Art Biz Blog

Accomplishments in 2008 (and the lessons from writing it all out)

If you haven’t written down your accomplishments for the last year, please take time to do so. Here’s the newsletter on that topic. I’ve been hearing from people who have done this and are pleasantly surprised at their lists. I know you will be, too.

Upon request, and as a tradition, I will share my pared down list with you here.

What I got done this past year

Launched a new book in February. Ordered second printing in September.
Attended 18 (hope I’m not missing one!) Studio Tour book events in 6 states where I came into contact with more than 350 artists.
Appeared on 18 blogs as part of the IRBITS Blog Tour.
Sold more than 4,000 copies of I'd Rather Be in the Studio!

Launching the book was the most important thing I did for my business. It afforded me the opportunity to do the Studio Tour, Blog Tour, speaking engagements, and was a major source of income for me.

Presented 7 workshops in 6 states to about 234 artists.
Held 3 online classes and 3 Breakthrough Programs (The Artist Breakthrough Program was also launched in 2008).
Hosted 5 Insights teleseminars with 4 different guest artists.
Presented 3 teleseminars on my own: Create and Sell E-books, Curate and Install Your Art Exhibit, and Save Money & Generate Buzz (for smARTist).

Attracted more than 2500 new subscribers to the Art Marketing Action newsletter.
Newsletter started syndication on a blog in May.

Held 2 big sales: Summer audio sale (sold 92 CDs) and December book sale (sold about 380 books).

Created a strong presence on Facebook and Twitter and a stronger presence on LinkedIn.

Posted first business video on the Web: an invitation to my California workshop in February.

Worked with at least (I lose track!) 23 consulting clients one-on-one with coaching, marketing plans, artist statements, Web site evaluations, etc.

Formed 3-4 new, lasting business partnerships.

Started ArtBizCoach.com affiliate program.

Increased my sales income by more than 50%. (I don’t share this lightly or boastfully. I share it because I think you should be confident that you are reading and weighing advice from someone who is building a successful business.)
Paid off my debt.

Favorite exhibitions:
“In Contemporary Rhythm” (Ernest Blumenschein) at the Denver Art Museum (I always love seeing artist retrospectives and this was really a treat--and a surprise)
The Frida Kahlo exhibit and the permanent collection at the Philadelphia Museum of Art
Maggie Taylor and Caroline Douglas at the Boulder Public Library Canyon Gallery

I invested in myself and my business in these ways

Attended a speaking voice class and then hired Maggie Roswell as my voice coach. (Hey, those podcasts have improved, haven’t they?!)
Hired a second virtual assistant.
Hired a bookkeeper (Hallelujah!).
Attended small workshops on writing and podcasting.
Benefited from listening to 28 teleseminars and one 7-week e-seminar.
Attended the Thin Air Summit (for social networking).
Attended Christine Kane’s North Carolina retreat in October.
Became part of new mastermind group with two other people and continued my women’s finance group with two others.

Read at least 13 books

Favorite fiction: A Thousand Splendid Suns (I can't say enough about how this book moved me!)
Favorite non-fiction: Three Cups of Tea
Favorite non-fiction business: Can't choose just one--they inspired me in different ways! Tribes, The Girl with a Gallery, and Yes!

What I realize from this list
Almost all of my travel was built around promoting the book.
I need to make time to see more art! I only went to 3 new museums (in 3 states). Am most anxious to see the Milwaukee Art Museum (which I visited before the new building) in March.
I want more people at my workshops. I already knew this, but if I'm going to travel all that way, I'd like to see more artists benefiting.
I’d like to create more and stronger business partnerships..

Generating buzz in the New Year

A couple of interesting stories featuring our own Denver artists might be of interest to you.

Self-described "Non-Starving Artist" Bob Ragland talks about making a living as an artist in this National Public Radio short segment. Bob is great! He advocates paying off your mortgage, living debt free, and wants to help other artists do the same. He even wrote me a delightful fan letter, enclosed in this one-of-a-kind envelope.

Bob's passionate advocacy for non-starving artists obviously caught the attention of a major national news network!

Also, Gary Michael’s self-portraits were featured in the Sunday edition of the Denver Post. Michael has been painting an annual self-portrait for 35 years. I just wish the article was accompanied by an exhibition of the 35 works so we can see the progression.

A self-portrait in itself isn't that newsworthy, but one a year for 35 years is quite something. What could you do in 2009 to generate such buzz?

Office Spa Day winners

One of the bonuses from the recent Big Book Sale was a chance to win an Office Spa Day from Jennifer Hofmann at Inspired Home Office. The only stipulation is that you had to purchase 2 or more books to be entered.

Today was the day for the drawing. And the winners are . . .

Barbara Hawn (New Mexico) and Gael Murakami (Alaska)

Congratulations!

Podcast: Blast off in the New Year

Why start 2009 with a whimper when you can begin with a bang? Create your vision and make it happen.

[6 min. 8 sec.]

We’re going to work on mindset, routines, and intentions in the New Year Blast Off class, which begins next week. Think about joining us. Get the details.

What's standing in your way? What is the single thing you can do, be, or change in 2009 that will move your career ahead the fastest?

Prefer reading to listening? Check out the Art Marketing Action newsletter.
Subscribe to the Art Marketing Action podcast at iTunes.
Instructions for subscribing to this podcast.

This blog is taking a little rest

I'm taking the rest of the week off and I hope you are, too! No Deep Thought Thursday, but I trust you'll have your own deep thoughts on Christmas Day.

I'll be thinking of you. Really. You're on my gratitude list every day.

And you can think of me in the snowy, snowy Colorado mountains . . . sipping eggnog and snowshoeing.

Merry Christmas! Happy Hanukkah!

Podcast: Tie up loose ends

Take the next 10 days to clean up, clean out, and prepare for the New Year.

[5 min. 12 sec.]

Share your biggest accomplishment for 2008 in the comments.

Prefer reading to listening? Check out the Art Marketing Action newsletter.

Subscribe to the Art Marketing Action podcast at iTunes.
Instructions for subscribing to this podcast.
This podcast is an audio version of the Art Marketing Action newsletter.

The annual eggnog recipe

For anyone new to the blog, I do have my traditions and eggnog is a big one.

Each year I share this recipe for Bert's Eggnog with readers. This stuff is the nectar of the gods. You need to prepare it the night before in order to let the flavors come together.

Those who were raised on eggnog from a carton won't like it. Those who despise eggnog because they think real eggnog tastes like that from a carton will be shocked--in a good way. I've made many an eggnog convert with this amazing recipe. The story of how it came to be part of our holiday tradition is on the document.

Also, I'm throwing in my favorite gingersnap recipe. I no longer eat wheat flour, but this was a staple for years. Enjoy these recipes and get your eggnog ready!

Deep Thought Thursday: Marketing plans

I had a great time talking with Ariane Goodwin last night as part of the smARTist Telesummit preview calls. My smARTist presentation in January will be on creating a marketing plan, so my talk last night was kind of an introduction to that: 10 qualities you need to be a professional artist and how they relate to a marketing plan. Listen here.

Today's Deep Thought is this . . .

What would it take to (1) get you to actually write out a marketing plan for your art and (2) follow it ?

I think drafting a plan is easier than implementing it. What will it take?

What is your experience with marketing plans?

Don't forget to acknowledge your accomplishments

Just a reminder from Monday's newsletter that I'll be setting aside time tomorrow afternoon at 1 p.m. Mountain Time to write down my accomplishments for 2008. If you care to make this a ritual, I'd love to have you join me at that time.

I ask you to join me to create some sense of community and group energy. But I also ask you to join me so that you make the time. It's important to do this for yourself.

To get a sense of the format and a list to prompt your memory, read: Acknowledge Yourself and Celebrate.

Thursday morning update: I woke up feeling a little sickly and was able to schedule an acupuncture appointment for this exact time. I'm sure it's nothing, but I don't want to take the chance. Good news: I know that clearing my chi will contribute some good to this process! Bad news: I won't be able to join in today. More good news: I'm shooting for the exact same game plan tomorrow (Friday)--in case you want to join me.

Mailing through USPS online is a life saver

For those of you in the US, the post office can be a life saver. I send all of my books (which way over a pound) via US Priority Mail. Here’s how it works.

1. I order free FLAT RATE PRIORITY MAIL envelopes from the USPS Web site. I also order FLAT RATE PRIORITY MAIL boxes in which I can send multiple copies of the book. Both take 7-10 business days to be delivered, so order them early.
2. My assistant inputs recipients’ names and addresses in the USPS online address book. She’s in Vermont, so this online thing works for us! By the way, you don't need an assistant. It's very easy to do yourself and I often add addresses on my own. As far as I can tell, other online postage systems charge a fee AND require software. With USPS, it’s all done online.
3. (I stuff the books into plastic bags to protect them and insert into the envelopes.)
4. I print the postage onto labels, which I get at OnlineLabels.com. When I print postage online, I save 5 whole cents. And, incidentally, the same envelopes can be used for international shipping. It just requires more postage.
5. I request a home (or office) pick-up online. This must be done by 2 a.m., which is no problem since I’m into a deep sleep by then. The form asks me my name, pick-up location, phone number, number of packages and total weight.
6. The next morning, I put my shipment on the front porch and they pick it up.

So . . .

• You get free envelopes
• You save a little on postage
• You get free pick-up at your home

If you don’t use this system and were to mail any package over 12 ounces, you would have to go to your local Post Office window because anything over 12 ounces has to be hand-stamped by them. BUT . . .  you don’t have to worry about this with online postage and home pick-up.