The Perils Of Underpricing As A Creative
Pricing is a big issue for businesses of all shapes and sizes, and there are a lot of individual factors involved. You don’t want it to be too high or too low for obvious reasons. However, the real struggle comes when you price yourself too low. This is a huge issue with creatives in business, and it is very challenging to recover from underpricing. If you are a startup, you may be tempted to price things low – perhaps as an introductory offer to get people in the door. It is understandable – you’re new in business, you want to make people happy, and you are not quite sure how much people will actually pay for your services. You may even look to undercut the competition, again quite natural for startups and those new to business. Price is not always the most important aspect While some of your customers will be concerned with the price, others will be more interested in whether your product or service meets their needs. If you do, then the price will be less important. But if you price yourself too low, people may assume that you don’t have much to offer your clients. If...
Read MoreHow to Plan For Business Success As A Creative
While you might think your future business success is dependent on luck, it comes to down to more than that. It requires organisation and planning, much of it behind the scenes to achieve the great success that welcomes instant recognition. Even though you may struggle as a creative to fill those business shoes, know that it is possible. It is never an easy journey from implementation to achievement. However, there are some things you can do to make it a lot less problematic for you and your business partners. Try to remain focused As a business owner, your mind is being ripped from one direction to the next, often without time to take a breath in between. Cash flow, sales, marketing, and customer service – the list goes on and on. Take the time to focus on each thing as best as you can before moving in another direction. It is so simple to be busy without actually achieving anything of any great value. Look at areas where you can make the most impact. Start prioritising to maximise your efficiency, achieve business success and save your sanity. Build plans and strategies Create useful and manageable plans and strategies to...
Read MoreHow To Maintain Quality Relationships With Your Customers
Customer service and quality relationships should be high on every creative entrepreneur’s priority list. As a manager, it is your job to be on top of every situation, anticipate your customer’s needs and be ready to act when they have an issue. But more than just reacting to a problem, you need to be able to preempt it, with solid solutions laid out before the event. Silence may not be golden If your customers are not over-communicative, don’t just assume they are 100% happy with the service on offer. Assuming that is the worst thing you do. Silence can make a little problem worse. Therefore, take every opportunity to follow up with your clients to ensure that they are happy with the service or product supplied. Seek your customer’s advice Balance your communication with respect for their time. Your customers don’t want to be bombarded with calls or emails every five minutes. Reaching out once to garner feedback about their order is recommended however, and it not only strengthens your relationship, but reminds them that you are there should they need anything else from you. Listen to your clients The feedback provided by your customers is particularly helpful, so do...
Read MoreWhy You Need To Take A Break From Your Business?
As soon as the new year commences, you are back to work. Planning, organising, creating – doing what you do best to make sure your business succeeds and you turn a profit. But come March and April, you can begin to get tired of all the demands of your business. If you are not careful, you can become overwhelmed and extremely stressed. It is important that you take a break over this period – particularly before the hectic end of the financial year where everything needs to be double and triple checked and your taxes filed. Looking after yourself is important. If you are healthy, then you can give 100% of your attention to the task. Avoid burn out and take a break Burn out of entrepreneurs, creatives and executives are much more widespread than you think. Corporate burnout can affect individuals at all levels and can manifest itself in many ways. Depression, anxiety, headaches, insomnia, aggression, anger and unexpected weight fluctuations are all part and parcel of the symptoms. Taking a break – even just an extended weekend – can give you the time to regroup and refocus. Prevention is better than a cure when it comes to...
Read MoreEven Creatives Need To Follow A Routine
Inspiration is a fickle thing. It can spring from many wonderful sources. It can hit you as you glance out the window or it can strike at three o’clock in the morning when all is silent. Creative entrepreneurs need to source this inspiration on a regular basis to fuel their work and their passions. And quite often this means following a routine. While creativity and routine seem at odds with each other at first glance, it is a must-have ingredient in the success of a creative entrepreneur. As writer Stephen King said, “Make sure the muse knows where you’re going to be every day from 9 to noon or 7 to 3. Sooner or later he’ll start showing up, chomping his cigar and making his magic”. King is well known for writing 2,000 words every day – even on his birthday. It is this routine which has led him to be one of the most successful authors the world has ever seen. Just as creativity requires a routine to blossom, it also needs plenty of rest. You may find that you are more tuned to your talent in the early hours of the morning or even the later hours...
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