Other artists ask me all the time for tips on how to market their work. There’s no set secrets, believe me!
Here are the Big Two, as far as I’ve seen:
1. The unbending intention to get your work out there because you know it has value and serves your market well, and
2. Consistent, high quality engagement of the people in your marketplace.
The way you engage with your marketplace depends on you and your personaltiy.
You might plan and create x number of exhibitions over a year’s time, in galleries, private homes, installation, etc.
You might enjoy using the conversation-oriented Twitter and Facebook, or other social networking sites.
You might use artist mall-type sites like etsy.com (I’ve started a listing there, but still need to develop it. I’ll report back on it soon) or fineartamerica.com (great for 2-D art) that help you sell more to a wider audience.
You might have a lot to say about your expertise or your niche. If so, then you might want to write a blog. I have a curious mind and am always checking stuff out, and like to share it with others. So I have lots of blogs focused on various themes.
If you are already a blogger, or about to start a blog – whether for personal or business – I know you’ll want to listen in on professional blogger Holly Becker, owner and writer at decor8.com, who was interviewed by ProBlogger.net‘s Darren Rowse (my favorite blogger and blog expert, and from whom I have learned a ton of stuff about how to blog).
Here’s some of what they explore (list from Holly’s blog post):
- the story behind starting her blog
- content ideas
- what type of posts attract more comments
- ideas on advertising and how it works
- how to deal with negative comments and what positive things can come from them
- what she wants readers to gain by reading decor8
- how she built her readership
- how she makes a full-time living from her blog
- why she had to outsource technical & ad space management
- and she talks about other projects which have not been shared publicly.
Click here to find Holly’s site and the interview.
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Image: All Smiles; Colorado Alabaster, 16h x 10w x 2d © Angela Treat Lyon 1998
