Facing Your Fears About Marketing

(One small step at a time)

October is full of spooky decorations, haunted houses, and things that go bump in the night. But for many artists, nothing feels scarier than marketing.

Learning how to promote your art, especially when it involves new platforms, technology, or strategies, can feel overwhelming. And it’s easy to think: “I’m an artist, not a marketer.”

The truth? You don’t have to master everything at once. Marketing doesn’t need to be a monster lurking in the shadows. It can be tackled the same way you approach your art: with curiosity, experimentation, and small, steady steps.

Marketing Feels Scary for Many Artists

• It’s unfamiliar. Unlike making art, it’s not second nature.

• It’s constantly changing. New platforms, tools, and trends make it feel like you’re always behind.

• It feels vulnerable. Sharing your art means putting yourself out there—and the possibility of being ignored is intimidating.

Take the Fear Out of Marketing

1. Think Small, Not Big

You don’t have to “learn marketing.” You just need to learn one thing at a time. Watch a short YouTube video on hashtags. Read one blog about email lists. Ask a fellow artist how they approach reels. Small steps add up.

2. Shift Your Mindset From “Marketing” to “Sharing”

Marketing feels intimidating. But “sharing what you love” feels a lot more natural. The goal isn’t to be perfect. It’s to invite people into your process.

3. Borrow From Your Art Practice

As artists, you experiment all the time: new colors, new techniques, new subjects. What if you brought that same spirit to learning one marketing skill? Treat it as play, not pressure.

4. Celebrate Progress, Not Perfection

Did you post your first reel? Update your bio? Try a new platform? That’s a win. Give yourself credit for every step forward—you’re building momentum.

Final Thought

Marketing doesn’t have to feel like a haunted house you’re forced to walk through. Start with one small light. One skill, one experiment, one step. That’s how you push back the shadows.

You already know how to learn, grow, and experiment in your art. You can do the same here.

Create freely. Share easily.