The Studio Source helps you build an extraordinary business by focusing on approach—how you show your stuff, how you connect with your customers, and how you manage the business side of creativity.
Stacey Cornelius
I'm a raving idealist, idea junkie, and creative entrepreneur with a Fine Art degree. I have professional experience in retail, theatre, and the IT industry. I'm here to show you how to make marketing part of your creative process. Contact Me
I spend far too much time online. I do a ton of research, and I see a lot of websites. Some of them are inspiring, some are cringe-worthy. There are a number of problems I encounter frequently, so rather than rant about poor design, here’s a list of 15 tips.
Posted in: Creative marketing online
Dave J’s comment on The big problem with marketing reminded me of the other big problem with marketing: not doing it is easier.
In fact, not doing just about anything—your workout, bookkeeping, the dishes—is easier, at least in the short term. Watching your income drop? Not so much.
Getting a business started (and keeping it going) is hard work. You set up your website, open a sales gallery in your studio, make a MySpace page, let some people know about it, and hope for the best. A lot of people take that route.
Posted in: Creative marketing
Are you uneasy about marketing? If so, you’re not alone. Lots of people get freaked out about it. I get freaked out about it. Marketing itself isn’t the problem, of course. The big problem with marketing is how you think about it.
I just went all psychological on you. Sorry. But it’s true. It’s tough putting yourself on the line. It’s worse when you’re in the startup phase, but even if you’re already in the midst of a business or professional creative practice, reaching out to find new clients can be scary. You might worry that you’ll be ignored, or rejected outright. And that will make you feel bad.
Posted in: Creative marketing
In my last post, I gave a few tips on how to make your brand consistent and memorable. One of the ways you do this is to evoke an emotional response. Is your work funky? Edgy? Rock-solid traditional? The unspoken message you want to convey complements your work and gets you into your customer’s consciousness.
Posted in: Creative quickies
The word “brand” often has corporate connotations. A symbol of an apple with a bite out of it, golden arches, the swoosh—but branding isn’t just for monster corporations, and it’s not just about a logo or trademark.
Your brand is a collection of customer experiences. Everything from the business card you put into someone’s hand to the header on your website makes an impression. Here are seven ways to make your professional identity memorable.
Posted in: Creative branding
