5 Questions For a Creator: Peter Simeti

This week I had the opportunity to ask Alterna Comics mastermind, Peter Simeti, my 5 questions. Peter Simeti is the founder and publisher of Alterna Comics. To learn more about Alterna Comics, please visit alternacomics.com.

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JL Metcalf: What is your number one tip to creators (new and old) on how to best market themselves in today’s world?

Peter Simeti: I find a lot of people find it difficult to promote or sell their own work. Don’t look at it as “selling,” look at it as “sharing.”

If you fashion yourself as a living billboard, it becomes easy to ignore you. You become an advertisement, not a person.  But if you show that you aim to share your creations, knowledge, and experiences with people, then you communicate that you’re not only the face of a brand or product but that you’re also at the heart and mind of it. 

People purchase products but they support people. Connecting with your audience in a meaningful way is so important.

JLM: Why is marketing yourself, aka the business of creating, so important for creators to learn and embrace?

PS: Marketing is as critical as it is simple. You can have the greatest product in the world but if no one knows about it, then it doesn’t exist. It’s important to understand that marketing is not selling. The goal of marketing is to obtain awareness. Hopefully that awareness translates to sales. If done right, it often does.

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JLM: What do you like best about being a creator?

PS: Every day is a new task and a new challenge. Never a dull moment!

JLM: What do you like least about being a creator?

PS: Same as the above: every day is a new task and a new challenge. Never a dull moment! Haha!

JLM: Who (or what type of art) inspires you most and why?

PS: I regularly find inspiration from people that accomplish their goals. Some people equate success with wealth and while that’s one way to measure success, it’s not always a true indicator of achievement.

I find accomplishments to be more inspirational. It’s great to see people achieve something that they’ve worked hard at, something they’ve fought for.

Nothing in life is easy and the things that are truly worth doing and fighting for are often the most difficult. It’s really inspirational to learn about the resolve that some people have and the hardships they endured to get to that place of achievement.

If you’d like to check out the full catalog for Alterna Comics check out their website!

If you are a creator, email me at jessicaleemet@gmail.com to be a part of this experience! Share your wisdom with the world!