Sales Skills Pay the Bills
“I’m quitting my job,“ she said.
“I have savings for six months and I’m working on my portfolio.
What else should I do before making the jump?”
This was from a coaching call I had a few months ago.
She was determined but scared. She knew she could do great art but she wasn't sure if she would be able to make money out of it.
Ever been there?
This is a problem many creatives face. We’ve dreamed about being acclaimed artists with clients knocking our doors just because we are so darn good at our craft.
Sometimes that happens but those people are the exception. For the rest of us mortals, we need to understand this principle:
Sales skills pay the bills.
That's right! You need to learn how to sell if you want to have a sustainable professional career (as in avoid becoming a starving artist).
Stick with me. Selling has a bad reputation because it has historically been associated with tricking others to take advantage of them.
That’s not selling, that’s cheating and it’s immoral.
The selling I’m talking about is based on three things: solving a problem, building trust, and making things easy.
Solve a Problem
The key to selling your creative services is to be helpful.
You probably got into illustration or design because you enjoy drawing. But people won’t pay you just because you enjoy it. People will pay you when they feel that your work will be helpful and solve a problem for them.
So make a promise. Talk about what you do as the solution for a problem.
For example:
Instead of “I illustrate complex topics,” say: “I help people understand complex topics through my illustrations.”
Bottom line: you solve confusion, you bring clarity.Instead of “I create whimsical illustrations,” say: “I help people feel happy through whimsical illustrations.”
Bottom line: you’re solving boredom, you help people have fun.In my case: I help professional artists find clarity and traction in their careers without burnout. I do that through art coaching programs.
One word of caution: be honest about this. You MUST solve a problem. If you make promises you can’t keep the next steps won’t work at all.
Build trust
A promise is empty without trust. And trust is created when you show up often with things that are helpful.
How do you do that?
Establish a rhythm to show your work on social media and newsletters.
Show or talk about your process.
Share testimonials from previous projects showing how you get results.
In my case, I show up in your inbox every Monday. But before that, you probably gave me access because you found my Instagram content helpful.
Don't ask people to buy your services before taking the time to create trust.
Show that you care, show that you know, show that you're capable. And then, when you are sure that you can help them, offer your services.
This is the only way it will feel natural, because you'll come from a place of care and not greed.
Make Things Easy
Do you remember the awkwardness of high school? Teens approaching their crush and asking,
“Hey, do you want to.. maybe.. you know.. go somewhere.. hang out.. and stuff?”
Good luck with that!
If you were at the receiving end of that, no matter how attracted you felt to that person, you’d probably be annoyed and wouldn’t follow up. You have no time to figure out somebody else’s offer.
But how would you react if the person you’re attracted to asked you:
“You mentioned earlier that you like sustainable restaurants. I know this great place nearby: their menu changes depending on the crops that are in season, service is excellent, and the location is cute and cozy. Would you like to go with me this weekend? Maybe for lunch?”
Ah! So much easier to say yes! You know exactly what to expect and what to do next.
Something similar applies to selling your creative services. After you’ve built trust and made a promise, you need to have a clear call to action. If people want what you offer, and trust you enough to hire you, ask things directly and make the process easy.
How do you do that?
End your posts on social media with “Interested in hiring me for your next project? contact me at your@email.com”
Spread “hire me for your next project” buttons all over your website.
Have a clear step-by-step process of how it looks to work with you. You’ll share this with them on your first call or email.
Pro tip: After your first communication with a possible client, give them a link to schedule a meeting with you immediately.
I use Calendly because it's simple. It removes steps and allows people to move faster in the process.
Take a look at my Calendly and since you're around, if you're interested in scheduling a free consultation with me, go ahead and book a time.
Thanks for reading! 😃 If this was insightful, consider subscribing to my weekly newsletter and you’ll receive an email with tips like this directly to your inbox every Monday.
You can also follow me on Instagram for daily content.
