What if I've validated my art and made some sales, but my business still isn't growing the way I want?

Validation has levels. You might have a restaurant that’s open with some customers coming in, but it’s barely covering rent and not growing. This often means your niche is too small—there just aren’t enough people interested in what you’re creating for it to become a large business. At this point, you need to consider pivoting: testing new styles, new subject matter, new techniques, or new formats to see if you can find something with a broader appeal or a more passionate audience. Some niches will always remain small no matter how well you market. The question becomes whether you’re comfortable with a small business, or whether you need to experiment with new creative directions to find something that resonates with a larger market.

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Asked by an artist with limited sales success · Answered by Patrick Shanahan · art-marketing-podcast · 2020-10-17