Making a creative living is more attainable than ever. Artists and makers can set up shop online, sell their wares, and build a community around work that's both fulfilling and commercially viable. Part of being able to rely on a creative career is cultivating that dedicated audience, which is why many creators find success establishing a niche.

But when your job relies on imagination how do you decide what route to take? Because there are so many aspects to running a successful small business-from marketing to content, to sales, to accounting, all on top of making the work itself-it helps to be able to focus your efforts in one direction.

Focus can be hard to come by when the world is your oyster and refining your options can take time and effort. Working creators Lauren Strapagiel, a queer crafter, and Sherry Cheriton, a ceramicist, both found that narrowing their creative scopes opened up a whole new world of business. Here are some strategies they've used and some questions you can ask yourself as you determine your own personal brand.