1.
Not having a business plan. Fail to plan and you
plan to fail.
a.
Without a roadmap how do you think you’ll get to
where you want to go?
2.
Not understanding your break even point
a.
What does it cost you to make your product? What
is your profit margin?
3.
Underestimating costs
a.
You need to know your costs. Not just to make
your product but to run your business. Craft show booths aren’t free. Neither
is packaging nor postcards.
4.
Overestimating revenue
5.
Using crappy out-of-focus product photos
6.
Not developing standard greetings and signature
lines
7.
Bad packaging.
8.
Bad customer service.
a.
Be nice or they’ll shop somewhere else. Really.
There are lots of other artists.
9.
Not networking with customers and colleagues
10.
Neglecting market research that would help you
better understand customer needs
11.
Trying to do things on the cheap, e.g. bad
websites or photographs
12.
Not being able to articulate your USP (Unique
Selling Position)
a.
Why would someone buy your work? What makes you
so special?
13.
Not joining peer groups, - networking groups,
(e.g. etsy teams)
14.
Not learning new technologies
15.
Thinking that all you have to do is make
product.
a.
Product = sales. Wrong. Marketing product =
sales. Right.
16.
Feeling that you have to know everything instead
of asking/hiring help
17.
Not keeping proper financial records
18.
Charging too little for your
time/products/services
19.
Fear of raising prices
20.
Not staying in touch with customers
(newsletters, blog, email)
a.
It’s not the customers’ job to find you. It’s
your job to find them.
This list is not meant to depress you. It is meant to
inspire you to identify your weak spots, your potential trouble spots, and do
something about them.
What are you doing wrong? Now fix it.
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