http://www.artbizblog.com/2008/11/how-to-announce-a-new-or-updated-web-site-or-blog.html for the Business of Being an Artist Fri, 10 Feb 2012 01:18:13 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 http://www.artbizblog.com/2008/11/how-to-announce-a-new-or-updated-web-site-or-blog.html/comment-page-1#comment-23994 Blog class “patients” check out with improved blogs — Art Biz Blog Thu, 18 Nov 2010 15:57:50 +0000 http://www.artbizblog.com/2008/11/how-to-announce-a-new-or-updated-web-site-or-blog.html#comment-23994 [...] How to announce a new blog [...] [...] How to announce a new blog [...]

]]> http://www.artbizblog.com/2008/11/how-to-announce-a-new-or-updated-web-site-or-blog.html/comment-page-1#comment-5221 Alyson B. Stanfield Wed, 05 Nov 2008 22:17:07 +0000 http://www.artbizblog.com/2008/11/how-to-announce-a-new-or-updated-web-site-or-blog.html#comment-5221 Antonio: Thanks for your thoughtful and professional reply. In response . . . --I didn't say there shouldn't be a Web site, I just said that your copy should be more interesting than "I have a new Web site." The copy must get people to click through. It needs to answer the question "So what?" What makes me want to visit your site. It's gotta be more than just because it's there. --Nope, I'm not kidding. Of course your tone has to be what is natural to you. --As someone who gets loads of these "visit my new site" each week, I stand by what I wrote. You have to make me want to click through to see it. And I'm sure gallery dealers get just as much or more of these than I do. You have to describe the work and make it sound like I want to see it. -- Antonio: Thanks for your thoughtful and professional reply. In response . . . –I didn’t say there shouldn’t be a Web site, I just said that your copy should be more interesting than “I have a new Web site.” The copy must get people to click through. It needs to answer the question “So what?” What makes me want to visit your site. It’s gotta be more than just because it’s there. –Nope, I’m not kidding. Of course your tone has to be what is natural to you. –As someone who gets loads of these “visit my new site” each week, I stand by what I wrote. You have to make me want to click through to see it. And I’m sure gallery dealers get just as much or more of these than I do. You have to describe the work and make it sound like I want to see it. –

]]> http://www.artbizblog.com/2008/11/how-to-announce-a-new-or-updated-web-site-or-blog.html/comment-page-1#comment-5220 Antonio Tue, 04 Nov 2008 22:47:29 +0000 http://www.artbizblog.com/2008/11/how-to-announce-a-new-or-updated-web-site-or-blog.html#comment-5220 I like what you've said in regards to some content (having things in order, mailing list sign up, etc). However, as an artist who's also a web developer, I feel we need to clear the air on a few things. First, the first paragraph. Nothing could be further from the truth. A new website is a great way for art directors and potential customers to see quick updates to your portfolio -especially directors or art buyers with whom you may already have a working or potential relationship. Second, I should mention that a great many of the artist's sites I've seen pop since artists began putting up portfolio sites are pretty bad for design quality. SO, if you have a new site, and it's well-designed, it's worth a lot more than a 'so, what?'. An art director will take notice of a well-polished, high-quality site, as will gallery directors and discerning customers. -Speak of which, no, you shouldn't ask them for input (another something we agree on). It's not the client/customer's job to critique your site. That should be done before it goes live.If you've hired someone else to build the site for you, THEY should have taken care of that. Third... "It would mean the world to me if you’d stop by the new site at some point” You're kidding, right? While I agree, you shouldn't jump in with "Visit my new site!", the opposite does not exactly instill confidence in your potential visitor. The first half of that sentence sounds a tad needy, while the second half "at some point" assumes an indifference/disinterest before you've given the recipients a moment to decide for themselves. Let's not go to either extreme. Best to keep it neutral - "Dear <recipient's name here>, having spoken with you in the past regarding my art, I just wanted to take a moment to point out my new website, which will showcase regular updates to my portfolio. If you are interested in further review of my work, please take a moment to have a visit. Best wishes, Me. You can elaborate or edit, without much work, for multiple recipients, previous clients/customers, and art directors with whom you've already reviewed. Given the instantaneous nature of the web, a portfolio site is quickly becoming the defacto standard for reaching new clients and customers. It will never replace a face-to-face review or gallery showcase, but during that face-to-face, it's what art directors and clients want more than paper samples, as they don't have to store, carry, or sort through them. It also means, if they're interested, they will have somewhere to check periodically for new work. For favored customers, this is a great way for them to keep up with your repertoire. ~Antonio I like what you’ve said in regards to some content (having things in order, mailing list sign up, etc). However, as an artist who’s also a web developer, I feel we need to clear the air on a few things. First, the first paragraph. Nothing could be further from the truth. A new website is a great way for art directors and potential customers to see quick updates to your portfolio -especially directors or art buyers with whom you may already have a working or potential relationship. Second, I should mention that a great many of the artist’s sites I’ve seen pop since artists began putting up portfolio sites are pretty bad for design quality. SO, if you have a new site, and it’s well-designed, it’s worth a lot more than a ‘so, what?’. An art director will take notice of a well-polished, high-quality site, as will gallery directors and discerning customers. -Speak of which, no, you shouldn’t ask them for input (another something we agree on). It’s not the client/customer’s job to critique your site. That should be done before it goes live.If you’ve hired someone else to build the site for you, THEY should have taken care of that. Third… “It would mean the world to me if you’d stop by the new site at some point” You’re kidding, right? While I agree, you shouldn’t jump in with “Visit my new site!”, the opposite does not exactly instill confidence in your potential visitor. The first half of that sentence sounds a tad needy, while the second half “at some point” assumes an indifference/disinterest before you’ve given the recipients a moment to decide for themselves. Let’s not go to either extreme. Best to keep it neutral – “Dear , having spoken with you in the past regarding my art, I just wanted to take a moment to point out my new website, which will showcase regular updates to my portfolio. If you are interested in further review of my work, please take a moment to have a visit. Best wishes, Me. You can elaborate or edit, without much work, for multiple recipients, previous clients/customers, and art directors with whom you’ve already reviewed. Given the instantaneous nature of the web, a portfolio site is quickly becoming the defacto standard for reaching new clients and customers. It will never replace a face-to-face review or gallery showcase, but during that face-to-face, it’s what art directors and clients want more than paper samples, as they don’t have to store, carry, or sort through them. It also means, if they’re interested, they will have somewhere to check periodically for new work. For favored customers, this is a great way for them to keep up with your repertoire. ~Antonio

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