There are several effective ways for creative professionals to win more work through building relationships rather than just direct selling. These include being authentic in one's work, donating to worthwhile causes to show passion, promoting other creative professionals to expand networks, actively engaging in social media groups, working on self-indulgent side projects, nurturing potential clients through personalized emails over time, offering samples to engage the senses, blogging to provide value to others, and making a memorable impression at trade shows. Building relationships through authenticity and generosity is key to long-term success.

1. WinningMore Work
The way to gettingmore workas a creative professional isnotalwaysaboutdirectselling,marketingor
pitchinga buyer,assome people mayimagine.How you conductbusiness,promote yourstoryandgo
aboutbuildingrelationships playsalarge part in you achievingmore clientsthatnotonlybecome
customers,butstaywithyou inthe future. Achievingtheseprojects isalong-termprocess, andit’s
goodto knowthat takingthe time to buildrelationships will pay off.Itisaboutbeingmore than justa
salespersonorsomebodythatwantssomebodytoinvestinyourproduct.
Beloware some pointerstohelpguide youinto winningmore workwithnew andexistingclients.
Authenticityis Key
What are yourpersonalitytraits?Whatlittle quirks,habitsorhobbiesdo youhave?Use these toput
intoyour workand the marketingof yourself. Banksyuseshisthoughtsonpoliticsascatalystsintothe
satirical typesof art he createsand spreadshismessage throughpublicspaces. GemmaCorrell hasused
herpersonal love of pugsto create a whole range of artworkfeaturingthemandherwork then
becomesverypersonal toher. Peopleare drawnto a creative personwhocanreveal theirtrue selves
throughtheirwork,ratherthan somebodywhotries toproduce somethingbecauseitisintrendor
because theythinkitiswhattheyshouldbe doing.
Donating to Worthwhile Causes
Whethera percentage of profitora piece of your work,givingtoa worthwhile cause thatisclose to
your heartcan have a tremendousinfluence onhow people view youandyourwork.Ittellspeople a
great deal aboutyouas a personandshowsthat yourworkand your businessare real.
Promote othercreative professionals
While youwantothersto promote you,itcan reallyaddvalue whenyoushow an interestinother
professionals –whethertheyworkina similarareatoyou or not. By promotingothercreative people
whoare not knownwidelyin anindustry,canmake people feelcuriousaboutthem, while alsohelping
to draw attentiontoyou. It iseasyto promote those whoare alreadyrecognisedintheirfield,butby
promotingotherslesserknown will create astirabouta new artist,make people wanttoknow more
and expandyournetworks.
Interact in Social MediaGroups
Professionalshave atendency tosetupa profile, create agreat profile statement,addsome of their
bestpiecesof work – but thensitback and hope that people catchon. Creatinga profile withastrong
portfolio isnotenoughtogenerate afollowing. Joingroupsthatare of interesttoyouandmake
commentsontopicsthat youare passionate about.Interactwith networksthatwill enableyoutogetto
knowothercreative professionals,businessesandorganisations.

2. Be A Little Self-Indulgent
Spendingtime toworkona projectyoutrulyenjoywill giveyouthe chance to expressyourself asyou
wantto, withouthavingtobe tiedto a client’sstrictguidelines. Whatisthatconceptor ideayou always
wantedtowork on butneverhadthe time?Manymusicianshave theirmainstreambandgoingbutthen
continue topursue othergenresof musicinsmaller,unknownbands,astheirside projects.These side
projectscan be usedas a talkingpointforyour followers oryoucan ask bloggerstofeature yourproject
on theirwebsite.Whateveritisthat isgoingto keepthatdeepsatisfactiontoyourcreative side going,
that drewyouto your craft inthe firstplace, will enable youto be fulfilledinitandto presentyour
backgroundand story effectively.
Nurture Your Emails
The art of leadnurturingisa modernconceptbasedon an oldtechnique.Essentiallyitusesemail to
sendwrittencommunicationwhichis personal and highlytailoredtothe individual business. Itinvolves
emailsoveralong-termperiodand,aswell asincludingemailssharingdetailsof yourlatestprojector
newsletter,itcaninclude emailstoaskthemhow theyare and to commentontheirlatestproductsor
services.Doingthiswillshowthat youknow whatthey’re about,understandtheirbrandandhave an
insightintothe possibleproblemstheyhave andhow youcan provide asolutionforthem.
Accordingto Business2Community.com,more than50% of a buyer’sjourneyanddecision-making
processhappensbefore eventalkingabout sellingasingle itemtothem.Takingtime towrite really
qualityemails providesauseful technique thathelpstoshow youvalue the buyerand theirneeds.
OfferSamples
Make use of a potential companyorindividual’ssensestoshow themasample of yourproduct and
whatyou’re all about.Thiscouldbe an itemas simple asa Christmascard,a DVD or a free itemyouhave
made that enablesthemtosee,touch,smell andgetasensory insightintoyourproductand your
personal story.Plus,theywilllikethe factthattheyhave beenchosentoreceive sucha product,as if
theyare part of an exclusive group.
Blog for Others
As an artisthimself, BobBakerwritesabloghelpingcreative professionalstoachieve more intheir
careers.He haswhat he callsthe ‘EmpoweredArtistMovement’,offeringadvice inthe formof written
and videocontent,aswell aspodcasts,forstrugglingartists.A blogcan become anythingyouwantitto
be – it couldbe aimedat stockistsorpotential clientstoshow themhow an artisticor creative channel
can helpthemwiththeirbusinessaims.
Don’t Underestimate Trade Shows
Trade showscan be a great tool ingettingyounoticed.Make sure you have yourbestthreadson show.
Do somethingdifferenttocapture attention andtogive potential new clientsareasontostay – a short,
engagingactivityorfree sample toopen upthe conversation. Potential clients are muchmore likelyto

3. rememberyoupersonallyalongsideshowcasingyourproducts,whichwillgoa longwayto beginninga
positive rapport.If the trade showis a little costly, considerpairingupwithafellow professionaltosplit
the costs of hiringa table and otherexpenses,suchas travel.