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Don’t know what to write about? 24 ideas for your next creative business newsletter, blog or social media

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Do you find it difficult to come up with ideas on what to write about in your newsletter, blog or social media? Are you worried about boring your readers?

Staying in touch regularly with your potential clients is crucial if you want to get more sales – especially online. Your regular useful emails will build up trust and your profile.

Emails are a particularly useful marketing tool to drive more traffic to your website, to build your relationship with potential and existing clients, and to build your credibility and profile with them. Blog posts on the other hand, are great to publish more relevant content on your website and make it more specialist – a good starting point to increase your ranking with the search engines.

Here are 24 creative and useful ideas for you to write about that your audience will love to read about:

1. Why did you start your creative business?

Was there a special reason you became your own boss? Who or what inspired you? Is there a bigger purpose behind your creative business? Your audience will love to read more about your personal motivations and life, and writing about the origin of your creative business is a great starting point.

This would make an interesting introductory read in a automated follow up email (or auto responder) when people sign up for your mailing list.

2. What’s your creative business name?

Why did you give your business this name? What’s the story behind the name you have chosen?

Naming your business is a bit like naming your baby, and readers love to hear more!

Again this can be a great ‘general’ topic or when people have recently signed up to your email list.

3. Where do you live and work?

Are you in the middle of Hackney or Shoreditch, or in the middle of nowhere in Wales? How does your studio or location influence your creative work? People find it fascinating to see how your studio looks like, and to see pictures of you at work, or from your surroundings. I have worked with many Scottish creatives and it’s wonderful to see how the Highlands or islands influence their use of colour, texture and materials.

Write an email or extended blog post about where you live and work, and how that specifically impacts on your work and business.

People love to see the provenance of your work and where you create. They are often jealous of the life style of the creative! (oh, if only they would know!)

Let’s face it … who doesn’t love to have a little peek into other people’s lives!

These behind-the-scenes images and films are very popular on Instagram too. And you can add this to your website’s ‘About Me’ page too. We love it how glass artists Stephen Gillies and Kate Jones of Gillies Jones share pictures and details of their workshop and surroundings in the North York Moors National Park, and how their environment influences them daily.

4. Who are your role models or heroes?

Who truly inspires you? Are they other creatives in your field, or are they long gone poets, bio-scientists or world peace campaigners? Or was it your grandma who taught you how to knit or who stood up for herself and said it as it was?

Do a blog post or email with your selection of five role models. What is it about them that you particularly admire? How do they compare with each other? And what are the lessons you learnt from each of them?

Or maybe you could do a Q&A or short interview with your role models and publish that on your blog?

Writing about your inspirations makes for great content for your readers, and can give a great insight into your inspirations and values too. And you can spice up your About Me page too with details of your inspirations. We love it how pet artist Jo Scott has created a really memorable ‘About Me’ page that way. 

5. Review an exhibition, event or book.

Do you want to share your inspirations, passions and values a bit more? Want to add a bit more creative content to your blog or emails?

  • Write a book review of a book and share that with your readers. Will it be a technical, creative, historical or business book? How can you share your own inspiration, values and knowledge with your readers?
  • Or create a purely photo-based blog post about an exhibition that you found inspiring. Or share pictures of city visit or quiet walk. Especially useful if you don’t like writing!
  • Or if you have exhibited at a craft fair or trade show then writing a blog post about the event can be a great follow up email after the show.

These type of review blogs can be great if you want to become an expert in your field, or if you want to start curating or writing more too.

We regularly review books on The Design Trust blog that are relevant. You can find our favourite creative business planning books here and our selected time management books here. 

6. Share your creative process.

Do you find it difficult to write anything at all? Then do think about using video, images or podcasts even.

Short videos of you at work are extremely popular on Instagram and Facebook.

Keep it short – up to 3 minutes is perfect.

And no, you don’t have to show everything and give all your technical secrets away! But it is surprising that many potential clients might not realise what is actually involved in creating your lovely handmade products.

If they don’t understand the knowledge and skills required to create beautiful, high-end craft products then how can they value what you do?

7. Show designs and products in process.

Share with your potential clients how you get inspired. How you sketch out your ideas. How you create prototype‘s or select the right materials. Or get your colours or glazes ‘just’ right.

When you are getting ready for a launch of a new collection then create a series of emails or blog posts that *slowly* reveals your next collection step-by-step – from sharing your initial ideas 6 weeks before the launch, to revealing some prototypes and the collection name a month in advance, to the final result and launching your collection.

8. Share your passions, quirks and geekiness.

People buy from people … especially when it comes to creative products and services.

Share with your audience what you are really passionate about. Show your personality. Dare to be a little different and stand out!

What excites you about your specific craft, your themes, your materials or techniques?

Did you choose your craft? Or did your craft choose you?

What is it about ceramics that you really love? Is it the combination of science and art? The possibilities of glazes? The unpredictability of the process – every single time you open that kiln door you aren’t sure which ones have survived? Or that human beings have been making pots for over 10,000 years?

Do you spend hours making your work? Relentlessly? Bickering away?

What is your work really about? What stories do you want to tell? What’s the bigger purpose of the creative work you do? What do you want to change in the world through your work and your way of seeing?

People love to buy from passionate people. Share your passion widely and passionately. Show that you care. Create an impact. We need more enthusiastic creatives like that in the world!

9. Share in-depth case studies of your commissions

This is one of my favourites! And it’s one of the most effective marketing tools you can use. Especially if you write up detailed case studies, and then promote them regularly via social media and your email marketing too.

Really tell the story of how you work with your commissioners – from start to finish. Set the scene and talk about a specific person, couple of business that commissioned you. What was the design brief? Then talk your reader through all the different stages. Your meetings or phone calls. The changes you made as you went along. Some of the challenging parts even. And finish with showing the end result and some quotes from your commissioners. Not just about the final piece, but about the process and what they liked about working with you. 

Add images of some of your sketches or prototypes.

A detailed case study can give great insight into HOW you work. What’s actually involved. How friendly or accommodating you are. Your specialist expertise. Your creative process.

Plus it’s a great way to share quotes and testimonials from happy clients. So much easier to get other people to blog your trumpet, then doing this yourself!

Writing up detailed case studies is great for commissions, but also for workshops or if you provide design services to interior designers or other business clients.

A good case study can give a unique insight into HOW you work, is more memorable as a story, and builds trust along the way.

10. Introduce your stockists and retailers

Are you promoting your wholesalers? Adding a simple stockist list to your website is a good start, but you can take this even further by introducing some of your favourite stockists or retailers in an extended blog post or email. Add several images with the display of your products. Talk about the gallery or shop owners, and why you are proud to be working with them.

No. you don’t have to be a slime ball to pull this one off … but let’s face it – small independent retailers are finding it really tough right now, so a bit of extra TLC from their suppliers (i.e. you!) will be much appreciated! PLUS some of your clients might not want to wait till your next event or shop online because they want to see your work in the flash.

And if you are working with great shops and galleries then this is a great booster for your credibility and profile too!

Check out here our blog post with our 20 favourite creative lifestyle bricks and mortar shops across the UK.

11. What is special or different about you?

Let’s face it … it’s a pretty competitive market out there! So sometimes you need to spell it out a bit clearer to your potential clients: What makes you different or special? Because niche is good!

So, what is special about you, your team, your business, or your products?

Do you use only ethical materials or are you an extremely good thrower?

One of my clients used an oak tree that was 200 years old recently. And he forgot to mention that in any of his communications! That’s such a shame because ‘little’ details like that make a huge difference to the perception of what you do, the care for your materials, the longevity and inherent history you create, and how people will remember you.

12. Ask your client’s questions

Get your clients more involved with your business by asking them questions. It’s an excellent way to really get to know who your email subscribers are! 

Although I personally think you have to be careful with asking a broad group for feedback, it can be interesting and very useful if you do this in a more targeted way, aimed at your ideal clients rather than your best friends. The Design Trust regularly does surveys for example around specific challenges that our creative business clients face. Their answers often gives us ideas for new online courses, workshops, blog posts or interviews for our Business Club.

So instead of asking your audience to vote on the possible new colourways or your new logo I would instead get them involved at an earlier stage. For example ask them about some of the challenges or issues for your kind of products or services, ask them which craft events or trade shows they attend or which specific blogs or magazines they read. Or what their specific questions or worries are about purchasing your work or commissioning you. This works especially well if your products are rare or expensive purchases as potential clients will have more questions and need more reassurance.

What is stopping your ideal clients to buy from you? If you can find the answer to that then it’s much more likely you are going to get sales.

You can ask them by email and respond directly to you, or via comments on social media or in blog posts. Or you can include a short survey that you create in Google Drive to guarantee confidentiality.

13. Answer your client’s questions

This is one of the most useful and successful ways to generate ideas for what to write about for blog posts and emails!

Why? If you write a blog post with their question and your answer then you might increase your SEO. Use your client’s question as the title of your blog post, use the key words in the URL at the top, and repeat it a few times in your post. As other potential clients might have the same question and put it in their search engine the chances of them reaching your website will increased.

Plus if you are helpful towards your future clients and answer their questions then that makes you a much more trusted creative business.

One of the biggest reasons why The Design Trust website gets more than 50,000 visitors each month is because we answer many questions for our creative business clients through this Q&A format. Many other creatives had similar questions and found us that way on Google. Once your blog becomes more established around certain consistent key terms then the traffic to your site will increase exponentially. 

14. What’s important to you?

Share your values and bigger vision and purpose with your audience.

Why? It’s very likely that your ideal clients are interested in the same values as you are. For example if you are interested in eco-friendly fashion then it’s likely that your clients are too.

Write about your favourite topics from different angles as this will increase the likelihood that you will reach the right people. For example think about including last minute gift ideas for eco-friendly mums for Mother’s Day, and insight into your supply chain and manufacturing partners, or recommend other eco-friendly small businesses that are related to what you do for example shoe companies or eco-friendly jewellers.

By writing about your key values in different ways you will get spotted easier, and your SEO for that key word will go up too.

A great example of how important values can be for a creative business is furniture designer Sebastian Cox, whose blog posts are very related to his opinions around sustainability.

15. Share useful tips and recommendations

How can you become less boring and salesy and more useful for your readers? Share some practical tips or resources that you know of that might be super useful to them! It will increase their trust in you, plus it makes you more knowledgeable too.

For example:

  • If you design and sell contemporary engagement and wedding rings then you might like to recommend other small independent creative businesses for contemporary brides, such as letterpress designers, make up artist, local photographers, wedding dress designers, and florists.
  • Does your silver jewellery need a bit of after care to avoid getting black? Then send a follow up email after their purchase on how to look after their purchase.
  • Do you own a small independent shop or gallery? Then share top tips on your blogs on where to find nice local restaurants or boutique hotels. They might even return the favour!

The Design Trust blogs and emails are full of recommendations! You can check out our 43 favourite online places to sell your crafts & design here. 

16. Give styling tips on how to wear your work

People find it often difficult to imagine how your jewellery would look on them, or if your prints would look good on their wall. So … show them!

Especially Pinterest is full of styling tips and advice on how to wear statement jewellery or a scarf, how to hang pictures on a wall, or create beautiful ceramic collection displays. Also think here about broader challenges that are indirectly related to what you do e.g. about how to dress a Christmas tree or table, or how to wrap a present beautifully.

American jeweller Megan Auman has various styling boards on her very popular Pinterest site. Very cleverly showing her pieces off and how they can be worn in different situations.

This is another great image-based solution if you don’t like writing! A great opportunity to add some different images on to your Instagram or Pinterest account.

17. Make the most of events

One of the most common mistakes I see is that creatives only send out one email to promote an event.

And often they will send it too late.

Creative selling events are one of the best opportunities to sell your gorgeous creative products, but also a great opportunity to promote yourself and your brand – even to people who might never be able to visit!

While preparing for a craft fair or tradeshow it’s crucial that you share not just one email or a few social media posts at the last moment. Events are one of the best opportunities to stay in touch with your audience in a friendly, non salesy way. Not just for the people who might be able to attend, but also to raise your profile and credibility to all your contacts.

I advise my clients to create a series of emails in the run-up to a show, from:

  • announcing that you are doing a particular show (6 weeks before)
  • to talking about your new collection that you will be launching at the show (4 weeks before)
  • to why you created this collection and its name (3 weeks before)
  • to asking if anybody needs a VIP  or special discount ticket (2 weeks before)
  • to getting ready for the show with packing up and boxes sticking out of your van (2 days before)
  • to the chaos of setting up your stand (1 day before)
  • and the final result: the launch of your new collection and your stand display. (on launch day)

Also don’t forget to email or share on social media after the show with a follow-up of what your bestseller were, and enable them to download a price list or wholesale catalogue. Just in case they missed you. This isn’t spam, this is being friendly and useful to busy people.

The reality is that if you only send one email that it’s very likely that your clients will miss it. Because the reality is that the vast majority of your clients won’t open their email. By telling a story it’s more likely that they will open your email, but also by telling a story they will become much more engaged and involved in your business journey. 

18. Make it more personal for trade buyers

If you want to increase your wholesale orders then individual and personalised emails work best. Don’t send a generic email that you also send to consumers.

Handpick the stockists and retailers you want to work with and research them instead.

Make sure that there is a good fit, rather than sending generic emails to ‘everybody’. It’s annoying and really doesn’t show that you have taken care of understanding them.

And if you want social media to work for trade clients then it’s best that you don’t copy them in all the time.

And don’t just hope that they will follow you in return if you follow them! Sorry, you need to do a bit more work then that. Stop broadcasting so much, and instead spend much more time on your trade client’s social media timelines and engage with them there. Ask questions. Give detailed comments and compliments. Yes: Make it social media!

19. Highlight a ‘Product of the Week’

Shine a light on a specific product or service that week or month.

Why did you design that product?

What was the inspiration behind it?

What name did you give it?

What’s special about it?

Make this post ideally relevant to the time of year for example a nice cosy woollen blanket post in October. Or gift ideas for teachers in July.

Include a gorgeous image at the top of your email to attract attention straight away.

And maybe you can do something special e.g. offer free postage and packaging on that product that week or combine it with another producct to create a special Set of the Month.

This is a simple but effective marketing approach to promote a product that you have got quiet a bit of stock of, without putting it too bluntly in the sale!

20. Do a timely post or email

Make your emails and blog posts more relevant and newsworthy!

Become more aware of WHEN your readers are most likely to buy. What are their reasons to buy from you?

Of course this is useful around Christmas and share some last minute gift ideas for busy mums or bicycle lovers.

But time to get a bit more creative too!

What are the key gift giving moments for your clients? Think about different religions.

What about ‘Back To School’ or ‘Hurray Spring is Here’.

Or join in with popular TV shows, music or the news.

What about ‘Love a Tree Day’ (16 May), National Stationery Week (starts Tuesday after Easter) or World Chocolate Day (yummm 7 July). We don’t know either who makes these days up … but you can find some of them on The Design Trust annual wall planner! 

Think about how your clients might feel right now. For example in January people want to start new habits or courses, and this might be a great time to launch planners or workshops. In March people might like to do a little spring clean and get some new cushions or prints on the wall. When it gets colder they will be looking for scarfs, cosy blankets, or candles. Add a little happiness in their timeline or inbox that connects to how they want to feel. 

Make sure that your subject line is catchy, interesting or useful to your potential clients.

Don’t call your newsletter a newsletter … as let’s face it … nobody wants to read that!

21. Be useful

Who wants to receive emails that are boring, spammy and overly salesy? Nobody!

Who wants to read boring blog posts? Nobody!

So, simple: start to write blog posts and emails that are useful to your ideal clients!

Give them practical advice and last-minute Christmas wrapping ideas or gift suggestions for difficult people.

Talk about the Pantone Colour of the Year and share trend advice about the latest fashion or interior colours for the next season.

Promote other creative businesses, resources or books you like. About half of our social media posts are about promoting other organisations, opportunities, events that are relevant to our clients. Less than 10% of our social media posts are about selling our online courses, workshops or books. And if you want to sell then keep it simple and include a link directly to the relevant page. Yes, social media is a great tool to drive traffic to your site!

22. Invite others to write for you!

Don’t like writing? A really good way around this is to ask guest contributors for your blog posts.

Or you can interview others you find interesting and that you know your readers would love to hear about!

Or create a so called ‘wrap up blog post’ where you ask 3 – 5 contributors to respond to the same question or challenge. These blog post can be very popular and easy to create. Check out this blog post where three creatives shared how they use email marketing in their creative businesses as an example.

Be clear in what you want the focus to be of these guest blog posts, and avoid overly spammy and salesy posts. Also ensure that the content is original, as most search engines will punish you into lower rankings if your content has been duplicated.

And if your guest writer is well connected or known and promotes their blog post to their audience then you will get more and better traffic too!

Who would you approach to write for you? And how can you convince them that that’s a good idea for them too?

23. Take part in a social media challenge

Do you need even more ideas on what to write about in your emails, blog posts or on social media? Then take in any of the popular social media challenges that are doing the rounds regularly.

One of the most popular ones is Joanne Hawker’s #marchmeetthemaker which takes place in March. Most of these challenges last a week or a month, and each day there is another topic for you to share.

Be careful that they won’t take up hours to construct. And some of these social media challenges attract mostly other creatives, and therefore might not do anything for your sales. But they can be a great opportunity to meet other creatives and become part of a bigger creative network!

24. Less writing. More images.

Don’t like writing? Still don’t know what to write about?

Let’s be honest … you are probably more a visual artists than a writer.

Make it more visual. Focus on great images in your emails. A great image says it often far better than a long email.

Keep it simple.

Because people don’t read that much any more these days.

Did you like our 24 creative ideas on what to write about for your next email newsletter, blog post or on social media? Did we give you any ideas? Or have we missed a topic that worked really well for you? We would love to hear from you in the comments box below.  And if you found this blog post useful then do share it with others on social media too. It’s really easy to copy and spread the love. Thanks.

Want even more email newsletter ideas? Here are our own favourite creative newsletters to inspire you!

My favourite marketing and social media books for creatives

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Want to do more marketing but don’t really know what to do or where to start? Then read a good marketing book! And even better … start using your new knowledge in your own business to see what works!

I am always surprised when creatives tell me that they aren’t any good in marketing, but then immediately confess that they never have read a good marketing book. Let alone USED it to improve their own marketing.

The reality is that if you want to create a profitable business then you need to teach yourself about marketing …

and one of the best and cheapest ways to do that is by getting a good marketing book!

Are you looking to polish your social media knowledge? Then I wouldn’t necessarily recommend a book as the information goes so quickly out of date. If you want to boost your social media knowledge then doing an online course with Instagram guru Sara Tasker of @me_and_orla or any of our own online workshops here at The Design Trust.

I also often recommend the Etsy Seller Handbook which is full of blog posts about all aspects of selling online (even to creatives who don’t sell on Etsy!) or again The Design Trust (!) blog posts as a great starting point to improve your social media knowledge.

But to get you started with improving your marketing and social media knowledge … here are my favourite marketing and social media books for creatives:

Get Clients Now! – C.J. Hayden

This is my favourite and most recommended marketing book. Especially if you want to have a practical but thorough introduction to marketing, and learn what to do to get clients (not just ‘likes’!).

After I had done various marketing courses, I came across this book 8 years ago. What’s really different about Get Clients Now! is that it gives you a proven framework to create a 28-day marketing plan for your own business. The basic structure is for everybody the same:

  • Identify one specific marketing or sales goal
  • Focus on where you are stuck in the so called Universal Marketing Cycle: need to work on getting more contact details, following up, having sales conversations or getting the job?
  • Work on 3 specific marketing projects to make you more confident in your marketing;
  • And finally identify 10 specific activities that you will do each day or week for 4 weeks. Your marketing activities will depend on what your specific sales goal is for the 28 days, and what your want to achieve and who you want to reach.

Once you understand the thinking and structure behind Get Clients Now then you can create your own one-page marketing plan for ANY marketing challenge or goal you set yourself!  

This was the first marketing book that I read that’s really aimed at getting you into action, and how to overcome your reluctance to marketing (even if you are super motivated!). Because let’s face it we often know what we want to do but have loads of excuses not to do the marketing that will bring us more clients and money!

The first two parts of the book explain how to create your own 28-day programme. The final part of the book is full of practical ideas on what marketing activities you can do – from writing introductions to improving your database. Very useful to get ideas and to see the wide variety of marketing actions available to you.

This book is not for people who want a quick fix result, but it’s great for businesses who want a fundamental marketing book that gets them ultimately clients.

This is a great general knowledge marketing book that will teach you the main principles of marketing to get clients (not just ‘likes’!). But the real gems of this book and programme come when you actually start doing the 28-day programme. I have been using Get Clients Now! as the basis of The Design Trust marketing plan for nearly a decade now. And I was so impressed with the results that I decided to train as a GCN facilitator 8 years ago, and I now regularly run Get Clients Now marketing planning online workshops and coaching programmes, adapted specifically for creatives businesses.

The Get Clients Now! Companion Book – C.J. Hayden

This Get Clients Now! Companion Book is a great practical marketing book full of insightful and practical marketing ideas and thoughts. It’s indeed a great follow up after you have read and used the Get Clients Now book as it’s full of additional ideas to do marketing that really works. It has got 52 chapters so you could use this as a weekly source of marketing ideas that really work.

The Art of Shouting Quietly – Pete Mosley

Pete Mosley The Art of Shouting Quietly

Creative coach Pete Mosley wrote this book specifically for introvert creatives and those creatives who don’t like promoting themselves. It’s a very gentle book, full of thought-provoking worksheets and exercises to find your way of communicating with your clients.

The Art of Shouting Quietly is much more than just a marketing book.

This book will help you to find YOUR voice. Your best way to reach the people that need to know of your work.

Highly recommended for shy creatives who don’t like to boost about themselves and don’t really know what to say or write. 

Your Press Release Is Breaking My Heart – Janet Murray

If you want to get a real-life, practical and quick (can be read in around an hour!) introduction on how to get more press for your creative business then this is it! Ex-Journalist Janet Murray shares her opinions and insights into how to get press – both nationally, locally and trade press. And it’s done the way you think it is! (Hint: “The press release is dead”)

I really love her no-nonsense and realistic approach in Your Press Release is Breaking My Heart. It’s all about focusing, getting to know the magazines and blogs that your dream clients read in a lot more detail. The key to getting press is all about building relationships with a specific group of journalists and sharing media stories that people actually want to read about.

And yes … you are definitely the best person to do PR for your creative business!

Book Yourself Solid – Michael Port

I highly recommend this book to anybody who is selling services rather than products. It’s now a classic book for consultants, coaches but also designers who need more clients. When I started out my career as a coach this was my marketing bible.  

Book Yourself Solid starts around the foundations of becoming very specific about who your clients are and how to develop our personal brand, and build your profile, credibility and trust. The main marketing technique for any service provider is networking, and in his 7 Core Self-Promotion Strategies he explains really clearly what to do to network and get solid referrals. And that’s exactly what works to get clients!

If you want an even more visual book then check out the Book Yourself Solid Visualised book!

Selling to Win – Richard Denny

An invaluable book to boost confidence in marketing for getting sales.

The book explains clearly how to put winning techniques into action, building a positive attitude that gets results, beating the competition and closing a sale. The 25th anniversary edition of Selling to Win has been revised and is full of even more sales tips and essential practical advice and has been updated to reflect current selling techniques.

Hashtag Authentic – Sara Tasker

This is one of the most beautiful but also thought-provoking coffee table books around now about social media’s current darling Instagram. Sara is known for her wonderfully magical and whimsical images (generating over 216,000 followers on her Instagram account at the last count!) and this book is a perfect homage to her Instagram timeline.

This is book that will inspire and comfort you. That you can dip in and dip out of for a boost of creative inspiration.

But what I found wonderfully surprising in this book about Instagram is that Sara is also very aware of the downsides of Instagram, the negatively comparing, the stress involved to presenting that perfect image, and the time wasting. She shares her own very personal story throughout the book, how she found her own ‘voice’ and build a creative online community. With the emphasis on slow.

Hashtag Authentic is interspersed with beautiful imagery, creative exercises and very practical tips on inspirational storytelling, how to improve the quality of your pictures, and the best hashtags to find and use to grow your own Instagram following. A beauty with brains and soul!

How To Get Illustration Clients – Alex Mathers

This is a great Kindle read – very quick to read (about an hour) but with some really great practical, fundamental but very specific tips for illustrators who want to get more clients by Alex Mathers, a creative coach and illustrator himself, who founded the Red Lemon Club website for creative minds.

It really focuses on the main parts of how to get more illustration clients and commissions, including the importance of focusing on a niche and with a strong focus on building your network – referrals are essential for any creative freelancer who wants to get more work!

How To Get Illustration Clients also has a very useful resources list in the back with the key illustration awards, listings, directories, agencies, job boards, freelance sites and even examples of cold emails to send to potential illustrator clients.

The Language of Trust – Michael Maslansky

The credibility and trust that you develop over time with your audience can lead to amazing things. But, people are becoming very sceptical. They have been let down by institutions, governments, and big businesses and are now quick to assume an ulterior motive for any good that you do.

The Language of Trust is all about how to communicate with people on their own terms and is full of practical tips on how to build and maintain trust with your audience.

Value Proposition Design – Alexander Osterwalder & Yves Pigneur

This book came directly out of the successful publication of the Business Model Generation, one of the now classic books for visual design thinkers. As Value Proposition is one of the key elements of the Business Model Canvas this additional book goes into great detail about how to understand your potential clients and stakeholders, build empathy and relationships, find out what their needs and wants really are, so that you can solve their problems and challenges (so called ‘gain creators’ or ‘pain relievers’) and possibly create a new business model.

Value Proposition Design is one of the most detailed business books to explain how to dig deeper into who potential clients and stakeholders are, and how you can add value to that relationship. As it’s written by one of the biggest design thinkers expect to see loads of diagrams, visualisations and entrepreneurial examples. Probably a good purchase for any entrepreneurial designer who wants to get started with mapping their client journey in more detail.

Do/Open – David Hieatt

Another useful book in the DO series. This is a fun and very visual read to improve your email marketing! I would definitely recommend that you get the softback version rather than the Kindle edition as there are loads of nice imagery throughout this book. It’s very obvious that David loves a good newsletter, and knows how to create one too … indeed the Do Lectures and Hiut Denim newsletter for his two successful social enterprises are two of our favourite newsletters – that you can find in this post!

Did you know that email marketing is 10x more effective than social media to reach your ideal clients, and especially to get them to buy from you? Do/Open is full of sound bites and continues to convince you that email marketing works. And shows you how it’s done.

It reads more like a series of blog posts rather than an in depth practical book. You won’t find details here on how to get started with Mailchimp, but you’ll get loads of ideas on how to find your own voice and why you are building a community rather than an email list.

This Is Marketing – Seth Godin

Marketing guru Seth Godin has written a wide range of marketing books that are worth a read, including the now classic Purple Cow and Tribes.

In this short book (again a-one-hour-read!) he covers in 23 short chapters a short intro to marketing. Like his famous daily blog posts he covers a wide range of topics – from what marketing is to building trust to story telling and beyond. This is Marketing is full of sound-bites and quick thoughts. Useful if you want a bit of a quick boost in startup marketing ideas, less useful if you want practical ideas of what to do.

Marketing Made Simple – Donald Miller

A practical and actionable guide, this book explains in an almost checklist manner, how to build five critical marketing tools, including a one-liner, a website or landing page, a lead generator, an email nurture campaign, and an email sales campaign.

Marketing Made Simple is really easy to read and simple to follow especially with the added downloads that break down some of the most crucial steps even more plus a template he provides to explain how you can solve your customers’ problems

The Design Trust March Pinterest Marketing Book Recommendations Small Business
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Did you find my favourite list of marketing and social media books for creatives useful? Have you purchased a marketing book (for the first time in your life?!) and learnt something and done something with it in your own creative business? Let us know which one you selected and why. We love to hear from you in the comments box below!

Have you got additional recommendation of marketing and social media books for creatives? Then do share them with us below in the comments box.

Please note that we have included some affiliate links to Amazon in the post above as many of our readers love the convenience. However, we remind you that you can of course any of the books above also from your own local book shop, which will keep them in business for longer. Buy local if you can.

Stop wasting your time on social media – 7 habit-breaking tricks that really work

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Are you spending too much time on social media? Scrolling down on Instagram to see if you’ve got any more likes? Just wanted to flick quickly through for a couple of minutes, but before you know it half an hour has gone by? Do you find it really difficult to control yourself and to stop wasting your time on social media?

Did you know that it’s actually really easy to stop these habits?

Because that’s what they are!

The key to *really* stop wasting your time on social media is to become more conscious of what you’re doing.

And then to break that habit.

Because when you are on social media you’re mostly on auto-pilot.

And before you know it you have spent again too much time online.

These habit-breaking tricks are surprisingly easy. You might even think that they won’t work for you. But they do!

I learnt about some of these simple tricks from the very exciting book Atomic Habits by James Clear. In his book James explains in detail how we create both good and bad habits, and how to break them. I highly recommend this book if you struggle to stay on track with your business or life goals, or if you want to save more money or loose some weight too.

Based on this book I want to share 7 habit-breaking tricks that I personally use too, and that you can implement too to stop wasting your time on social media:

1: Switch off all your notifications and bleeps

Did you know that every time your phone does its little bleep your cortisol (hormone) levels go up? And you’ll need to be a super determined person to be able to ignore that bleep for long. “Who is it? Is it important?”

Just switch off the audio beeps in the settings on your phone or computer to stop that ‘happy hormone’ release each time you hear it.

It’s that simple.

Because let’s be honest: If you don’t know that there is a message waiting for you then you will be much less inclined to check it. Why fight against it if you can switch it off so easily?

2: Switch your phone off or hide it

Yes, I know this sounds silly, but again it really works!

I used this insight myself when I was writing my Dream Plan Do book. Although I was really determined I regularly started to procrastinate by ‘just checking Twitter for a moment’. Instead of keeping my phone next to the kettle to check in each time I made a cup of tea, I would (at the start of the working day) hide my phone in our bedroom, which is three stairs up from where I work. So if I wanted a bit of distraction it was a lot more hassle and often I decided it wasn’t worth it.

And guess what? I believe this little action saved me about 45 – 60 minutes every day. It kept me a lot more focused on my job of writing and finishing my book.

Very simple but very effective indeed. You might be surprised how easy it actually is to break your social media habit. Try it. It works.

3: Create & stick to some social media rules

When do you become especially engrossed in social media?

Become more aware of how and when you are using social media and the impact that is having on your life and business. Do you use social media to promote yourself, to research, to stay in touch with friends? Or, is it more of a distraction, and a bad one at that? Does social media actually get you down? Do you get a little envious and compare yourself negatively, and give yourself a dent in your confidence? Do you worry about missing out?

If that’s the case then setting rules for yourself around your use of social media can be extremely useful.

Three years ago I decided to leave my phone at home during our two week family holiday. I had realised that my mind needed a break too. It was actually a lot easier than I had expected! I had no access to my emails or social media accounts. But it was the most calming holiday I’ve had in a long time. My mind got that rest because I wasn’t following all the negative news or check emails during my much-needed break.

As we have a teenage daughter in the house we had to set some rules around social media anyway and I’ve just extended those rules to myself too.

  • We don’t allow phones at the dinner table or in the bedroom.
  • I minimise mobile phone use in the evenings. Especially not in the hour before I go to bed. (Do you know that the blue light of screens actually disrupts your sleeping patterns?)
  • No phone between 8pm till 8am – so wake up slowly without social media overload first thing in the morning. My teenage daughter is actually better with this one than me!
  • And I’m now trying to have a detox-social-media-free-Sunday on a regular basis.

I’ve seen the negative effect on my mood when I spend too much time on social media, and I now try to be more conscious of why I am online.

It’s not just the time I literally spend online, but also the negative energy I create myself, sometimes impacting for a long time after I have gone offline.

Often feeling less confident and more argumentative then I normally am. Is that worth it?

Setting these online media rules for myself has had an impact on my daughter’s use of social media too because she sees her mum using social media more wisely. She realises she has the choice to put her phone away and have a real conversation or hug.

Which social media rule would work for you? Let us know in the comments box below.

Setting social media rules can also work while dealing with your emails by deciding to only check your emails only 2-3 times a day. Many people start with checking their emails and social media first thing in the morning and then respond. Instead: group your email-reading and -writing in to half hour blocks around lunch time and the end of the working day. That way you won’t be scrolling down your emails and then having to come back later when you have time to actually answer them, this often doubles the time you need.

Also a big problem with emails is that if you send them then people respond to you!

The more emails you sent, the more emails you will get. This is an ongoing cycle.

Creative business advisor Mark McGuinness recommends in his free e-book Time management for Creatives not to email before 1 o’clock. I think that’s a great idea because the morning is often the best time of the day to do jobs that need more brain space because your energy level is at its best. Mornings are perfect to think, plan, work on strategic projects, or work on more tricky or intensive creative projects too. If you manage to work solidly three or four hours uninterrupted most mornings then you’ll get a surprising amount done. And it will make you feel good about yourself too. But instead we often waste this energised morning period with busywork, such as emails and social media. Why not try Mark’s tip out for yourself and see how it could work for you?

4: Schedule proper social media time for your business

This is the tricky thing for creative entrepreneurs: Social media blurs the boundaries between work and play.

Social media use makes you feel good, because it feels like you’re working, that you are productive, that you’re promoting yourself, or researching.

In reality you’re often just browsing, liking your mates’ pictures, being dragged into the rabbit hole that is social media.

Of course you can just set an alarm and give yourself only 15 minutes or so to browse on social media and then stop. But that might feel a bit childish, and frankly you need to be pretty determined to do this each time.

Instead start to set specific social media goals and schedule specific and proper social media time for your business.

What do you want to achieve with your social media use?

  • Want to research other creatives or potential retailers or journalists? Then set a time limit or aim to identify and follow 10 contacts each time only.
  • Do you want to raise your profile? Then follow 5 people or businesses that need to know of you each week, and leave comments or questions with 10 each week.
  • Do you want to get more credibility? Then show images or videos of your creative process, or show the logo or promotional material of awards or events you participate in.
  • Do you want to get more sales? Then drive more traffic by including a specific page link to your website or product.

Spent one dedicated hour every week to schedule posts on Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter or whatever social media you are using. Be more strategic with what you post. Find out here how to create a specific social media strategy and calendar to stick too instead of doing a bit of everything.

Create images and post around themes that are relevant for the time of year and for your clients. Focus a lot more on what you want to be known for. This can save you a lot of time and make you much more effective, and you will stop wasting your time on social media.

By taking a series of pictures at the same time, with the same lighting and atmosphere you will create a more consistent image too.

We also often recommend that creatives spend less time broadcasting on their own time line talking about themselves, and connecting more on the timelines of people who would buy from you or could help you.

Be more targeted and focused. Ask questions and leave useful comments. Start more meaningful conversations that create relationships.

5: Use automation where you can

We’ve found it very useful to use automation tools to manage The Design Trust’s social media. Use an automation tool for 1 or 2 hours each week to post strategic social media posts to increase your profile and traffic to your website more purposefully. This will cover the basics and you can still check in regularly to respond to posts during the week.

For Instagram we recommend an app called Later. It’s free to get started with and again allows you to plan and automate when your Instagram posts get published.

Don’t know what to write about? Check out these 24 ideas for your next blog, newsletter or social media. 

6: Do you know how much time you actually spend on social media?

There are now very useful tools and apps such as Social Fever, OFFTIME and Moment that can show you how much time and where you are spending your time on social media. Installing and checking your numbers can help to become more aware of what you are really doing, and even to shame you into action and leave your phone alone!

I have downloaded ScreenTime on my i-phone, and each week it informs me how much time I use. It also allows you to limit the daily use of specific apps, and gives you insights into how you use different tools. It’s pretty eye-opening to me and is definitely encouraging me to waste less time on social media.

7: Stop typing. start using voice-enabling software

Are you a good typist? Do you find it easy to write and develop your ideas at the same time as writing the blog post or social media article? Many people find this really difficult and therefore spend a lot more time than they needed.

This is the first time that I wrote a blog post using the voice-enabling software on my phone. You can find it often in the ‘notes’ section on your phone. So rather than typing this blog post I talked to my phone which then transcribed it for me. It can be really useful if you are unable to type, are dyslexic but also if your writing is a little ‘wooden’ and you haven’t found your writing voice yet. By simply talking to your phone about a topic you often start to sound a lot more natural! Having said that … I am not entirely sure if it actually saved me time but it was fun!

April Pinterest Articles How to Stop Wasting Time on Social Media
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What are your top tricks to stop wasting your time on social media? Did you try any of our suggestions here? Do share with us in the comments below. We love to hear from you.

19 practical social media tips for craft & design events

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Do you want to get more visitors to your next craft fair, local market, or Christmas market?

Do you want to get more orders or sales at your upcoming design or giftware trade show?

We have put together a list of 19 practical social media tips for design and craft events and markets for creative professionals so that you can promote yourself better, and ultimately get more visitors and sales.

Top Drawer
Top Drawer London

Tip 1: ALWAYS use good images on social media

The human brain can process images up to 60,000 times faster than words, so with a simple GOOD picture, you can convey so much. And that’s why for fast scrolling social media platforms like Instagram and TikTok, your image and video content and quality is a priority.

Did you know that if you use good images on Facebook or X (Twitter), the click rate increases by 48%? It’s also much more likely that people notice your social media posts and remember them.

On the most visual social media channels (Instagram and Pinterest) it’s even more crucial that your images look professional, are original, on ‘brand’ and are light and crisp. Using an editing tool to make your backgrounds whiter will make a huge difference in being spotted, getting engagement and ultimately getting sales!

Read our top tips for photographing your craft or designs more professionally here.

Tip 2: Add text to your social media images

Often your followers only see your image briefly when they are scrolling down on their Instagram or Facebook feeds. People will often only see your images, and won’t read your captions.

If you are doing an event or are having a sale, make sure that you include the date and location on your images on social media so that what you are promoting and telling people about is super obvious. Make it quick and easy for them to get the information

Check out Canva – a great tool to create a more professional look with texts and colours on your images.

Tip 3: Include a clickable link to specific product or event pages

Don’t just send traffic from your social media platforms to your homepage!

It’s a common mistake. But your potential clients haven’t got the time or patience to then find the event or product they are looking for!

Make their lives as easy as possible and send them to the specific page with a clickable link . Include the entire URL e.g. www.mybiz.com/upcomingevents/ on Facebook posts and on X.

You can’t use clickable links in captions on Instagram but Instagram does give you 5 link options in your bio – use them! Or use a platform like Linktree (its free and super helpful!) on your bio page or tailor make your own click through to add links to products and events and of course use a call to action to ‘click the link in my bio’. Use the ‘link’ option in stories too. Include a link either to the event details on your page or to the organiser’s event page to buy tickets.

Tip 4: Promote yourself before, during, and after your craft or design event

To get visitors to your event you need to market yourself. Consistently.

Sending out just one email and doing a bit of social media won’t really get you the sales you are looking for. A long time ago you might have got away with relying on the event organisers to do all the marketing for you. But those days have gone … you need to do creative and consistent marketing if you want to get sales. Just think about the impact of one person marketing an event compared to 90 people marketing that event!

Before and during the event you need to build your profile and credibility and invite people to come along and visit you. After an event you need to keep in touch with visitors and remind them of your work as this is often when most sales happen.

Worried that that might overwhelm or bore your audience? Then get more creative …

Tip 5: Get more creative with your social media posts

Are you feeling uncomfortable promoting yourself on social media? You aren’t the only creative feeling that way! But if you are running a business and you want to succeed then you need to get out there. You might find it useful to read these 6 marketing myths to help your marketing confidence. 

Your social media should be … social!

Social media is NOT about you. Think about the 80/20 rule. Out of every five posts only one should actually be about you selling your brand and your work. The other four posts should be about your passions and values, events that you have been to, books that you have read, other people’s work that you love. If you need help with content ideas, read our blog post here with tips and ideas about what to write about on social media, in emails and in blog posts.

But you do need to sell yourself on social media! How do you do that? By getting creative and trying different things out that might work for you, your clients, your events and your products:

  • Use different types of social media. Don’t just stick to Instagram, but look into Pinterest, which is often much better for online sales. Use X for local events and to connect with journalists and to tap into trade news. Use LinkedIn to identify trade buyers for trade events. And search Facebook for local groups – there are so many – where you can promote the event too.
  • Use different types of posts e.g. talk about why you created this collection or why you set up your business; do an interview or Q&A with yourself or a role model or one of your stockists; a visual behind-the-scenes post full of images of your studio and environment. Create a short video showing your work or sharing your creative process (this very popular on Instagram and Facebook) and yes people ARE interested. Use a good mix of static images, carousels, Reels and stories. Mix it up. Keep it alive and interesting.
  • Use different kinds of images e.g. product images from your website, display or stand images with nice styling or clients in the background, portraits of yourself at work, getting ready for your show (including fully packed vans!), sneak peeks of new work (with sketches or only a very close up picture that doesn’t reveal everything yet), the branding and invites for the show, your favourite fellow exhibitors or people who helped you with setting up, your best sellers after the show with some testimonials, or tell the story of those special pieces that found a new home.
  • Use different hooks to appeal to followers e.g. show your packaging and how that tells your story; be helpful to your clients and offer gift vouchers or send them reminders of last postage dates for Christmas; provide gift suggestions for hard-to-buy-for people; talk about your interest in local history or how you love your local area and how that inspires your work every day.
  • Can your clients help promote you? User generated content on social media can be really powerful. Can you ask clients to share images of how they use or display your products with you or on their own socials? Can you include compliments and testimonials from your audience and clients or fellow exhibitors either as an image or in your captions?

REAL LIFE TIP: When I attend a big trade or craft event then I often check the organiser’s social media and the event’s hashtag in advance to see who will be exhibiting. I often follow or like the exhibitors in advance, comment on their work, or wish them good luck. For major trade events or conferences, I check out who else is going, and I might approach them in advance for an appointment to make sure I won’t miss them. Events are often visually overwhelming. If I have seen the image of your display on social media before I attend the event, then I might recognise your work and stop by. It’s often a good icebreaker to say ‘I follow you on Instagram‘!

Lizzy Chambers Crafty Fox
Lizzy Chambers Crafty Fox Instagram Post

Tip 6: Are you following your trade clients & contacts?

In advance of a trade show start following your ideal trade clients, as well as influencers, bloggers, journalists, interior designers etc. And even better, engage with them!

Who are the 30 stockists that you would like to sell to? The journalists or bloggers you want to get in touch with? Spend one hour and follow them on Instagram & X. Then reach out to 10 of them this week by asking them a question or complimenting their work. Repeat again next week and see what happens.

GET INTO ACTION: This tip is especially for trade buyers and contacts. It’s much harder to identify specific individuals to follow unless they are celebrities or well-known collectors.

Tip 7: Are your avatar, profiles and bioS up to date?

Your avatar is the image that represents you on social media. Often people use a portrait, product image, or logo for this. Keep this avatar updated and maybe for your next event launch you can turn your avatar into your latest product?

Your profile / bio is the short written introduction on your social media page. Often people write it when they first open a social media account, and then forget about it. It might be worthwhile checking if your bio is up to date, and if it includes key words for which you want to be found. Have you included details there about your upcoming events? It’s a great idea to put your next couple of events, with dates there. Make sure your website / Linktree is in there too.  You can even include forthcoming event links in your bio. Remember that Instagram gives you 5 links to use in your bio.

Tip 8: Show your passion & excitement about your work and the upcoming show

Doing events is hard work, but also a lot of fun! Especially if you are fairly new to doing craft events or trade shows then share that you are excited to finally show your work at an event you have been working towards for a long time. Share who and what else will be at the show and why you’re looking forward to those things! Create a buzz.

People love buying from people who are passionate about what they do! This is one of the big advantages of being a small independent business.

Tip 9: Do a countdown

Can you remember what day it is today? Honestly? I can’t!

And I have missed many craft fairs simply because I didn’t realise that they were on at that particular weekend. I hadn’t made time for it in my diary, and as there is so much to do at the weekend I missed out!

To avoid that problem and to give events that important ‘urgency’ factor (!) let your audience know that ‘this weekend is the show’ rather than just give the dates. This is especially useful when there are loads of events happening at the same time e.g. during London Design Week or in the run-up to Christmas. Instagram stories are perfect for countdowns. Have some fun with them!

TOP TIP: Countdowns can work really well for email subject lines too: ‘Will you join me and 50 other makers this weekend at Charleston?’ That subject line will do much better than ‘newsletter update’.

People often use social media to search for events that are happening in their area. Use the right hashtags or invent one! #whatsoninglasgow #thingstodothisweekend #londondesignfair #madebrighton2024

Why not tag your local media (newspapers, magazines, radio stations etc) to alert them about the event or to get some reposts. Especially useful on X, Facebook and Instagram.

Tip 11: Why should PEOPLE attend?

Make it super clear and obvious WHY people should attend your event. Often they need a bit more convincing than the opportunity to just buy more stuff! You are selling much more than ‘just a product’ so share with them what experience they can expect.

Will you be launching new work?

Will they be able to see you but also 80 other creatives?

Will you do a demonstration or can they join in with a workshop?

Will there be other talks or events that might be useful (many shows organise expert talks)?

Will there be a glass of mulled wine and will this give them that real Christmassy feel?

Is this to support local, creative, independent, ethical businesses?

How can you entice clients to come? Be clear what’s in it for them. And it’s not just about offering them a discount!

MADELondonAtONEMarylebone
MADE LONDON Private View Invitation

Tip 12: People love an invite

Create a beautiful invitation for your event. Include the event’s name, the dates, venue, as well as images of your work and your website and social media details.

Share your invite through email, social media and maybe send some in the post too. Print is very powerful!

Events are so much easier for people (both individuals and trade buyers) to attend rather than having to arrange a meeting just with you. Events are a great way to get to know you a little better, but also to see lots of other creatives at the same time.

Invites are one of the secret marketing tools that creatives have. Everybody loves an invitation to an event!

Tip 13: Piggy back on the organiser’s marketing

Are you making full use of the craft fair or trade show organiser’s marketing? They are often desperate for good images and stories in the run up to their shows!

Tag them on Instagram, Facebook and X so that it’s super easy for them to repost your news (landing you in front of a new audience) and always use the event hashtag.

Send the event organisers an email with some stories about and good images of your latest collection or some information about you and your creative practice that they can share.

The bigger professional craft fairs and trade shows often have a huge and relevant social media following so it’s very beneficial to be put in front of them before the show opens. You will be more likely to get more professional social media followers yourself, and get engagement, ahead of the event.

Tip 14: Promote your fellow exhibitors too

One of the advantages of taking part in a craft fair or design trade show is that you get to know other creatives too. You can use social media to network in advance with fellow exhibitors, or to stay in touch afterwards. 

Social media isn’t just about promoting yourself (!), it’s about promoting the event and beyond. Show that you are excited about showing at a particular event by naming others who will take part. Share images of colleagues’ work. And maybe even talk about the exhibitors you are looking forward to meeting. If there is a talks programme or workshops talk about these too. Promote the event as a whole and not just you being there. Showing everything on offer can really entice people to come.

Tip 15: Promote your commissions & workshops too

When visiting selling events, I often see that creatives only focus on selling their creative products. That’s a mistake. 

Events can be a great place to promote your commissions or workshops. How can you promote these services at an event?

  • Have a clear sign saying that you do workshops or commissions. Or even better, create a one-page-leaflet about your commissions or workshops and hand this out. Include some great images, a bit of information about yourself, or go into a bit more depth about the kind of commissions you do. Add some testimonials too.
  • Bring an iPad or tablet to show recent commissions you have worked on to interested visitors. Or create an automated PowerPoint presentation with images or show a short video.

Events are especially useful to get people interested in talking about commissions or personalisation, or about your upcoming workshops, because they get to meet you and can ask you any questions – often in a very friendly, non-pushy environment. Far easier than having to email, phone, or arrange a meeting!

Tip 16: Should you do a special event offer?

Although I am not a big fan of discounts, it might be appropriate for some events to offer ‘something special’.

I prefer offers ‘that add something’ rather than just plain discounts.

You could offer a goody bag for the first 20 people who shop from you. Or a special discount code for your Instagram followers only. Or a special price on two related products (e.g. a necklace and earrings in the same range). Or free giftwrapping at a Christmas event. Or free postage and packaging for orders placed at the show – especially useful if the goods are bulky and hard to take home by your visitor.

Promote your special offer in advance of the show, but also during the event at your stand.

Could you do a special offer for people who sign up for your newsletter?

Tip 17: Get more social media followers from the event

How can you encourage visitors to follow you on social media? Social media is a very low-key way to stay in touch with people who are interested or who bought from you after the event. It’s even less committal than signing up for an email list! But encouraging them to stay in touch will help your sales in the long term.

  • Increasingly people will photograph your work at popular events – often even without asking! It can be a nuisance. If you don’t want people to photograph your work then that’s absolutely within your right, as you don’t really know where these images will go to. ACID (Anti Copying in Design) has a bright yellow sign for its members that states ‘Please ask before photographing’ as your work could be copied from these images.
  • How can you make sure that these images will actually promote you? Do you include your social media handles on your stand? Are they clearly visible? Do you hand out business cards to people who photograph your work, that include your social media links? Do you ask people who are taking photos of your work to tag you if they share the images on their own social media platforms?
  • Have you included your social media links on all your promotional material, wholesale brochure, and price lists?

Tip 18: Say ‘Thank You’ after the event

Social media is a great way to follow up after the event. Share a lovely image of the event or your stand or you with a smiling face, and say ‘thank you’ to people who visited you. Say how much you enjoyed meeting new people, seeing loyal customers and talking about your work. Direct people who weren’t able to attend the event to your website

Don’t forget to say thank you to the organisers, your fellow exhibitors, and any people helped you.

A bit of kindness can go a long way.

Tip 19: NEVER moan or share confidential information

I know. Events can be tough. Sometimes visitor numbers and sales will be low or non-existent.

And I am not saying that you should lie if the event is really not very good. But stay quiet rather than broadcast your frustration.

Be careful as social media is a very public tool and you might be absolutely right, but you being negative doesn’t look very professional.

I have seen people having a go at organisers who really had done their best. I have seen creatives talk openly about how many sales they had that day. I have seen exhibitors getting really angry and frustrated on social media.

Just watch out because that one post can really damage your reputation.

Did you like this blog post with fundamental social media tips for craft events and design shows? Then do share it with others on social media! Have you got any additional tips, then we would love to hear from you in the comments below

Real Life: 2 Creatives Share How they Manage Their craft Commissions

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Craft commissions can be very rewarding for designer makers as they push you creatively, offer a different income stream and can be hugely meaningful for you and your client!

But … many creatives struggle to manage their craft commissions. Either with getting the costing & pricing wrong, or struggling with time management, or with coping with changing demands of the customer. It’s really important that before embarking on the creative commission process you know exactly how to manage your craft commissions from start to finish. We asked two creative professionals to share how they manage their craft commissions:

Rauni Higson – Silversmith

Rauni Higson is one of Britain’s leading silversmiths. Originally trained in Finland, her studio is located in the dramatic landscape of Snowdonia, a rich backdrop of mountainous crags and rugged coastline that inform her work. 

When did you start taking commissions?

“I’ve taken commissions ever since I can remember. I was already doing them when I was a student.

Craft commissions have been a really crucial part of how I’ve developed my practice, my skills and my business. I’ve always used commissioning as a way to extend myself, to push my limits and stretch my comfort zone. Sometimes, I’ve pushed too hard, if I’m honest, but I’ve learned a lot, and I quite enjoy the adrenaline rollercoaster.

In the early days, I deliberately used commissions as learning experiences or opportunities to develop technically and extend my skills. I’m not necessarily recommending this for everyone, I certainly was grossly underpaid at times for commissions because I was stretching myself, for my own reasons, eyes wide open.

Over time, this developed into a methodology for doing commissions, which has become the backbone of my business.”

Rauni Higson standing with Liverpool Met Cathedral Processional Cross
Rauni Higson Standing with Liverpool Met Cathedral Processional Cross

How do you market your commissions?

“A lot of the jobs I’ve done have come through word of mouth and referrals, by people seeing my commissioned work, so in a way, they ARE marketing because my work is a talking point in places that I would never actually be myself.

I market commissions by showcasing them on my website, so people can see what happens from the design brief, the concept idea, through design development, and the making process, to the finished piece.  I show snapshots of the whole process so people can understand the process of commissioning and how one-off the pieces really are, via my website, Instagram, and I also tell the stories a bit more deeply to my mailing list via my ‘Full Moon Periodical’.

Projects get featured online or in print, on showcase websites, or borrowed back and put on exhibition. Generally, the pieces have a life of their own, often they are quite public as a lot of the work I do is for commemoration or celebration, so it is seen or displayed out in the world.”

How do you manage your commissions? 

“It starts with meeting (online or in person) to connect. Nowadays, I don’t design without having a non-returnable design fee up front because for me, the design process is massive. It’s very involved, I do drawings and models, development experiments and prototypes, so I don’t start all of that without a commitment from the client. I do prefer stage payments, and the stages are…

1. Discussion of concept ideas (no obligation)

2. Design development (commitment)

3. Design sign off

4. The making process

5. Delivery (to a happy client).

I do progress reports to keep in touch with the client throughout the commissioning process. With open communication any problems can be swerved before they arise, and everybody involved can feel confident about the progression of the project.”

Rauni Higson working on Henley Royal Regatta trophy
Rauni Higson Working on Henley Royal Regatta Trophy

How do you price your commissions? 

“Well,  that’s the thorny issue, isn’t it? Am I designing and working to a set budget or am I designing to a brief and then telling the client what it’s going to cost? One-offs, particularly large-scale silver pieces, take a very long time. It’s a waste of time and energy not to get this straight at the beginning.

I quite like the clarity of working to a budget, so if the client has a budget in mind, I want to know what it is at the start, and I can design according to their budget, or use it as a starting point for options. I think it’s good to have an idea of your minimum price for doing a commission,  and then have a range, depending on how involved the project is, to go up from there.

Really the only way to price them is to have experience of having done similar work. There’s always guesswork involved with one-offs, but experience helps.

Keep notes on projects and use them to inform the next ones. I have a dedicated sketchbook per project, and just scrawl everything in there, sketches, diagrams, cost of materials, phone numbers, and crucially, insights.

You’re working on the basis of projecting what it’s likely to be. I have a costing spreadsheet with boxes for all the potential costs, subcontractors, the actual material costs, the number of days or hours I think each process is likely to take, every bit of the process, add that all up, add a contingency and add a profit.

This document can then be checked back afterwards to see how optimistic it was, what actually happened, and over time you build up a picture of how it works. You adjust over time, with experience.

Always add a contingency because things happen and things take longer than you imagine. Over time it gets more accurate and you gain confidence.“

What are the benefits of commissions for your business?

“I’ve built my business on commissions.

I happen to like doing them, not everyone does. I really enjoy making when I’m responding to someone’s need, and I can do some of my best work when I’m responding to a brief, even though I absolutely love working for myself as well. I categorise that as my Art, and I approach commissions as a combination of art and business.

Some of my best work has been commissions. I’ve pushed myself really hard to do really spectacular things, which I wouldn’t have done in that way if I didn’t have the client and a sense of  the piece being used and enjoyed, potentially seen by many people for many years to come. That’s a good motivation for me to pull something special out of the bag.  I really enjoy that level of challenge.

I get a huge buzz when I hand over the piece and the recipient  is blown away because they couldn’t imagine it before they saw it, even though they asked me to do it. It’s so sweet when it’s better than either of us imagined. That sense of not just satisfying a brief and producing something, but being able to produce something that goes way above and beyond what people thought they wanted is enormously satisfying and gratifying.

There’s a lot of practical benefits also, I’m not carrying loads of stock or making things that may or may not sell. I’m concentrating on pieces that already have a home when I start them.“

Rauni Higson Henley Royal Regatta Trophy
Rauni Higson’s Henley Royal Regatta Trophy

What are your tips for creatives just starting out with commissions?

“Communicate, communicate, communicate! Clarify. Don’t underestimate how easy it is to have misunderstandings. What appears obvious to you is not obvious to your client. What appears obvious to your client is not necessarily obvious to you.

It’s a meeting of cultures often, for example, an artist maker and a corporation or an institution. Clear communication and a clear process is crucial.

Expect the unexpected, try it in a small way first, and manage your time, plan backwards from a deadline, and add contingency of both time and money to everything. 

Expect it to take longer than you think it’s going to take, that’s normal, so there’s nothing wrong with you if that’s what happens.

Learn from each project and apply your learnings to the next one.“

Valerie Wartelle – Textile Artist

Valérie Wartelle’s practice is rooted in the traditional craft of wet felting and the manipulation of textiles as an expressive art form. Taking the rural environment as her inspiration, she draws on its colour, texture and form to create evocative semi-abstract landscapes rich in climate. The compositions are built in layers, hinting at what may lie beneath, and use translucency and light to create absorbing moods. These are highly textured felt pieces in which cloth is embedded and threads unravelled, as a painter with her brush.

When did you start taking commissions?

“Quite early on after setting up my practice, I had requests for bespoke pieces. I found then the experience rather stressful and unrewarding, and pretty much deflected any enquiry coming my way. I now realise, it likely was because I had no trusted process in place.

After exhibiting at Collect 2022 with the QEST gallery, I had several enquiries. I knew then I had to raise my game if I wanted to capitalise on it – I needed to develop systems and templates I could rely on. Fortuitously, The Design Trust were then launching their new Creative Commissioning course, and I eagerly signed up to it.“

Elif Commission
Elif Trio Commission by Valerie Wartelle

How do you market your commissions?

“In the main, commissioning projects come about from individuals already familiar with my work either through direct enquiries, or on the back of a direct mail out. For example, I followed up on the mailing list garnered at Collect 2022 with a direct email reminding them of my work, and with an invitation to meet up if / when visiting Collect 2023. This alone generated a couple of new enquiries.

In addition, ahead of a solo exhibition held last autumn, I created an ‘Introduction Pack’ for a postal mailout to galleries / interior designers / consultants. The document included an invitation to the show along with a commissioning page outlining my process with a case study of a recent commission.

Whilst the opportunity for commissions is mentioned in my newsletters and website, I have done no promotion on social media. There will however soon be a commissioning page on my website!”

How do you manage your commissioning process?

“Following a commissioning enquiry, I will first arrange a meeting / Zoom call to discuss the brief and gather the necessary information to develop a proposal. The Commission Proposal will outline the brief and the different phases of the commission process, (Phase 1: Design Concept; Phase 2: Creation; Phase 3: Delivery) including time frame, fee and payment terms. Once agreed, I send a Commission Agreement with more details and key dates about the project to be signed by both parties.

I create one-off artworks and before embarking on a project, it is essential that both parties have the same understanding of what is intended and expected from the artwork, (subject of course to some level of creative license where required). Phase 1 Design Concept is therefore a critical part of the process. I initially spend some time drawing up to 3 design ideas to discuss and agree on, before delving into the making of the artwork.

Once completed, I will aim to deliver the work myself, time and distance permitting. I will present them with their artwork, certificate of authenticity, as well as gifting them a print of their chosen drawing as a memento of our collaboration.”

Elif Trio detail1
Elif Trio Commission (Detail) by Valerie Wartelle

How do you price your commissions?

“I use the Commission Financial Forecast template shared on the Creative Commissioning course by Patricia. I adapted it to suit my process and have used it ever since when drafting a proposal.

It allows me to identify all costs associated to each phase of the commissioning process (e.g.: admin, design, materials, making, delivery, insurance, etc). I am then able to adjust it in line with the budget range if needed. Crucially, the spreadsheet gives me a realistic quota of ‘studio time’ I can monitor and (try to) keep to.“

What are the benefits of commissions for your business?

“The number of commissioned works I take on has increased over the last couple of years, and now forms a key part of my practice. Being able to cost and schedule commissions effectively has taken much of the stress away – I feel much more confident taking them on, in the knowledge of a positive outcome.

Offering such a bespoke service is of course more challenging, and a commitment for both parties; but it also allows for a closer collaboration with clients, sharing a unique story and meaningful experience.”

Elif trio in situ 3
Elif Trio Commission by Valerie Wartelle in Situ

Have you got any tips for creatives starting out to work on commissions?

Tip 1: Identify a workable timeline and a ballpark budget from the word go helps save precious time and shape a viable proposal.

Tip 2: Agree at the first opportunity on essential contact details and best ways to keep in touch to support more responsive and fluid exchanges.

Tip 3: Keeping the customer updated on progress throughout the process is good practice. Clear and transparent communication helps identify and iron out any concerns or delays, as let’s face it, life happens no matter what! I therefore include in my agreement a schedule of ‘keeping in touch’ dates, carried out via email, telephone / video call, and / or with photographs. The communication schedule also includes key decision-making dates (e.g frame profile selection) necessary to keep to the project’s timeline.

There’s no doubt that being more in control of the process allowed me to maximise opportunities with greater professionalism and confidence.“

If you would like to take more control of your own commissioning process, take a look at our next Creative Commissions Online Course starting 7 May 2024.

Sell More Online 2024

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Sell More Online Colour

Dear , a very big welcome to the Sell More Online 2024 course

We hope you are super excited to get started with this really practical and action-orientated 7-week course and accountability group. We want to show you over the next few weeks how to improve your website, branding, and your online marketing incl. email marketing and social media too.

The course exists of 4 online workshops & 1 bonus session:

  1. Are you and your website ready for more online sales? On Friday 24 May from 9.30am – 12.30pm UK time
  2. The 4 key strategies to drive better and more traffic to your website On Friday 7 June from 9.30am – 12.30pm UK time
  3. How to turn interest into actual sales On Friday 21 June from 9.30am – 12.30pm UK time
  4. How to use Arificial Intelligence for your marketing On Friday 5 July from 9.30am – 10.30am UK (1 hour session)
  5. Sell more on Etsy + two ‘hot seats’ and Q&A On Friday 12 July from 9.30am – 12.30pm UK time

You will have access to this course till 1 November 2024.

We also recommend that you reserve around 6 – 8 hours each week in your diary between end of May and mid of July to work on your own website and online marketing. What would work best for you? To do it all in one day, or in two blocks or maybe one hour each working day? We have found that participants who put in these blocks into their diary before the course starts are much more likely to take action!

After each of the 3 workshops we will give you practical homework and we will invite you to identify 5 specific actions to DO and focus on, and to share these with us here on the private course hub. Then we can give you additional feedback and suggestions too.

How to access the course, presentations & recordings?

If you scroll below then you will see an outline of the course. As we go through the course we will be adding the presentations and recordings to the course.

Scroll down to the grey part ‘What you’ll learn’ During the first workshop we will also show you around the course hub.

Welcome aboard. We are excited to be working with you!

Patricia van den Akker & Anne-Marie Shepherd

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Using Instagram and Pinterest to drive sales

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When it comes to social media, a really common question we get asked is, ‘Is Pinterest better than Instagram for driving sales?’ The answer isn’t so straightforward. It depends on quite a few factors and creative businesses use both platforms very successfully for driving sales. In this blog post, Anne-Marie Shepherd, our social media manager, explores the differences between Pinterest and Instagram and shares ideas and tips on how to use each to boost your online presence.

The Differences Between Instagram and Pinterest

The Purpose of the Platforms and How They are Used

Instagram is about sharing, engaging, building relationships, entertaining and inspiring. You can have conversations on Instagram. Ask questions. Really engage with your followers and enhance the know, like and trust of your business. You can share content around your business, your why, your hobbies, your passions. It’s personal. It is sociable and it isn’t all about you!

Pinterest is more about discovering learning, and inspiring people to find out more and eventually shop. Pinterest is a visual discovery channel (I call it Google with images). Users enter keywords to find content around their needs and wants – just like Google. They use it to curate and save content uploaded by other users (you!). Your Pins are about your business. Images of the products you create, how people use your products, videos of your products in action, and images with graphics to draw people in. Pinterest is all about you. It’s another platform to showcase what you offer.

Gorgeous images are vital on both, but on Pinterest users also need to see some sense of value. What can they do with the product or what is your service offering them? Is there further instruction or more to learn? The titles and descriptions of your content should reflect this.

The Audience

It’s really important to look at typical audiences for social media platforms to make sure that your content matches the audiences using those platforms. Here’s is a super quick breakdown of Instagram and Pinterest audiences to help you.

Instagram

  • 2 billion active monthly users (35 million users in the UK)
  • An equal split between male and female users.
  • 85% of Instagram’s audience are under 45 users
  • Instagram is the preferred platform of social media users aged 16-34
  • People over 65 years old are least likely to be Instagram users.
  • 70% of shoppers look to Instagram for their next purchase

Pinterest

  • 498 million monthly active users
  • Over 1.5 Billion Pins saved every week
  • 85% of weekly users have made a purchase from Pinterest pins
  • Pinterest’s biggest audience segment is women aged 25-34. 76.2 % of Pinterest users are females.
  • Pinterest will have around 25.1 million Gen Z users in 2024, accounting for around 5% of its entire user base. This is up from 23 million in 2023, showing that Gen Z consumers are continuing to join the platform.
  • 1 in 3 Pinterest shoppers have an income of over $100k. Most people who use Pinterest have disposable income.

In a nutshell more women use Pinterest and it has a slightly older-on-average audience than Instagram. Pinterest users also have a high disposable income. They are on the platform looking for ways to spend!

Link Sharing

Pinterest totally prioritises link sharing and saving. It wants users to see something they like, click on the image and be taken to where that image is AND they want people to re-pin. Pinners are three times more likely to click through to learn more about a product or service than they are on any other social media platform.

The only clickable link feature that Instagram has is via someone’s bio. It is currently the only platform that doesn’t allow you to share links in posts.

When you are looking to distribute content making it easy for people to get to your website, Etsy shop, YouTube channel etc, Pinterest is definitely the best choice.

Images

Instagram and Pinterest stand out as the two most visual-centric social media platforms that we have. It makes sense as visual businesses to use them. If you want to get any attention at all, you need to have gorgeous, high-quality images on both. We cannot stress the importance of this.

Have you seen how quickly people scroll on Instagram? Your images have to make them STOP!

Similarly on Pinterest, you want your image to engage people to the point where they re-pin your content and even better click through to your website to find out more.

But there are differences between powerful image types on the platforms too.

Photos without faces usually do better on Pinterest. Less than 20% of images on Pinterest include faces and brand images without faces get 23% more re-pins than those with faces. It’s why you’ll often see full body images to show outfits cut off at the woman’s chin or a pair of earrings totally zoomed on to the ear.

Instagram is exactly the opposite. Photos with faces get 38% more likes. It’s why we always encourage you to show your face on Instagram. Your face is one of the key factors in building know, like and trust!

Longevity

The images you post on Pinterest is evergreen content. Pins have a really long lifespan. Really effective pins posted years ago can still bring in a lot of traffic. A hero image accompanied by the right keywords and a direct link can work in your favour for a very long time.

Instagram’s algorithm looks at how long ago your photo was posted. It cares about when you posted, because it always wants to serve its audience the latest, most interesting posts. Instagram posts can disappear quickly so make sure you post when your audience is most likely online.

Follower Numbers

Pinterest follower numbers are not as important as Instagram follower numbers, because as we saw at the top of this blog post the purpose and use of the platforms is very different.

On Pinterest your home feed shows Pins from people and boards that you follow, as well as Pins inspired by your own boards and by your recent activity. And the feed is largely shown in chronological order.

On Instagram, your posts will be shown to your followers, so there is immediately a purpose to trying to grow your followers – with your ideal clients.

Ecommerce Platforms FOR Pinterest AND INSTAGRAM

Pinterest offer seamless shopping integrations with Adobe Commerce, Salesforce Commerce Cloud, Shopify and Woo.  

In essence, Pinterest picks up the data and description from your e commerce platform listing and uses that for the Pin making it even easier for Pinners to shop!

If you host your products on a partner platform that has an integration with Meta, you can import them to your catalogue in Commerce Manager. All your updates will then sync automatically to Commerce Manager on a regular basis and you can use it to start selling from a Facebook or Instagram shop. This is having a massive impact on making it easy for people to shop direct from Instagram simply by tapping on a linked product image.

Tips for Getting Found and Driving Sales on Pinterest

  • Make sure you have a Business Account and claim your website. Create 8 – 10 boards – these are your categories – label them well and place your Pins into the relevant boards. Archive all your personal boards and Pins, this is strictly business Pinterest only!
  • Post fresh and original content. As with all social media, it is the quality of your pins that will bring you followers and traffic. Pinterest likes originality. It prioritises FRESH Pins – that is content that you create (post) on the platform. Pinners use the site to look for new ideas, inspiration, and products, so make sure your own Pins are super fresh. Use quality images. The best performing Pins have 3 things in common: they’re beautiful, interesting, and actionable. In that order.
  • Be consistent. This is a simple rule for all social media, but especially for Pinterest. Post little and often. Start with 2 – 5 FRESH Pins per day.
  • Use relevant keywords. Use keywords in your Pin titles, Pin descriptions, Board titles, Board descriptions and in the graphics on your images. Yes, Pinterest can read image graphics! Make sure your descriptions are keyword-rich so that you appear in relevant searches. TOP TIP: Use Pinterest’s search for keyword research. Put a few keywords in Pinterest’s search bar, take note of the automatic suggestions and start using those in your titles and descriptions.
  • Include detailed descriptions. To keep the attention that your Pin has attracted, you’ll need a stimulating caption. Provide enough interesting information to make users want to know more about what you do.
  • Schedule Pins in advance. Since Pinterest is used for planning, it’s a good idea to stay ahead of events. Pinterest recommends that seasonal content is shared up to 45 days before a holiday or event! Pinners often plan 3-4 months in advance of events, especially weddings, Christmas and holidays so start your Christmas Pinning in September.
  • Use the Pinterest icon on your website, in newsletter footers and in email signatures to encourage your audience to follow you there.
  • Add the Pinterest Save button to your website and make your website visitors aware that you are on Pinterest. And the Pinterest button makes it super easy for your website visitors to share any image from your website to their Pinterest boards. Others sharing your content on Pinterest is a major plus in terms of reach.

Tips for Getting Found and Driving Sales on Instagram

  • Optimise your business profile. Make sure your Instagram bio is working for you. Does your profile picture reflect you and your brand? Does your bio explain succinctly what you offer? Have you added a link (s) to your website, shop, Etsy etc. Instagram lets you have 5 different links in your bio, but if you need more think about about using Linktree or create your own link system.
  • Make sure your images are strong. You have under 2 seconds on Instagram to pique someone’s interest so make your images stand out. Don’t post anything that you are not proud of. Use your images not to sell your product but to sell a feeling. Show your work in situ, art on a wall in a gorgeous room, jewellery being worn, a scarf tied beautifully – use these aspirational images to make people want what you are offering.
  • Encourage engagement. Focus on being sociable and not on selling. People want inspiration, discovery and entertainment … and then maybe want to shop. Include a call to action in the majority of your posts. Ask a question, or say ‘click the link in my bio’, or ‘DM me for more information’, or ‘comment below’ etc. Start the conversation and keep it going. Use the 80/20 rule. Four general (engagement) posts to build relationships, to every one ‘selling’ post.
  • Don’t assume anything. If your work is for sale, then tell people that it is for sale, and explain how or where they can buy it. Eg/ say ‘available in my online shop, via the link in my bio’.
  • Set up Instagram Shopping. Tag your products in your posts and stories. After seeing a product or service on Instagram, 79% searched for more information, 37% visited the retail store and 46% made a purchase. Shopping on Instagram is the future.
  • Encourage saving posts. Suggest to your followers that they save your posts for wish lists, or for present ideas, or for special events they may have coming up. Lots of people on Instagram save posts to go back to as reminders and for inspiration. Work on this!
  • Offer Instagram only promotions. It’s the perfect place to promote a sale, new product launch, or discount code exclusively to your followers. You can either add your promo information in a caption or in Instagram Stories, encouraging users to click the link in your bio to take advantage of the offer.

As you can see, Pinterest is very different to Instagram. Once you start thinking about Pinterest as a discovery channel and not a social media platform, your strategy for how you use it will change.

The focus on Pinterest for driving traffic is much more on using the right key words to get found and to drive traffic to your website or Etsy shop. Instagram on the other hand is more about building and maintaining relationships, growing your following of ideal clients and then encouraging your followers to take the leap to purchase from you.

Both platforms are great for driving traffic, but Pinterest certainly makes it easier!

If you found this blog post of helpful, please let us know.

We’d love to hear in the comments below which platform works best for you for driving traffic, which platform is better for driving sales, and how do you use either to achieve sales?

Making It work – London Potters & The Design Trust

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Dear , welcome to Making it Work!

Making it Work professional development programme The Design Trust

Thank you so much for signing up for the full ‘Making It Work’ programme!

This new professional development course was developed in partnership with London Potters, and it’s a great course that will boost all the important parts of your business.

We recommend that you bookmark this page to make it super easy for you to return, as this is an important part of the programme.

‘Making It Works’ exists of 5 online workshops:

  • Create a Business Plan for 2024 incl. create a visual one-page-one-year business plan with specific actions for yourself, your marketing, finance & creative production. Plus goal setting & time management tips and how to overcome procrastination etc. ​
  • Marketing Fundamentals for Ceramicists & Makers incl. Create a mini-marketing plan, get to know your ideal clients, and most useful … what the exact marketing activities are to focus on to get more online sales, galleries, events, commissions, workshops, …
  • Create a brand & a better website to stand out incl. What do you want to be known for? Identify your brand values and turn that into a better brand that attracts your ideal clients. How to improve your website design & navigation.
  • Get More Online Sales incl. What sells well online?, drive traffic to your website incl. SEO keywords product titles & descriptions, beautiful & useful email marketing, make your social media work and local marketing. And AIDA: How to turn visitors into buyers!
  • Making Money – How to create a profitable ceramic or craft business incl. costing & pricing intro, pricing options for ceramicists / makers (incl. licensing), is your business viable and what to do if your numbers don’t stack up, how to charge what you are worth?

All sessions have now taken place. You can access the recordings and presentations by scrolling down to the bottom of this page under ‘What you’ll learn’ and click on the titles to link and access all recordings + presentations + homework. You will have access to this course hub with all the recordings + presentations till 1 October 2024.

bonus because you signed up for the full programme …

  • You got an extra 25% discount because you signed up for all 5 sessions at once! And if you are a London Potters member or The Design Trust Business Club member you got even more money off!
  • You’ll get access to this private course hub, where you will be able to post your questions and homework till 1 October 2024. We will show you how to acces the course hub once the sessions have started.

I am really looking forward to work with you this spring to boost your business, finance, planning + marketing skills and make positive changes to your craft business!

Patricia van den Akker – The Design Trust – the online business school for designers, makers & other creative professionals www.thedesigntrust.co.uk @TheDesignTrust

The Design Trust x London Potters – ‘Making It Work’ – 5 professional development workshops for new & established ceramicists & other makers

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selling image

‘making it work’ – 5 professional development workshops for new & established ceramicists & other makers – a partnership between london potters & the design trust

The Design Trust is proud to announce a new partnership with membership organisation London Potters to host a series of 5 short but in-depth online professional development workshops for ceramicists & other designer makers at any stage of their career throughout spring 2024.

From creative business planning and setting goals for the year, to fundamental marketing for makers, branding & websites to getting more online sales and creating a more profitable ceramic business … we will cover it all!

You can join us for one or more sessions, or get a discounted ‘package’ price if you sign up to all 5 sessions at once.

Each session will be hosted by Patricia van den Akker, the Director of The Design Trust, an award winning creative business adviser, trainer and coach who has worked with 1,000s of creatives in the last 25 years. She has been teaching the professional development programme for the Ceramics department at Central St. Martins for the last 7 years, and used to be Studio Manager for Studio Levien, a well-known ceramic design agencey.

This professional development programme is created especially for London Potters members who will get a discount when they use their discount code. Any other ceramicist creating or designing functional products or art is welcome to join and the course is also suitable for other craftspeople and designer makers too.

All 5 sessions will be recorded and you will have access to the session(s) or course programme until 1 October 2024. If you sign up to the entire package then you will get access to a private course hub, where you can ask us any business or marketing questions too.

PLEASE NOTE: Although this programme has started already you can still book the full programme as you can watch the recordings in the course hub whenever you like till 1 October 2024.

Sign up for the Making It Work full programme now for the best price, or sign up for individual sessions!

the key facts:

  • 5 individual short online workshops, each 2 – 2.5hours long which can be booked individually or as a series (for an extra discount)
  • Outcomes: Improve your ceramic or craft/designer-maker business & marketing skills, incl. goal setting, marketing, website, social media, email marketing, costing & pricing.
  • Especially created for: London Potters members and other ceramic artists or designer-makers and other crafts people
  • Tutor: Patricia van den Akker, Director of The Design Trust
  • Time commitment: Each online session is 2 – 2.5hours long. To make the most of the training you will need to take action! We recommend between 4 – 20 hours depending on what you want to do.
  • All sessions will be recorded and you will have access to individual sessions or the private course hub until 1 October 2024.

Want to get more organised, boost your marketing skills & improve your website? make your ceramic or craft business more profitable?

Do you find it difficult to promote your ceramic products or art or know how to charge professionally for your hard work?

Would you like to get more online sales, do better at craft fairs, and get better commissions?

Does your website need an update or do you want to learn how to write better product descriptions and titles to get found online?

We created this MAKING IT WORK online programme especially for makers, artists & designers working in ceramics, but it’s open for any designer maker or craftsperson!

You can just join one short 2-hour online workshop, or book the whole package (you will save $£$). We highly recommend that you book all 3 marketing & sales sessions to make the most of them as they are really connected.

Can’t make it live? No problem at all! All sessions will be recorded and you will have access to them until 1 October 2024.

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making it work – 5 short business development sessions for ceramicists & other craftspeople. 9 february – 15 april 2024

workshop 1: ‘create a business plan for 2024’. fri 9 february 10am – 12noon (UK time)

Do you find it difficult to juggle all the different parts of your business? Are you not really sure what to focus on when it comes to marketing or making your business more profitable? Do you never have time to work on the important tasks in your business? Do you want to get back in control of your business by focusing more on the important goals and creating project plans that will make your life and business easier to run?

In this first online morning workshop you will create your own visual business plan for 2024, setting juicy goals for yourself, your creative practice & production, marketing & finance (incl. a financial forecast). It’s the perfect start to the new year!

Patricia will advise you on which specific actions will improve your finances and marketing and how to make the most of the quiet and busy times in your seasonal ceramic or craft business.

You will finish this session by looking into time management and how to minimise overwhelm and procrastination.

This is a very practical and interactive online workshop. Throughout this online workshop you will be working on creating a one-page visual business plan for 2024 with specific goals incl. finance, marketing and looking at your creative work, identifying strategic projects to focus on to move your business forward, and specific business, marketing and organisational actions to do in 2024.

workshop 2: ‘marketing fundamentals for ceramicists’. sat 24 february 10am – 12.30pm (UK time)

Would you like to do more marketing in your business but aren’t really sure what works or what to do? Do you really know who your ideal clients are? Do you want to get more online sales, event sales, better commissions, and orders from galleries or interior designers? Of course you do!

In this practical but strategic marketing workshop, we will dive into the fundamentals of marketing. This is a great session for both emerging and established ceramicists and other designer makers, who want to improve their marketing skills and knowledge, and get more confident and creative with their marketing.

Even if you have been in business for a while it’s always good to return to the fundamentals some time!

We will start this online workshop with an introduction to marketing: What is marketing? What are the marketing myths? What stops you from marketing yourself better? (You are not the only creative who finds this difficult …!)

We then move on to what do you create & sell specifically as a ceramicist or designer maker (incl. functional ceramics, design or art, but we will also look briefly at commissions, licensing or workshops) and connect that with who are your ideal clients? How can you identify specific client groups and get to know your ideal clients better? Patricia will share some really great creative exercises and questions to help you get to know your ideal clients at a deeper psychological level.

“People only buy from people they know, like & trust”. This is our marketing mantra, central to all our own marketing strategies and activities, but also what our marketing teaching is based on. Before you can get any sales, orders or commissions you will need to build your profile, credibility & trust. But how exactly will you do that? Patricia will give you loads of ideas and actions for you to do after this practical marketing workshop!

In the final part of this marketing workshop, you will start to create your own mini-marketing plan for the next 6 – 12 months. You will identify a specific marketing/sales goal for your professional ceramic practice or craft business, with specific marketing projects to work on to make you feel more professional and confident (What’s missing right now?), and we will focus on specific marketing/sales channels too (e.g. online, events).

Best of all … Patricia will share exactly what marketing activities to focus on if you want to a) get more online sales, b) sales at selling events such as Ceramic Art London or PotFest, c) orders from wholesale & trade (incl. galleries & licensing), d) commissions & higher end sales, and e) workshop bookings! This will be super helpful so that you can focus on those marketing activities that actually work! Yes, there is a lot more to marketing than doing social media …

Throughout this intensive Saturday morning workshop, you will be working on your own mini-marketing plan to promote yourself and your work to the right people in the right way for the next few months. This session will focus especially on what ceramicists can create & sell and who your ideal clients are for these types of products or services. Patricia will share really practical homework exercises and creative examples so that you can make the most of your new marketing knowledge and implement it in your own business afterwards.

planning and writing by hand image unseen studio via unsplash

workshop 3: ‘create a brand & A better website to stand out’. fri 15 march 10am – 12.30pm (UK time)

Is your website as good as it could be? Does it clearly show what you are *really* selling and make you stand out from the competition? Is it easy to navigate and buy from you online? Are your images showing your work at its best and doing the hard work of selling for you? Do you have a professional brand (no need to pay loads!) that makes you stand out and attract your ideal clients?

Having a professional website and recognisable brand is essential if you want to run a small successful ceramic or craft business. It will help you to stand out and attract your ideal clients (and frankly put the wrong ones off!), educate your audience about what you do and what you can do for them. Your website is the best and most creative (!) place to get to know you and your work, and of course it’s the best place to get sales, retail orders, and commissions.

This online workshop is especially aimed at ceramicists and other craftspeople who want to rebrand or improve their existing website or Etsy shop. It’s NOT suitable for ceramicists or makers who do not have a website or who only have a social media presence.

This will be a very visual workshop with loads of craft/ceramic examples to inspire you & with very specific advice on improving your creative brand and website. We highly recommend that you sign up to all 3 marketing & sales workshops.

We will start this workshop with some great creative exercises to identify your brand values AKA what do you want to be known for? Patricia will then show you how to turn your unique brand values into a more consistent brand (on a shoe string budget!), incl. your website design, photography & film, social media, packaging, display at events etc.

We will then focus on improving your website to get more online sales with better design and images, by creating better collections, improving navigation and categories, and building your profile, credibility and trust online with a better home page, about me pages, blogs and videos.

Throughout this workshop you will create your own action plan to improve your brand and existing website. We recommend that you spend between 7 – 21 hours after this session to implement these improvements.

workshop 4: ‘Get more online sales’. Mon 25 March 10am – 12.30pm (UK time)

Do you want to get more sales, wholesale orders, commissions or workshop bookings from your website or Etsy shop?

Once you have improved your website (we highly recommend you join the previous workshop) then it’s time to start driving traffic to your updated & rebranded website, and turn those new extra visitors into buyers!

We will start this session with what sells especially well online and what doesn’t. You will get homework to check your own online best sellers and find out more about your visitor numbers and your conversion rate.

We will then look at the 4 main ways to drive traffic to your website:

  • SEO and keywords to help your site get found: Including how to identify the right keywords and use them in your website. Learn how to write better product titles and descriptions using them.
  • Email marketing: Why this is such a powerful tool for small creative businesses. How to get more signups and write beautiful & timely emails.
  • Social media: How to make it work better, with inspiring creative examples.
  • Traditional marketing: Including local and event marketing

We will finish this in-depth session with a quick introduction on how to turn visitors into buyers and what stops people buying from your website.

Throughout this workshop you will create your own action plan to get more online sales. We recommend that you reserve some time to make these changes happen from April – June to make the most of this workshop.

Please note: This workshop is aimed at ceramicists and other crafts people who have got a website or Etsy shop. It’s not suitable if you do not have a website yet.

workshop 5: ‘Making money – How to create a profitable ceramic or craft business’. Mon 15 April 10am – 12.30pm (UK TIME)

Do you find it hard to make a living from your ceramic or craft practice? Do you put in a lot of effort but don’t really generate enough money to pay yourself? Functional ceramics are indeed one of the hardest craft areas to price!

In this final workshop, we will focus on costing and pricing and making your ceramic or craft business profitable. This is a very practical but strategic and thought-provoking workshop!

We will start with costing & pricing. Patricia will explain how to calculate the cost price, wholesale & retail price of your products, and your daily rate as a ceramicist or maker. Patricia will share the most common pricing strategies for ceramicists and other craftspeople, with specific tips for pricing your products, workshops, commissions and licensing better.

We will then move on to making your business viable and profitable, and what to do if your numbers don’t stack up. Patricia will share her specialist expertise to change your prices or price points (without losing any clients!). Functional ceramics are hard to price, aren’t they?!

During this session you will start to work on creating a financial forecast for the next 2 years to make your craft business viable and ultimately profitable, with a specific financial goal, different income streams and price points.

And of course we will be working on how to become more comfortable & confident around charging what you are worth!

This workshop is for both new and mature ceramic and other craft businesses who want to make more money from their products, commissions, workshops and skills, and get insights into the financial side of their business.

PatriciavandenAkkerDirectorofThe Design Trust 1
Creative business adviser, trainer and coach Patricia van den Akker will be hosting each session online.

can’t make it for these live online workshops ?

Too busy right now? Got another job? Live in a different time zone?

No problem at all!

You will have access to the recordings & downloadable presentations of each of the 5 workshops until 1 October 2024. You can watch the training video recordings whenever you like, as often as you like.

If you book for an individual session then you will get access to the recording and presentation within 1 day of the live session.

If you book for the entire course package then you will get access to a private course hub with all recordings and presentations in one place. You will also be able to ask us any questions at any time and get feedback on your actions and homework.

who is ‘making it work’ for?

We have created this practical but strategic programme especially for members of London Potters. However, it is suitable for other ceramicists, craftspeople, designer makers, Etsy sellers, and artists too.

You can be a new or more established maker, although we expect that most will have been in business between 2 – 10 years. We expect you to have a website, Etsy shop or something similar, especially if you want to join the 3 marketing & sales workshops. All sessions are online so you can join us from anywhere in the UK or abroad. These sessions are not suitable for pre-startups.

You are busy or feeling a little stuck or at a cross roads. You love what you do, but you need to work on your business and marketing skills to make it work even better.

You want to make more from your creative skills and get more sales, commissions or other work. You want to take charge of your business, improve your marketing skills and update your website and positioning too! You know that you need to work on getting more people to visit your website, to buy from you or commission you. You want to charge better for what you do, and boost your confidence around money and marketing, without selling your soul.

You want specialist training from somebody who really understands crafts businesses, and who will inspire you to make changes and take action.

YES! This is an intensive and action-orientated programme … throughout each session you will be creating your own action plans that you can implement afterwards. You will get the most out of the individual sessions or the whole package if you make time in your diary to make it happen!

if you never were taught basic business & marketing skills at art school … then this is the programme for you!

planning with computer image firmbee via unsplash

make your craft business work for you!

Kickstart the new year with better business & marketing skills … and boost your confidence too

MEET YOUR TUTOR

Patricia van den Akker The Design Trust portrait 3

Patricia van den Akker

Director

Patricia van den Akker is the Director of The Design Trust. She has been a creative business adviser, trainer, and coach for more than 20 years and has worked with 1,000s of creative businesses at all stages of their career.  She lives and works in North London with her 2 daughters and husband.

For the last 7 years Patricia has been running the Professional Development Programme for the final year Ceramic students at Central St Martins at the University of London. She was also the Studio Manager of ceramic design company Studio Levien for 3 years so knows both about ceramics from the perspective of a designer maker, a designer and an artist.

She wrote The Design Doctor column as a ‘business agony aunt’ for 5 years for the Crafts Council’s Crafts Magazine. She regularly teaches at art schools, and works closely with many of the main craft fairs and trade shows.

Patricia is known for her practical and honest approach to creative professional development training. She will inspire you with loads of ideas, but also help you to get focused on those actions or decisions that you need to make.

FAQ

  • How does this online course work?

    All our online workshops take place on Zoom so you can join from anywhere in the world. From the comfort of your own home or studio!

    You can choose to sign up for one session, several or for the whole package (at a discounted rate).

    These are live online sessions, and we recommend that you join us live as they are very action orientated, and you will be able to ask Patricia questions too.

    Our training is very interactive as you will be creating your own action plans and working on your own ceramic or craft business throughout these sessions. Join us from a quiet space where you can work and think.

    Each session will be recorded and you will get access to the recording and the presentation till 1 October 2024.  You can do this at your pace, and watch any of the sessions as often as you like.

     

  • Money is a little tight … any discounts or payment plans?

    This course was especially created for members of London Potters. If you are a member then please see the membership page there for the coupon code to get the discount.

    Business Club members from The Design Trust also get a 20% discount on our online courses. See the Business Club homepage for details on the coupon code.

    You can also pay in 3 monthly instalments by choosing PayPal Later as your payment option.

  • How much time will this Making it Happen course take?

    Each of the 5 sessions are between 2 – 2.5hours, so they are short but intensive workshops.

    The Design Trust courses are very action-orientated and results-driven. During each session you will be creating your own action plan to implement afterwards. You will get the most out of them not by just coming to the training … but doing something with your new knowledge + inspiration!

    Depending on the kind of changes you want to make you will need to make time in your diary … anything from half a day to maybe one day/week for the next quarter! It really is up to you. But the more you put in, the more you will get from your training!

     

  • Is this course only for ceramicists?

    This professional development course was created in partnership with London Potters, and is highy focused on specific advice for creatives, designers, makers and artists working in ceramics or with clay.

    For example costing & pricing for functional ceramics is particularly hard, so we will dive deeper into that.  We will look at the different career paths for ceramicists (designer, maker, artist) and different market channels (online, events) and differnt income streams (products, art, commissions, workshops, licensing) too.

    However this programme is very accessible for any other ceramicist, designer maker, crafts person, handmade maker, visual artist too. 

  • What if I am not very tech-savvy?

    We use Zoom for our live online workshops, which is now a very common communication tool that most people are familiar with.

    If you sign up to an individual session you will get access to the recording and presentation via a password-protected page after the live session has finished.

    If you sign up for the entire programme we will give you access to our private course hub where you will find all the 5 recordings and presentations, and you can also ask us any questions there or get more feedback on your homework.

    We are always here to help with any questions.  You’ll need basic computer literacy in order to navigate it.

  • I can’t make these workshops live. Is that a problem?

    We recommend that you join our online workshops live, so that you can ask Patricia any questions, and you will be more engaged to work at the same time as other creatives.

    However, all sessions are recorded and you will get access till 1 October 2024.

  • How long will I have access to this course?

    Till 1 October 2024.

  • Can I share this course with a friend?

    Sorry, you can’t.

    When you purchase this course you get a license  for your own use only.

    If you work in a partnership then you can share it with your business partner or any employees, but please do not share with others who have not paid for this course.

    The Design Trust is a small creative business and this course is based on our 25 years+ experience. It’s full of our proprietary knowledge and copyrighted strategies.

    Please do not share it with others. If we find out that you have shared with others then we will remove you immediately from the course and might refuse you in the future for other courses or memberships as well.

    If you are interested in purchasing this course for a larger group, or want us to run something similar then get in touch with us at [email protected] to find out more.

  • Can I get a refund if it’s not for me or if I run out of time?

    You can cancel in writing to [email protected] till 48hours prior to any of the sessions starting for a full refund.

    Once the session has started you can’t get a refund.

    Remember that if you are unable to attend the live sessions then you can catch up with any recordings till 1 October 2024.

  • I have another question!

    If you have got any questions about this or any of our other online courses then please email us on [email protected]

let’s kickstart 2024 with a healthy dose of inspiration, knowledge & confidence

The Design Trust 2024 softback diary, incl. 8 hours online business training

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2024 The Design Trust diary cover square

The Design Trust 2024 diary planner + 8 hours online business training

WE ONLY HAVE 18 DIARIES LEFT … SO BUY NOW!

Our popular ring-bound, colourful diary planner is back for 2024! Especially created for creative professionals.

This beautifully designed 2024 diary for creatives has 264+ pages.

  • It is the dated diary with 52 double weekly pages for all your meetings and appointments (between 8am – 8pm), a weekly action question and daily ‘3-actions-to-get-done’ productivity tool.
  • It is ring bound so it will sit perfectly flat on your table. It comes with a flexible bookmark.
  • It has 50+ pages of ‘Business Handbook’ full of creative business advice on your future vision & setting goals, tips & tools to manage your finances & marketing.
  • It has annual, quarterly & monthly planners, incl. The Wheel of Life & Business exercises, your 90-day action plan, your 90-day juicy goal & plan, and quarterly content planners (with our suggestions!), and an End-of-Year-Review-and-Plan.

The Design Trust diary planner is created by Patricia van den Akker, award-winning creative business adviser, trainer & coach and the Director of The Design Trust, based on her 25 years of experience, and it is designed by Laura Danby in Brighton.

This year we are offering one multi-coloured cover for our 2024 diary. It has a soft back, ring-bound cover, and is printed on 120gsm matt recycled paper.

this 2024 diary is so much more than ‘just’ a diary …

It’s a complete planning system for creatives created by Patricia to turn your vague business ideas into annual goals, and then into quarterly projects with monthly & weekly actions.

PLUS it comes with 6 hours of online creative business planning training, including time management, goal setting, financial and marketing planning. And you can join our private Facebook group in 2024 to ask any business or planning questions.

We are currently shipping within 3-4 working days.

the key facts:

  • 264+ pages, beautifully designed and printed in UK with flexible bookmark
  • Size: 17.5 x 21.5cm Printed on 120gsm matt recycled paper
  • Includes 6 hours online training incl. business planning, goal setting, finance + marketing planning in January 2024
  • 50+ pages ‘Business Handbook’ with specific business planning, finance + marketing advice for creatives professionals
  • Week-to-view diary for appointments, meetings etc (8am – 8pm) and double page month-to-view calendar
  • Annual, quarterly + monthly finance + marketing planners + trackers
  • Quarterly reviews + visual planning tools to reflect and plan ahead each quarter + month
  • Quarterly content plan for your email marketing + social media. With our timely content suggestions!
  • Monthly planner + timely to do’s each month + weekly action tips

I’ve found the planner to be life changing, following the guidance and advice I’ve managed to double my income within the first six months, I am absolutely over the moon.

Julia Crossland

A great planner for blocking out time to properly get things done with helpful hints and tips and questions to keep you thinking critically about your business. (And yes, that’s me using the diary planner!)

Jessica Newby

The diary planner has become my best friend because once I have scheduled something, either client design work or time for the development of my business, that means it will happen and I don’t have to do lists cluttering my brain. I am able to organise myself, my workload and my business planning all in one place. As a digital interior stylist I really love having some thing physical to write in, pencil only (!) probably because I’m of the Filofax generation!

Sarah Burghard
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The Design Trust 2024 ring-bound, softback diary has a multi-coloured front cover, and different back cover.

the design trust ring-bound 2024 diary planner includes …

  • A dated diary for 2024, with two-pages per week (Mon – Sun), with space for all your appointments, meetings etc (8am – 8pm), a different, timely action question each week, and space for your notes. Each page has clever time management & productivity tools too.
  • A complete planning system, especially created for creative professionals – to focus, get clarity and turn big ideas into action – all together in one place. Turn your 2024 annual goals & financial forecasts into quarterly 90-day juicy project plans. Reflect on and plan your quarter and months to stay on track of your goals. And plan your weeks and days to create the life and business you want.
  • 50+ pages of ‘The Business Handbook’: Packed with visual exercises and thought-provoking questions to work on your business growth, with Patricia’s expert tips and tools to work on You, Your Marketing & Your Finance.
  • Space to review each quarter and plan the next 90 days with two visual Wheel exercises, the 90-day Juicy Goal and action plan, and quarterly content plans for your social media & marketing – with our timely topic suggestions!
  • Monthly and timely task tips on what to work on that month in your business, and a two-page-to-view-calendar to give you an overview of your key events and your monthly goals and actions.
  • TRAINING BONUS: The Design Trust 2024 diary comes with 6 hours of expert online business planning, goal setting & time management training: 2 hours of pre-recorded time management & goal setting sessions will be available in mid/end November 2023, and 2 live online workshops of 2 hours each on business, marketing & financial planning will be delivered by Patricia van den Akker in January 2024. You will get an exclusive invite for these live online workshops.
  • A lively, friendly & private Facebook community throughout 2024. A place to ask any business & planning questions, share your wins, and get accountability by answering the weekly question.
  • The prices includes 20% VAT (not payable for clients outside of EU and UK) and first class Royal Mail P&P in the UK.
Whats New for 2024 mint Sales Page
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what is the difference between the 2024 diary & the journal planner?

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The 2024 diary and 2024 journal planner both have: The 50+ pages Business Handbook + the Quarterly Review and Planning tools + End of Year Review.

What’s different is …

  • This diary is a dated diary! It has 52 double pages for all the weeks of the year (see image below), with space for your appointments & meetings every day and hour (8am – 8pm). It also has a weekly action question, and ‘3-things-to-get-done-today- tool and a daily focus. You can see how to use the diary in the image below.
  • The journal planner is for creatives who don’t need or want a paper diary, but want to plan regularly and get specialist business advice. The journal planner has everything that the diary has got (see above) except for the 52 weekly/daily diary pages. It only has one double-page per month for the key activities that week.

Therefore the hardback journal planner has only 182 pages, and the ring-bound diary planner has 264 pages.

Diary Page 89

THE DESIGN trust diary & planner is much more than ‘just a diary’ …

The Design Trust diary & planner is the must-have creative business planner, goal setting, productivity and time management tool for creative professionals (designers, makers, visual artists, Etsy shop owners) and freelancers who want to make time to reflect, plan more strategically and … to take action.

This is the 9th consecutive year that The Design Trust has self-published this diary and the journal planner. We have sold over 8,000 copies to more than 37 countries.

The diary planner is a proven visual planning tool for creatives based on Patricia’s 20+ years experience as an award-winning creative business adviser. It will help you to visualise your business ideas and to make you accountable to take action.

Patricia created The Design Trust diary planner specifically for creative professionals to reflect, to plan the entire year, and most importantly … to take action! The planner’s structure will step-by-step help you to turn your big ideas and goals into 90-day juicy action plans (especially for projects that you want to work on but never have time for!).

A big part of the concept behind the diary is focusing on quarterly planning and the seasonality of many creative product-based businesses. How to make the most of the feast-and-famine cycle and get ready in the quiet times for the busy times.

Are you doing the right things at the right time? Are you feeling ‘behind’ or overwhelmed with what to do? The diary, along with the online workshops, will show you what to focus on and when, so you make the best use of your time and energy.

You can then turn those quarterly goals into monthly plans with more detailed goals and actions, and ultimately making time in your diary each week or day to work on those goals.

The diary has financial and marketing trackers to keep a close eye on your results, monthly planners and overviews for what’s going on, suggestions for monthly actions to work on in your creative business, and week-to-view for all your meetings, tasks, and appointments. The daily ‘get done’ focus is one of my favourite (and very old!) time management tools.

Throughout the diary and the training we use scientifically-proven time management and productivity techniques, based on Patricia’s vast experience of working with 1,000s of creatives.

2024 The Design Trust diary open contents page
What’s in The Design Trust 2024 diary? Starting with 50+ pages of the ‘Business Handbook’, Quarterly Reviews + Plans, and each of the weeks, and End of Year Review
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Get your finances sorted in 2024! With creative expert tips to make your business profitable, set financial goals for 2024 + create a 5-year forecast
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What business do you want to create? Create a financial forecast to make your business profitable!
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It’s much more than a diary! Each quarter make time to review + plan ahead with our special 90-day planners + visual tools to take stock + plan ahead.
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One of my favourite exercises: The Wheel of Life & Wheel of Business … to quickly see what’s working in your business + life, and what needs work.
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Create a quarterly action plan … to work on ALL parts of your business (finance, marketing, products + yourself!)

HOW DOES THE DESIGN TRUST DIARY PLANNER ‘WORK’?

  • The Design Trust dated diary planner is based on Patricia’s 20+ years of experience working as an award-winning creative business adviser, trainer and coach, working with 1,000s of creatives throughout the UK. It’s based on her extensive research and real-life experience of scientifically-proven time management and productivity tools. Not to get you to do ‘more stuff’, but to give you the strategy, structure and accountability that really works to create the best life and business for you. Helping you make the right decisions for you and your business, every single day.
  • This diary & planner starts with a ‘Creative Business Handbook’: 50+ pages full of creative and strategic exercises and thought-provoking questions to create the life & business you want. You can do these exercises at the start of the year, or whenever you need to get more focus, productivity or accountability. From focusing on your business dream to your values and talents, to getting to know your ideal clients and competitors. With an example/template for a financial forecast and 3-steps-marketing plan to get more sales.
  • Every quarter is printed in a different colour (see the side views) when we invite you to make deliberate time to review how your creative business is doing. Set your own 90-day juicy goal and create your own quarterly action plan to move your creative business forward. Do the Wheel of Life and the Wheel of Business exercises to see what needs work in your life and business, and identify specific action steps. Stop talking and procrastinating. Start doing.
  • We love quarterly goals & plans! To work on bigger strategic projects and because the seasons work well with the natural flow of most creative businesses too.
  • 90 day strategic projects are perfect … as it’s long enough to make a strategic difference, and short enough to keep momentum and focus.
  • Every month you can then plan to stay on track of your bigger quarterly & monthly goals: With suggested actions for that specific month (in finance, money, creation, organisation) and a month-to-view calendar page for your key dates, and to identify your own monthly business & personal goals and actions.
  • With the diary planner you can plan & review your progress every week: choose what to focus on each week and even at the start or end of each day. Each week there is a different but often timely thought-provoking question to get you into action. Plus each day you will focus on getting just 3 things done – using one of the oldest but best time management tricks in the world!
  • BONUS: If you purchase The Design Trust diary planner 2024 then you also get access to 6 hours of online business planning training, and access to our exclusive Facebook group all year round – managed by The Design Trust team.

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Quick monthly overview with all the dates of the month at the start of each month … for all your most important events, meetings + deadlines.
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Are you doing the right thing at the right time? Each month we will give you our tips on what to focus on that month in ALL parts of your business. Become more strategic.
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Make your creative business profitable! Create a financial forecast for the next few years, and build a business that works for you!

what will you achieve in 2024?

The last few years have been tough for many small business owners. And the future is uncertain … with increased costs, ongoing high inflation, and the impact changes in our environment will have on our lives, businesses and the wider world.

Many people are at a crossroads, re-evaluating their lives, values, purpose and their talents.

It’s much harder to get sales now so you’ll need to be more creative and strategic about choosing the right income streams, marketing channels, and a business model that will work for you and your business.

Let The Design Trust 2024 diary planner be your guide to create a more sustainable, creative business throughout 2024, and beyond!

Not to get more done, but to focus on what’s really important to you and your business, to make the most of your unique talents and creativity based on your purpose and values, to get clear on what needs work in your creative business, to focus on creating the best life and business for you and your family, and to attract and work with your dream clients.

The 2024 diary planner is packed full with practical business and marketing tips to start and grow your creative business, goal setting and visual planning exercises, quarterly juicy goal action plans and monthly planners, quarterly social media plans with timely content suggestions, weekly thought-provoking questions and what-to-focus-on-actionable-ideas.

Created by the award-winning creative business adviser Patricia van den Akker, the Director of The Design Trust, with over 25 years’ experience as a creative business adviser, trainer and mentor for 1,000s of creatives. Based on the success of the Dream Plan Do planners, she created this dated diary to help you turn your ideas into actions every day, to help you to prioritise and focus on what’s really important, and to move you and your business forward throughout 2024.

Join over 3,000 creatives in more than 32 countries who have used The Design Trust diary planner in the last 3 years (when we started publishing the diaries) to turn their ideas into reality.

get more organised & focused in 2024 …

Your questions answered …

  • When will I get my diary planner?

    We aime to send your order within 3 – 4 working days.

     

  • Is the diary dated? Has it got dates in it?

    Yes, The Design Trust 2024 diary planner is dated for each day with a two-pages-per-week-view so you can include your own daily and hourly appointments and meetings (from 8am – 8pm), and also have a good overview to plan your week ahead. Each weekly overview starts on a Monday.

    It also has month-to-view plan at the start of each month with the most important holiday days.

    NOTE The journal planner is not a diary, so make sure you order the right one!

  • What’s the 2024 Quarterly Dream Plan Do Club? Do I need that if this planner comes with 6 hours training anyway?

    Do you want extra support & accountability throughout the year to turn your plans into reality? Would you love to get some extra inspiration from Patricia and other ambitious creatives?

    Are you feeling stuck or do you need to work more strategically?

    Do you want to make REGULAR +  deliberate time to dream & reflect, to plan properly, and to DO?!

    We are introducing the 2024 Quarterly Dream Plan Do Club for creatives like you!

    The 4 Quarterly Dream Plan Do half day sessions are facilitated sessions by Patricia, so there is very little ‘teaching’ (which will happen in the free business & marketing planning sessions) as the focus is on you doing the work – to reflect, to plan, to do the exercises, discuss the questions with others, write down your own answers & actions.

    NOTE: the 4 Quarterly Dream Plan Do sessions will take place on Fridays 19 January, 22 March, 28 June and 27 September 2024 from 10am – 1pm (UK time).

    We want you to commit to working on your business regularly, and due to the very practical nature of these guided sessions we have decided NOT TO OFFER RECORDINGS of these sessions, so you will need to attend them live.

    Note that the diary planner + our popular A2 wall planner (worth £10,-) are included in the price of the 2024 Dream Plan Do Club!

  • Is The Design Trust 2024 diary available as a download?

    The simple answer is: No.

    Of course we did consider this option, but … we strongly (!) believe that it would really change the experience of using The Design Trust creative business diary planner. 

    Firstly, printing off 264 pages is no mean feat (!) and quite costly too.

    Secondly, I don’t think you will then actually use it how we intended it. We created this beautifully designed planner as the perfect planning tool to scribble notes & sketches in, and as a deep-but-practical reflective experience – especially for creatives – to create the much-needed time and space for you to work ON your business. Away from a computer!

    Deliberately non-digital and ‘old-fashioned’! A beautiful diary that becomes truly yours over time, and that you treasure to use.

    A diary full with your hand-writing. That you’ll pick up again in years from now, to see your progress, challenges, and successes again.

    Where you can write your dreams and ideas, to sketch and doodle in (all impossible with an online diary!)

    Creating a reflection and planning habit to get out at the start or end of each quarter, month, week and even daily to plan ahead. That helps you to get organised and make better decisions. Especially if you create some distance and take it away from your workspace to work on.

    Use it on your sofa or in your favourite café to reflect and work ON your creative business. Or on journeys or holidays.

    To use as a record of what’s going on in your life and business.

    Yes, I love paper and stationery! I studied Graphic Design and married a graphic-designer-turned-Head-of-Art. We both love the smell of freshly printed books. The tactility of holding a good book in your hands. We love good typography and #printisnotdead and good magazines.

    We love a good planner. I am proud to be a bit of a stationery geek.

    And I just know that printing out copies isn’t the same experience. I hope you understand. If you ‘get it’ then you will love The Design Trust diary’s quality. And the true soul of it too.

  • I haven’t started my creative business yet. Is The Design Trust diary for me?

    Yes!

    The Design Trust diary planner will help you to look at ALL aspects of your fledgling business, in a more strategic way … not just the making part that you love already!

    The Design Trust diary planner will help you to get your new business (idea) off the ground quicker and to build the best business foundations for now and the future.

    The diary starts with “The Business Handbook”: 50+ pages of creative business planning tools, financial forecasts and marketing exercises that Patricia has developed in the last 25 years as a creative business adviser, trainer and coach with 1,000s of creatives.

    It’s a bit like having her as your personal business coach (at a much better price!)

    You’ll set goals for the year, create a (simple) financial forecast and marketing plan, and use the planner’s practical business tips and monthly recommendations as guidelines for what to focus on that month.

    Your goals will not just be about making (a common new creative mistake!) but also include your finances, marketing, social media and learning.

    And they will be based on your values, your strengths and talents.

    The diary planner is so much more than ‘just a diary’ … it will help you to break down big goals into smaller, do-able steps, with quarterly projects to work on, and monthly goals and activities. Each month you get practical tips on what to work on right now, and topical business tips to boost your creative business and marketing knowledge.

    The Design Trust 2024 diary planner also comes with 6 hours of online business planning training, including 2 live workshops in January.

    The Design Trust diary can save you a lot of money, energy and time.

    Because it asks you the big business questions you need to work on and start finding your own answers.

    Because it breaks big jobs into smaller actions, so you move forward rather than worry or procrastinate about what steps to take next.

    Less (over) thinking, more doing!

    And … why not upgrade and join our 2024 Quarterly Dream Plan Do Club too for extra support + accountability throughout the year?(Recommended for businesses that have been selling for 2 years or more!)

  • I have been a creative business for a long time. Is The Design Trust diary planner just for new creative businesses?

    No!!

    Our diary planner is for ANY ambitious creative professional – from recent graduates or part-time creatives, to established designer makers and businesses selling at trade shows and internationally.

    Many very established professional creatives have purchased and used the diary to work on their business in the last few years! (Big names that you will know from shows and TV!)

    Patricia created The Design Trust diary planner especially for creative professionals who create and sell products and services, who want to get better organised and more focused – from handmade items on Etsy to multiples sold through stockists, from giftable items sold at craft fairs to exclusive high end one-off luxury items sold in exclusive galleries in New York or Dubai, from craft workshops to popup organisers, gallery owners, event organisers and creative bloggers and foodies.

    It’s a lot more than ‘just a diary’ … it is a complete business planning system and time management / productivity tool. So, especially if you are stuck, got loads of different jobs and responsibilities to juggle, are starting again after a break, or need a boost to stop procrastinating and wasting your time, then this diary for creative professionals is for you. It’s a must-have time management tool to make the most of your limited time, money and energy!

    Using The Design Trust diary planner regularly enables you to make the time and space to reflect and plan ahead.

    And especially if you have been going for a while it might be really healthy to take some distance and wonder if you are still doing the right thing? Especially after the last 3 years with so many changes to our lives and businesses!

    You are also very welcome to join our 2024 Quarterly Dream Plan Do Club! To get more support and accountability, and to make sure that you deliberately make the time and space for yourself to dream & reflect, to plan ahead, and to commit to doing!

    I have worked as a creative business adviser, trainer and coach for more than 25 years. This diary planner combines many of the coaching questions, practical planning tools and marketing/social media planners that I have developed over all these years.

    What’s great about The Design Trust diary planner is that this is a very personal journey and reflection.  The diary will guide you through questions and creative exercises for you to create a more purpose-driven business and life.

    Creating a business you will be proud of – in every sense of the word!

  • I am not based in the UK. Can I still buy your diary planner? Will it be relevant to me?

    We love connecting with creatives all over the world.  In the last 4 years our diary & planners sold over 3,500 copies to 35 countries, so yes we would love to send you our diary or planner too!

    The UK is a booming market for creative products and design, and Patricia is one of the leading UK experts in providing specialist creative business advice & training for over 25 years.  Many of our strategic planning and time management tools, practical finance and marketing advice is relevant to creative businesses around the world.

    There might be some slight differences in terms of legal issues or finances, but these are often minor and we always advise that you check in with local experts in these areas.

    Of course there are differences in the way creative products and services are sold and purchased in different countries, but many of our marketing and social media tips will be relevant to your circumstances too, especially if you are selling online in a global market!

    As part of your diary planner purchase you will automatically get access to 6 hours of online training, and all year round access to our lively and friendly Facebook group. Easily accessible wherever you are in the world as you can access both from your own computer. The online training will be recorded and you will be able to access that throughout 2024.

    If you are outside the UK and the EU then you will get the diary planner a little cheaper … as you will not have to pay 20% UK VAT. You will be charged a discounted rate for international post, depending on where you live. Your diary planner order will be sent ‘signed for and tracked’ (wherever possible!) by British Royal Mail. You will receive an email with your tracking number when your order is processed. Please keep an eye out for our confirmation email with this number. Normally it takes around 5 days within Europe, and up to 14 days in the rest of the world to receive your order. This might be slightly longer at the end of November or December due to the Christmas busy-ness.

    We had some issues with some EU countries last year (especially Belgium, Portugal and Ireland) and please get in touch with us directly to find out how we can send the planner diary to you without too many issues around post-Brexit paperwork and duties. IMPORTANT: Please enquire within 14 days of receiving our confirmation email if you have not received your international order so that we can investigate. Do not wait for more than 30 days as it’s likely that the order will then have been returned to us, and you will be required to pay for additional international postage.

    Note that post-Brexit you as the purchaser are responsible to pay any duties or additional taxes charged by your national tax office or postal service.

    We will refund you any double-paid VAT asap.