Is art sacred?

Is all art sacred or just some art?

What’s the criteria? What makes some art sacred and not other art?

There are many directions to go with today’s Deep Thought. Go where your heart and head lead you.

Have you noticed in the Art Biz Blog comments that some people have their pictures next to their comments? I recently added this feature when I realized how much I was enjoying seeing people’s faces on other blogs.

Here’s how you can get your universal avatar.

Sign up for an account at Gravatar.

That’s it! Whenever you post a comment using the email address that you registered with Gravatar, your picture appears. I think it took about 10 minutes.

There might be other ways, but this was my solution.

This would be good for you to do if you plan on commenting on this or other blogs that have this feature. It’s nice to connect a face with a comment and, yes, I prefer seeing your face to seeing your art. Avatars with your art are fine, but . . . Remember that blogging is a form of social networking. It’s about connecting with other people. People have faces and we want to see yours.

Note that the blogs you comment on must be configured to allow the gravatar to show up. Many WordPress blogs use the same plug-in as I do, but other blogs might require a special configuration. If you have a blog, this page gives you instructions for adding Gravatars to your blogging platform.

Are you driving people from your website to your blog and from your newsletter to your blog and website? And is your social media presence closely linked with the rest of your online persona?

Be sure you’re thinking of your e-marketing in total. Each element isn’t separate, but is part of your network of strategic e-marketing.

I love looking at a roomful of artists when they have an Aha moment–when they see how every piece of the promotional puzzle can and should work together. I use a lot of slides to get the point across, but let’s start at Point A.

You can start to unite your e-marketing efforts by making sure your links are in order. For example . . .

Alison Wilson, Rock Painting 2. Etching, 15.5 x 10 cm. ©2009 The Artist

• Link to your blog on every page of your website. (And don’t call it a journal. Call it a blog, which is the word people will be looking for.)
• Add all of your social media links to your home page, newsletter, blog, and contact page. “Follow me on Twitter,” “Become a fan on Facebook,” etc.
• Add your blog feed to your Facebook page and LinkedIn profile.
• Link to your website in a prominent place on your blog. But don’t stop there. Make sure you link to your Web pages frequently (at least once a week) in your blog posts.
• Link to both your website and blog in your e-newsletter. You can make it a navigation link in your newsletter, but also insert relevant links within your text to drive more traffic.
• Link to all of your sites in your social media profiles.
• Put your blog and website links in your signature block, which is automatically attached to the end of every email you send out.
• Add to your blog sidebars: Etsy (or similar) shop link, Workshops link (if you teach), Art link (sometimes it is so darned hard to find art on artists’ blogs!), Newsletter link, etc. You could make these text links, but why not turn them into graphic images? Images jazz up your blog and are probably more attractive to click on.

This is just a sample list. The process is never-ending! Start with these tasks and then expand. Every time you create a new online presence, ask yourself what you can do to make sure more people are aware of it.

Strategic e-marketing: Everything is related

I don’t want to put all of my knowledge on my blog. I need to save it for my teaching. I shouldn’t be giving it all away for free.

This objection is raised at almost every workshop at which I discuss blogging. It happened again last week. One person voiced the thought, but there were probably many others in the audience who were thinking the same thing.

My response was sharp, but to the point: That’s old-school thinking. Those who haven’t been promoting on the Web long or don’t know how to use it effectively are often stuck in a conventional protectionist mode. They’re so concerned about copyright and “giving away the store” that they are ineffective with their online marketing. Their blogs are weak and not highly visited.

Judy Coates Perez, Oh Deer, Oh Deer, Look What's Become of Me! Hand-painted art quilt, 42 x 54 inches. ©The Artist

One reason that blogs are so powerful is that they can establish you (yes, little ole you!) as an expert. Actually, it’s you who must do the establishing. You have to put the information out there so that others tag you as the expert. Artist-blogger Judy Coates Perez summarized it for our workshop attendees last week: You have to give to get. It’s karmic. The more you give, the more you’ll get in return. Let’s look at the following examples.

Artist A has a blog, but doesn’t quite understand why. He posts images of his work (yay!) and then just kind of talks about making art. He would like to have more opportunities as an instructor, but he’s resisting blogging about everything he knows. He thinks people should have to pay for certain information.

Then there’s Artist B. She has a powerful blog that she uses to help fill her classes and workshops. She’s posting at least four articles a week that people can’t wait to read. She listens to those who leave comments on her blog and responds. She is the go-to-gal for everything on her subject because people have learned to trust her. They know she has answers and—this part is important—that she’s willing to share the answers with her students.

In contrast, you don’t know what you’ll get with Artist A. There are so many “teachers” out there who are unwilling to share their secrets. Maybe Artist A is one of them. We’ll never know. Bummer for him. Artist B is the instructor I want to hire.

+ Rx If you’d like to be more like Artist B, take a look at the Blog Triage class. We help you write better blog posts and get a better-looking blog in order to attract more readers. The fun starts on April 7 and is limited to just 30 people. Details

FINAL WORD: Just because you give away free information on your blog doesn’t mean that people won’t pay for the same information in a different format. In fact, I’ve found that they’re more likely to pay after they’ve seen the quality of the free stuff. Give to get on your blog or website. Consider my own example. I could never have attracted rooms full of artists or sold thousands of copies of my book if I hadn’t first published a weekly newsletter and then a blog. I’m all about giving away the store. Artists who attend my workshops and take my classes say they appreciate me because I share what I know so freely.

See more about booking a live workshop with me in your area.

The weekly Art Marketing Action podcast is an audio version of the newsletter of the same title.

Read the newsletter here.

Make sure you don’t miss an episode: Subscribe to the podcast on iTunes.

Someone is going out of his or her way to make sure tree trunks and sign stakes are kept warm and stylish this winter. I first heard it in a brief story on NPR: Some graffiti artist is plastering trees and public spaces in West Cape May, New Jersey with . . . . knitting! That’s right. Knitting.

Since no one knows the identity of the so-called “Midnight Knitter,” it has been assumed to be linked to the Salty Knits Facebook page (where I swiped this photo of the brightly colored tree socks).  The last article I read said the Facebook page had 300 fans, but when I went to the site, there were almost 1500 fans.

Here’s what I love about these guerrilla knits (and I am using the plural because I know there are many others out there).

©The Nameless, Faceless Artist

1. A craft form usually considered “women’s work” has been removed from it’s traditional place in society and transformed. It is no longer functional, but instead is sculptural and decorative. Also, knitting is usually for private use as clothing or to keep one warm as a coverlet. These guerrilla knitted forms are made for the public. They are intended for everyone to appreciate at the same level.

2. It’s a surprise! Residents of West Cape May never know when or where a new knit will appear, nor do they know the face and name of the knitter. We expect to see art in a gallery or museum, but not on the trunk of a tree.

Some people don’t like surprises, but I opine that anyone who scoffs at the Midnight Knitter is a curmudgeon. Yes, I know that cities have laws and rules and I love natural forms, too. But c’mon . . . Have some fun in your life! Are we really that inflexible? Which brings me to . . .

3. The guerrilla knitting makes people happy. Surprises make many people happy! Brightly-colored stripes and patterns on the trunk of a tree should be enough to put a smile on anyone’s face.

Really, can we ask any more of art?

Want to know more about knitting graffiti? See these articles.

Urban Knitting

Masquerade: The Swedish Knit Crew

Knitfiti in Seattle

I finished up my workshop in Racine, Wisconsin yesterda. I’m always excited about booking a new workshop venue, but when the time comes to pack and leave I get sad and anxious. I’m sad to leave my husband and cats and anxious about travel.

Will my luggage exceed 50 pounds?
Will something I’m wearing set off security sensors?
Will I arrive on time?
Will they lose my car rental reservation?
Will anything spill in my suitcase?
Can I pack so that I keep ironing to a minimum?

You get the picture.

I have learned a number of travel tips throughout my years on the road, but I want to hear yours. More importantly, I want you to share yours with my readers.

How do you prepare for your travel? I’m interested in any travel tips, but especially your art- and business-related travel tips. How do you keep your career going while you’re on the road?

Share with us!

Image: My hotel bed before the packing up began.

Whenever you have an exhibit opening or similar event, you can’t expect to send one thing in the mail and have an impact.

People typically have to see the same information multiple times—in multiple ways—before they will act on it. Here are 7 steps you can take to get the word out early and often.

1. Start blogging, tweeting, and Facebooking about the event as soon as it’s set. On your blog, for example, you might first post about the event details in an announcement. Then, you can mention it once a week in the context of other posts. Your message shouldn’t be too focused on promotion. Instead, your goal is to keep the event in the forefront of your readers’ minds.

Kirsty E. Smith, Angie, 2009. Mixed media sculpture. ©The Artist

2. If your event is out of town, search for bloggers and artists on Facebook in that area. Send them personal messages saying you’ll be in their town and extending an initial invitation. It’s more fun to travel for business when you are going to know others at your destination.

3. One to two months out, send a “Save the Date” notice in an email message to those who have opted in for your email list.

4. One month out, post the details as an Event on Facebook and LinkedIn.

5. Two weeks out, send a postcard invitation to your mailing list with all of the event details. Remember with your messages that you are inviting people—not commanding them–to attend. I think we forget sometimes to issue polite invitations.

6. One week out, start tweeting about the event on Twitter at least once a day. Be careful not to become a pest.

7. Two days prior to the event, send an email reminder.

FINAL WORD: You can’t send one announcement for your art event and expect it to be effective. We’re busy people! We need to be reminded. Mix up your delivery methods as described above, and you’ll be much more effective with your promotions.

The podcast is an audio version of this article.

Totally blew @johntunger interviewing @chrisguillebeau RATS! Now subscribed to the Art Heroes on iTunes. Yippee!

GYST software for artists new version ready next week. $50 off right now

Artist shares her experience “handling” art teachers at a workshop with two disruptive personalities via @MaryRichmond

Planning an open studio? Get tips in this FREE audio program

How to import your blog posts into your FB profile (not FB fan page)

Like artists, museums really need to get their media rooms online. None of my 3 former museum employers have media rooms on their sites.

Artists undercutting other artists. What are you to do? via @MariaBrophy

RT @chrisguillebeau Daily Ass-Kicking: “When setting out on a journey, do not seek advice from those who have never left home.” -Rumi

RT @originalimpulse: Colorado artists interested in making art for public spaces? Learn all about it March 13-14

After Monday’s post about implementing a policy for answering questions, Julie Thompson commented:

I get the same questions over and over, but this happens much more often when I do a show, not so much in my inbox. I’ve even considered hanging an FAQ in my booth, but I don’t know if such a thing would go over well! Any suggestions for handling this in person? When you answer the same questions for the 50th time in a day, it’s difficult to NOT sound rehearsed or like a recording!

Julie’s right. Different factors must be considered when you are confronted with questions in a face-to-face conversation rather than receiving them in an email. It’s a lot harder to duck out of a dialogue in your artist booth or at an opening! And you probably don’t want to.

Julie Thompson, Puddle Geese. Painting on feather. ©The Artist

The short of it is that you should answer everything you can–even if you have to do it 50 times a day. (I know Julie knows this which is why she’s been answering them to this point.) While some questions may seem silly or annoying, it’s important to remember that the people that enter your booth are doing so for the first time. You’re the store owner who has to sell the “merchandise.” You smile, take a deep breath, and pretend like it’s the first time you’ve heard the question. Because that’s what store owners do.

If you look exasperated or bored, you’ll lose a potential sale. I know you know this, but it’s important to remind yourself that you always have to be “on” when you’re the artist AND the salesperson.

Having said all of this, there will be moments when you don’t have time to respond to questions. Someone else wants to talk with you and you can’t afford having your time monopolized. There are two things you can do in these situations. (Note: These are options of last resort. Your goal should always be to engage people in conversation!)

1. Create a handout that answers your most frequently asked questions. You can make copies to pass out or have a few laminated copies that are reused in your both. I imagine you want both. If someone wants to keep a handout that has your name and contact information on it, you want to oblige! (And you must have all of your contact info on there.)

You could hang such an FAQ in your booth, but it’s a little friendlier to hand it out when asked. It’s good customer service and, frankly, people don’t often read things just because they’re posted.

2. Respond politely, “I get that question a lot! And because I’m always busy in my booth, I wonder if it would be okay to email you my thoughts about it?” You could also respond to it on your blog or send them something in regular mail–whatever seems most comfortable. Bottom line, you get their contact information and, voilà!, you have set yourself up for a follow-up contact. This is why option #2 is my personal favorite. It’s another chance to put your name in front of someone.

If you’re interested this subject, there’s a whole chapter on following up with potential customers in my book, I’d Rather Be in the Studio! The Artist’s No-Excuse Guide to Self-Promotion.