Table of Contents
Is Marketing An Art Or Skill?
As artists, we are often prevented from realising our full potential for building a stable, profitable, and successful company because we listen to an internal or external voice about the “right” approach to be creative.
We observe other artists with apparently boundless enthusiasm and believe to ourselves, “We should feel that way.” Alternatively, we hear speeches from individuals who have made it and are told that it “just happened” for them.
If you are trapped in a situation where your work and abilities are excellent but you are not generating the sales you desire, you may have some misconceptions about how marketing and a creative profession combine. Learn graphic design through Blue Sky Graphics online graphic design course.
Without a question, marketing is always a component of that strategy
Of sure, your ability and talent will enable your career to progress and discover new possibilities, but first you must get awareness. Nobody is breaking into your studio to steal your art. It is up to you to get it out there in the world while also continuing to develop your reputation, skill set, and vision, all while working on your visibility.
You think that marketing is ineffective
So you ran a Facebook ad and it did not provide any results. Or maybe you produced a fantastic film explaining your artwork and technique, but it did not go viral. Do not give up and assume that simply because you put in one effort on one platform, your marketing will fail.
Marketing is more of a steady development over time than an instant phenomenon. You notice what is not working and make a note of what is, then do more of it. You do tiny tests and fine-tune what has shown to be effective in order to propel your career and sales in the desired direction.
To be honest, we seldom hear of an artist who enjoys marketing. Many artists believe that embracing marketing entails becoming a sleazy salesperson. But the wonderful thing about being an independent artist is that you get to choose whatever marketing strategies to use—and there are plenty to choose from.
You may choose whatever routes seem appropriate for you and devote the necessary effort to determining the best recipe for growing your company.
Marketing entails compromising your artistic integrity
Being successful and using marketing does not imply that you are selling out. It implies that you are guaranteeing that you will be able to make work for the rest of your life.
Marketing is just another weapon in your toolbox for advancing your career. You may be perpetuating the idea of the hungry artist merely because you believe that promoting your work would jeopardise your artistic integrity.
There is a thin line to be walked here. You still want to be able to enjoy and be inspired by your work, rather than simply thinking of it as a job. However, you must continue to spread the word about your work in order to be considered for future chances.
If you like interacting with people on social media via your work, it may be time to step up your social media game. Again, it does not have to be all about sales all of the time. Actually, it should not be. The wonderful thing about social media marketing is that content marketing integrates easily into various channels. As an artist, you have an infinite supply of intriguing and visually appealing material with which to sell your work. You may record your method, publish a blog post or a YouTube video about your creation, or have a flash sale for your followers. It will seem less salesy if it simply feels like you are sharing your studio life with your fans.
That being said, do not be afraid to be direct from time to time—around 15-20% of your overall postings. People like simple instructions. Let folks know if you have a new work for sale or if prints become available unexpectedly! Share your passion, and others will see your real interest for your job and will not help but join in.
You think your gallery/online store/etc is entirely to blame for your sales
You took some excellent pictures of your work and uploaded a few to your online shop or straight to your gallery. You shut off your computer, congratulate yourself on a job well done, pour yourself a glass of wine, and sit back to wait. Nothing.
This is because you think that just putting your work on the internet or in a gallery would result in huge sales.
However, there is a lot of noise and competition out there. If you want to see active sales, you must be active in your sales.
Do not be scared to share your online portfolio on various social media platforms. If Facebook groups allow promotional postings, put it there. Create a blog article that is related to your portfolio and promote it on Facebook. Target your audiences and place your work in front of individuals who are interested in your aesthetic. Send direct emails to previous customers to follow up. Create an email list and send them your most recent portfolio.
Is it used to help someone identify themselves, to encourage connection and a means for others to connect, or to inform or reflect their values? All of these are reasons why people exchange material with one another on the internet. It is also a fantastic method to communicate important information about your artwork on the internet.
Concept of providing social evidence regarding your effort
The wonderful thing about visual creative material is that individuals like shooting their artwork in their homes and as part of their daily lives. If you sell paintings, pottery, sculpture, photography, or anything else tangible, it may be appropriate to ask your collectors if they would be willing to share a picture of your work in their surroundings. It is a fantastic method to show prospective clients how your work will appear in their house. It is also a wonderful method to demonstrate that others are pleased with your job. It reduces the risk for new consumers to make the purchase knowing that there are many other satisfied customers out there.
