and allow you to assess your efforts' effectiveness later on.
Common social media marketing goals for startups include:
Knowing who your customers are is the cornerstone of every successful SMM strategy. That means you need to understand their demographics, behaviors, pain points, etc. Having all the details allows you to create content that resonates with them on a personal level. Additionally, it empowers you to tailor messages and posts that align with their needs and preferences.
Define your audience clearly and create a customer persona. This enables you to craft marketing campaigns that speak directly, boosting engagement and brand loyalty. More importantly, you can attract followers who are more likely to convert and turn them into loyal consumers.
3. Choose the Right Social Media PlatformThere are hundreds of social media platforms, so there is no way you can manage an account on all of them. Therefore, you need to identify those platforms where your potential customers are the most active and maximize your efforts on them.
By concentrating on specific social networks that align with your audience's preferences, you can create content tailored to the platform's format and user behavior. This approach ensures your marketing efforts are more efficient, allowing you to engage with the right people rather than spreading yourself too thin across every platform.
4. Create a Long-Term Content StrategyContent is the core element of all SMM campaigns. Therefore, your content should reflect your startup's values, resonate with the audience, and encourage engagement. Sounds easy, right? I'll be honest, at the beginning, I was overwhelmed.
But the good news is this is where you can let your creativity flow. Focus on diversifying your content so your audience is interested. Remember, the content must address your target audience's needs, preferences, and pain points. Use a mix of content, including images, educational posts, user-generated content, and promotional offers. Lastly, post valuable, relatable content consistently to maintain your brand's visibility and keep your audience engaged. Creating a content calendar to schedule posts in advance can help streamline the process.
I'll let you in on a secret that worked wonders for me. Using relevant hashtags on platforms like Instagram, X, and Facebook can help new users discover your brand. Similarly, SEO-friendly keywords in your posts can boost visibility on platforms like LinkedIn and YouTube.
5. Engage with Your AudienceSocial media marketing isn't just about posting content – it's a two-way street. So, interacting with your audience is essential to your success. Not only does it help build a loyal customer base, but it also helps you gain valuable insights into their preferences, needs, and behaviors. To understand what resonates with your customers, interact regularly with them through comments, messages, polls, and feedback. This allows you to refine your products, services, or content accordingly.
Replying quickly and professionally to comments, messages, or complaints helps build trust, brand image, and customer loyalty. However, to boost engagement and introduce new people to your startup, consider hosting Q&A sessions, contests, polls, and giveaways.
6. Analyze Your StrategySocial media marketing is not a "set it and forget it" task. It requires regular analysis to ensure your efforts are generating success. Tracking and reviewing important social media KPIs (key performance indicators) can help monitor the performance of your campaigns.
Analyzing the data from your KPIs can help you highlight what resonates with your audience. And if something isn't working, you can tweak your content style or experiment with a new platform.
7. Hire SMM ExpertsManaging your social media campaigns by yourself can get overwhelming at times. If you're not seeing the results you hoped for, it might be time to hire the experts in your area. Professional agencies that specialize in social media marketing can offer invaluable support. They bring experience, creative strategies, and advanced tools to the table, helping your startup navigate the complexities of social media.
So, start your hunt for SMM specialists to manage your campaigns. For example, if you live in Orlando, consider working with a digital marketing agency that provides social media marketing in Orlando. The experts can create strategies to enhance your online presence and help you engage better with your audience as they know the ins and outs of keeping the local audience engaged. This way, you can focus on other areas of your business while these professionals work on your social media presence.
Leverage the Power of SMMSocial media marketing is a powerful tool for startups looking to build their brand, engage with customers, and grow their business. With time, consistency, and effort, social media can become one of your startup's most valuable assets.
Remember, your startup is a unique business, and your approach to social media should reflect that. Tailor your content and strategies to showcase your brand's personality, values, and offerings. Take the time to analyze results and adapt your tactics as needed. It's time to put these insights into action and watch your startup thrive!
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