by Rebecca Sciullo | Dec 21, 2023 | Planning
Prepare Your Art Business for 2024
In Charting Your Art Business, we focused on how to plan for 2024. As part of that process, artists were asked to consider a SWOT analysis – a strategic planning method used to evaluate Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats for their business. Here’s how to do a SWOT analysis to understand where you are currently with your business.
Doing a SWOT Analysis for Your Art Business
Strengths
Begin by identifying the strengths of your art business. What sets your work apart? It could be your unique style, technical skills, a solid social media presence, or a dedicated client base. Consider aspects that give you a competitive edge and contribute to your success. For instance, if you’re skilled in multiple mediums or have a strong network within the art community, these are strengths worth highlighting.
Weaknesses
Next, examine the areas that may hinder your progress. Are there places where you need more expertise or resources? This might involve insufficient marketing strategies, limited exposure, or struggles with time management. Identifying these weaknesses allows you to develop strategies to improve or mitigate them. For instance, if you need help with pricing or managing your online presence, this presents an opportunity for growth.
Opportunities
Explore external factors that could positively impact your art business. These include emerging trends in the art market, potential collaborations, or untapped niche markets. Opportunities could also arise from technological advancements, such as new digital platforms for showcasing or selling artwork. Identifying and leveraging these opportunities can help expand your reach and diversify your artistic endeavors.
Threats
Finally, analyze external threats that could potentially harm your business. This might involve competition from other artists, economic downturns affecting art sales, or shifts in consumer preferences. Awareness of these threats lets you proactively plan strategies to minimize their impact. For example, establishing a diverse income stream or adapting your art to changing market demands can help mitigate threats.
Set Your Framework
Conducting a SWOT analysis provides you with a structured framework to evaluate your art business comprehensively. By recognizing strengths to leverage, addressing weaknesses for improvement, capitalizing on opportunities, and mitigating threats, you can develop informed strategies for sustainable growth. Regularly revisiting and updating this analysis will ensure your art business remains adaptable in a dynamic.
Use the insights from a SWOT analysis to make informed decisions and grow your business.
Would you like help?
If you’d like help with a SWOT or strategizing for your business in 2024, consider letting me help you with an Artist Strategy Intensive.Â
Questions?
Drop me a line at becky@artisan-advantage.com
by Rebecca Sciullo | Nov 1, 2023 | Planning, Resources
Reviewing the Full Focus Planner by Michael Hyatt
It’s November 1st, so it is time to sit down and make my monthly 40-day plan. One tool that plays a big part in this plan is my Full Focus Planner by Michael Hyatt.
In the saturated world of productivity tools and planners, finding the right one to suit your needs can be overwhelming. I’ve tried everything from online tools to printed material. Over the years, some of the tools I’ve used have come and gone, but the one consistent product that keeps me on track is this planner—a comprehensive, goal-oriented planner designed to help you make the most of your time and achieve your goals.
While I use Google for my online calendar and Notion to keep my projects on track, the Full Focus Planner is my big-picture tool for planning my year, month, weeks, and days.
This post contains affiliate links which means I receive a small commission if you make a purchase using the link. For more information, see my full terms here.
Here’s a closer look at what makes this planner stand out.
Goal-Centered Approach
The Full Focus Planner is built around a goal-oriented framework, encouraging me to set clear objectives and break them down into manageable tasks. This focus on goal achievement is a standout feature.
Daily Rituals
The planner uses daily rituals to enhance productivity and mindfulness. Coaxing me into these daily rituals over time has promoted a balanced work-life dynamic. Daily rituals include one in the morning to set priorities and one in the evening for reflection and planning.
Quarterly Goal Setting
With the Full Focus Planner, you set and revisit your goals every quarter. This approach keeps you agile and adaptable, allowing you to adjust over time.
Built-in Time Blocking
Time blocking is seamlessly integrated into the planner, helping you allocate your time effectively and ensuring you stay on track throughout the day.
If you seek a tool to help you set, track, and achieve your goals with intention and accountability, Michael Hyatt’s Full Focus Planner is a great choice.
Get Your Planning Together for 2024 with this Free Program!
Would you like to attend a comprehensive program designed to help you plan your art business for 2024? Â If so, join me for this two-part program starting on November 14th.
by Rebecca Sciullo | Oct 24, 2023 | Events, Learning
 A Two-Part Program for Visual Artists: Art Business Planning for 2024
This program has ended, but check out this E-Guide which takes you through the material from the program.
Get help with your 2024 Planning.
I just released a self-paced eGuide for creating a 12-month art business action plan, based on this program. Â This Guide consists of a PDF and video recordings and covers SMART goal setting.
 Learn more about the Guide here.
As we approach the end of yet another year, it’s the perfect time for you to reflect on your creative and business journey in 2023 and prepare for opportunities in 2024. To support you in this effort, I’m presenting a two-part program – Charting Your Art Business Progress: A Year-End Review and 2024 Business Planning.
A Program for All Visual ArtistsÂ
This program is open to artists of all backgrounds and experience levels. Whether you’re an established artist or just starting your art business, reflection and planning are essential for growth and business success.Â
Define your path and set the stage for a prosperous 2024.Â
Program DetailsÂ
The program consists of two sessions: Session One on November 14, 2023, and Session Two on December 5, 2023. Each session includes a presentation followed by time for questions. Â
You can attend live via ZOOM or receive a recording of each event if you cannot join us in real-time.Â
Session One – Do a Year-End Review for Your Art Business
Date: November 14, 2023Â
Time: 1:00 PM – 2:30 PM (EST)Â
In the first session, we will walk through how to do a comprehensive year-end review of your art business. It’s the perfect opportunity to take stock of your accomplishments and challenges in 2023
Session Two – Art Business Planning for 2024
Date: December 5, 2023Â
Time: 1:00 PM – 2:30 PM (EST)
In the second session, we’ll focus on turning your reflections and goals into a concrete plan for 2024. Â
Define your path as an artist and set the stage for a prosperous 2024.Â
This “Charting Your Art Progress” program offers a valuable opportunity for artists of all levels to reflect, plan, and prosper in 2024. Join Artisan Advantage for the two insightful sessions and set the stage for a successful year ahead.Â
Get Your E-Guide and Make Your Plan
I just released a self-paced eGuide for creating a 12-month art business action plan, based on this program. Â This Guide consists of a PDF and video recordings and covers SMART goal setting.
by Rebecca Sciullo | Jun 20, 2023 | Events, Learning, Planning, Productivity, Your Hub
Do you have a business plan for your art business? It might not be that unusual that you don’t. If you started selling your art as a side business and fell into it, as sometimes happens, you may not have one. Or, maybe you’ve been so busy working between producing work and marketing that you haven’t reviewed your plans in a while. The good news is that there is always time. Â
Reasons to consider writing or revamping your art business plan.Â
You need a strategic approach combining your artistic vision with a well-designed business plan to succeed. Here are some things a solid business plan will do for you. Â
A good plan ensures you to treat your art as a business. Many artists need help viewing their creative pursuits as a business, fearing that it might dilute their artistic integrity. Treating art as a business helps you to establish a professional framework, enabling you to focus on goals, identify target audiences, and allocate resources effectively.
Setting clear goals gives you a roadmap to success. By outlining your vision, then short-term and long-term plans, you can stay focused, measure progress, and adapt your strategies accordingly.
A business plan helps you to manage your finances. Your financial stability is vital for sustaining a creative endeavor. With a clear understanding of their finances, artists can invest wisely in their art and secure a stable income.
Your plan outlines effective marketing strategies. An effective business plan helps you identify a target market and develop effective marketing strategies, allowing you to tailor artistic offerings, craft persuasive messages, and utilize appropriate marketing channels, maximizing your reach and exposure.
It gives you accountability. There is something about putting your plans into writing that takes you one step further to sticking to them. Share them with a partner or colleague, and your commitment to seeing the plan through will increase.Â
Creativity at the Core, But Planning is Essential
While creativity remains at the core of your work, having a well-designed business plan is essential for sustainable success. It provides a strategic framework to support your vision, helps manage finances, enables effective marketing, and increases accountability. Unlock your full potential and create a solid foundation for your art business by investing time and effort into crafting a comprehensive business plan.
It’s Never Too Late to Plan
Join a free art marketing round table, where we will discuss doing a mid-year business review, productivity, and time management for artists.Â
by Rebecca Sciullo | Jun 14, 2023 | Learning, Planning, Productivity, Time Management, Tools
How’s Your Year Going?
Do you plan once for your year and then not look at it again for the rest of the year? If you do, you’re not alone. It’s not uncommon to make solid plans and then get so busy with your work that you don’t check back in to assess how things are going.
Or, do you not have a plan but rather roll with things, creating work and putting it out there on your website or social media, hoping something will happen? Again, you’re not alone. The good news is there is always time to start making a plan.
You may have a plan and want to be more productive and assess how to improve things along the way.
For all three of these scenarios, and everything in between, join an upcoming art marketing round table where we will talk about doing a mid-year review for your art business and sharing productivity and planning tips.
How to do a Mid-Year Review for Your Art Business
Planning is for more than just the beginning of the year. Artists should periodically take stock of how things are going and where they need to adjust their plans. Do this with a mid-year review. And, if you’ve never made a plan for your business, you don’t have to wait for the beginning of the year to start. Instead, learn strategies to get started with art business planning at any stage of the game.
This art marketing round table will focus on a mid-year review of your art business. We will discuss the review process and areas you should consider when going through this process. Discussion points will include assessing your performance, systems, and goals over the past six months. Then, take that information to determine areas of adjustment and improvement for the rest of the year. This comprehensive evaluation will guide your decision-making in growing a vibrant art business. Going through this process will help you to re-evaluate and clarify goals, optimize your practices, and foster a plan for business growth.
We will also discuss productivity and time management techniques.
Art Marketing Round Table:  Mid-Year Planning – Wednesday, June 21, 2023
3:00 pm EST/12:00 pm Pacific
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/640713139247
Free Event to Help Your Art Business
This event is free, but space is limited.
For more information about upcoming round tables and other resources to help with your art marketing, please join my email newsletter.
