The Artrepreneur Series "Promoting Your Business"

With the right resources, artists can flourish as entrepreneurs, and create a sustainable living from their artistic practice. Community Futures Wood Buffalo has partnered with Arts Council Wood Buffalo and Startup YMM to offer “The Artrepreneur Series — Promoting Your Business”, a program that gives local artists an opportunity to build their capacity to compete and thrive through a 4-week “Promoting Your Business” workshop series.

This workshop series will be delivered online through Zoom.

Fees: $20 — Those who attend 100% of the workshop series will recieve a certificate of completion.

SESSION SUMMARIES

Session 1:

"Business Promotion — Boost your Business"

In business, promotion refers to any type of marketing communication used to inform target audiences of a product, service, or brand. However, before we can promote a business plan must be created to determine the course of action used to promote the business. This first part of a four-session series is designed to teach artists pursuing entrepreneurship how to create a business plan. This business plan will be used to determine a few of the many available routes that can be used to “get their brand out there” or “boost their business.”

After attending this session, you will be able to:

• Describe why a Business Proposal is important.

• Describe the key steps in developing a Business Proposal.

• Identify what a Business Proposal helps owners understand about their business.

• Explain how a Business Proposal helps business owners succeed.

Session 2:

“Digital Marketing — Scale your Business”

Social media is evolving and changing. With this, it important to keep up to date with all things social media to scale your brand. From Facebook to Tiktok to Instagram this course is designed to teach artists how they can effectively utilize social media to market their business.

After attending this session, you will be able to:

• Explain the benefits of having a social media strategy

• Decide which platforms to focus primary energy on

• Create a practical plan for social media to implement for your business

• Develop content ideas to utilize in your own strategy

Session 3:

“Cashflow Planning — Evaluate your Business”

Cash flow management is the cornerstone for both start-ups and established businesses. All profit-making businesses that sell goods and services are created to generate cash for the business. Proper management of the cash is critical for the survival and growth of the business. This course is designed to teach artists the important of understanding cashflow while maintaining or beginning a new business.

After attending this session, you will be able to:

• Understand cashflow management (cash inflow vs. cash outflow)

• Determine and cut cash inefficiencies

• Efficiently decide what resources to make an investment

• Coordinate between cash and debt management

Session 4:

“Customer Service — Grow your Business”

Providing outstanding customer service can make the difference between gaining, keeping, or losing a customer. In this customer service essentials session, artists will gain foundational knowledge, leverage proven techniques, and apply best practices that will help develop and maintain mutually beneficial relationships with their customers, while continuing to grow their customer base.

After attending this session, you will be able to:

• Adopt a confident, consistent approach that ensures great service

• Apply best practice communication techniques to connect with your customers

• Choose and apply techniques that create customer loyalty and exceed expectations

• Respond positively and constructively to customer problems

For any questions feel free to email cfwbmarketing@albertacf.com