Personality is a Game Changer to Sales! – New Courses Enhance Sales Skills in the Creative Industries

Humak UAS now offers a comprehensive range of training in sales, branding, and the commercialization of skills for professionals in the creative industries. This expertise is accessible through new micro-courses, online courses, and the Creve training program.

Sales skills are one of the key areas for skill development in the creative industries. Professionals focused on highly creative work, design, and the development of innovative solutions need stronger sales skills to support their business endeavors.

In Humak’s new curriculum for Cultural management (BA) education, sales and branding skills are emphasized more than before. Under the sales theme, Humak also offer open university online course Branding and Sales Skills in English, and free, short micro-courses for professionals in the creative industries

Sales Skills Are Also Needed for Collaboration and Fundraising

The benefits of sales skills extend beyond just direct service or product sales. Sales skills have become fundamental not only for entrepreneurs but for everyone.

“Sales skills are not just about directly selling services; they are crucial for building collaborations and applying for development funding. All professionals can benefit from these skills. We wanted to offer various courses to help creative professionals enhance their skills, even in a busy schedule,” explains Leena Janhila, an expert in entrepreneurship and business.

“Presentation skills are worth practicing. In addition to clear content, needs, and benefits, presenting in a personal and unique manner piques interest and leaves a lasting impression. This is an advantage for creative professionals. Creativity and imagination can be harnessed as differentiators and competitive advantages for services,” Janhila continues.

 

Micro-Courses on Pitching and Practical Sales Skills

The first offering under the sales theme is a micro-course on pitching skills. The course expert is Elsa Ervasti, a pitch coach and entrepreneur in the creative industries.

As a professional in the presentation field, Elsa Ervasti herself became excited about the pitching format: concise and tight presentations where she can help professionals from different fields become better. “I’ve learned to recognize situations where pitching is worthwhile. In the workplace, there are moments when you notice someone is interested in what you do. That’s when it’s good to have a short introduction pitch ready!” Ervasti advises.

According to Ervasti, the main challenges for creative professionals lie in distinguishing their skills and creative ideas – products or services – from one another. It’s important to draw boundaries between the artist, the creative professional, the personal brand, the idea, the service, and the products. Skills are different from ideas. Many can have ideas, but implementation requires creative expertise.

“Practicing pitching skills is especially important for creative professionals because they have the opportunity to scale their expertise across different industry boundaries, and a good pitch makes it easier for new clients to understand what kind of products and services can be created in collaboration,” Ervasti emphasizes the importance of the topic.

Ervasti has condensed the key aspects of pitch training into four themes for the micro-course: the importance of pitching, presentation structure, presentation confidence, and pitching situations in the workplace.

“In networking situations, it’s good to be able to introduce yourself and your main creative ideas or projects concisely, sparking interest. When starting a collaboration, it’s good to talk about visions and the business model to be built together,” Ervasti explains the possibilities.

“When you have a well-crafted idea, it’s easier to communicate it to partners. Everything doesn’t have to be ready, but having a clear vision is beneficial.”

 

Humak’s New Offerings for Creative Industry Branding and Sales Skills

New Micro-Course Series on Sales, Branding, and Pricing:

• Creative Business 1 – Pitch Your Creativity. Participate for free.
• Pitching micro course is available also in Finnish: Luovaa liiketoimintaa 1 – Pitchausta luoville.

Upcoming:

• Creative Business 2 – Branding (to be released in fall 2024)
• Creative Business 3 – Sales and Pricing (to be released in fall 2024)

Deepen Your Knowledge with Open University Online Courses Starting in Fall:

• Branding and sales skills (5cr, 75e)
• Sustainable and responsible business (5cr, 75e)
• Brändäys ja myyntitaidot (5op, 75e)
• Creven valmennusohjelma välittäjätoimijoille – Luovien sisältöjen lisensointi (Luovien alojen liiketoiminnan kehittäminen, 10op, 150e)

Register at Humak’s online store.
Note: These courses are available for free to solo entrepreneurs in the creative industries through the Volume! program. Read more and participate in Volume here, and for Volume Finnish stream here.

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The Volume! – Empowering Solo Entrepreneurs through Global Readiness project is carried out from Jan 2023 to Feb 2025, financed by the Continuous Learning and Employment Service Center, SECLE.

Author: Leena Janhila