For many people, the new year is a time of reflection, introspection, and change. As an artist or crafter, if you are looking to make some resolutions for your business this year, Artists, Crafters, and Tradesmen Insurance (ACT) has four tips to help you make the most of your resolutions for your business.
1) MAKE IT SIMPLE
As someone who is creative, you can appreciate how the smallest detail can make or break a piece, project, or product. The same can be said for making changes to your business. Many times there are small things that you can change for a fantastic result.
One example of this could be starting an Instagram account that features you and your art or craft. Taking a picture or video here or there about your process can help you engage customers, increase sales, and grow your customer base.
2) STRATEGIC SHOW PLANNING
Attending shows and festivals costs you time, travel, and entry fees. Instead of attending every show out there, maximize this year’s return on your investment by researching the best shows for you to attend. As you investigate these shows, you’ll want to consider these key factors:
- Do those who attend the show match your customer base?
- Is the show’s attendance high enough to warrant the cost of going?
- If you’ve attended the show before, was it worth the cost or effort?
3) SOCIAL ENGAGEMENT
As mentioned above, social media is powerful. Most people will interact multiple times with a product before they make it to the buying decision. If your sales weren’t as high as you wanted them to be last year, perhaps a lack of engagement with potential customers on sites such as Facebook and Instagram could be the problem.
Sure, putting social media takes some planning, but if the end result is more sales, then the time and effort were well spent. Encourage engagement through product previews, giveaways, and other posts, and stay in touch with your customers to learn what they expect from you.
4) BOOTH DESIGN
The only thing wrong with your product might be the way that it’s presented. Don’t take it personally, some layouts attract customers more than others. For the new year, consider re-designing your booth and changing the layout.
This change is especially important if you receive feedback from customers or notice that they don’t like something. If you haven’t noticed anything, actively seek this feedback throughout the year and observe customers’ behavior so you can tailor your booth accordingly.
5) GET ARTIST LIABILITY INSURANCE
If you went through all of 2016 without a liability insurance policy, don’t take that same risk again. ACT Insurance offers two liability policies to meet your specific insurance needs.
The ACT Go Policy starts at $49 for 1–3 consecutive days of coverage, but for an additional premium, it can be extended to 90 days. The ACT Pro Policy is only $24.25/month for 365 days of coverage.
