Art Marketing Tips - Launch a successful business selling your art or crafts
Gather your materials and post the first step to take when marketing your art or crafts.
Market research is the first step in any successful business, so you will need to do a little research of your own. Make a list of different ways that people can buy via word-of-mouth or online, and then decide which are best for you based on what would best reach your customers. Consider where you want people to see/find it, who you would like it to reach (regionally, by age group), what format best suits them (online? Print?), and whether they're looking for local connections with their purchase or from anywhere in the world.
Stick to what you do best. Just because you're an artist, doesn't mean that all of your marketing should be in the form of a painting. What can you do to advertise or sell that is outside the box without compromising your artistic integrity? Is there a way for you to incorporate some hand-crafted goods that would be unique and wear well?
Artists are often inspired by music, so why not have an online radio station dedicated to playing nothing but music by independent artists? You could also offer free downloads of your own tracks on iTunes or another online delivery system. You may also be able to generate traffic from other artists who will promote your website and/or sell your music.
Be creative and think outside the box at times! How many times have you seen a billboard ad, only to find out the company never opened? Don't give up on creating a presence for yourself if it's not traditional or widely accepted. Be yourself, because that's what your customers will appreciate. If you're really sticking to your craft, try using unusual materials such as old books, school books, magazines and newspapers; anything that can help people remember who you are!
Conduct some market research before investing thousands on any advertising campaign. How many people know who you are?
Ask family, friends, and acquaintances if they know of anyone who may be interested in your work and to tell them about it. Before spending advertising dollars, make sure you have a built-in customer base. Also consider whether you are reaching out to the demographic that will be most receptive to your products.
If you have a website or an e-store, make sure it is easy for your customers to find information about your products and services as well as any special sales or promotions. Link your site from other businesses' sites so that customers can get valuable information from more than one place.
Avoid confusing terms when making an online purchase. If you are offering prints, also offer cards, magnets and greeting cards so that the customer has multiple options for displaying your art. Also consider different sizes and prices of prints to offer variety.
Create a "shop" section on your website so that people can browse all of your products including low-cost, smaller items. Consider having a virtual gift shop on your website so that customers can purchase a gift with multiple options, instead of just one item.
To ensure customers stay interested with regularly updated news on your works and specials, send press releases to selected magazines, blogs and news websites. Make sure you do your homework by reading reviews of similar businesses first.
Find out what makes your competitors successful, and implement a similar plan of action. Consider how you can outshine or copy their promotions or advertisements to get their customers' attention and bring yours to theirs.
Along with selling your art, you may also be able to add value by offering classes. Offer these either in person or online, as they may take the place of an art-class class that is not available elsewhere.
Are there any other services that you can offer? Can you put together a variety of items yourself so that people have more choices?
One way to make a dollar is simply by offering items for sale on your website for $1.00 each (or less). This will help you to build your customer list, and it should be easy for you to create a large number of items. As you make more, you can charge more for each item.
As a seller, people want to know what they're getting into before they make a purchase. Make sure that you take the time and effort to describe the size of each product so that customers are not surprised when they open their packages (either by choice or by accident).
Also consider adding details such as whether it is framed or unframed, materials used in crafting it, or if there are any symbols on it that are associated with anything specific like astrology signs or numerology.
Be sure to have policies in place as well. You can offer returns, exchanges, credits or be paid in cash at the time of sale. Make it easy for customers to contact you as well. Consider adding a phone number and an email address to your website and/or business cards along with your name and phone number.
Be sure that you have updated your privacy policy so that those who visit will know what their rights are in regards to using any information you may have collected from them. Also make sure that you are updating the version of your privacy policy at least annually, as laws change constantly. You can add this information on your Website if needed (or not).
You should also be sure that all of your products are original artwork, and avoid copying or replicating existing designs. In most cases, this is a copyright infringement, which is illegal to do.
Look at the items you have created and imagine the best place or way to display it. This can be a great place to get ideas for other potential works!
If there is an existing artist who inspired you or whose work you like, use a similar medium to create your own version of their art. You can also use your creative juices to develop a similar idea but using different materials to make it unique by adding embellishments or using alternative techniques in contrast with their work.
You can create your own style over time and make it unique to you.
Consider the outcomes when using other people's art as inspiration. It is important to read up on the artist's website and make sure that they have not taken their ideas from another artist that inspired them.
Another avenue to take inspiration from is from materials you find in nature, such as leaves, flowers or shells. Photograph these items, overlay them on other art work, or use them as embellishments for existing items as you like.
Use your imagination!
Look around at the items you have created and imagine a different way to display it. This can be a great place to get ideas for other potential works!
If there is an existing artist who inspired you or whose work you like, use a similar medium to create your own version of their art. You can also use your creative juices to develop a similar idea but using different materials to make it unique by adding embellishments or using alternative techniques in contrast with their work.
You can create your own style over time and make it unique to you.
Consider the outcomes when using other people's art as inspiration. It is important to read up on the artist's website and make sure that they have not taken their ideas from another artist that inspired them.
Conclusion
Artists' creative process is a continuous process that can be applied to any venue. It is up to you, the artist, to stay creative and make art in different ways so as not to get stale or run out of ideas.
As the artist, it is up to you whether you want to focus on selling or creating new works or both. Just remember that if you are focused on creating new work, no matter what your chosen medium may be, you need to try different things until you find something that works well for your style and your audience.
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