Do What Works – 5 Essentials For Successful Print On Demand Artists

1. Make what you love
So your art does not fit exactly into the current trend. You have a choice to make, create something that you think will fit in, or showcase your unique voice. Please, dear artists, remember that people love your uniqueness and recognize a truth within the representation of your vision, that you created. A well-designed piece of art can become more popular than the one fitting into the masses

2. Pay attention to details
Of course, you pay attention to details when it comes to creating your unique piece of art, but are you also paying attention to how each individual application fits with your art? Some art pieces are just not made for cell phone cases while others will showcase their entire beauty on any application. Choose where you put your creative piece as thoroughly as you do during your creative process.

3. Connect with other artists
When I first started out on RedBubble, I thought of it as a lonely place, until I began connecting with other artists, by commenting on each others projects, or participating in the forums. The exchange of energy with like-minded individuals is very inspiring, as well as a learning experience. Take also advantage of the groups and forums out there outside of your platform, with Facebook groups being one example.

4. Connect with your audience
Reach out to your potential audience by learning how to maneuver throughout the various social media outlets. Learn proper etiquette, by not spamming your followers, and really engage. With the right techniques, you can gather a substantial amount of attention if you learn the tricks of the individual platforms. Marketing your products is just as important as creating them.

5. Be specific in your listings and product description
Write the description as if the customer would have no picture available and you would have to describe your creation to them. Use keywords that are related to your products (watch out for spamming keywords – only use those actually related to what you have done. Platforms like Zazzle frown upon the overuse of misguided keywords), and be specific about mentioning your targeted audience.

Please share your favorite tips and tricks in the comment section. We can all learn from each other!

Blessings

Claudia

P.S. Check out the free Aloha Snack Box Trial – who does not love free!

Reality TV, Guilty Pleasures And A Book (Of Course!)

I am not a fan of Reality TV shows (I am not talking about competition shows, but rather the Kardashian or The Housewives of…), but even I have a guilty pleasure in that category:

Million Dollar Listings LA! And to add to my bliss, it will return August 7th on Bravo. I love the peak into the Multi-Million dollar homes, the drama not so much, but that part is far less in this reality show, then in the others I had the “pleasure” of watching. The show focuses around high profile real estate agents, who compete, and sometimes battle for clients, sales and turf, understandably, if one sale can create more income then many of us make in a year.

Here is a sneak peak

But did you know that there is a published author in their midst? Josh Flagg wrote a fascinating book about his grandmother Edith Flagg, who is truly an inspiring woman.

Surviving World War II, by becoming a member of a Dutch Underground resistance to Hitler, at a very young age, she not only survived this trying time, but rather flourished, and created a Multi-Million dollar clothing company, once she made her way to the US. A truly inspiring story, told with care and love by her Grandson, a now successful business man in his own right. I recommend for you to check out: “A Simple Girl”. And watch him in action on August 7th on Bravo.

I will.

True Passion

Does a sudden windfall change what you have been thinking about working on, and set as your personal goal? If it has, then I doubt that whatever your goal is, is your real passion.

For example, as asked at the Daily Prompt, what would you do, if you would inherit 1 million dollars today, would you change what you are doing, and what would it be? (Yes it is an adapted version of the question, but it more important then “what would you buy?”)

I would (honestly) not change what I would be doing. I would be writing on a better computer, in my own office out of my bigger home, at the location I want (LA here I come!), but I would write. It would not matter if you handed me 1 million or 1 billion, I would write. I would still write about stuff I like, and I would still make up stories.

So now I have a question for you:

Would you change your dreams and goals (I am not talking about your current job, I am talking about your passion, such as music, being a painter, teaching, whatever), if you had all of a sudden a lot of money?

If the answer is no – you are all good, keep on working on it. Good for you!

If the answer is yes – ask yourself what your real dreams are, if there would be no limitations, and everything was possible. Whatever your answer, expecially if you have a reason behind why you want what you want to do, then you found your real, authentic and true passion. Start working on that. Even if it is something as small as declaring your passion to the world, or reading about it, or play a game of what if in your head.

Time to start dreaming big!