Episode 103: Shifting Your Mindset Around Marketing with Leah Keggi
Today we are joined by Leah Keggi, a marketing expert who brings a unique blend of business strategy and creative entrepreneurship to the table. Together, we explore the struggles many artists face when it comes to marketing and sales, often driven by feelings of discomfort or resistance. Leah offers a fresh perspective on how to create a marketing strategy that feels authentic, sustainable, and in alignment with your creative values. Whether you’re returning to marketing after a break or just beginning your journey, this episode provides empowering, practical insights to help you navigate marketing your creative business.
Understanding the Discomfort Around Marketing
Many creatives feel discomfort when it comes to marketing—those moments when it feels "salesy" or misaligned with your art. We dig into how these feelings often stem from deeper issues like self-worth and the vulnerability of putting your work out there. Leah encourages artists to reframe marketing as an act of sharing their unique gifts with the world. Approaching it from this perspective allows their creativity to be seen, valued, and supported.
Building Authentic Connections with Your Audience
At the heart of the discussion is the idea of connection. Leah emphasizes that marketing isn’t about pushing a product—it’s about building a relationship with your audience. By sharing your story and process, you invite people to feel invested in your creative journey. Leah encourages creatives to approach marketing as a way to align with those who truly resonate with their work, offering something of value that can enrich their lives.
Finding Consistency with Strategic, Aligned Marketing
We also discuss a common challenge: shiny object syndrome, where creatives jump from one idea to the next, making it hard to stay focused on their marketing efforts. She advises setting clear brand pillars and maintaining consistent messaging that aligns with your authentic voice. Through her belief that "repetition builds recognition," Leah shares practical advice on how to plan content ahead of time, ensuring your marketing remains steady and aligned with your goals, without feeling overwhelming.
This episode offers a thoughtful and supportive space for creatives who want to overcome marketing resistance and embrace it as an integral part of their journey. I hope this episode empowers you to reconnect with marketing in a way that feels both authentic to you.
KEY TAKEAWAYS:
Instead of thinking of marketing as a way to sell, try viewing it as building a genuine relationship with your audience. When you focus on connection rather than sales, marketing becomes a way to share your passion rather than something "icky."
Take time to invite people into your creative journey—share your process, your inspiration, and the stories behind your work. When people feel connected to you and your story, they’ll naturally be more interested when you’re ready to promote your work.
Remember, charging for your art enables you to continue creating and sharing it with others, so embrace the mindset that your work has value and deserves to be seen.
Keep your messaging clear and consistent by defining a few key themes or "brand pillars" that reflect your work and what you want to convey. Consistency builds recognition and trust, making your marketing more effective and meaningful.
If you’ve been feeling stuck or unsure about getting back into marketing, start small and be consistent. Plan your content ahead, reconnect with your audience, and share authentically about where you are and what you’re working on. Remember, your audience follows you because they’re interested in what you have to offer—don't be afraid to put yourself out there and keep the conversation going.
Leah Keggi is a Marketing Pro and Pattern Designer looking to bring a little vacation into every day with coastal inspired design! She has spent the last decade working in marketing departments with product based businesses in everything from social media to brand strategy.She believes that marketing doesn’t have to feel salesy, and when you have the right strategy in place, you can create strategic and effective content quickly and consistently! In her free time (when she’s not working on her art business - CoastL Studio) she’s spending time with her daughter, enjoying her husband’s cooking, and dreaming of living at the beach!
Connect with Leah:
Artist Resources: leahkeggi.com/artist-resources
Website: CoastLstudio.com
Instagram: instagram.com/coastlstudio
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This episode is sponsored by Indigo Ink Printing, my go to printer for all my greeting cards! Go check them out, your project will be in the best of hands.
