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 | 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 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.
To make sure you don’t miss any updates or new information, subscribe to my newsletter here.
by Becky Sciullo | Oct 26, 2020 | Learning
Dilemma Two: How do I reach my target audience?
Last month, I posted about how to figure out who the audience is for your work. Once you figure out who the audience is you want to target, you have to figure out how to reach them.
If you’re using a blog-based website for your art business, it’s not good enough to start blogging, hoping that your audience finds you. The key to a thriving art marketing system is finding this audience and connecting with them proactively.
Use Marketing Channels to Reach Your Audience
Think of these places that help you find them as the marketing channels for your art business. They are the spokes in your art marketing wheel. Here are a few marketing channels that can help you to connect with your audience.
Email Marketing
Email marketing is a universal channel that every artist can use. If you already have a list of contacts who have agreed to receive news and information from you, you can contact them directly via email with updates and information about your work. Your best bet is to use an email marketing service to do this. Share new work, events, and any other information that you think would interest them.
If you don’t have a list, that’s ok. You can start by asking friends and family if they would like to receive updates about your work. Then, every time you interact with a customer or fan, make sure you give them the opportunity to receive your email.
Social Media
Social media platforms such as Instagram, Pinterest, and Facebook are examples of marketing channels. Depending upon your audience, one may be better than the other. For social media, don’t worry about being on all platforms. Choose the ones that make the most sense for your business and focus on sharing work there.
Publicity
Don’t underestimate the power of a well-written press release. You get to decide what is newsworthy for your audience. Have you won an award? Did you complete a series of work? Are you offering a workshop? Do not overlook sending out a press release to media outlets and blogs that have audiences potentially interested in your message.
Your Art Marketing System Can’t Run without an Audience.
Remember the example of the art marketing wheel? Your audience is the tire – a critical part of moving your business forward. First, identify your audience, then figure out how and where to reach them. Use your artist blog as your home base for all of the content you want to share with them.
Follow this blog as we start to dig into the details of art marketing channels and audiences over the coming weeks.
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Photo by NordWood Themes on Unsplash
by Becky Sciullo | Oct 19, 2020 | Learning
Free Webinar! Use Blogging to Build Your Art Business
Registration is now open for How to Use Blogging to Build Your Art Business. This webinar was previously named, Build a Dynamic Web Presence for Your Art Business.
Choose from one of two opportunities to attend this live webinar on Tuesday, November 10th, 2020. This free presentation will explain how to use blogging to create an effective marketing system for your visual art. All participants will also receive a complimentary “How to set up your blog” guide.
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 by clicking on your preferred session timeslot below:
or
Tuesday, November 10th, 2020
by Rebecca Sciullo | Sep 21, 2020 | Channels, Learning
A Must-Read if You’re Participating in a Virtual Marketplace With Your Art
I just wrapped up a Zoom meeting regarding a virtual marketplace that my father, artist Robert Yonke, will participate in this fall. I’ve seen many social media posts and information about similar opportunities recently. As I’m sure you are, we are always thankful to have new opportunities such as these.
This upcoming event gives him the ability to sell work and provide information about his practice. Because of the event’s marketing and publicity plan, we expect it to get many visitors. Whether or not the visitors purchase work from him is another story, but I’m not focusing on that.
Of Course, I Want to Sell Art!
Don’t get me wrong. I want to make sales and do my best to present work that I think will appeal to the audience the marketplace attracts. My bigger goal is to find new fans and followers for his work. I know that a first-time browser may not buy, but if we can develop a relationship with them, they probably will over time.
Using Virtual Marketplaces to Sell Your Artwork
The Virtual Marketplace is a great way to sell your work and find new customers. Particularly during this time when many live events are postponed or canceled. If you are participating in a similar event, prepare to sell, but also be ready to connect with marketplace visitors. A blog-based website allows you to capitalize on your Virtual Marketplace.
Make sure you have a link back to your website so that you can connect with them. Encourage them to join a mailing list or contact you via email. Ask them to say hello and give feedback on your work. Work to make that initial connection.
The Virtual Artist Marketplace as part of Your Art Marketing System.
I like the analogy of a wheel for your art marketing system, using a blog as the hub of that system. The virtual marketplace is a channel in that wheel.
Here’s how this wheel looks in action.
A blog post devoted to the virtual event is published, encouraging readers to visit the marketplace, This hopefully results in sales from current collectors and fans. The marketplace will also have links back to his blog-based website and a post about learning more about him. This information will allow new contacts that find him on the marketplace to discover more about him at his blog. It’s pretty simple, but for this to happen, there has to be a system in place. We have to have the blog based website, and we have to make sure that we give ample opportunity for people to visit it with links back to it on the marketplace.
Would you Like Help Preparing for Your Virtual Artist Marketplace?
Do you need an artist blog? Get my free guide to setting up an artist blog here.
For even more help, visit my Artist Blogging Services or Artist Blogging Courses.
If you subscribe to my newsletter, I’ll send a follow-up message to a link with my father’s profile when it’s ready, so you can see what we did. You can join the list here.
Photo by rupixen.com on Unsplash
