Category Archives: sales talk

More Marketing Tips for Artists

Having trouble selling your artwork in an economically unstable time? Here are some marketing ideas to consider that will help you maintain a steady income and let your art support you.

TIP # 1 – Put Your Art on Sale

If you have had difficulty selling a few pieces, offering them at a sale price might be the perfect strategy to try. It is better to sell a piece at a discounted price than to not sell it at all. Just be sure to get the word out about your sale. The more people who know about it, the better it will be for you.

TIP # 2 – Remember that Your Art is Your Business Card

Potential buyers have to see your work before they consider purchasing it. The more they se your art, the more familiar you become. As an artist you don’t always have to have a public presence, so let your artwork maintain that presence for you.

  • Renting your work out to corporations or small businesses (Think medical offices or bookstores), lets your work advertise for itself. It also means you have a steady rental fee income
  • Make sure you pick an appropriate place to showcase your work. If a restaurant wants to rent you art just make sure that customers will see it. Also, make sure that the restaurant has your contact information for individuals interested in your art.

Portuguese ceramics painterTIP # 3 – Installment Plans

If you don’t already using installment plans, implementing the options for you buyers is an easy way to reduce the stress your buyers feel if they are working off a budget. Installment plans ensure a monthly income, but they can also help a buyer purchase a piece without having to pay one lump sum. Just make sure that you and the buyer are in agreement on the price to be paid per month and when the payment needs to be made each month. A written contract is the best way to ensure that you receive your payments.

TIP # 4 – Make a Trade

Many people still operate by trading goods and services. As an artist, you may encounter buyers that benefit you better by providing a service rather than handing you a check. For example, if your buyer is a web designer, consider trading your piece of art in exchange for the individual designing a website for you. Just make sure that you are trading your artwork for something of equal or greater value.

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Selling Your Art in a Strained Economy

As we all know, experts are predicting a slow recovery for the U.S.economy. Consumers are maintaining cautions and often frugal spending habits.

When it comes to art, buyers want to know that they are making a responsible investment. More than ever they are considering a variety of purchasing options and you can assume that most buyers are now working off a budget.

If you are an artist struggling to find buyers for your art amid these unsure economic times, the following marketing tips may just give you the encouragement you need to preserver.

TIP # 1 – Keep Making Art!

The most important thing for an artist to remember is that it is essential to keep creating. Even if you work another job to make ends meet, make time for your art. By stepping away from your art you risk loosing the creative progression that might propel you towards greater success.

TIP # 2 – Don’t Wait For Others to Realize Your Potential

Most artists do not become famous during their lifetime, but many learn how to support themselves by selling their art. There are several things you can do to make your name familiar and respected.

1). Carry yourself as a serious artist by…

    • Becoming a member of art organizations.
    • Getting your art work reviewed by a magazine or newspaper.
    • Have a gallery or art dealer publish a catalogue of your work.
    • Donating a piece to a charity auction.

These things become physical proof that you are dedicated to the work you do and show buyers just how serious you are.

2). Learn to convey to potential buyers why your art has value.

    • Document the process of your work, by taking photographs of different stages of the process.
    • When talking to a potential buyer, share what inspired you and what the piece means to you, or how the piece changed throughout the creating process.
    • Always have your contact information easy to access.

By taking these simple steps you are helping a potential buyer understand the significance of your art and you are providing them with information that allows them to feel intelligent about their purchase. In the long run, you have provided interesting facts that just might pop up in future conversations. Suddenly, you will have gained a buyer and advertiser all in one.

Don’t let the economy scare you away from putting yourself and your art out there. There are easy steps that can bring you close to achieving your goals. Keep an eye out for more easy marketing tips that will help you start to make a living off your creativity.

Image retrieved from http://ceramicartsdaily.org/pottery-making-illustrated/

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What to Write About on Your Art Blog (www.segmation.com)

 

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In a previous blog post, we explained 3 ways that artists can benefit from blogging. Basically:

  • A blog provides exposure for you and your work.
  • A blog provides insight into your working process.
  • A blog facilitates connections between you and your fan base.

Now that you’ve set up your blog, what should you write about? Let’s take a look at a range of topics you can blog about to keep your readers interested in coming back for more!

Give your readers an inside glimpse into your studio. Show them what you’re working on and tell them about your working process – what inspires you, what materials and techniques you are using, what challenges and surprises you’ve encountered.

Show your readers a bit about your personal life – but not too much. An art blog is an ideal way to get “personal” with your fan base and potential gallery contacts. By including cute anecdotes about something you experienced or by sharing photos of your new dog, your blog readers will see you more as a real person than as a bunch of pixels on a screen.

At the same time, be careful not to get too personal. Be aware that everything you write can affect your image, so don’t write posts about what you ate for breakfast or what TV shows you watched last night. There is such a thing as “too much information”, so before you hit the “publish” button, ask yourself, “Does it help or hurt my art business if people know this about me?”

Plug your upcoming gallery shows, competitions you’ve entered, workshops you’re leading or attending, and any other art-related events. Your fan base will be interested in seeing that you are active in your field, so keep them updated on your artistic activities. It’s okay to toot your own horn, but try to avoid “sales talk”.

Write about things that inspire you. You can write about other artists you admire, your favorite place to paint, or a cloud formation that caught your eye on the way to the grocery store that you quickly captured in your sketchbook.

Provide tips about making art. By sharing what you’ve learned about art, you can help establish yourself as an expert in your field. Other artists will appreciate your openness and potential collectors will take note that other artists look up to you.

Above all, remember to make your art blog both friendly and professional. Think of your blog as a combination of:

  • an ongoing conversation with a trusted gallery owner whom you have known for years
  • a warm welcome to a new fan of your artwork
  • a chance for friendly art talk over a cup of virtual coffee

In other words, many different types of people will be interested in reading your art blog, so try to write with these various audiences in mind.

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