One of the biggest challenges that I’ve heard come up through hours and hours of coaching sessions with creatives, is that of getting found online for what you do or make. Simply getting found and increasing visibility online... which isn’t so easy these days with all of the noise, options, and algorithm changes.  But there are a few things you can do to increase your online visibility through your digital storefront and targeted key words as you gear up for your next season of sales. Today, as you look at the week ahead, we’ll focus on three creative business checklists that you can knock out in under an hour each. Your keywords and key phrase brainstorm Your digital storefront audit Your social media refresh Listen in for guidance for each. Be sure to use a timer for these exercises to keep you super focused on the task at hand.  Using keywords strategically today will help you to increase your online visibility and get found online this season!   ✅ Next Steps:  Book Your Coaching Call! Respond to the Call To Artists: Request for Topics Find more information at www.HeatherAllenOnline.com. Buy a copy of the book "Let Your Creativity Work for You: How to Turn Artwork into Opportunity" by Heather Allen, MGIM-MBA at www.HeatherAllenOnline.com/book.

Hey, Creative Boss! Something big is coming up for your customers—and it’s time to get you ready. We’re moving out of the slow, stretchy days of summer and heading straight into a season of momentum. The weather’s shifting, routines are changing, and your audience is shifting right along with it. Your buyers? They’re getting back into routines. They’re starting to plan. Some are even thinking about gifts—yep, already. Parents and kids are in back-to-school mode, companies are pushing hard into Q3 and Q4, and before you know it, it’s the holidays. That’s when the messages start rolling in—DMs on Instagram, inquiries on Facebook, Etsy orders—and a lot of it will be last minute. Which is why today we’re talking about the #1 sales skill that could make or break your bottom line this fall: the follow-up. I’ll walk you through what follow-up really means, how to do it without feeling pushy, and why starting now could be the reason your holiday season is booked out. Grab a pen and paper—let’s get you revenue ready.     ✅ Next Steps:  Book Your Coaching Call! Respond to the Call To Artists: Request for Topics Find more information at www.HeatherAllenOnline.com. Buy a copy of the book "Let Your Creativity Work for You: How to Turn Artwork into Opportunity" by Heather Allen, MGIM-MBA at www.HeatherAllenOnline.com/book.  

Are my revenue goals even possible? 🤔 This question requires more than just a yes or no response. If I were to answer this for you, I’d be tempted to say, “Absolutely yes your revenue goals are possible” because the optimist in me believes with strategy, planning, faith in your vision and follow through, just about anything is possible... But the strategic thinker in me would want to know more. To determine if your revenue goals are possible there are 5 strategic questions that you can ask yourself. Listen in, take notes and take action!   ✅ Next Steps:  Book Your Coaching Call! Respond to the Call To Artists: Request for Topics Find more information at www.HeatherAllenOnline.com. Buy a copy of the book "Let Your Creativity Work for You: How to Turn Artwork into Opportunity" by Heather Allen, MGIM-MBA at www.HeatherAllenOnline.com/book.  

✏️🗒️ Summer School is now in session! Throughout the month of July, join me here on the Revenue Ready Creative podcast each Monday for conversations with guest experts in art and design who are ready to drop knowledge on topics like building resilience in self-employment, getting your name out there in the community, switching to a value-based pricing model and so much more. Today’s guest is Eric McRay, a celebrated painter and collage artist. Eric has been running McRay Studios for over 25 years. With a BFA from the Maryland Institute College of Art, Eric has built a carer fueled by passion, grit, hustle, bold exploration and a relentless drive to reinvent. Striking a rare balance between creating work that brings him join and deeply resonates with his patrons, Eric's art has found its way into hundreds of personal collections, as well as those of  corporations, hospitals and public institutions.    ✅ Learn more about Eric McRay:  https://ericmcray.com/ https://www.instagram.com/mcraystudios/ https://www.facebook.com/mcraystudios/   ✅ Next Steps:  Book Your Coaching Call! Respond to the Call To Artists: Request for Topics Find more information at www.HeatherAllenOnline.com. Buy a copy of the book "Let Your Creativity Work for You: How to Turn Artwork into Opportunity" by Heather Allen, MGIM-MBA at www.HeatherAllenOnline.com/book.

Summer School is now in session! Throughout the month of July, join me here on the Revenue Ready Creative podcast each Monday for conversations with guest experts in art and design who are ready to drop knowledge on topics like building resilience in self-employment, getting your name out there in the community, switching to a value-based pricing model and so much more. Pull up your easel and prep your palette—our guest, Pete Sack, is about to paint a whole new perspective on the value of community, planning, and diversification in self-employment.   ✅ Learn more about Pete Sack:  http://petesack.com/ https://www.instagram.com/petesackart/   ✅ Next Steps:  Book Your Coaching Call! Respond to the Call To Artists: Request for Topics Find more information at www.HeatherAllenOnline.com. Buy a copy of the book "Let Your Creativity Work for You: How to Turn Artwork into Opportunity" by Heather Allen, MGIM-MBA at www.HeatherAllenOnline.com/book.

✏️🗒️ Summer School is now in session! Throughout the month of July, join me here on the Revenue Ready Creative podcast each Monday for conversations with guest experts in art and design who are ready to drop knowledge on topics like building resilience in self-employment, getting your name out there in the community, switching to a value-based pricing model and so much more. Today’s guest is Kenzi Green, a brand and web designer behind Kenzi Green Design, the host of The Unapologetic Designer Podcast, and the co-founder of The Brief Collective—where she teaches designers how to land high-ticket clients and finally ditch the starving artist mindset for good. With a bold design eye and a business-savvy brain, Kenzi is helping the next generation of designers own their worth and show up with confidence. Whether you’re building a brand or just learning how to say your rates out loud without second guessing yourself—today’s episode is about to redesign the way you think about pricing.   ✅ Learn more about Kenzi Green:  https://kenzigreendesign.com/ https://www.instagram.com/kenzigreendesign https://www.instagram.com/thebriefcollective/ https://www.instagram.com/theunapologeticdesigner/   ✅ Next Steps:  Book Your Coaching Call! Respond to the Call To Artists: Request for Topics Find more information at www.HeatherAllenOnline.com. Buy a copy of the book "Let Your Creativity Work for You: How to Turn Artwork into Opportunity" by Heather Allen, MGIM-MBA at www.HeatherAllenOnline.com/book.

✏️🗒️ Summer School is now in session! Throughout the month of July, join me here on the Revenue Ready Creative podcast each Monday for conversations with guest experts in art and design who are ready to drop knowledge on topics like building resilience in self-employment, getting your name out there in the community, switching to a value-based pricing model and so much more. Sharpen your pencil and lean forward for today’s episode with Arts Council CEO, Jenn McEwen. Jenn McEwen is the president and CEO of United Arts of Wake County in Raleigh, NC, where she champions local artists and brings the arts to life across the region. Before stepping into this leadership role, Jenn built a successful career in arts marketing and nonprofit leadership in Atlanta, and even made history by launching the first government agency dedicated to the arts in the Town of Hilton Head Island. In her position as an Arts Council CEO, Jenn works with hundreds of artists and arts organizations. She sees who stands out professional, who is reliable, who is engaged with the community and therefore who is getting their name out there via the many, many avenues available to artists. And that’s what we’re talking about today. If you’re curious about things like what it would take to get into the public art space or how to build a revenue stream as a teaching artist, there are some lessons here that you don’t want to miss. Sharpen your pencil—we’re about to get a masterclass in the steps you can take to get your name out there in your community.   ✅ Learn more about the United Artist Council:  https://unitedarts.org/   ✅ Next Steps:  Book Your Coaching Call! Respond to the Call To Artists: Request for Topics Find more information at www.HeatherAllenOnline.com. Buy a copy of the book "Let Your Creativity Work for You: How to Turn Artwork into Opportunity" by Heather Allen, MGIM-MBA at www.HeatherAllenOnline.com/book.

Chasing down material costs... Trying to build a timeline you can share with clients... Staring at a blank page when it’s time to write about your work... Spending hours pulling reference images or mockups just to get your ideas across. As a self-employed artist or creative business owner, these kinds of tasks can eat up your energy before you even start creating. That’s where AI comes in—not as a replacement, but as a creative assistant! 🤖 In this episode, we’re looking at practical ways to use AI to support your process—from planning your budget and resources, to gathering inspiration, creating quick mockups, and even helping you communicate your final body of work. It’s about freeing up your time so you can focus on the part that really matters most to you!   ✅ Next Steps:  Book Your Coaching Call! Respond to the Call To Artists: Request for Topics Find more information at www.HeatherAllenOnline.com. Buy a copy of the book "Let Your Creativity Work for You: How to Turn Artwork into Opportunity" by Heather Allen, MGIM-MBA at www.HeatherAllenOnline.com/book.  

Hey, Creative Boss! It's Quarterly Review time. A touchpoint in your business, four times per year, in which you assess and evaluate what matters most to you. It's a healthy practice to have these specific touch points to see how far you are with your goals for the year. I'll give you questions and prompts to help guide your Quarterly Business Review. However, this time, we're doing things differently by approaching your QBR with no numbers! Let these equally important questions guide your review: What are 10 things that you’re proud of yourself for accomplishing in Q2? Which project or piece brought you the most joy to create this quarter? Why? What feedback did you receive that felt especially meaningful or affirming? What lessons did you learn from any setbacks or rejections? What 3 challenges did you overcome this quarter? What new skills, techniques, or tools did you explore or refine? What moments made you feel most like a successful artist or creative entrepreneur? What felt most authentic about how you showed up in your business? What part of your creative process or identity do you want to honor more? How did your work contribute to your long-term vision or goals? And if you need the numerical guidance, simply listen to one of these episodes next: Episode 05: Get Organized in Your Business with this Sales Tracking Process for Creatives Episode 21: Guidance for Your Q4 Review: Sales Tracking for Commercial Artists, Makers and Designers Episode 33: Inspiration for Your Q1 Review: Peek Into a Profit Planning Session With an Artist Couple   ✅ About Emily Grey Follow Emily online at @TheFlourishMarket on Instagram or visit her store at TheFlourishMarket.com.   ✅ Next Steps:  Book Your Coaching Call! Respond to the Call To Artists: Request for Topics Find more information at www.HeatherAllenOnline.com. Buy a copy of the book "Let Your Creativity Work for You: How to Turn Artwork into Opportunity" by Heather Allen, MGIM-MBA at www.HeatherAllenOnline.com/book.  

When you think about pricing your work, your workshops, your services, and your final collections ... do you just want to throw up? There is so much emotional influence associated with landing on that final number. And that's before even asking someone to pay it... I get it. I’ve been there personally and I see it when I work with artists to define or refine the price points.  Coming up with your own pricing and what you’re going to charge for one-of-a-kind pieces, prints, and services shouldn’t be painful. In this episode, let’s look at a stackable formula you can use to account for the true cost of your work. This takes you out of emotionally driven pricing – which can feel arbitrary to both you and your customers. And it gives you more control over your pricing decisions so you can set them once and for all. ✅ Referenced Episodes: Episode 15: How Much Does a Customer Art Commission Cost? Managing Client Expectations (Part 1) Episode 16: How Much Does a Customer Art Commission Cost? Managing Client Expectations (Part 2)   ✅ Next Steps:  Book Your Coaching Call! Respond to the Call To Artists: Request for Topics Find more information at www.HeatherAllenOnline.com. Buy a copy of the book "Let Your Creativity Work for You: How to Turn Artwork into Opportunity" by Heather Allen, MGIM-MBA at www.HeatherAllenOnline.com/book.

When was the last time you took a vacation? Do you have one coming up?  Or do you have another type of leave of absence coming up (planned or otherwise) that will definitely interrupt your work? Tune in for a few tips to help you prepare yourself, your inventory, and your customers for any pause in work that might affect your business and availability. This episode includes tips from artist, Christy King, of Chapel Hill, NC.   ✅ About Christy King Christy King is a fine artist in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. She sells work through the online galleries Well and Wonder, Serena & Lily, and Artfully Walls, and locally at the gallery and gift shops of the North Carolina Botanical Garden and The Carolina Inn. After studying art and education at UNC Chapel Hill, Christy also earned a master of education at Vanderbilt University. She has ten years of experience teaching art to children in Montessori schools and art museums, including the Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery and Frist Art Museum. In addition to creating art in her home studio, Christy shares her love of representational painting through her online course and by teaching in person at local arts centers. christymking.com instagram.com/christymking christymking.com/online-course * Free Oil Painting Materials Guide will pop up after 3 seconds on this page   ✅ Next Steps:  Book Your Coaching Call! Respond to the Call To Artists: Request for Topics Find more information at www.HeatherAllenOnline.com. Buy a copy of the book "Let Your Creativity Work for You: How to Turn Artwork into Opportunity" by Heather Allen, MGIM-MBA at www.HeatherAllenOnline.com/book.

Feel like you're hitting low point?  Are things dull, tired, or totally uninspired? Do you find yourself in a rut lately? Feel like you’re just going through the motions? If being self-employed—turning your creativity into your livelihood—is starting to wear on you and take it's toll... If suddenly you find that the joy is getting buried under the hustle and you just want the freedom to play again, to try something new without worrying if it’ll sell... This episode is for you. Learn my S.P.A.R.K. method to find your way back to why you started your creative work in the first place!   ✅ Next Steps:  Book Your Coaching Call! Respond to the Call To Artists: Request for Topics Find more information at www.HeatherAllenOnline.com. Buy a copy of the book "Let Your Creativity Work for You: How to Turn Artwork into Opportunity" by Heather Allen, MGIM-MBA at www.HeatherAllenOnline.com/book.

Today, I’m taking you into a conversation with one of my current clients, Wisconsin-based oil painter, Hallie Kohn. Hallie became my art business coaching client a few weeks after I became her newest collector. Right away, we worked through a visioning exercise that set her up for her own Revenue Ready Plan. Ready to work together to create your own Revenue Ready Plan? 🎨  CLICK HERE TO SCHEDULE YOUR FIRST SESSION! 🎨 Additionally, these episodes will help you to envision your Revenue Ready future: Episode 18: How to Earn More in 2025! Episode 24: Curious about Passive Income on Etsy? Episode 28: 3 Must-Do's for Artists and Creative Business Owners to Plan for Online Sales Strategically   ✅ Find Hallie Kohn on her website and Instagram, here: halliekohnart.com instagram.com/HallieKohn ✅ Next Steps:  Book Your Coaching Call! Respond to the Call To Artists: Request for Topics Find more information at www.HeatherAllenOnline.com. Buy a copy of the book "Let Your Creativity Work for You: How to Turn Artwork into Opportunity" by Heather Allen, MGIM-MBA at www.HeatherAllenOnline.com/book.

You know those moments when you’ve poured everything into your work — your time, your energy, your heart — and then it hits you: you might be doing too much, stretching yourself too thin, trying to carry every part of this business on your own... Or those long days where you’ve packed up your car, hauled your work, your displays, your tent, and that same folding stool to your booth — and by the time you pack it all back up again, you're completely drained. Not just physically, but emotionally, mentally and perhaps creatively, too. And then there’s that moment after you finish a new collection — the part that lights you up and gives you the resolution you’ve been looking for — but now it’s on you to frame it, label it, hang it, promote it. And while you’re doing all that, the next idea, the next piece, the next collection? It has to wait. Because there's no one else to take care of the production and promo work. You wear a lot of hats.  Let’s get you some support, okay? 💞 In this episode, we’re diving into what it looks like to get help, delegate, and build real support — so you can stay focused on what you do best. And so you can manage your physical energy without burning out or becoming exhausted in the process. ✅ Next Steps:  Get Your Question Answered! Have a question you'd like to have answered on the show? Click here to send Heather a voice message!Include your name, what you do (E.g., "I'm a painter"), where you're from (E.g., Portland, Oregon) and your question. Then tune in to hear it answered on the show! Find more information at www.HeatherAllenOnline.com. Buy a copy of the book "Let Your Creativity Work for You: How to Turn Artwork into Opportunity" by Heather Allen, MGIM-MBA at www.HeatherAllenOnline.com/book. Click HERE to Respond to the CALL TO ARTISTS: Request for Topics   

Click HERE to Respond to the Request for Topics  We've covered a lot of ground in the last 9 months, friend. For artists in business, you'll find the REVENUE READY CREATIVE has you covered for things like: How to get started with quarterly sales tracking Ways to earn consistent sales through passive income Goal mapping, strategic planning, and time management Using AI for productivity How to turn your sales page into something that truly works for you But what ELSE do you want to hear about? What do you want to more of? And who would you like to see featured on the show? Let me know in this listener survey: Click HERE to Respond to the Request for Topics    ✅ Next Steps:  Get Your Question Answered! Have a question you'd like to have answered on the show? Click here to send Heather a voice message!Include your name, what you do (E.g., "I'm a painter"), where you're from (E.g., Portland, Oregon) and your question. Then tune in to hear it answered on the show! Find more information at www.HeatherAllenOnline.com. Buy a copy of the book "Let Your Creativity Work for You: How to Turn Artwork into Opportunity" by Heather Allen, MGIM-MBA at www.HeatherAllenOnline.com/book. Click HERE to Respond to the Request for Topics 

Let's talk about something that hits close to home for a lot of us—especially those who are self employed in creative fields.  If you’ve ever found yourself doubting your talents and abilities, feeling like a fraud in your own success, or wondering when people will “find out” you're not as together as they think—you’re not alone. This episode is intended to help you own exactly where you are in your creative journey with confidence because imposter syndrome is something we all experience. There are a lot of things that can get in our way – the last of which should be your confidence in yourself. If this episode resonated with you, share it with someone who might need to hear it today. And if you haven’t already, subscribe for more practical small business tips for artists and creative professionals, right here on the REVENUE READY CREATIVE podcast.   ✅ Next Steps:  Get Your Question Answered! Have a question you'd like to have answered on the show? Click here to send Heather a voice message!Include your name, what you do (E.g., "I'm a painter"), where you're from (E.g., Portland, Oregon) and your question. Then tune in to hear it answered on the show! Find more information at www.HeatherAllenOnline.com. Buy a copy of the book "Let Your Creativity Work for You: How to Turn Artwork into Opportunity" by Heather Allen, MGIM-MBA at www.HeatherAllenOnline.com/book.    

Let’s face it—distractions are everywhere. From social media scrolls to seasonal mood shifts, staying focused as a creative can feel like chasing light through a fog. But what if the secret isn’t eliminating distractions, but learning to work with them? In this episode, we’re talking about the systems and rhythms that support your creative business—those repeatable processes that let you pause and pick up where you left off with confidence. Whether it’s sending a weekly newsletter, prepping for a collection, or just keeping your client workflow on track, your structure is your safety net. You’ll learn how to identify the key systems in your own practice and estimate how long they actually take (so you can plan with less stress). Knowing your rhythms is the ultimate creative superpower—even when... squirrel!!   ✅ Next Steps:  Find more information at www.HeatherAllenOnline.com. Buy a copy of the book "Let Your Creativity Work for You: How to Turn Artwork into Opportunity" by Heather Allen, MGIM-MBA at www.HeatherAllenOnline.com/book.    

Each week, I’m thrilled to bring lessons learned and best practices for artists and creative small business owners to your listening ears! Surprisingly, when I look at my podcast episode data, among the most listened to episodes is an episode that starts with "Get Organized." You can find that here: Episode 5, “Get Organized in Your Business with this Sales Tracking Process for Creatives.” While I know you’re here for sales, I wonder if GETTING ORGANIZED in your business is also pulling at your interest... So today, I’m bringing you some fun tips from a gal who knows a lot about getting organized! Let me tell you a little bit about her. Tracy Hoth is a 17-year veteran professional organizer and certified life coach who is on a mission to empower coaches and online business owners to reclaim their time, boost confidence, and maximize profitability through a streamlined and organized business. Enjoy!   ✅ Find Tracy Hoth on her website and Instagram, here: Free Class https://simplysquaredaway.com/5files Website https://simplysquaredaway.com/ Podcast https://simplysquaredaway.com/podcast/ LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/tracyhoth/ IG https://instagram.com/tracyhoth Facebook https://facebook.com/SimplySquaredAway Pinterest https://pinterest.com/simplysquaredaway/ ✅ Next Steps:  Find more information at www.HeatherAllenOnline.com. Buy a copy of the book "Let Your Creativity Work for You: How to Turn Artwork into Opportunity" by Heather Allen, MGIM-MBA at www.HeatherAllenOnline.com/book.  

Congrats! 🎉 You’ve got a show, market, festival, studio tour or workshop coming up. It’s either scheduled with a real date to work towards, or it’s something you’ve imagined, but it’s only a matter of time. Your event is on the horizon. Let’s get you ready, my friend. No need to start from scratch. I’ve got a lightweight plan to share with you that can be used for your first show or your fortieth show. But one thing is true, you can use this plan every time.  Mentioned in this episode: Learn more about artist and designer Juliana Yasmine Episode 2: Creative Business Owners — Use THIS 3-Step Framework to Make Your Introduction Memorable Listen and be inspired. 😊 ✅ Next Steps:  Book Your 1-Hour Sales Coaching Session HERE! 👈 👈 👈 Find more information at www.HeatherAllenOnline.com. Buy a copy of the book "Let Your Creativity Work for You: How to Turn Artwork into Opportunity" by Heather Allen, MGIM-MBA at www.HeatherAllenOnline.com/book.  

In the Revenue Ready Creative podcast, "Mon-yay!" is reserved for the first or second Monday of the new quarter. It’s a time to look back at your efforts from last quarter so that you can celebrate your achievements, learn from what happened and make adjustments where necessary.  But it’s also a great time to look ahead as you prepare for what will be happening in your creative business over the next three months.  You can find specific guidance in Episodes 5 and Episode 21 where I walk you through an exercise for your Quarterly Business Review – hey, maybe you’ll end up scheduling some time THIS WEEK to do your own Quarterly Business Review and see what you learn.  Episode 5 — Get Organized in Your Business With This Sales Tracking Process for Creatives Episode 21 — Guidance for Your Q4 Review: Sales Tracking for Commercial Artists, Makers and Designer For today, however, I thought it might be interesting for you to hear an actual coaching call with an artist duo – a husband and wife team, whom I’ve had the absolute pleasure of coaching in their second year of business! ✅ Book Your 1-Hour Sales Coaching Session HERE! 👈 👈 👈 In this session, you’ll hear just how busy they’ve been, literally filling their calendar with different festivals, events, and different types of offerings in their business. Pay attention to their description of how the physical, in-person events are starting to wear them down. Notice how they’re shifting into a different strategy for earning revenue in their business business. And then, finally, toward the end, a magical moment occurs when they see how everything might be different for them financially if they shift focus to one line of business over others. Listen and be inspired. 😊 ✅ Next Steps:  Book Your 1-Hour Sales Coaching Session HERE! 👈 👈 👈 Find more information at www.HeatherAllenOnline.com. Buy a copy of the book "Let Your Creativity Work for You: How to Turn Artwork into Opportunity" by Heather Allen, MGIM-MBA at www.HeatherAllenOnline.com/book.