When you’re running a business in a creative industry, it may not always be clear how you’re going to monetize your work. Whether you’re an independent artist, a freelance creator, or some other form of solopreneur, one of the first steps on your road to success is landing your first sale—and it can be a tricky endeavor on your own.

After each working in the culture room for some time, the members of Rolling Stone Cultural Council know what it takes to run successful businesses in creative industries. Here, they weigh in with words of wisdom for aspiring or current entrepreneurs on how to land that elusive first sale and what it takes to keep your business going even after you land your first customer.

Master your craft

Consumers are organically magnetized to you when you focus your energy on improving the value of your offerings—whether it’s a product, artwork, writing, or, in our case, a seed. Independent entrepreneurs who really shine thrive in their lane. Master your craft and tell your story across digital platforms, and the first buyer will be drawn to you. – Lindsey Bartlett, Fast buttons

Focus on what you can control

Refine your value proposition. Develop win-win relationships. Remember, if you’re early in your career, your only focus should be gaining experience, learning and building relationships with people in your industry. As you grow, you can continue to scale prices and expectations. – Sam Saideman, Innovo Management

Build genuine contacts with your target group

Focus on building genuine connections. Whether through social media, local events or personal outreach, engage your audience authentically. People buy from those they trust, especially in creative fields. Show your passion, share your story and let potential customers see the person behind the product. Your first sale often comes from building that personal relationship. – Red Rodriguez, GRAVE

Offer exclusive promotions or discounts

An effective tip for independent artists, freelance creators and solopreneurs to get their first sale is to offer an exclusive promotion or discount to early adopters. This can create a sense of urgency and value and encourage potential customers to act quickly. Additionally, a special offer can help generate word-of-mouth referrals when happy customers share their positive experiences. – Mark Paulda, Mark Paulda & Co

Adapt to what the market wants

I see this a lot in new artists – the desire to express their creativity through their art. The problem is when you want to sell your art, it’s a matter of buyer’s taste unless you manage to find an agent or mentor who can sell your art the way you made it. For some, the word “commercialize” reeks of “selling out.” Think of it as simply adapting your expression to what the market wants. – Zain Jaffer, Zain Jaffer Foundation

Understand the value you offer

Ask yourself the question, “Why would anyone be willing to pay for what I have to offer them?” Your answer should be solid, honest, easy to understand and, very importantly, you must have the ability to hit that “hip pocket nerve” that makes a person say, “Hey, I want that.” If and after you win your first sale, understand that anyone can do it once. What keeps a customer coming back for more? – Wayne Bell, Really Big Coloring Books® Inc | ColoringBook.com

Rolling Stone Culture Council is an invitational community for influencers, innovators and creatives. Do I qualify?

Harness the power of your network

Stay in touch with your network. Freelancers and solopreneurs don’t come out of nowhere. You likely already have established influence, mentors and potential clients. Networking—from attending industry events to simply reaching out to old colleagues—is critical to startup success, giving you a starting point to gain contacts, campaign support, and investors. – Cynthia Johnson, Bell + ivy

Do what you say and deliver

Integrity and trust are the cornerstones of all business relationships. Understand your customer’s needs and deliver a solution you can be proud of. Honor your word and deliver what you say you will. When you do these things, a customer will stay with you for repeat business and you will attract new business. – Matt Altman, Title booking

Find your confidence

Be confident. You are not asking someone for a favor; you offer something of value in exchange for payment. You don’t have to apologize for your pricing. Be confident in your pricing and deliver high value to your customers. – Dan Giuliani, Volt Athletics

Get a strong reference

Offer a small, high-value project for free to a well-connected customer in exchange for a review. This creates credibility and trust and provides social proof to attract paying customers. A strong reference can showcase your work, boost your portfolio and lead to word of mouth recommendations, increasing your chances of landing your first sale. – Jessica BillingsleySona Capital

Build a strong online presence

Focus on building a strong online presence by showcasing your unique value and engaging your target audience on social media. Use content to tell your story, demonstrate expertise, and connect personally. This builds trust and visibility and makes it easier to attract customers who relate to and believe in your work, leading to that first crucial sale. – Stephen Nalley, Black Briar Advisors

Create demand through scarcity

Create demand through scarcity for your original target audience. Consider limited time offers, “one night only” promotions or exclusive offers. This creates urgency, builds trust, generates buzz and demonstrates value by offering something exclusive or unique. – Matthew Forster, CMS Nashville

Start with those most likely to hire you

Start with people who are most likely to hire you – those who already know you and currently need what you have to offer. Most people would prefer to work with someone they know and trust. And if they are in the market for a product or service that you provide, why not choose you? Be brave and have that conversation. It may feel scary at first, but it will get easier with time – especially when people say “yes”. – Jed Brewer, Good loud media

Focus on doing good work

Do a good job. If you’re genuine, passionate, and hard-working—and there’s a need for the kind of work you do—your first clients will be drawn to your demonstrated success. Limited marketing can give you a lift, but don’t lose focus on the core work of your business by trying to run a huge marketing campaign right away. – Evan Neeson, NisonCo