How much of a lead will I have if I master digital marketing now versus waiting?

Massive. There’s an enormous arbitrage opportunity right now for artists who invest in learning marketing skills. E-commerce is booming—2020 e-commerce sales are projected to exceed all of 2019’s sales by the end of September alone. Business is shifting online at an unprecedented rate, which is incredibly powerful for home-based businesses and solo entrepreneurs. The artists and photographers who take advantage of this moment and invest in their own skillset will have a huge lead over the next three to five years. Skillset cannot be short-cut—it takes time to develop, which is why experts spend years (even decades) mastering it. The people who become experts in their own way at direct marketing in this digital age are the ones who will lead. It’s the literacy of being a digital-age entrepreneur. Success won’t go to the most talented artists—it never does. It goes to the best business people and marketers who actually get it done. Talent plays a role, but way less than most artists think.

---

Asked by artists considering whether to invest in learning marketing · Answered by Nick · art-marketing-podcast · 2020-08-13