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Your friends are not open targets for bulk email messages. Ask them politely if they want to be included in your list and make it easy for them to subscribe. Remember to send them a sample of what they’ll be receiving and tell them how often they can expect to hear from you. If they don’t sign up the first time, email them again in 3-4 months. [...] 
Two things about my process for collecting contact information are key. 1. There is no sign-up in full view, so the information remains private. 2. The request is active and in person. When people give us their email, they know they’ll be getting a “painting in their inbox” (and an immediate thank you for stopping by the show) and nothing more. [...] The Wall Street Journal recently ran an article on why businesses should continue using snail mail. But what do you send? Today’s post has five categories of items that you can share with your entire list or select individuals. [...] You never know what will take place over the course of a year. You never know how many other artists that person is going to run into in the months to come or how many other portfolios he’ll look through. You have to keep your name in front of people. [...] 
One of the last three steps toward selling your art is creating your mailing list. Anyone can do this! You know people, right? Start there–with everyone you know. [...] Are you assuming–perhaps incorrectly–that certain connections are separate from your art connections? Regardless of the type of work you did before diving into your art career, every contact you have made is valuable. Include previous connections on your mailing list. As I share in this week’s podcast, it’s all about cultivating collectors!
Related Art Marketing Action newsletter (a written version of this podcast) Cultivate Collectors for your art (online class begins July 8) Don’t shrink your mailing list just yet (newsletter) I’d Rather Be in the Studio! (book, pages 17-19, 197-211) → Instructions for subscribing to the Art Marketing Action podcast on iTunes. Send to [...] Are you a second-career artist? Did you do something else before diving into your art career? If so, your previous life and connections may be more beneficial to your art career than you thought. Keith Murray, Old Glory. Oil on canvas. 36 x 24 inches. ©The Artist Artist Lanie Frick called me this week to confess a story that broke her heart. She had been in a different line of creative work before devoting herself to fine art. A few years ago, she decided to burn the sales receipts from that business. She couldn’t imagine that she’d ever need those again. Then she read my book and had a bit of a bad day. She realized that all of her previous customers’ names and addresses had been turned to ash. It dawned on her that those contacts could be very valuable to her now. Lanie was right, and she wanted to share [...] Postal rates just went up in the U.S., but that’s no reason to stop sending mail. It’s more important than ever to use regular mail in conjunction with any email messages you’re sending out. Let’s look at some of the reasons why you shouldn’t neglect buying stamps. Deb Schmit, Highland Dreams Oil on canvas, 12 x 16 inches. ©The Artist Above all, regular mail won’t be considered spam. People have all kinds of filters set up for their inboxes these days. You can’t be certain your email messages are getting through. While you might grumble about the reliability of the postal service, there is no doubt that it’s far more reliable than email. Likewise, regular mail can’t be accidentally deleted. It doesn’t take much to get frustrated by an overflowing inbox and delete a load of messages at once. It’s harder to accidentally throw away a piece of mail. According to the CAN SPAM [...] It’s February! The month when I (and many others) revert to those days when I used to put Valentine’s Day cards into decorated paper bags that were attached to the backs of elementary classroom chairs. While I no longer stuff greetings into paper bags, I am an easy target for anything with a heart on it or anything that’s pink and red. Don’t worry, you don’t have to follow suit, and you don’t have to get all sappy. But you can take advantage of the season and show your patrons, collectors, and community a little love. It’s a perfect time to pay attention to that contact list. Jennifer McChristian, Chapter Four. Oil on panel, 16 x 20 inches. ©The Artist First, make sure your contact list is up to date. All names, addresses, and email addressees should be entered into your database. Always remember my mantra: Your contact list is your #1 asset. It’s vital [...] Halloween is as good a time as any to spook yourself into action. While I usually try to be reassuring and supportive with these newsletters, I’m here to scare you this week. Boo! What if a collector calls for a commission? Are you ready with your pricing and conditions? Can you say “No, Thank You” if it’s not something you’re interested in? Can you under-promise and over-deliver? See articles on art pricing. What if a venue has an opening for your work next month? Is it photographed? Is it framed? Is your mailing list in shape? You sure want to spend your time on last-minute promotions rather than inputting names into a database! See Promote Your Exhibit. What if you sold something? Do you have your sales tax license? Are your Thank You notes ready to go? Do you have a computerized inventory list where you can input the collector’s information? See software for your [...] |
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