Category Archives: marketing

MARKETING PLAN

I just completed the IGNITE class with C4 in Atlanta. This is a class designed to “ignite” your art career and move you forward.  In participating in this, I created a marketing plan, which I have included below.  This is my initial version.  In presenting to some very knowledgeable people, I realized I need to change the following to really be successful:

  • Personalize my vision statement
  • Focus – it was felt to focus on the coolage party, when that takes off, the rest will come.
  • Target women in the 25-40 range. They not only have children for birthday parties, but friends getting married and many are in the corporate or non-profit world to eventually incorporate team-building and performance art.
  • Don’t ignore the suburbs
  • Snag the domain name of CoolageParty immediately
  • Once it gets going, re-assess my costs, they are low

I realized alot about myself – it was very eye-opening. I want to be part of a bigger art community that is well-respected. I’m not that interested in personal fame.  This was a big first baby-step for me.

 

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COOLAGE PARTY – OR HOW A SEED WAS SOWN

 

I recently spent a weekend helping about 80 people make collages at the Atlanta Art Festival.  Also, I’m part of an online group led by the ArtBiz Coach called the Artist Conspiracy  designed to help artists take their art career to the next level.  Recently I signed up for another online class called Flying Lessons  taught by Kelly Rae Roberts.   I feel my participation in these two groups has put my mind into overdrive and I’m seeing possibilities in places I never noticed before.

I helped four college girls put together collages at the Atlanta Art Festival. As they were leaving they asked me if I ever hosted “collage parties”.   I’d never thought about it, but a seed was sown that might not have sprouted at another time in my life.  Later, several girls, ages 6-10, wanted to do a collage of a “fancy” dress.  I drew a template in the shape of the dress below and helped them pick out paper to make their personal “fancy” dress.

Needless to say, the girls were thrilled!

What else can I do? I also had several boys ask for help on a collage of a dinosaur or car.  The possibilities are endless.

 
Right now – ideas are coming – next step is to work out the logistics.  It is important to keep watering this seed while keeping the weeds of self doubt out!

Do you think this is a do-able idea?  Do you think it is worth pursuing?  Coolage Party is just a working title – any ideas?  

 

IS SOCIAL MEDIA REALLY IMPORTANT TO ARTISTS?

Helen De Ramus on Social Media

I was honored to have been asked to sit on a panel for the Women’s Caucus for Art of Georgia .   This was organized by Corlia Kock, and consisted of artists Marilynn Brandenburger, Anita Stewart and Helen De Ramus.  

Because of my background as a media buyer, I have been researching this for awhile, and I no longer consider social media a phenomen, but it is here to stay!  I decided to use this approach for my portion of the afternoon.  The following are some statistics I found after researching for a couple of weeks.  Because the research is varied and is changes from day to day, I would approach these numbers as estimates.  (To prove a point, when I began this, Coca-cola was the most popular brand on Facebook with 31 million fans, it is now over 49 million!)

FACEBOOK – this is the most visited website on the planet, it hit ONE TRILLION views on 6/30/2011.  More people are on Facebook than there are cars on the road.

  • The average posts has a lifeline of three hours
  • Most people spend 20 minutes or less at a time on Facebook
  • 50% check in daily
  • There are 2.7 billion “likes” each day (and I found some statistics that had this over 3 billion!)
  • 20 million apps are installed a day
  • 23% check in at least 5x a day
  • average user had 130 friends, and likes 80 pagesthere are 30 billion pieces of content shared every month

TWITTER

  • There are 190 Million tweets each day
  • 11 new accounts are created every second, over 1 million a day
  • 59% of users have been on less than a year
  • 76% of users post, in 2010 it was only 47%
  • Average user has 115 followers

 

Marilynn Brandenburger giving her presentation

 

I gave statistics about Pinterest and You Tube also.   But, some other statistics I found interesting were the fastest growing segment is 45-54 year old, and 33% of all Americans over the age of 55 are on social media.

Also, 57% of people that talk to people online would rather talk to them online than in person!

What does this mean to artists?  I believe it is something to learn and take seriously.  I believe the recent Olympics are a testament to this, as the word “Olympic” was tweeted 4 million times in the first week of the Olympics, and NBCOlympics.com had 1.1 billion page visits the first 10 days!!!!

The internet is full of articles regarding the power of “like” (read one I wrote in 2011 here), the power of sharing – there is alot out there about this!

I will follow up this blog with another blog about the power of like, and the importance of your “about” page!

 

 

The Artist’s Resume – How Much to Edit


Remember when you were first beginning your art career and building your resume?   Most of us were excited to be displaying our work in public and jumped at almost any opportunity – right?

gunpowder series 5×7

Well,  I am redoing my website, (in fact, this is my first post on my new blog!) and I have looked at my resume very closely.    What should you leave on and what should you take off?   I have spent the last several nights googling this and reading many blogs that address what to include in your list of exhibitions – which is the first part of the resume usually – do you agree?

The following is what I found most artists feel should be included in the resume:

  • Contact information
  • Education – if it is art related.  Artist residencies.
  • Awards and Honors – and include any cash prizes awarded
  • Solo Exhibitions – but if you only have one, but it in the “select exhibitions” schedule
  • Juried shows – can be a separate category – Show, Title, Gallery, City and State, Exhibition date – and juror (which unfortunately I didn’t keep)
  • Group exhibitions – this is where the editing really comes – do you want to include every show you had in a coffee shop?   I think it depends on what you are trying to accomplish.   I have changed this category to invitational shows, and decided to leave everything else out.
  • Bibliography – which is pretty much anything written about you.  Blogs and online press can be included if you are lacking in there.
  • and you can then include things that apply to you, like Related Professional Experience.  You can list talks you have given, demonstrations given, things like that.

gunpowder series 5×7

In looking around on the internet, I found several postings by galleriests what they were looking for.  Many of them say more than 4-6 events a year will scream “over exposure”, unless you are showing in places that are held in high regard.

Also, many don’t recommend including auctions you have donated too – UNLESS it carries curatorial weight.  Remember the work is usually only displayed for a few hours.

Also, many galleriest recognize the names of the many “pay to play” galleries out there, or vanity galleries.   Don’t bother including these – unless it is all you have!  Savvy gallery owners see through this ploy to make your resume appear larger.

So, I struggled with my resume – I only included solo shows, curated shows and invitational shows.  I did not include group shows where everyone that submits get in.  It isn’t complete yet, I still have to include groups I am in, publications I have appeared in – so I welcome any critiques!

I know this is a very subjective subject, and I know it can change from submission to submission, depending on what you are trying to achieve.   I welcome comments and ideas, agreements or disagreements!   I would love to hear other artists opinons.

 

 

TUESDAYS MARKETING TIP

CONSISTENCY

 

This Tuesday’s topic is consistency.   Consistency is defined by Dictionary.com as “the steadfast adherence to the same principles”.  I know, I know – it could be confused as being boring, being stuck, not growing etc.  These two quotes illustrate this:

“A foolish consistency is the hobgobblin of small minds.” Emerson
“Consistency is the last refuge of the imagination.” Oscar Wilde

But, when it comes to your both making and marketing your artwork, you should be exercising consistency of some sort.

Let’s start with your art – – if you are at the point where you want to get your work out there, you have reached the point where you must have a consistent body of work, meaning the artwork will be recognized as being by the same hand.   Every gallery will tell you that.  Working in a series is very important, so important that artist Lisa Call has begun teaching a very successful on-line class called Working in a Series

Next up – your promotional pieces.   There should be consistency within all of your material.  You should use the same font on your cards, in your newsletter, etc.  The banner on your blog, your newsletter and your facebook page should be the same.  (OK – I’m in the midst of redesigning mine, and when completed within the week, all will have the same banner). 

And, last but not least, social media!   Strive to blog consistently.   That is why I began the Tuesdays Marketing Tips – to have a consistent schedule.  I am striving to be on a regular schedule of posting the same day of the weeks, two times a week, but I continue writing when the mood strikes me.  This is a work in progress.  Another thing about blogging, consistently leave comments on other blogs – that is like leaving a calling card around the internet! 

If you have a newsletter, send it out with consistency also.

Right now, I’m researching and trying to learn more about blogging and facebook fan pages.  I will share what I learn here. 

THE ADVANTAGES OF OWNING ORIGINAL ART

Spring Moon 24×36 on canvas

Now you have a place to call your own.   But, do you want it to be like everybody else’s?   Even if it is just a room, an apartment, or a recently purchased house, don’t you want your surrounding to reflect who you are?   I don’t know about you, but I don’t want my surrounding to look like it came out of an Ikea catalog.   Not that there is anything wrong with that, but I’ve always surrounded myself with furniture and accessories that I felt were unique to me.

Which brings me to the first reason to buy original art – you are purchasing something that is unique to you, it is a one of a kind piece.   It is as unique as you are – there is not another one exactly like it in the world, just like you are one of a kind!

The remainder of the reasons are in no particular order.

You have found something that gives you pleasure, it moves you aesthetically, or moves you on a sensory level.   This gives you a personal connection to the pieces, a connection only you have with it!

You also are supporting an artist and allowing the artist to continue to create.   And, you are probably supporting a small business owner.   If you are buying from a local artist, or from a local gallery, you are supporting the local economy.

Don’t be afraid to buy original art.    It doesn’t have to be as difficult or as expensive as many people believe it to be.   Most galleries are happy to talk to you about their pieces, and there are many places that carry small pieces that aren’t that expensive.   I myself have ornament sized paintings that I sale for under $50, and many purchasers have returned to purchase larger pieces.   And, if you do buy an original piece from a gallery, most artists are happy to talk to you about the pieces.

So, unless you want your home to look like everybody else’s, search our original art in your local area, check out art festivals, check out co-ops.   There is plenty out there!


THE POWER OF “LIKE”

Chances are, if you are reading this, you are using Facebook and have probably clicked the “like” button.   After taking a workshop yesterday on Social Marketing for Artists, the power of “like” was referred to.   It got me thinking….   what does it mean when it comes to promoting yourself or your business.  After all, it has been integrated into millions of sites.

When you click on the button, it ensures your entire network knows you “like” this.  This is the only button that allows you to gain access to groups and fan pages.

I believe marketing can be very valuable when word of mouth is utilitzed.   This button allows this to happen and in some cases, it will create viral opportunities (maybe one day, maybe!).

Now – liking something on Facebook doesn’t mean the same thing as liking something in real life.  It let’s your network of friends know you appreciate what you have seen.  Personally, I think it makes the post more credible when people have “liked” it, because most of us care what our friends like.

Some statistics I found that I thought interesting:   On the average, a Facebook user that hits “like” has more than double the average friends and tends to be more active in social media.  These users also tend to stay on the sites a little longer.

Think about it and do the math.   If an artist posts a painting and has 150 friends, and just 10 of them hit like, then the painting is seen by their friends.  If they have an average of 150 friends, that is 1500 extra people!

Do the search engines pick up on the “likes”?   Hard to tell.   From my reading, Google, Bing and Yahoo are very secretive about their practices.   It is possible they are using the like buttons, but I think you would have to have a blog or a website to get their attention.   If anybody know more about this, I’d love to know.

I’d love to know your thoughts.   Many of you know I love the reciprocity of promoting on facebook, more on that and sharing later.

I think liking something is supporting your friends, it isn’t reviewing them.

Your thoughts?

Oh – I can’t write a blog without putting an image of my work up –