Tuesday, June 21, 2011

Selling to Friends and Family

I met a few artist friends in Indianapolis recently and they had questions about marketing and setting up their business. I'll share a piece of advice I gave them.

You need to determine early on exactly how much you are going to charge your old college roommate, aunt Sharon, the lady who sits next to you at work, or a neighbor. It's easy to hem and haw when a personal friend or relative asks for a price because it's uncomfortable to ask these people for money, but here's my point. In the beginning, ALL OF YOUR CUSTOMERS WILL BE PEOPLE YOU KNOW PERSONALLY! If you can't look them in the eye and give them a straight answer you're dead in the water. Figure out a specific price point, then a discount for friends and family and go for it. I'll let them make payments if that works best.