by Rebecca Sciullo | Jan 25, 2024 | Learning
The Foundations Pilot Program starts soon! Enroll in Course One as a pilot member and receive focused and direct assistance in building your art marketing hub.
Frequently Asked Questions about this Program
What will I learn in Build Your Art Marketing Hub?
This program will walk you through setting up your artist website to serve as the central hub for your art marketing system. We begin looking at your big picture and what you want to achieve for your art career and business. From there, we walk through setting up your website to serve your vision.
How is this program delivered?
Bi-weekly presentations and live Q&A will take place via Zoom.
Videos and other course materials will be accessed via Google Drive and a Learning Management System called Xperiencify.
Will this cover the cost of my website?
The $199 enrollment fee for this Program does not include any costs associated with purchasing a website builder or extra software that you might want to use in your art marketing efforts.
If you currently have a website, in most cases, you can use that site for this Program. If you need a website, I will make some recommendations for services that you might consider.
I strive to provide you with free resources as often as possible. As with any business, at times, you may need to purchase a tool to help with your marketing efforts. Occasionally, I may recommend a paid service to enhance your art marketing hub, but I will offer free solutions when possible.
You mention other courses as part of the program. What are you referring to?
Building your Art Marketing Hub is the first course in a series of three that will eventually make up the Artisan Advantage Foundations Program. The second course will be “Finding Your Audience,” and the third will be “Strategic Marketing Channels.” This Pilot program is for Course One only – Build Your Art Marketing Hub. If you enroll in this course, you are guaranteed a spot if you want to enroll in subsequent Foundations Pilot Courses.
Why are you offering this as a pilot? Why not just start the program?
This Pilot will take a small group through the first part of the program. The feedback from the Pilot will help in the final creation of the three-part program.
Do I have to attend live?
While the program will offer live sessions every two weeks, I will record each for future access. You can access all course materials to use at your own pace. You will have access to the materials for as long as the course exists.
What if I can’t keep up with the live schedule?
While I encourage you to participate as much as possible in real-time, you can access the recordings and materials at your own pace.
Why should I participate in the Pilot Program? Why not wait for the entire course?
Once all three courses are piloted, the discounted price will not be available. Also, the final program may not have as much hands-on assistance. As a pilot participant, I want to work directly with you as you build your system.
You will enjoy the following benefits:
Discounted Pricing
You will have access to the Building Your Art Marketing Hub Course at a special discounted rate of $199, compared to the Course price of $495.
Direct Assistance
This course participant list is limited, so I can work directly with artists as they need assistance. The live program will not have the level of interaction with individual artists as the pilot program.
First-Dibs at Future Pilot Programs
Participation in this Pilot guarantees you a spot if you want it in the following two-course pilots,
By participating early on, you not only avail yourself of valuable insights and strategies to enhance your art marketing but also contribute to the refinement of the program for future artists
What is the Program Format
Live Presentations Every Two Weeks (Recordings provided)
Every two weeks, a live presentation will kick off each module.
Between the live presentations, you will have access to resources and supplemental material to complete the action steps for that module.
How do Weekly Office Hours Work?
I will be available via Zoom for live Q&A and hands-on help every week for a 90-minute optional group session. You can send questions in advance or log on live to ask questions. Participants can screen share for direct input on their work.
How does Email Support work?
I will be available via email to answer questions from 8 am to 5 pm EST, Monday through Friday. There will be a dedicated email box where you can submit questions.
What time is the presentation?
The pilot program starts on Friday, February 9, with a live presentation at 11:00 am. This will be the date for the first class. You will have access to the recording if you cannot attend on the 2nd. Live presentations will occur every other week at this time.
To secure your spot as one of the participants, please enroll here. I will provide further details closer to the date to ensure you have all the information you need for the first session.
Questions, drop me a line at becky@artisan-advantage.com.
by Rebecca Sciullo | Nov 3, 2023 | Artist Websites, Your Hub
Choosing the Right Home Page for Your Website
Your website’s home page is like the front door to your online presence, and making a great first impression is important. If you’ve attended any of my art marketing programs, you know that I always encourage artists to add a blog page to their website. If you have a blog page on your site, you need to decide if it will serve as your home page or if you will use a static welcome page. For example, artist Robert Yonke uses his blog page as the home page on the WordPress.com platform. Or, using the same platform, artist Carolyn Haas has chosen a static page as her home page and her blog is found on “The Stories” page.
There’s no one-size-fits-all answer when deciding between a static page or a blog page for your website’s home page. It depends on your goals, content strategy, and audience. Let’s explore the advantages of both options:
Benefits of a Static Page as Your Home Page
Clear Brand Identity
A static home page can prominently display who you are as an artist and what you offer. It’s ideal for an artist looking to establish a strong online presence.
Focused Call to Action (CTA)
You can direct visitors’ attention to a single, prominent call-to-action (CTA). CTAs might include signing up for a newsletter, attending an event, or contacting you.
Timeless Content
A static page can offer content that doesn’t require frequent updates, making it a good choice for information that doesn’t change frequently.
Benefits of a Blog Page as Your Home Page
Fresh Content
A blog page showcases your website’s latest content, including new work, demonstrating that you are an active artist. And it also shows that your website is updated frequently, which can improve search engine rankings.
Engagement
Your blog offers an opportunity for interaction with your audience through comments and social sharing, fostering a sense of community.
Demonstrate Experience and Credibility
By showcasing new work, news, accolades, and projects, a blog helps to build credibility over time, which can grow your audience base and open up opportunities.
The Good News
The good news is that most website platforms allow you to switch between different page types easily.
Choosing between a static or blog page as your home page hinges on your website’s purpose. A static page may be the way to go if you prioritize a static, clear brand message and a focused CTA. However, a blog page is the better choice if you want to engage your audience with fresh content and build credibility regularly. Consider your goals, audience, and content strategy to determine which option aligns best with your website’s purpose and mission. If your strategy changes, you can always switch your home page.
Would you like more information to help with your art business AND invitations to free art marketing events? Join my weekly email newsletter here.
This post contains affiliate links which means I receive a small commission if you make a purchase using the link. For more information, see my full terms here.
by Rebecca Sciullo | Mar 11, 2023 | Events, Learning
In April, I’ll be presenting Foundations of an Art Marketing System, a three-part virtual art marketing workshop for Rhode Island Watercolor Society. This series is virtual and open to all artists, with members of RIWS getting a discounted rate. Three sessions will be spread out over three Tuesdays during the month – April 11, 18 and 25. Artists can register here.
What is Foundations?
This program guides artists through setting up a manageable system that becomes a focused hub for a thriving art business. While the system is web-based, it supports all artist marketing activities, including in-person events such as exhibits, studio tours, and festivals.
Register Here
Session One: Tuesday, April 11th, 6:00 PM EST
Set up your art marketing system.
In this program, artists first receive an overview of this three-part system, so they understand how their system will work when completed. Then, we overview the setup of the first part – a dynamic web-based hub. Using a simple three-part marketing system, artists will learn to consistently share work with an audience across various marketing channels, such as social media and email marketing. The presentation will address how to do this for an artist starting from scratch or one looking to improve upon an existing website.
Session Two: Tuesday, April 18, 6:00 PM EST
Reaching an audience.
The second session teaches artists how to find audiences for their unique work. First, artists learn a four-step process to find audiences for their individual work. Then they learn strategies to connect with and grow their base of fans, followers, and collectors.The presentation also explains how to maintain strong relationships with a collector and fan base, including strategies and tools to help in this process.
Session Three: Tuesday, April 25, 6:00 PM EST
Manage Your Art Marketing Channels
In the final session, we review different channels available for artists to market work and how to develop specific strategies using these channels. This session includes how to create a content plan for your business. Then, we pull it together and discuss how to plan all your business activities within the system, from a year down to a day.
Students will receive a workbook for easy follow-along during class and speaker notes after the session. In addition, I will be available to students after the class is over via email to answer questions.
Sign-Up to Learn About Events
If you can’t make this event, but would like to be informed about upcoming sessions, please join my email newsletter here.
by Rebecca Sciullo | Mar 8, 2023 | Artist Blogging 101, Artist Websites, Learning
Don’t be Your Own Best Kept Secret
Do you have a body of artwork waiting for the world to find it? Do you need to market your work but can’t take the leap?
In this post, I want to address something that I hear often from artists. That is the fear of putting yourself out there – whether creating a website to show your work, writing a blog post, or putting your work out on social media.
It can be scary for many people, particularly those (like me!) born before the advent of the iPhone, blogging, and social media.
Don’t keep your artwork a secret!
Don’t let FEAR keep you from sharing your work!
I’ve also struggled with this, whether it was pushing “publish” on my first blog post or presenting to a group of strangers live and then on Zoom.
But I’ve learned some things to make this easier for you.
First, did you know it is usually easier to present to strangers than people you know? So if you’ve been able to share some things with your friends and family and that went ok, it will probably be easier to share it with people who don’t know you.
You have to do it. You can read every book on blogging, marketing, or social media. Still, the only way to get comfortable putting yourself out there is to DO it – by getting uncomfortable!
The butterflies never truly go away for me. I still get them occasionally, depending on what I’m doing, whenever I speak live or on Zoom. I’m nervous because I want to ensure I bring value to the people spending their time engaging with me.
Make it Effortless
Having a system is the best way to take the stress of putting yourself out there.
Having a simple system to follow makes these activities that can cause you constant consternation easy. For example, if it’s a blog post you are writing, using a set system will get you in the habit of writing and sharing. If it’s a talk you must give, an outline and proper planning can give you all the confidence you need to start. Then, use that template for upcoming engagements.
Fear isn’t something to be ashamed of having. Instead, it means you care about what you are doing and the impact that your work will have on people.
For ideas about systems to use for your art business, join my email newsletter here.
by Rebecca Sciullo | Feb 13, 2023 | Learning
Can writing about your art can help you with sales?
This event has closed.
Visit my Art Marketing Round Table Schedule for an upcoming event.
Writing for an Art Business
Some of the topics we will discuss:
How writing about your art can help with sales.
How to get comfortable writing about your art.
Improving your writing skills.
Tools to help with the writing process.
Strategies for fitting writing into your schedule.
Tools that you can use to help yourself along.
Can you use AI to write about your business?
Art Marketing Round Tables are open-ended. Bring your questions and comments!
This Event Has Closed
Art Marketing Roundtable
Writing For an Art Business
Tuesday, February 28th, 11:00 am EST/8:00 am Pacific
This event is free, but space is limited.
