Unstarving Artist

5 tips for artists to promote yourself on and offline

admin — Wed, 03 Aug 2011 18:54:31 +0000

Promotion can be one of the most difficult tasks for an artist. We like to create things, not necessarily tell others we created it. It can feel like bragging or showing off and really we usually just want to make people smile with what we’ve created, not ask for them to stop and notice. However, without telling people about what you do or what you’ve created, how are they supposed to know?

No one is paying attention to our work as much as we are. So, it’s important we continually reach out and let others know what we have to offer. You can promote yourself in a variety of places very easily, if you know what to set up and how to use it. Here are 5 tips to help you promote yourself on and offline.

The idea isn’t to create more work, but rather to create smarter ways to do what you are already doing.

Cross promote – if you already have business cards, make sure your web address is included. If you have a Facebook account, make sure your website links to your Facebook page directly. If you exhibit in galleries or shows, make sure you have a handout with your website information and you have plenty of business cards available.
You need to be online – if you don’t have a website yet, at a minimum, you need a page that is well written and provides current contact information.There are a number of services that offer artist portfolios, resumes and other information. Something as simple as setting up a Facebook fan page or LinkedIn profile will at least get you online so your potential online contacts see you are up with the times. Make sure to provide current information. If you think it’s too much work to be online, consider how many thousands of potential contacts are out there… finding your competition instead.
Communicate – Blogs aren’t blogs, they’re communication tools for what’s new. Setting up blog software to use does not mean you are agreeing to writing in a diary style every day. Think of this tool as more of a content management system, allowing you to write about current events, latest artwork, inspirations you want to share with your interested buyers, etc. Sharing new and updated information regularly is what your buyers want to see. If there’s nothing new, there’s usually nothing to be interested in and nothing to buy. Keep the information fresh and interesting with photos to share the excitement. Blog software provides a whole host of resources for promoting yourself and your work much easier than a standard website… but that’s a topic for a whole new article in itself.
Provide options – once you have a website, invite visitors to connect with you. Share your contact information only if you want to be contacted. Example, I work from a home studio, yet I don’t share my home address nor phone number on my website. Give passers-by an opportunity to reach you. Also, if you are using a blog/news format for your site, sharing new ideas all the time, make sure to set up a mailing list. You can share your most recent articles with your visitors on your site and remind mailing list subscribers to come back to the site and see what’s new. If you have a storefront, booth or other face-to-face sales point, invite visitors to signup for your mailing lists there as well. You can offer a hard copy newsletter you send via stand mail if you’d like, sharing the same content as the digital version. The idea is to stay connected with as many interested people as possible.
Make time to reply – the best advertising and promotion is referrals from past buyers and clients. Make sure that if you set up contact information or communication lines, that you reply and comment back as quickly as possible and professionally. If you are utilizing social media, don’t shout out what you have to say with no intent to “listen” for comments from your followers. Instead, make sure to check your social accounts at least once a day so you can reply to concerns, address any issues and thank those who took the time to provide feedback. If your current contacts are happy, they are going to tell others about you… which can lead to more great contracts.

Remember, stay consistent with all your forms of communication and all the places you are listed. This way if a buyer sees your name in one place, and then later in another place, they know its the same person. Keep it as easy and simple as possible to reach you so there is a higher chance of sales success.

Online communication is just as valuable as face-to-face connections and take just as much time and effort to create lasting business relationships. If you think you don’t have time to promote yourself, then you might want to consider either connecting with an agent/art rep. or find yourself a new business idea. Art doesn’t just sell itself, you have to let people know you have the art for them to buy in whatever format it is you are providing. It doesn’t matter if you are a gallery artist or a street vendor, if no one knows you have art available, it isn’t leaving your studio.

I’d love to hear what promotion ideas you have to share!

Creativity and the Human Soul

admin — Mon, 07 Mar 2011 17:59:33 +0000

guest post by Gwen Fox

There are many reasons we as humans create…one of the first was to show direction for fellow followers. So, what is our reason to create today? Why is creativity so very important to our lives?

The one thing we have in common with everyone in the universe is creativity. It is in our DNA. Creativity is the thread that binds all of us together…how fabulous is that !!! When we let our creative energy surge through our body without conscious thought we reach a place within us that is sacred.

As a professional artist and teacher I witness this struggle of “Am I creative?” every workshop. Students who have finally given themselves permission to delve into their desire to create also ask themselves “Will I embarrass myself?” Some enter the room with great tribulation, some are shy, quiet and then there are those who consider this a fun exciting experience. By the end of the workshop each student has found a friend within themselves….a friend they had all along but didn’t know existed.

Women are the worse in recognizing and giving into the need of examining their creativity. Why do women put aside this yearning? Perhaps it is because we are raised to be “giving”. We are the caretakers and this takes precedence over our own desires.

I was raised on a farm in East Tennessee and my fabulous Mother wallpapered the hallway of the old farmhouse in plain wallpaper and gave me permission to draw to my hearts content. She repapered the hallway each week for many years. I grew up thinking all children were allowed to draw, color and create on the walls!

The big question is this…. Why do we fight this need, this yearning…this essential component in our lives? Do we consider it frivolous? Are we told we need to be more serious?

There are many things I don’t know but I do know this…

When we forsake our life’s longing, perhaps our purpose in life, we deny our children the pleasure of witnessing our growth. Mothers who give themselves permission to honor their creativity then open the way for their children to pursue theirs. This is especially true for our daughters.

There is a quote I love that was written by a French essayist…”With everyone born human, a poet…an artist…is born, who dies young and who is survived by an adult”.

Our creative explorations feed our soul, enrich our lives and enhance those around us. Creativity is where your soul wants to sing… Come home to your heart and listen.

About the Author
Gwen Fox is a professional artist and teacher. She has been referred to as “the bridge between art and spirituality”. Gwen has forged a new paradigm in the world of art as she helps her students tap into their inner strength and peel away limiting beliefs. Gwen can be reached by email gwen@gwenfox.com Her website is www.gwenfox.com

Creativity – Encouraging the artist within

How to use Twitter for network marketing

admin — Sat, 19 Feb 2011 16:07:10 +0000

Guest post by James Gunter

Although many people think Twitter is frivolous and only a way to follow vapid celebrities, it is actually one of the most powerful social marketing tool available to any company. It’s no wonder that some of the biggest companies, like Apple, Microsoft, the TV networks, movie studios, and more have Twitter accounts with hundreds of thousands of followers. As a network marketer, you should be using Twitter as well. It’s a great way to talk to your current customers and new sales recruits and to connect with new customers and other people who may be interested in joining your organization.

Follow and Be Followed

Twitter is similar to Facebook in that you create a profile and then you can follow other tweeters—and they can follow you. First of all, it’s a great way to connect with current customers and sales associates. You can learn more about their lives and what they like to do through their tweets, and you can share a bit more about yourself and what you do with them as well. It’s a great tool for building relationships and understanding people in your organization more.

Update

But more than simply following everyone you know on Twitter, you need to get your message out there are well. Tweet about the latest products you are selling, or about deals, specials, and promotions you are running. You can even offer special deals only to people who follow you on Twitter, giving potential customers an incentive to learn more about your company and your products.

As well, make sure you optimize your tweets for success by using hashtags (#) and keywords, so other people who are looking for products like yours can find you easily. Remember, all your tweets are public, so anyone could be listening or searching for keywords you are emphasizing. And that’s a great way to pull in new customers and recruits.

Promote

Lastly, make sure you make your tweets available to people outside of Twitter. You can tie your Twitter feed to your Facebook account so that your tweets are published simultaneously on both networks. And you can post a Twitter box on your website for your site visitors to see—which is also an invitation to join. You can even encourage your Twitter followers to retweet (RT) your tweets to all their friends, promoting your Twitter feed and products.

Twitter can be a great tool for network marketers because it allows you to easily stay in touch with your customers and fellow sales associates. And it gives you great tools for promoting your products across Twitter and the web.

About the author: James Gunter is a writer and social media marketing enthusiast who runs a web content creation company. He enjoys writing about seo, tech products, and online education.

Get noticed and grow your business

admin — Sat, 05 Feb 2011 14:33:51 +0000

Building a brand, promoting your business and growing a fan base is all based on how people hear about you and your business. This video was taken during a session at Affiliate Summit in 2009, but the content still rings true for the world of art in the sense that you can “get noticed fast” by putting yourself out there. Learn about the tools and techniques used to gain momentum for your art and your business.

Earn money promoting art related affiliate offers

admin — Fri, 04 Feb 2011 04:06:08 +0000

Promoting products and services on your art website is really quite easy and, if done well, can result in a side income for your art business. In order to earn a commission, you need to be promoting products on a website or blog by using affiliate specific links to merchants you have an account with.

Let’s assume you have all three requirements successfully get involved in affiliate marketing. For example purposes, lets say you are a painter with a blog where you talk about your paintings, and an affiliate account with MrArt.com. Here’s how affiliate marketing works for artists:

In the most basic explanation, you would place an affiliate link (or banner) on your website that directs to MrArt.com. If one of your site visitors clicks the link and then makes a purchase, you would get credit for the same and thus earn a commission.

There are a few options to make this work: place a banner on your site. Include a link in your newsletter or a comment on the footer of your blog saying you love the products at MrArt.com. Ideally, talking about a specific painting method and then sharing suggested tools and supplies is one of the best ways to promote a merchant. If you’re already talking about your art on your blog, and even going as far as talking about techniques or favorite supplies, etc., why not earn a commission if someone wants to buy the same things you do?

You could take it a step further and offer product or service reviews, again including an affiliate link to the items you are discussing.

The main idea is, talk about the things you love and use and then let your readers know where they can get the same things. *

Here are a few companies that provide art related products and services that also offer affiliate programs:

MrArt.com – art supplies
DickBlick.com – art supplies
Fabric.com – fabric
Joann.com – Fabric, crafting and art supplies
Tara Reed – art licensing education
Sizzix.com – Sizzix specific products

You could also promote large box stores that have crafting or art supplies where shoppers might purchase multiple items other than just their art such as Walmart.com Kmart.com or Target.com

*Important! It is extremely important that you educate yourself on the legal requirements of affiliate marketing. The FTC requires a disclaimer on all sites that refer traffic for money, this includes but is not necessarily limited to product reviews, affiliate links and testimonials. Also, always make sure to familiarize yourself with a company’s terms of use/service, etc. so that you don’t unintentionally violate your affiliate agreement, resulting in voided commissions.

Artists as affiliate marketers

admin — Thu, 03 Feb 2011 15:38:24 +0000

The last time I spoke about artists and affiliate marketing, I was suggesting that you look at adding an affiliate marketing channel to your marketing plan. Branch out and invite other marketers, your fans and even other artists promote your art in exchange for a commission when a sale is generated.

This time we’re going to talk about you taking on the role of an affiliate. Affiliate marketing can be added to the list of things you do to generate an income from your art. There are a few things you need not only before you get started, but in order to find success in affiliate marketing:

A website of some sort
A topic to promote
An affiliate account with a merchant

Let’s discuss these three items.

You need a website Affiliate marketing relies on a variety of methods to get the communication across. As an affiliate you are promoting the products or services of another company, so you need a “vehicle” to send this message. My suggestion is that you simply add affiliate marketing to online presence you already have. Add links to your website because that is where you already talk about art and your website is where your readers are already reading what you have to say. In this method you will be placing affiliate links on your website.

A topic to promote It helps to have a specific topic or theme to refer to when choose what to promote as an affiliate. If you’re a painter, promoting painting supplies is a great place to start. If you’re a crafter, sharing links to buy your favorite craft supplies makes it easy for your readers to recreate your tutorial projects and potentially earns you a little cash for sharing the info to begin with. Talk about things you know and then share where those items can be purchased.

An affiliate account with a merchant In order to earn credit and a commission for sales you generate for a given company, you need an account with that company’s “affiliate program”. Not all merchants offer affiliate programs, but you’ll be surprised how many do. Check out the various networks and also look around your favorite suppliers or stores to find their affiliate programs.

Next time we’ll talk about ways to promote affiliate offers to earn a commission and getting started as an affiliate.

Artists and the world of Affiliate marketing – an introduction

Commercial does not mean conforming

admin — Wed, 17 Nov 2010 07:31:01 +0000

There’s a number of artist out there that want to make money with their art, but don’t want to be a part of the herd conforming to trends or styles, etc. That’s ok. No one said that making money as an artist means you have to create art like everyone else – it also doesn’t mean you have to be a world famous gallery artist. I’ve heard many artists over the years say they aren’t going to conform to mainstream just to make money. You can make money doing your own thing if you do your own thing in the right direction.

Commercial means the art is created for the purpose of selling and making a profit as opposed to a hobby artist or a person “just because I love to paint” artist. Granted, you can potentially make more money if you’re on trend and selling to the mainstream masses, but you can make a good living even if you aren’t a trend follower. Having a unique approach is what makes your art valuable. Hold on to the beauty of your individuality and promote that as the selling point of your art. However, if you want to make a living selling your art, you do need to understand how and where and why your fans will be purchasing it.

If your fans look for original paintings only found in a gallery in SoHo, it doesn’t mean you can’t branch out into other areas. You have to decide where the real value is and expand on that. Is it the originals they want, or the local artist aspect? Is it your style as a whole? You could branch out into licensing your art for surface design or sell prints at a lower cost for a specific size.

If you are a Graphic Designer working primarily for clients, you could expand your art offerings to include creations you’ve made for other selling areas outside of the client space such as templates for websites, art prints, or maybe page layout templates. Take a look at your design style and list all the areas of the retail world that your art might fit. Then research how you can get your art into the areas you think would be the best match – making sure to pay attention to the potential return on investment.

Don’t dig yourself a hole you’ll be stuck in because you aren’t willing to look outside the stereotypical artist areas. There really are a wide array of directions art can be taken, most of which have a profit margin available somewhere. The first step is to get out of the “this is what I do” mind set. Be open minded to new directions, use that creative brain of yourself to create new avenues to promote your talents and gain more interested buyers.

Here are some areas to think about when trying to decide how to or where to approach making money.

Galleries
Exhibits
Local displays such as coffee houses, cafes and furniture boutiques
Consignment shops
Print on Demand
Online original sales (etsy, Artfire, etc.)
Prints
ACEOs
Licensing
Client work, commissions, contract work
Stock art
Teaching, classes, books

Just because you are selling your art, doesn’t mean you are conforming to mainstream tastes. Be your own unique creative mind and promote your art so you can find fans in those that will love what you do. If they love it, they will buy it.

Pay attention to what works and do it again

admin — Mon, 15 Nov 2010 16:30:46 +0000

I was just going through my email and saw a message with the subject “7 reasons your marketing doesn’t work”. I didn’t want to read any further. Sure, knowing why something doesn’t work will help us learn how to make it work. It’s good to know where our faults are or why we aren’t reaching our goals. However, should that be the subject of our thought process?

No.

As creatives we tend to be very critical of things we do, how, why and where we do them. Many of us are perfectionists and no matter how great someone else thinks we are, we are the first to find the holes and poke right at them with a really sharp stick. So sure, knowing the 7 reasons something we are doing is wrong is a great. Finding out how to do them right is even better.

I say stop it all.

Seriously. Stop finding the reasons why something doesn’t work, isn’t right or isn’t what you want. Instead, look at what is right. Praise your own talents that millions of other people not only don’t have, but wish they could grasp for a moment. Start finding the positive and focusing on it. You’ll be amazed at where your progress will lead when it’s the pros you’re dwelling on rather than the cons.

Instead of finding what’s wrong, look at what is right. Hold on to the “what’s working”. Tear it apart to figure out why it works and apply those same principles to other facets of what you do and how you do it. Replicate your successes by understanding what your successes are first.

Remember, we are our own worst critic, but we can be our own biggest fan instead. You might think success leads to happiness, but in my experience, success follows happiness.

No related posts.

5 tips for creating content that converts art into sales.

admin — Tue, 05 Oct 2010 14:00:27 +0000

As an artist we might often think of our website content as the graphics we include and the art we promote. We tend to want to feature and image with a caption and that’s it. However, in the world of internet marketing, images are only worthwhile to actual humans, the real juicy content is the copy we include.

Writing great content to accompany our artistic creations is a major key to being found on the internet. You don’t need to write 800 word articles to go along with every image you blog about, but you do need to add commentary that coordinates with the piece so the search engine spiders know what you have on your page. Write for the humans reading your blog or website while incorporating key phrases and words that focus on the topic at hand.

Keys points about writing content for an artist website:

Describe the art as if someone can’t see it. Write about the art using words that describe the art visually not just your own meanings behind the piece. Tell the none-seeing search engines what they are looking at. Include things like key colors, technique used to create the art, sizes, materials used and subject matter.

Cross promote with text links. Remember to include a link to other art that you mention while writing about one piece. If you have a piece that is part of a series, or another piece that inspired the one you’re currently writing about, or maybe something that is in the same theme… share this with your readers and then make sure to link that comment to the other art page. The link should always be tied into an actual phrase such as “blue bird painting and greeting cards”, not a “click here” type of comment.

Titles are important. The title of your article is what people and search engine spiders read first. Titles are what end up in search listings or when others’ link to your content. Your title should be clear and understandable while describing in a few words what your entire writing is about.

Write in bite-sized chunks. If you think of your content as food for the reader, writing in bite sized chunks is easier for a reader to skim and digest than big blocks of “full meal” text. Most readers don’t read every word let alone every paragraph. I you write with smaller paragraphs that include bold subheadings your readers will be able to easily skim and gather the information they are seeking.

Always include credit and where to buy info. Assume every new page on your website is a brand new opportunity to show people what you’ve created and where to purchase it. Don’t assume they know who you are, where your shop is or that you even sell the art you are talking about. You never know where a new reader is going to come from and most won’t hit your website front page first. Include an “art by…” line on all the art you feature and then make sure to include a “this piece is available to purchase at….”. No one can buy your art if they 1. don’t know it’s for sale and 2. don’t know where they can buy it.

7 keys to great art sales online

admin — Wed, 22 Sep 2010 13:50:32 +0000

It’s one thing to have a website promoting your art or offering your art for sale, but actually earning a buyer’s trust and earning sales is an entirely different situation. You can offer the most magnificent art in the world, yet buyer’s need to know where to find it and then they need to feel comfortable buying it.

7 items your shopping cart must include when selling your art online.

If you plan to have your own shopping cart, or offer your art for sale through another company’s shopping cart, make sure these important key points are present.

Clean, uncluttered shopping cart. Remove unnecessary extras that can distract a buyer from completing a sale. The shopping experience should be easy to follow and complete. You should also have both product photos and a well written product description. Make sure there is information listed with each product about the availability of the product.
Clear shipping information. Make sure to include not only shipping prices but shipping procedures. Your shipping information should be easy to find and if you offer international shipping, make sure you include a fee calculator.
Give your buyer incentives to buy. Consider offering free shipping, first time buyer discounts, gift cards or special coupons to increase conversions. Give your potential buyers a reason to purchase from you rather than another artist… other than your fabulous art.
Product details on purchase page. Make sure you provide all of your product’s details on the same page with the “add to cart” or “buy now” button. Don’t make your potential buyer go hunting for product information when they are considering a purchase.
Does your shopping cart have a secure shopping certificate? Consider including shopper trust icons from companies such as GEOTrust, BizRate, Better Business Online, VeriSign, etc.
Can potential customers easily contact you? Make sure to include clear contact information whether it’s a phone number, a contact form or live chat. Also make sure you include your business address. Offering easy contact increases buyer trust.
Provide additional information. Include items such as a privacy policy, return policy and other important information regarding how you handle sales, shipping, returns, etc. Does your shopping cart offer order and/or shipping tracking? Make sure buyers can easily find answers to questions they may have without requiring them to contact you directly.

You don’t have to build your own shopping cart to ensure you have the right setup. Just make sure when you are looking for places to promote your art and offer it for sale, that these items are included. Buying online requires a great deal of trust, so make sure you provide all the necessary pieces of information a buyer needs to feel comfortable giving you money for your art.

Today’s tips were derived from an article written by James Martell about important items to increase the conversions (successful sales) of a shopping website. James is a successful affiliate marketer and teaches others how to make money through the performance marketing industry.