Setting Business Goals for Creative Entrepreneurs: A Guide to Planning for Success in the New Year

As we get ready for the New Year, it’s the perfect time to align your creative business goals with strategic planning. Musicians growing their audience, artists expanding their reach, and creative businesses seeking more exposure can all benefit from setting clear, actionable goals. Here’s how creative entrepreneurs can set and achieve meaningful goals for 2025.

Reflect on the Past Year

Before planning, think about your current position. Ask yourself:

• What worked well this year?

• What challenges did I face?

• How did my audience or clientele grow?

For example, musicians using social media can analyze platform insights to see which posts had the highest engagement. Artists can reflect on which events or platforms led to the most sales or recognition. The ability to analyze your progress is crucial for understanding past performance, building on your strengths, and overcoming challenges on the path to entrepreneurial success.

Set SMART Goals

Setting SMART goals is a great way to turn your dreams into something you can actually work towards. It helps you create clear, actionable steps to get where you want to go. SMART stands for Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound, and it makes sure your goals are clear and realistic, with a defined timeline to achieve them.

Breaking Down SMART Goals:

• Specific: Clearly define what you want to accomplish.

• Measurable: Include metrics to track your progress.

• Achievable: Set goals that challenge you but remain realistic.

• Relevant: Ensure your goals align with your overall creative vision and values.

• Time-bound: Set a deadline to create urgency and focus.

Examples of SMART Goals for Creatives:

• Musician Example: “Grow my Instagram following by 25% by June by posting three high-quality videos weekly.”

• Specific: Grow Instagram following.

• Measurable: Increase by 25%.

• Achievable: Posting three videos a week is realistic with planning.

• Relevant: Expanding an online audience aligns with most musicians' growth strategies.

• Time-bound: Deadline of June creates a clear endpoint.

• Artist Example: “Sell five original pieces per quarter through a combination of local events and online platforms.”

• Specific: Sell original pieces.

• Measurable: Five pieces per quarter.

• Achievable: Using multiple sales channels makes the goal realistic.

• Relevant: Selling artwork is central to an artist’s career growth.

• Time-bound: The quarterly target sets regular checkpoints. 

Why SMART Goals Work

Breaking big ambitions into smaller, manageable steps makes sure you have steady progress without feeling overwhelmed. For example, instead of vaguely wanting to “build an online presence,” creating a SMART goal helps you focus on measurable actions like consistent posting, audience engagement, or targeted promotions.

Leverage Social Media to Expand Your Reach

Social media is a powerful tool for creative entrepreneurs, particularly musicians and artists. When you create engaging and consistent content, you can connect with new audiences while deepening relationships with current fans.

Tips for Musicians on Social Media:

• Share behind-the-scenes moments, live performances, or your songwriting process to build genuine connections with your audience.

• Use platforms like Instagram and TikTok to highlight your unique art and personality.

• Collaborate with other musicians or influencers to expand your reach.

Social Media for Other Artists and Creative Businesses:

• Post process videos or time-lapse content to show your craft in action.

• Use reels or short clips to promote upcoming events, workshops, or product launches.

• Engage your audience by asking for feedback or input on new projects.

SEO Tip: Optimize for Local and Niche Keywords

For musicians, focusing on niche terms like “social media for musicians”, “how to promote your music online”, or local keywords like “Omaha musicians” can improve search visibility. Here's how to implement this:

• Add Keywords in Captions: Use these phrases naturally in your social media captions, video descriptions, and hashtags. 

• Optimize Visual Content: Add SEO friendly titles and alt text to your videos, images, and posts. 

• Leverage Local Reach: If you're performing locally, tag your location and use city-specific hashtags like #OmahaLiveMusic or #OmahaArtScene.

Blend in your social media practices with smart SEO strategies and you will be able to maximize your visibility and grow a more engaged audience for your creative work. 

Focus on What Drives Revenue

Whether you’re selling physical art, streaming music, or offering creative services, setting revenue-based goals is essential for organic growth. Consider the following:

• Increase sales: Identify specific actions, like offering limited-time discounts or bundling products, to increase the income.

• Review pricing: Take a fresh look at your pricing model. Does it match the value you’re offering and what the market is looking for? Adjusting your prices can help you stay competitive and attract the right audience.

• Diversify income streams: Musicians might explore merchandise sales, while visual artists could sell prints or digital downloads.

Build Community Connections

Connecting with others is fundamental to growing your creative career. Get involved with other entrepreneurs, local creative groups, and similar businesses. Working together can lead to exciting opportunities, like hosting events, forming partnerships, or promoting each other’s work.

Tip: Each month, we share a list of local community events where you can connect with other creatives and grow your network. Sign up for our newsletter to stay updated. 

Keep Learning

To stay ahead, it's important to keep growing and evolving. The more you learn, the better you'll be at adapting to changes and grabbing new opportunities.

• For Musicians: Consider learning new production techniques, like learning a new instrument or exploring advanced recording methods.

• For Artists: Try experimenting with new mediums or styles to expand your artistic range. You could also take online courses focused on art marketing to help you sell your work more effectively.

• For Creative Businesses: Attend industry conferences to network, learn about the latest trends, and find new inspiration. Exploring tools like digital ad platforms and analytics software can also help you reach more customers and better understand your audience.

Create a Flexible Plan

 Life in the creative industry is unpredictable. So, while setting goals is essential, be prepared to adjust your plan as needed. Stay open to new opportunities and use obstacles as learning experiences.

Looking to grow your creative business in 2025?

As you move into the New Year, keep in mind that creativity grows with structure. Set ambitious goals, stay consistent, and watch your business goals become your reality.

AKay Marketing specializes in helping musicians, artists, and creative entrepreneurs succeed through personalized marketing strategies. Let us help bring your vision to life.