How to Come Up With an Idea for Your Art Business
It might seem like being a self-employed artist is a business idea in itself, but you’ve actually got to go a LOT deeper than that if you want to create a business that is truly sustainable.
You need to think about things like: what services or products will you offer and for whom? How do you know that those people will buy what you have to sell? What problem will you solve for your customers? And how can you incorporate your passions and interests into your business so you’ll truly enjoy your work?
Thinking about all those things at once sounds very overwhelming, so let’s break it down a little further…
Find Your Ikigai
We love the Japanese concept of ikigai which translates to “reason for being.” Thinking about ikigai will help you discover a business idea that is a great balance of what you love and what is practical and strategic. Below is an illustration of how ikigai is found.
You’ll notice that your ikigai idea needs to be the product of 4 overlapping things: what you love, what you’re good at, what you can be paid for, and what other people need. When all of these 4 things work together, your business is much more likely to succeed (and to make you happy—which should always be your biggest goal!).
Pick a Niche
One of the best things you can do for your business is to find a niche. When you get more specific about what you do and who exactly you do it for, it becomes much easier to hone in on customers who are eager and excited to buy from you.
For example, let’s say you’re a photographer who takes pictures of anything in any style requested—your portfolio contains dog portraits, lingerie shoots, landscapes, and everything in between. Your photos might be nice, but you’re probably not going to be top of mind when someone is looking for, say, a wedding photographer.
When a client looks for someone to perform a specific job (like photographing their wedding), they’re usually searching for a specialist—someone who focuses on exactly what they need done. That way, there’s no question in their mind that the person they hire is going to do an awesome job. If you were to simply reframe the way you talk about yourself and your business as a wedding photography studio—suddenly you become a specialist and the first person on that same client’s list!
So, how do you find a niche?
A great way to do this is to think of all your individual passions, interests, and skills, and imagine different ways to overlap them. For example, if family is super important to you and you’re a talented illustrator, maybe you should design children’s books. If you love cooking and photography, you could specialize in food photography! Play around with different combinations and see what stands out to you. What specific product or service can you become the go-to person for?
Solve a Problem
It’s very important to make sure your business idea serves the wants or needs of a group of people. If nobody wants to buy what you’re selling, you’ll be out of business in no time. Think about the audiences you currently have access to, or that you could get access to, and ask yourself what problems they have that need solving. A good business is all about offering solutions.
Workshop Your Ideas
Once you’ve found several ideas that you like, put them through the ringer and see how they hold up. Ask yourself questions like: is there a market for this? What problem do I solve for my audience and how? Who are my competitors and how am I unique from them?
The more proof you can gather that your idea is heading for that ikigai sweet spot, the better.
What Next?
Once you’ve honed in on your business idea, there’s still a LOT of work left to figure out how to implement your idea and get it out into the world! You DON’T need an MBA, but you do need the tools and resources to create a business plan that will set your business up for success.
Join our four week program, Art Meets Money, and you’ll finish with a strong game plan for your business, a community of talented artists cheering you on, and the confidence to scream it from the rooftops.
