by Becky Sciullo | Dec 7, 2020 | Learning
Here are some marketing ideas for your Monday morning.
Ten Art Marketing Ideas
1 – Make a promotion plan for 2021. Identify different holidays and events that you can market around. Consider planning out blog posts, flash sales and other ideas to promote your work around these events.
2 – Instagram has recently become more search-friendly. Make sure you are using relevant keywords in your posts.
3 – Make sure you are collecting contact information from ALL of your customers so that you can stay in touch.
4 – Do you have an elevator pitch? Work on a quick statement to keep in your back pocket for when you need it. You might not be presently riding elevators, but there are other ways to use it, such as in email introductions and your social media profile. You will be surprised how often you can use it.
5- Do you have testimonials from clients about your work? Add them to your website. Feature them in a blog post.
6 – Don’t underestimate the importance of your bio. Make sure you add it to all of your social media profiles and your website. Consider that 50-word statement mentioned above.
7 – Come up with a list of seasonal keywords to weave into your blog posts to stay relevant and current with what’s going on in your clients’ lives.
8 – Do you create work that you can offer together as bundles for a small discount? Grouping multiple items together can encourage sales.
9 – Are you serious about selling to interior designers? Consider setting up a profile on Houzz.
10 – Always remember to follow-up. Have you answered all their questions? Was the client happy with the results? Can you stay in touch?
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by Becky Sciullo | Dec 2, 2020 | Artist Blogging 101
If you have an artist website, there are some critical pages that you should provide for your visitors. I posted about them here in this post, Don’t Forget Your Pages. In addition to the pages outlined in the post, you might want to consider adding a Frequently Asked Questions page.
Why Would You Want an FAQ Page on Your Artist Blog?
While FAQ pages certainly aren’t the most exciting page on your site, they can be beneficial. There are standard questions that people commonly ask when thinking about purchasing artwork. Then, your process may have some nuances that lead to more questions. This page can address the particulars of your work and business.
What Questions Should You Answer on your FAQ Page?
Here are some common questions, if they are not already clearly spelled out elsewhere on your page:
Do you take commissions or work on special projects?
Do you collaborate with other artists?
How much is it? If you aren’t providing the pricing for your work, you should give them some explanation of the range.
Do you offer a discount for multiple purchases?
Do you charge for shipping?
How can I pay for a purchase?
Do you offer a payment plan?
After you cover these questions and add those that apply to your business, think about other inquiries you commonly get when selling your work. Add them to this page.
How to Structure an FAQ Page
You can organize your questions in one big list, or if you could break them out by topic. For example, maybe you answer questions about purchasing work in one section and questions about your process, taking a commission, or signing up for a workshop in another. The bottom line – make the questions easy to read.
Adding this page to your artist blog makes it more likely that customers will feel comfortable purchasing your work.
For weekly updates and ideas to market your art, sign up for my Create! Sell! Newsletter here.
by Becky Sciullo | Nov 30, 2020 | Learning
Here are some marketing ideas for your Monday morning.
Seven Art Marketing Ideas
1 – What do you do with work that doesn’t get noticed or sold for one reason or another? This doesn’t mean the work is not great. And, you might be ready for it to move on. Offer a studio closet or clean out special. Set up a specific page for a “closet” collection of older work that might interest your clients.
2 – Have you wanted to make videos but are a little overwhelmed at the thought of putting a video production together. Can you start with a small step? Consider filming a one-minute art lesson offering a quick snapshot at something you do. Then, post your video to your blog and social media.
3 – Engage with your followers. End blog posts with I would love to get your comment on this piece? Email me or leave a comment below.
4 – Do you create scenes of places that might be familiar to your followers? Write a “guess where this” is blog post. Encourage your followers to write to you with their guess. You might start a conversation with someone new.
5 – If possible, figure out ways to offer your work at different price points. One way to do this is through a print on demand service such as Fine Art America. Fans can purchase your work in reproductions such as home decor, phone cases, and more. It’s an excellent way for people who aren’t in the market for original art to appreciate and enjoy your work.
6 – Create a web page devoted to images of your work hanging on your collectors’ walls. Ask them to send you photos of work in situ so that you can showcase it on the page.
7 – Make sure your website works well on mobile devices. For many people, their phones are more convenient and easier to use than their computers.
Do you have a marketing idea that you’d like to share? Send it to becky@artisan-advantage.com.
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by Becky Sciullo | Nov 24, 2020 | Artist Blogging 101, Events
Free Presentation! Use Blogging to Build Your Art Business
Registration is now open for Blogging for a Visual Art Business on December 5, 2020.
This free presentation will explain how to use blogging to create an effective marketing system for your visual art.
This presentation uses my personal experience and real-life examples to outline a system any visual artist can use. The information is relevant for many popular web platforms such as WordPress, Weebly, Squarespace, or FASO. Learn how to consistently share work with an audience across various marketing channels such as social media and email marketing using an easy to use blogging platform as the driver for your business.
My goal is for you to gain a new enthusiasm for building a web presence, whether you are starting from scratch or improving upon an existing website. I will offer tools and advice for starting and maintaining this system in a manageable way.
Reserve your spot at the link below.
Blogging for a Visual Art Business
December 5, 2020
10:00 am EST
Register Here
by Becky Sciullo | Nov 23, 2020 | Learning
Monday Morning Marketing Ideas is a new weekly blog post series to offer ideas that you might use in your business. These ideas will cover a wide variety of medium and marketing methods. Some may seem a little crazy. Others, you might say, now why didn’t I think of that? These are ideas that pop into my head or come across my desk as I work through the week. I don’t always have time to write a full blog post on the subject, but I thought they might be worth sharing.
This series was supposed to start last Monday, but a power outage delayed the first post:/ Some of these ideas involve the holidays, so get busy!
10 Art Marketing Ideas for a Monday Morning
1 – Create a series of work as a unique product that would interest your target market. Can you take a favorite image and turn it into a cool t-shirt? Or, can you sculpt a series of functional artwork? I saw an artist recently who painted a series of crystal balls. She offered them as limited edition pieces of art. Get creative and think of a fun series of work you would like to create as a unique offering to your collector base. Then, once the series is ready, share it through all of your marketing channels.
2 – Do you feel stuck in a rut with the cancellation of live events? Skim sites such as CaFÉ or Artcall regularly, looking for interesting opportunities that might be a good fit for your work. You might be surprised at the spaces or communities that you discover. Do this consistently. Once you score an opportunity, make sure you publicize with press releases and blog and social media posts.
3 – Are you a portrait painter? Do you take commissions for people, houses, or pets? With permission, ask clients if you can put up a blog post about your projects. Share the post on social media and tag your clients. They might share your work with friends and family, directing people back to your site. Also, consider including sketches and work in progress pieces along with the final portrait.
4 – Do you create something that would make a perfect holiday gift? Did you know that many media outlets are currently looking for suggestions for their gift guides? Sign up for HARO and get PR Opportunities delivered to your inbox daily. Then, check the list for opportunities and pitch when appropriate.
5 – Prepare to take part in Small Business Saturday. Hat tip to Score for this handy list. I like the idea of researching local media outlets that typically promote this date. Then, reach out for some media love.
6 – Gift certificate and gift card purchases increase a lot this time of year. Consider offering the sale of gift certificates, encouraging people to gift your art.
7 – Submit your work to the Art in Embassies program. Established by the United States Department of State in 1964, the ART In Embassies Program is a global museum that exhibits original works of art by U.S. citizens in the public rooms of approximately 180 American diplomatic residences worldwide. Entry into the artist registry is free. Then, don’t forget to announce your addition into the registry.
8 – Update your website to create a “holiday appeal” around your art. Adjust your copy to entice people looking for holiday gifts. When fitting, share images of your work or product in a holiday setting.
9 – Consider sending a small end of year appreciation gift to your best clients. You don’t have to break the bank. It could be a selection of your greeting cards, a small print or other item. They will appreciate knowing that you appreciate them!
10 – Do you send out a regular email newsletter? Make sure you are encouraging your followers to subscribe via all of your social media platforms regularly.
Do you have a marketing idea that you’d like to share? Send it to becky@artisan-advantage.com.
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