July Retrospective: Back in July 2014, I wrote a daily series exploring the realities of navigating the creative economy. Twelve years later, looking back at these entries (and my original awful hand-drawn illustrations!), I’m struck by how the core truths of a creative career remain completely timeless. Each day this month, I’m opening up the archive to share these foundational lessons—with a few modern reflections layered in.

If you’re a new creative graduate looking to find your footing in the creative economy, a Gen X looking to pivot into a creative business, a side-hustler or someone who just wants to up their creative business game, there’s something for you in this series. Just don’t judge my drawings 😉

Why You Need A Freebie

Consumers are programmed to ‘try before they buy.’ It’s hardwired into consuming habits. So it’s a good idea to anticipate this and have a sample product available.

What can you give away that’s a good indication of the goods you produce or the service you are offering?

For actors and dancers, this is probably a showreel or demo reel. For musicians you need a demo reel.  For visual artists, a digital portfolio is a must. For writers, perhaps several chapters of your novel or book available as a download?

Be creative.

While letting potential customers see your portfolio or showreel is of value, it’s even more valuable to be able to leave them with something to remember you by. This is where a postcard, flyer or other printed material (with a URL to your portfolio or demo) can be useful [what’s the 2026 digital version of a ‘leave behind’?].

If you are offering teaching or coaching, consider offering a free session or a short online ecourse.

Why is this important?

We live in a world of hype. The internet has made it very easy to set up shop online, but by lowering the barrier to entry, it has increased the number of vendors who must shout louder and louder to be heard over the noise. This encourages puffed up sales promises that are often nothing more than hot air.

You want to set yourself apart from that hype.

You make yourself real because you offer proof. You back up your offers with the opportunity to sample what they are purchasing before agreeing to anything.

This makes you legit. This makes you a business not a huckster.

Don’t just make promises. Be prepared to back them up with proof. And then give that proof away for free. It will win you a lot more customers.

Action: go back to your list of goods and/or services you are offering (day 2) and figure out how you can allow potential customers to sample before purchase.  Give something good away.

Use the comments below to tell us what you’re going to give away…

Longevity in a creative career isn’t accidental—it’s built on strategy.

While the landscape shifts, the core principles of thriving as a creative freelancer haven’t changed. For deeper, modern frameworks on building a sustainable creative practice:

• Read the Book: Looking for a step-by-step field guide to building a resilient career in the creative economy? Pick up my recent book The Thriving Creative: Successful Freelancing in the Creative Economy available from Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and from my publisher Routledge.
• Stay Connected: Join my community and to receive the complete 31-day hand-drawn playbook as a single PDF at the end of the month. Sign up below.