The slow economy survival guide for graphic designers, copywriters, and creative types

Photo Courtesy of Stephanie Orma / Orma Design (a San Francisco Graphic Design firm)

Since I fit into every single one of the categories above (graphic designer, copywriter, creative type), the below list is not some ill-thought-out marketing jargon from some cheesy infomercial suit guy. It’s my very real “to do list” of things that I’m currently putting into practice to help my own creative businesses thrive in our current economy. So here's the Slow F'n Economy Guide for Graphic Designers, Artists, and Creative Types:

1. Update / redesign website
2. Update / redesign portfolio
3. Take classes to gain/improve skills (web design, illustration, online marketing, SEO, creative writing, painting, printmaking, etc.)
4. Send emails to entire list of potential job sources reminding them, once again, that you are available for work
5. Query magazines with new pitch ideas
6. Enter design/writing competitions to gain name recognition and exposure
7. Rewrite marketing plan and put it into action
8. Rewrite PR plan and put it into action (btw, I’m always looking for interesting people in the industry to interview, so email me with your pitch too)
9. Contact former clients to see if they have additional marketing needs
10. Take the time to organize your business by putting all sales leads in a complete excel document (sounds riveting, doesn’t it?)
11. Offer a sale, discount, etc.
12. Ease up on policies to make it easier for customers to do business with you. Get a credit sheet from customers and offer Net 30, Net 60, take less of a deposit up-front, or offer a payment plan.
13. Do a creative direct mail campaign to drum up business
14. Embrace web 2.0 marketing by starting a blog, joining twitter and getting your name out there.
15. Brainstorm at least 20 more ideas to help improve business
16. Network by joining professional organizations (either online with groups like Linkedin or FaceBook or in person like BNI)
17. Take on high-exposure non-profit design or writing projects. You may not get paid, but you could gain valuable exposure and hey, it’s better than sitting on your butt, twiddling your thumbs, waiting for the phone to ring.
18. Start working on an enjoyable, creative pet project to keep your skills sharp, but that could also turn into a profitable venture downline, such as: creating new paintings, drawings, cartoons, designs, short stories, children’s stories, novels, crafts, etc.
19. Find local, inexpensive craft fairs, get a table and show your creative wares there.
20. Search through every city on Craigslist.com for creative freelance, telecommuting jobs, one more f'n time
21. Stop checking email every 5 seconds and start taking action!