How to Develop Your Reputation (and the Value it Holds in Your Creative Career)
By Marquez Rodriguez
If you are a creative entrepreneur looking to provide valued-based services and experiences for your clients, going deeper into the value your reputation holds is the right way to start.“ As Publilius Syrus once said, “A good reputation is more valuable than money.”
Photo of Selena Gomez by Starstock | Dreamstime
How do you develop and protect your reputation amongst all the other things you control in your life? Over the last 7 years of my professional creative career, I have come to learn that your reputation is the very key that grants you future opportunities, leading you to the money that you make in your career. Your reputation takes a life to build and it comes with rewarding (yet challenging) moments. In this article, we break down what components make up one’s own reputation and discuss key ways to develop that star rep you are creating!
What makes up your reputation? You reputation is composed of the things that make you credible and make people trust the person you are. Your morals and knowledge of a code of ethics go into the reputation you hold. People will likely want to work with your brand if they know you are someone that upholds high values and professionalism.
Credibility is very important for your reputation, both when you are being credited and when you are crediting others for their work. Credit etiquette consists of crediting those where it is due and how they want to be credited, such as their title and what they go by. Ensuring you credit everyone who puts work into the creative project is how you build great connections with other artists and build that sparkling reputation. While collaborating with other artists, you will want to create a space to speak freely and connect with each other. As creatives, it is very important to talk to other creatives and create a community that helps build each other to become successful.
Photo by asadykov | Adobe Stock
As a creative artist, it is important to showcase your accomplishments. Build your credibility by building your portfolio, client list, and creating your best possible work. Add any accomplishments into your resumé or portfolio and share your art with the world! Include proper credits for those who helped. The more accomplishments you have (and the more people that see these), the more likely you will get endless bookings, creative connections, and opportunities.
Clients want to work with an artist who is professional, provides parameters for the project, and anything else required to create a successful business and brand. You want to take care of your reputation just as much as taking care of your brand. When people think or talk about you, they recognize your brand and reputation all at once — they are one and the same.
Photo by piter2121 | Adobe Stock
Develop your brand with your heart, mind, and true intentions. You want to be true to yourself because your artistic career is truly determined by your reputation. When creating, you are representing your brand but when you are creating for clients, you also represent their brand and the vision you are bringing to life. They have seen and trusted the art you create and want you to help make their brand shine. Anytime you create art for others, you are influencing your reputation, so if you make a mistake or a decision that was not quite right, take accountability, have integrity, and make it better. The best thing you can do for your brand is to right the mistakes you have made and keep your clients' trust.
Although building your reputation takes consistency and dedication, considering your community’s perception of you is essential when building a strong foundation for your creative career. It does take a lot of work, but the benefits a great reputation provides is priceless. Stay focused, but remember to stay true to yourself. Best of luck to you in all of your success!
Source: Outlandaa
