Creative Entrepreneur Business Basics: How to Build an Email List

8/1/2024

Solving Artpreneur Overwhelm

It's perfectly normal for creative people to struggle with learning business skills, especially when their passion lies in expressing themselves artistically rather than dealing with numbers or marketing strategies. The world of business can feel overwhelming or even intimidating when it's not something you're used to. But remember, you're not alone in this feeling! Many artists and creatives face the same challenges. The good news is that these skills are completely learnable, and taking small steps towards understanding them can open up new opportunities for sharing your craft with others. Think of it as adding another tool to your creative toolkit—one that helps you reach more people and make a living from what you love. It’s all about balance and finding a way to integrate these skills into your unique creative journey.

Advice from your Creativity Coach

As a creative coach and entrepreneur, my goal is to make business knowledge accessible and available to fellow creatives. I understand the challenges of navigating the business side of your passion, and I want to help bridge that gap. My aim is to provide the tools and guidance needed to turn your creative skills into a sustainable career. It's about empowering you to bring your unique vision into the world, so your creativity can shine and reach the audience it deserves. Together, we can transform those creative ideas into real-world successes.

Overwhelmed creative entrepreneur reading business basics tips from creativity coach, Cindy Cisneros at Creatively, LLC

Business Basics for Artists

I'm excited to announce a new series of blog posts called "Business Basics," where I'll be sharing essential artpreneur business skills to help you navigate the world of creative entrepreneurship. In today's post, we're diving into the topic of email marketing, a powerful tool for building and engaging with your audience. We'll cover the basics of starting an email list, growing your subscriber base, and keeping your audience engaged. Whether you're new to email marketing or looking to refine your approach, this series aims to equip you with the knowledge and confidence to effectively promote your creative work. Stay tuned for more insights and tips in the coming weeks!

Easy Business Tutorials for Creatives by Creatives

To help ease some of the intimidation around business lessons, I'll be sharing insights and tips through the lens of my own journey as a creative entrepreneur. By drawing from my experiences, I aim to make these concepts more relatable and less daunting. I'll also introduce specific tools and resources that you can use to get started, so you can take practical steps toward building your creative business. This approach is designed to be supportive and encouraging, helping you navigate the business side of your passion with confidence and clarity.

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Easy Business Tutorials for Creatives

Tools: HubSpot , SquareSpace, Zapier, Podia
Building my email list was a journey that evolved naturally over time, starting with a strong foundation of friends and family. These early supporters were crucial in getting the word out and provided a solid base to build upon. As I continued, I expanded my list by including current clients, who were already familiar with my work and valued my services. To reach a broader audience, I created a dedicated landing page, which served as an easy way for people to sign up and stay connected. While I will refer to Podia since it is the tool I used, there are other “landing page” sites you can try, and I’ve listed some in the Tools. Make sure to looks at prices and features and take time to try and choose what works best for you.

Creativity Coach Cindy Cisneros grows her email list using business basics for Creative Entrepreneurs

Goal: Be the Creative Expert

Tools: LinkedIn, HeySummit
Leveraging LinkedIn played a significant role in this growth. I shared my expertise through blog posts that not only showcased my knowledge but also linked back to my website. This strategy helped to drive traffic and attract people interested in my content. My activity on LinkedIn led to invitations to speak at various online summits, which were fantastic opportunities to reach even more people.

Goal: Multi-Layered Incentives for your Creative Audience

Tools: Podia, Teachable, Thinkific, Graphy
At these summits, I utilized Podia to offer free content as lead captures, which proved to be an effective way to grow my list. Each free resource provided valuable insights and encouraged participants to subscribe for more. On my website, I also have a lead capture form for a free gift through Podia, giving visitors another incentive to join my email list. This multi-layered approach, combining personal networks, online presence, and strategic lead captures, has allowed me to build a robust and engaged email list.
While I will refer to Podia since it is the tool I used, there are other “course” sites you can try, and I’ve listed some in the Tools. Make sure to looks at prices and features and take time to try and choose what works best for you.

Goal: Nurture your Growing Audience

Tools: Podia, Mailchimp, ConstantContact, Brevo
To nurture my growing email list, I use a variety of drip campaigns through Podia's email feature. This tool allows me to segment my audience using tags, which helps me tailor my communications based on their interests and engagement levels. By attaching these tags to specific drip campaigns, I can strategically guide different segments of my audience toward specific marketing goals.
While I will refer to Podia since it is the tool I used, there are other “email” sites you can try, and I’ve listed some in the Tools. Make sure to looks at prices and features and take time to try and choose what works best for you.

Artpreneur reads creative business basics at creativelyllc.com on how to grow his email list

Goal: Give your New Subscribers Content they Need

For example, some campaigns are designed to encourage more engagement with my coaching sessions, offering insights, tips, and exclusive offers to those who have shown interest in personal development. Other campaigns focus on promoting my online content, keeping subscribers informed about new blog posts, webinars, or downloadable resources that align with their interests. Additionally, I have drip campaigns aimed at encouraging subscriptions to my Podia courses, where I provide detailed information about the course content, benefits, and special promotions.

This targeted approach not only helps me provide relevant content to my subscribers but also builds stronger relationships by addressing their specific needs and interests. By nurturing my email list in this way, I can effectively support my audience while also achieving my business goals.

You can Build your Email Audience

In conclusion, building and engaging an email audience is a crucial step in growing your creative business. By starting with a foundation of supporters and expanding through targeted strategies, you can cultivate a dedicated community around your work. Through email marketing, you have the opportunity to share your unique voice, keep your audience informed, and offer value that resonates with them. Remember, this process is a journey, and it's okay to learn and adapt as you go. With the insights, tips, and tools provided, you're well-equipped to start or enhance your email marketing efforts, turning your creative passion into a sustainable venture. Stay tuned for more in the "Business Basics" series, where we'll continue to explore essential skills for artpreneurs.

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