Learn to sell your art online.

Kerry Harried, a.k.a. Snitterdog, is a highly expressive, unique, and intelligent artist. Formerly from Madison, WI, she now lives in Savannah, GA (where the weather is almost exactly the same… well, except for the weather). Her quirky sense of humor comes through in her writing as well as some of her work (check out her Frampton Chicken Comes Alive).

Her work can be found at a number of places online and her blog is a good place to start. From there you can check out her 3 Etsy stores:

• Snitterdog.etsy.com
• thegreenefairy.etsy.com
• pookietown.etsy.com

and then go on to find all the rest.

Here is my interview with Kerry. Please visit her blog and her stores and buy everything she has in stock. Really. It would be so incredibly awesome of you and you would be her bff!

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OAM: What kind of art do you currently produce?

KH: I currently paint, draw, make handmade paper, and various cards. I also have been know to make friendship bracelets on occasion…. I have a tendency to work in many media - I’m a very curious type, I guess I would have to say my main field of interest is probably painting and drawing. (That’s what I do the most I am really fond of watercolor, gouache, and pen and ink. My styles vary a lot - my Etsy shops reflect this.  At Snitterdog, you can find my weird, yet cute artwork - it’s kind of surreal, I guess.  At The Greene Fairy, you can find “naturey” work - leaves, sea shells, flowers - that kind of thing… I think I have an artistic multiple personality or something!

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OAM: How many different ways do you currently sell your art and which 1 (or 2 or 3) have worked the best?

KH: Right now I am mainly selling my work on Etsy. I have 3 (I know - yikes!! shops… The first one is Snitterdog, the second is The Greene Fairy, and the 3rd is Pookie Town.  Pookie Town is my newest venue - it will mainly have my bracelets, I think.  I also do independent contracting work in illustration for a newer greeting card company called Parkards. For them I often work in watercolor, but the media is generally up to my own discretion. In the past I have sold artwork to acquaintances of my mine who say something to the effect of “hey - can I buy that?” I always like it when this happens! (not much recently, but I haven’t been out in the world much with my art these days - I mean in person). I’ve been trying to get more internet exposure, which has been interesting because until last summer I was fairly computer illiterate. (In terms of Photoshop, getting images onto the web, etc… Still can’t believe I’m finally doing it! :). I haven’t decided what has worked best yet - I’m still kind of new to this (in terms of trying to sell my work). I will say though, that I’ve sold original, more expensive work, better in person, and usually to an acquaintance… I think often people like to see work in person, particularly if it is a large financial investment

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OAM: What additional avenue for selling your work would you like to pursue?

KH: I would love to show my work in galleries!  I have been in some art shows in the Madison, WI area (where I’m from), but haven’t as of yet been a regular exhibitor in a gallery. I would love to approach some local galleries here in Savannah, but haven’t mustered up the courage yet… I tend to be shy about such things…. I need to get over that. I also would like to participate in more art shows and maybe someday get my MFA.  I have a bachelor’s degree in art from UW Madison, but I’ve been out of school since 2001. (I’m a bit out of the loop now, I think:)

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OAM: Do you have any additional thoughts about selling your art online that you would like to share?

KH: I love selling my art online. I haven’t been in the game too long, but I find it thoroughly enjoyable and have met some wonderful people.  I have also learned so much valuable information on the forums and am grateful for all of this

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[Comments]

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Chris O’Byrne
OnlineArtsMarketing.com
www.YourArtMarketing.com

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The internet has a wealth of information just waiting for you to dig in and start learning. There are a very few select websites that I keep in a special folder in Google Reader. I keep this folder at the top of the list (even above my Friends and Family folder) and whenever there is a new post, I read it immediately. DoshDosh is one of those websites. Maki, the author and god of this website, provides so much incredibly useful and relevant information that I can recommend it to anyone in any field. You probably know of other websites, perhaps specific to your own field, that are as useful as DoshDosh is to me. It is because of websites like this that I thought of the following.

These ultra-important websites should be looked at as more than just sources of information that you make sure you read. These websites should be looked at as the essential online learning institutions that they are. Think of them as part of your schooling. Set aside some time every day to go through the information and take notes. (Google Notebook is good for this.) Think of all the ways that you can use the information you are reading and create an action plan. Read and re-read the post to catch what you might have missed on the first or second pass. Create an outline or a mindmap. Absorb as much of the information as possible. You are not just reading great information, you are reading necessary and life-changing (or at least work-changing) information.

For example, here is a post from DoshDosh from a couple of weeks ago: How to Use the Web to Build A Powerful Reputation In Any Industry. I read this article within minutes of it being published. You can tell I usually read these right away because am often one of the first people to leave a comment. The first thing I do is skim through the article and get a good feel for what it is about. Then I go through a little more thoroughly, usually reading the whole article, but not to the point of deeper absorption. At this point, I leave a comment. I’m a fast reader and can absorb information quickly and on that second read I usually have a question in mind that I know will bother me unless I have it answered. Maki is always very good about commenting back and answering my questions and this deepens the learning process.

I then set aside the article until later in the day when I can take the time to go through it much more thoroughly. This is when I do not let myself get distracted by the steady stream of Tweets, new posts, emails, earthquakes, etc. This is also when I am most likely to find the real gems.

Here is an excerpt from the post I referenced above:

For example, if I were in the art field, this is what I’ll build and why:

1. An Art forum/social network. In order to position myself as a leader in the specific field, I should create communities which will allow me to attract large amounts of interested industry participants. This pull-strategy allows you to not only keep on top of happenings in the specific field but befriend a large amount of people who will be likely to support your future initiatives. This is a social branding strategy.
2. Multiple Niche Art Sites. I’ll narrow down my art interests to build sites that focuses entirely on specific art forms (e.g. Renaissance art). My goal is to make each site a definitive resource. This will of course involve conscious targeting and ranking of multiple keywords which will spread my name throughoug a specific topic field in search engines. Search engines will provide you with organic traffic and is a means to pick up a lot of relevant contacts. This is a search-oriented strategy.
3. General Art News Blog. A news blog is a good way to develop visibility, especially if there are no real competitors in the niche. I would make it a multi-author blog and I’ll invite the friends I have (including the ones I’ve met online) to write for it. A news blog frames you in the mold of a journalist. As a member of media, you’ll usually get access to launches, exhibitions, events and networking parties. This is a network-development strategy that’ll allow you to build your contacts offline.

I’ve placed this as the last step because it allows you to leverage your established community trust and media relations to kickstart these ventures. You don’t have to struggle to get people involved if you are well-networked enough: people will naturally recommend and provide support for your initiatives, especially if they are beneficial for the end-user or industry as a whole.

You can believe my jaw dropped when I read this because it relates specifically to my industry. And just in this short excerpt from the much longer article I came up with these possible action steps:

• Create an art community. With Diane Clancy, I have created the art marketing forum at YourArtMarketing.com which already has 33 members and 340 posts. BUT… what additional work can I do here? I’ve talked about creating social networks, I can possibly pursue one of those.
• Create niche art sites. This site IS a niche site, it focuses on online marketing for artists. What additional niche sites can I create? I could create niche sites for music and writing and photography and any number of artistic or creative niches.
• Create an art news blog. This is one that I am REALLY thinking about creating, especially after reading today’s post on How to Build a Successful News Blog. I am now a staff blogger for ReveNews.com and thanks to DoshDosh, I now have a solid base of information to help me make this a reality.

Take the attitude of a student and pick the most valuable website to study. Go through it thoroughly and write down every possible action step you might take and keep a thorough list of notes that you can search through whenever you need them. Take advantage of the learning opportunities that are waiting for you.

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[Comments]

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Chris O’Byrne
OnlineArtsMarketing.com
www.YourArtMarketing.com

The latest version of WordPress, version 2.5, was due out today. I have had a sneak peek at the admin pages of the new version and there are so many changes to the layout that I am going to hold off on doing more screencasts. As soon as the new version is out and I have it installed on my test blog, I will start doing the screencasts and will start from the beginning.

In the meantime, if there are any specific questions you need answered about customizing WordPress, please hop over to our forum at YourArtMarketing.com and post a new topic under Blogging: Setting Up Your Blog. I won’t mind doing a quick screencast if that will help you!

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[Comments]

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Chris O’Byrne
OnlineArtsMarketing.com
www.YourArtMarketing.com

It is easy to think of selling online as totally different than selling offline (as in a store or gallery). The truth is, there are more similarities than differences. You can definitely do far more online than you can offline, but you have to begin with the offline mentality.

Start by planning a brand new gallery that you are going to open, the Gallery of You. This will be a gallery that you open on your favorite street in your favorite town, only it will hold only your art and it will be designed by your own specifications. (This planning/dreaming is actually a lot of fun, in addition to being practical.) What would you do to get customers to your gallery? How would you treat them once they came? Here are some ideas that come to mind:

• Create your USP. Here are some previous articles to help get you going:
  • What is a USP
  • How to Determine Your USP - Lesson 1: What is Is and Why You Need It
  • How to Determine Your USP - Lesson 2: Write Your USP
  • How to Determine Your USP - Lesson 3: Ten Ideas for Generating Your USP
  • How to Determine Your USP - Lesson 4: Ten More Ideas for Generating Your USP
• Advertise locally - get your name/brand/image out there in front of people.
• Make it easy to buy from you.
• Collect the names and addresses of EVERYONE that comes into your gallery.
• Communicate often and personally with every one.
• Network like crazy.

This is just a short list to get you started, the real benefit of this exercise comes when YOU do it. This is YOUR gallery, the Gallery of You. You can run it anyway you want! What will you do to create your own true fans?

[Comments]

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Chris O’Byrne
OnlineArtsMarketing.com
www.YourArtMarketing.com

I am so happy to have been invited and accepted as a staff blogger at ReveNews.com. My first article is about a topic I plan to write more about on this blog, but for a teaser I invite you to read the post at ReveNews.com and feel free to leave a comment there if so moved.

Peace,
Chris

Michelle Basic Hendry is an artist from Muskoka, ON, Canada; a couple of hours north of Toronto. Formerly a graphic designer, she turned to painting full time and now focuses on the incredible beauty of the Canadian landscape.

Having spent most of my life in Minnesota, including the far northeastern part of the state near Ontario, I look at her work with a mixture of happiness and longing. I grew up in the woods and farm country and Michelle’s landscapes brings that all back with an onslaught of emotion. I felt myself immersed in her paintings relished their beauty.

To experience Michelle’s work for yourself, visit her website. For a more personal glimpse into her work and her thoughts, visit her blog. And please enjoy this interview where we learn even more.

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OAM: What kind of art do you currently produce?

MBH: I am currently painting. My primary medium is acrylic. I have designed, created and exhibited stained glass, mixed media sculpture as well as paintings in oil, acrylic and watercolour in the last 4 years.

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OAM: How many different ways do you currently sell your art and which 1 (or 2 or 3) have worked the best?

MBH: I have sold primarily through exhibitions, both private and public, as well as through galleries. My most successful sales have been through the exhibition stream. I am currently with a new gallery and we have been off to a great start. I have my first solo show there this summer.

I have only really been showing art to sell for 4 years. Previous to this I ran a graphic design business and art was only a sideline. It was in 2004 that I decided to change that and began to create more seriously with the intent to sell. I set up a website first as a support to the exhibitions and the gallery and a few months ago I started a blog to reach further afield. I don’t use either to sell yet, but I think I should look at it. It is on my list of ‘to do’s’ by the end of the year.

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OAM: What additional avenue for selling your work would you like to pursue?

MBH: I have been considering the internet as an option. Up until now it has been a place to show my work, but I think it could be a valuable tool for selling smaller works and I am hoping that it might allow me to be a little more experimental - to try things that may not fit in with the work I do for traditional outlets. I have seen other artists that have had a good deal of success on-line and I am looking forward to giving it a try.

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OAM: Do you have any additional thoughts about selling your art online that you would like to share?

MBH: I think that selling original work on-line is a wonderful way to get original work out to people who might not otherwise have seen it as a part of their world. Art in galleries can been seen as exclusive and that the acquiring of it requires a degree and a mountain of cash. The internet can help to level the playing field for certain kinds of art and provide a forum for work that is driven by different motives. It is a ‘business’ like any other, therefore, I think that it needs to offer a different kind of connection between artist and art buyer. There is a great potential in this medium. The success of selling on-line will be in how well the medium provides and presents something that is unique and can, thereby, create a whole new market for it.

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[Comments]

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Chris O’Byrne
OnlineArtsMarketing.com
www.YourArtMarketing.com

I’m very excited about tomorrow’s featured artist. I am changing the format just a little to make it more useful for everyone. In addition to talking about the artist, I am including a short, written interview where I talk with the artist.

Also, I received a new book from Amazon. It’s called “Camtasia Studio 5: The Definitive Guide” and it will help me create even better screencasts for you. Camtasia gives me the option to edit after the capture and do cool things like zoom in and highlight the areas I’m talking about. This book will help me figure out how to do that!

See you tomorrow!

Chris

I am changing the format (again) of the weekly video. I already have two scheduled posts each week and I do not want to tie myself down with a third. That being said, I hope to release these screencasts more than once a week.

The videos can be accessed by using the screencast.com widget below my welcome video or by direct link in the Screencast category. The posts in the Screencast category will also have a brief explanation of what each screencast is about.

The Resources page that can be accessed from the top menu also contains a link to the mindmap that lays out a plan for future episodes and will continue to grow and contain even more useful information.

Lastly… I want to share MY art with you:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EcbGk2gULbo

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Peace,
Chris

Today’s screencast is the very first in the series and starts out by briefly going through each of the admin pages and describing each option. This is a very brief, 15-minute overview as there is a lot of ground to cover. So much ground, in fact, that just introducing you to the WordPress admin section will take 9 screencasts to cover!

Here is a mindmap that describes the direction that this screencast series will follow. This mindmap will continue to grow and add resources. If you have any suggestions for additions to it, please let me know.

Subscribe to this screencast series with your RSS feed reader.

Click here for today’s episode!

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Chris O’Byrne
OnlineArtsMarketing.com
www.YourArtMarketing.com

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[How to Start Selling My Art Online]

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Many artists find it difficult to think like a salesperson. Most of us have a less than flattering image of salespeople. Words that often come to mind are ’sleazy’, ‘pushy’, and ‘dishonest’. Please, change that image so you can take on the mindset of a salesperson. Replace those words with phrases such as ‘problem solver’, ’solution provider’, and ‘helping hand’. Real salespeople, successful salespeople, have that image in their minds.

Well… how do I start thinking like a salesperson? I start by thinking like my customer. Do not think about their needs, think about their wants. Customers don’t need another mom. They don’t want someone trying to fill their needs. They want someone who cares about what they WANT and is willing to provide that for them. How do I know what they want? I ask them! Ask your customers why they wanted your art enough to buy it. Most people will be flattered that you care that much about their opinion.

Here are some concerns your customer might have:

• How do I want the artist to act towards me?
• What else would I like from this transaction?
• What sort of follow up would I appreciate?

Let’s tackle these one by one. First, How do I want the artist to act towards me? Personally, I want artists to be friendly and easy going, ready to answer questions, and willing to go the extra mile. I like them to be a little chatty, but definitely not too much. I like to hear something interesting about a piece of art, but not have them go on and on.

Second, What else would I like from this transaction? I wouldn’t expect anything more than just what I was buying, but if something else was thrown in for free I would be delighted. We recently bought a piece of art and it came with papers that gave extra information about the piece along with some refrigerator magnets. It did not require much work, but we sure were impressed. Always give the customer more than they expect. Small items like refrigerator magnets, cards, postcards, or anything else you can think of are not only appreciated, but will make you stand out in the customer’s mind and make them much more likely to buy from you again. As one example, you could include three postcards with a color image of what the customer bought. Pre-stamp the postcards and ask the customer to mail them out to three friends. What a great way to spread the word without being too pushy. Plus, you are feeding into the vanity of the customer. I would love to brag about the new piece of art I bought and if it is as easy as writing somebody’s address and slipping it into the mail, you can bet I’ll do it.

Third, What sort of follow up would I appreciate? About a month after the sale, send your customer another little something. I would love to receive a blank card and envelope with the image that I bought on it. Don’t ask me to give the card to someone, just know that I probably will. After that, send me something about once a quarter. Monthly is a little too often for regular follow up, but every three months is just about right. After three months I will probably have forgotten about the transaction and then all of a sudden there is something in the mail that just brightens my day. Make sure to give me some special deal every time and make it easy for me to buy again from you. If you use a service like E-Junkie for selling online (which I do!), you can include special discount codes that you only give to certain people. It’s a great way to reward your customers.

Lastly, ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS add every customer to your mailing list. This is so important and most people do not even bother. Your best potential customers are your previous customers. They are the ones that cared enough to buy in the first place and you have a golden opportunity to stay in contact with them and build your relationship. Please, do not let this opportunity pass you by. If you do, you might as well just start throwing money out the window or use some to light a fire. Your customers WANT you to stay in touch with them. Don’t let them down!

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Chris O’Byrne
OnlineArtsMarketing.com
www.YourArtMarketing.com