Sharing Your Work as a Creative: How to Confidently Showcase Your Unique Gifts
We exist in a reality driven by an over-saturation of content. This can become quite overwhelming as a creative, making it challenging to find your voice and confidently share your work in a way that feels authentic to you. One of the biggest things we hear from the folks we work with is that they do not resonate with many trends and norms within the world of marketing. Here at DoGoodBiz Studio, we have no problem saying that we also find it quite challenging to find resonance with the typical ways that many approach marketing. To us, the key to effective marketing lies not in following the latest trends or copying what others do, but in embracing your unique creative style. Whether you express yourself through writing, video, or other forms of art, understanding your creative style is essential to nurturing your authenticity and making a meaningful impact as you market your brand online. Within this article, we are going to break down how to discover what your unique creative style is so that you may share your gifts with the world in a way that feels good for you. Let’s dive in!
Identifying Your Creative Style
As a creative, your preferred mode of expression shapes how you can engage with your audience authentically and naturally. Instead of trying to force yourself to create content and market your creative brand based on what social media influencers or other people online say you should do, try nurturing your creative style instead!
Here are some common styles and how they can be utilized in marketing:
1. Writing
There are many ways that we can market our brands in a way that allows you to exercise your interest in writing. One of the things that has always irked me a bit is when I see someone claim that long-form writing is a thing of the past. ☠️ If this were the case, then Google would surely be experiencing some massive dips seeing as with one quick search of literally anything on Google, we can pull up pages upon pages of articles. These forms of long form writing are not just a thing of the present, but a thing of the unforeseeable future. So, if you enjoy writing, do not hesitate to prioritize it as a key method for marketing your brand!
Here are some ideas for marketing via writing to get you brainstorming which approach may tap best into your preferred mode for creatively sharing your gifts with the world:
Long-form Writing: Formats like blogs, articles, essays, and case studies allow you to delve deep into topics that resonate with you. This format is perfect for storytelling and exploring complex ideas, making it ideal for sharing insights or personal experiences. I adore writing long-form content because it helps me feel less restricted by character limits, allowing me to share what I want to share without creative limitations!
Short-form Writing: Social media captions, posts, and microblogging can convey messages quickly and effectively. This approach is great for sparking conversations and engaging with your audience in real time. The thing to remember here is that short-form writing takes a different strategic approach than long-form writing. Depending on the type of writing we are interested in, it is important to learn about what works and doesn’t on the given marketing channel you will be publishing content on.
Specific Formats: Consider whether you enjoy creative writing, poetry, or technical writing. Each style can inform your marketing voice and help you connect with different audiences. Remember, just because someone on the internet says that you “have to” create and express a certain way in order to get results is not typically truth. Instead, consider how you can lean fully into your unique, preferred style and let that be the path you follow!
2. Video / Audio
Short-form Video: Platforms like Instagram Reels, YouTube shorts, and TikTok are ideal for quick, engaging content. This format allows you to showcase your personality and creativity in a digestible way, making it easier to connect with viewers. The thing to keep in mind with short-form content is how short-lived the lifespans are. If you find yourself putting a lot of energy, time, resources, and effort into creating short-form content but are not seeing a turnaround or ROI, it may be time to explore more sustainable approaches. Tap here to learn more about content lifespans.
Long-form Video: YouTube and podcasting provide an opportunity to explore topics in-depth, offering valuable insights and building a deeper connection with your audience. This format is great for tutorials, interviews, and storytelling. There are platforms like Substack that allow you to create many formats in ways that allow each format to succeed, whereas creating long-form videos for platforms like Instagram which is built around short-form content and even shorter attention spans is better utilized for short-form writing and video.
3. Visual Art and Graphic Design
Graphic Design and Illustration: Sharing your visual creations can be a powerful way to express your brand identity. Use platforms like Pinterest and Instagram to showcase your art and engage with like-minded creatives. I have also found a lot of fun sharing creative projects on Threads. This happens to be my favorite and often go-to type of content to create as I could sit down and design all day long and be super happy. The key here is to determine what format of creating makes YOU feel that way and then align with marketing channels that support and encourage that format!
Photography: If you have a talent for capturing moments, consider using photography to tell your story and share your unique perspective with the world. I have a lot of friends who are extremely talented photographers and I’m also pretty into photography as I’ve been doing our photoshoots for the past several years. This is such an old-school mode of content creation as this is the format that Instagram any many other platforms started with. If this is your style, lean into the platforms that prioritize visual aesthetics!
The Importance of Sharing Your Gifts
“Understanding your creative style is crucial because it allows you to confidently share your work effectively and enjoyably without getting lost in the noise. ”
Here are some key points to consider:
Embrace Your Unique Journey
Every creative journey is different, and comparing yourself to others can stifle your growth. Remember that your creative process is yours alone, and it’s important to honor that. The most effective marketing comes from a place of authenticity, so focus on what feels right for you.
Contribution to the Collective
When you share your creative gifts with the world, you contribute to the collective. Your work has the potential to inspire, uplift, and support others. By tapping into your mission and motivation for creating, you can make a positive impact on your community and the planet.
Detach Your Worth from Results
It’s easy to fall into the trap of tying your self-worth to the success of your creative pursuits. Instead, focus on the joy of creation itself. When you detach your value from the outcomes, you free yourself to explore your creativity without fear of judgment or failure.
Share Your Vision
Having a purpose that extends beyond yourself is essential. When you share your mission and vision with others, you invite them to be part of your journey. This connection fosters a sense of community and encourages collaboration, making your creative endeavors even more meaningful.
Nurturing Your Creative Style
To effectively share your work, consider these approaches:
Know Your Audience: Understand who you’re creating for and consider them as you create content so to establish resonance with them. This will help you forge deeper connections and build a loyal following. The key here is to NOT, however, create ONLY for others. As artists, makers, designers, and so on…. creating for others instead of ourselves can completely zap and sever creative flow. It’s important to know your audience in the sense that you want to share your marketing content on channels and platforms where your target audience would be hanging out. But, do not sacrifice your creative expression to get more likes or engagement, as this will just burn you out and crush your creativity.
Stay Authentic: Embrace your creative style and share your work in a way that feels true to you. Authenticity resonates with people and encourages them to engage with your content. I am a firm believer that the most potent creative expression starts from within. When we ground into our truth, expression, and creative flow, what we produce can impact the world more profoundly than simply trying to be a carbon copy of everyone else.
Experiment and Evolve: Don’t be afraid to try new things and evolve your creative expression over time. This openness will keep your work fresh and engaging. For example, I have been learning handwriting techniques lately and it has been so much fun. As well, I’ve been learning more and more about marketing copywriting, especially long-form writing, and have been enjoying it. Within DoGoodBiz Studio, we have some team members who gravitate toward creating video content, so that is what they typically support our partners with, whereas other team members gravitate toward writing or design. We try to align our team with their creative styles so that everyone is set up to work on the things they truly enjoy. How we approach our marketing as brands is no different!
Sharing your creative gifts is a powerful way to make a positive impact in the world. By understanding and embracing your unique creative style, you can navigate the marketing landscape with confidence. Remember to honor your creative process, detach your worth from outcomes, and share your mission with others. In doing so, you’ll cultivate meaningful connections and contribute to a community that values authenticity and creativity.
Until next time…
Natalie Brite - DoGoodBiz Studio
