This year, I’m celebrating 15 years since I started Creative Boom in 2009. Looking back now, I’d say that a key element in our success was my unwavering belief in the original concept.
At the time, I was determined to build an online magazine where great creative work would be celebrated fully, free of the elitism, gatekeeping and London-centric bias of other platforms. Today, my colleagues and I remain just as committed to this mission. (For more on this, read our article, What we stand for).
But belief alone isn’t enough. Building a successful operation also means hard work, continuous learning, calculated risk-taking, community building, and much more besides.
So, I thought it might be a good moment to share some of my thoughts on our journey so far and offer some tips that might help you build your own creative business in 2024.
I also asked the Creative Boom community for advice, and they came up trumps as ever. You can read some of their best tips below and view the full discussion on X here.
1. Believe in your idea and keep going
When I started Creative Boom in 2009, the landscape was vastly different. Many people were sceptical about the viability of an online magazine dedicated to creative professionals. However, my unwavering belief in the concept and relentless determination was key to rising above any nay-saying and sticking to the plan.
There were moments of doubt and external criticism, but perseverance through these challenges was crucial. So remember: every great idea faces hurdles. It’s your passion and commitment that will see you through tough times and help your project thrive.
2. Go all-in
It’s tough out there, and businesses fail every day. So the world isn’t going to hand you success on a plate. To achieve it, you have to be prepared to go all in.
Illustrator and designer Rich Banks puts it succinctly. “Don’t half-arse it,” he says. “This was advice I was given as a kid and still follow today. If it’s something you want and feel passionate about, go all out for it… or don’t expect it to work. Plenty of artists expect people to buy their work. But it doesn’t work that way. You have to put effort in.”
And remember, that effort won’t just be at the start of your journey: you’ll have to keep putting it in as long as you wish your business to thrive. As Barney Durrant, owner of Bluebell Marketing, says: “Never stop selling and networking, even when you’re busy. That pipeline needs to be full, as things always change. Make time to work on your business and not just in it.”
3. Find the right people
Does that last piece of advice seem overwhelming? Then I should balance that out by saying: you don’t have to do this alone. Eventually, you’ll reach a point where you can employ others,