Reader’s choice: nine most popular Journal articles in 2024 (plus a bonus read)

Laptop, notebook and plant on blue desk background.

Catch up on the most impactful content from our Journal this year to help you grow your creative business in 2025 and beyond…

From leveraging AI and mastering marketing to fueling your knowledge with the best business books and creative industry podcasts, this roundup celebrates nine of the most favoured resources from our Journal, published in the last 12 months. Also included is an evergreen article on the art of goal setting, always a popular read at this time of year.

If you want to grow your creative business and spark new ideas, these articles will help you in your journey. Check them out below!

1. Seven inspiring online magazines creatives will love

Need some inspiration to spark creativity or want to keep updated about the latest trends in your field? We’ve rounded up some of the most riveting online creative industry publications for graphic designers, artists, architects, fashion entrepreneurs, and more. Check out the complete list here.

2. Six top platforms for showcasing your creative work

In competitive fields like graphic design and illustration, it’s a constant battle to get your portfolio noticed. So, it’s vital to create an impressive online showcase of your work and make sure you get it in front of potential clients. Here are six of the best platforms that help you spotlight standout creative projects and boost the chances of new clients finding you.

3. Seven AI tools to power your creative business

Generative AI is disrupting the creative industries, and you may have mixed feelings and even a bit of anxiety about this. However, AI does bring opportunities for creative entrepreneurs. It’s helpful for boosting ideation and streamlining repetitive tasks. In this article, you’ll find seven AI tools you can leverage to give your creative business a competitive edge.

4. How-To Guide | Using ChatGPT to fuel your creativity

You’ve probably heard of ChatGPT, given it’s one of the biggest AI tools around. But do you know how to leverage it to enhance creativity, innovation and problem-solving? Our article explains about prompt engineering – creating the right inputs for ChatGPT to generate useful outcomes for your needs. Read it here to start extracting more value from this AI tool.

5. Creative business growth: seven invaluable books to guide your journey

Already started your creative business and are now looking to grow? We’ve researched seven brilliant business books with insights and strategies from some of the brightest minds in personal development, marketing, leadership and behaviour economics. Add these essential books to your reading list today.

Related: How to digest business books quickly – and make the key takeaways stick.

6. How-To Guide | Write compelling copy for your creative business

Words hold power: used wisely, they can help you create an emotional connection with your audience and guide them towards action. If you don’t have the budget to hire a copywriting expert to write your mission statement, website copy, email marketing campaigns and other materials, read our tips and techniques to help you master the art of crafting compelling copy. 

7. Podcasts for podcasters: seven inspiring shows to help you start up or scale

Want to get your voice heard with your own podcast – or expand your podcast audience and introduce income streams? Learn from some of the most successful podcasters around. We’ve cherry-picked the top podcasting podcasts which offer scores of pointers and practical advice to help you start up or scale your podcast confidently.

8. Six podcast picks for animators and animation fans

Whether you want to break into the animation industry or enhance your creative work, here are the most-listened-to podcasts from the world of animation. Add these to your podcast queue and prepare to be educated, entertained and inspired by animation industry leaders and business experts.

9. Marketing mastery: six top-tier podcasts for advertising and marketing professionals

Want to amplify your creativity and stay ahead in the marketing game? From the latest SEO trends to in-depth dives into human behaviour, check out these six marketing podcasts, which will give you plenty of insights to improve your creative practices and grab your audience’s attention. Enjoy zero-fluff nuggets of wisdom, stimulating commentary and actionable digital marketing lessons.

Bonus read! The fine art of goal-setting

Goal-setting helps you intentionally move forward in life and is a great tool for growing your creative business. Discover the art of goal-setting – how to set SMART goals that’ll give you both short and long-term motivation, plus how to break goals down into manageable tasks you can work on steadily. This article also includes a huge list of helpful resources, such as free goal-setting and tracking templates, goal management strategies and 47 goal-setting exercises, tools and games!

 

Once you’ve scoured our top articles from 2024, check out another great resource from Creative Entrepreneurs’ founder, Carolyn Dailey. Her debut book, The Creative Entrepreneur, is launching early in 2025 and is available to pre-order now!