by Rebecca Sciullo | Jul 10, 2023 | Blogging, Channels
Let’s Talk about Blogging and Email Newsletters
Email marketing was one of the topics covered recently in an Artisan Advantage Art Marketing Roundtable was email marketing. Coming up in August, we will be talking about blogging for an art business.
Artists have asked me, do I need both for my business?
Ideally, it would be best if you eventually worked to have both tools working for you in your business.
Before we dig into why you would want both and how they can complement each other, here’s a review of where they are similar, where they differ, and how they relate to your business.
Two Distinct Platforms
Content and Format
A blog is a website or a page on your website where you can publish various types of content, such as articles, tutorials, artwork showcases, videos, and more. It typically offers a collection of posts organized by categories or tags, allowing visitors to browse your content. Your blog can be an excellent place to share new work and information you can repurpose in many ways (more on that later!).
Email Newsletter: An email newsletter is a regularly sent email that contains updates, announcements, promotions, or information about new work. It is typically a shorter format than blog posts and is delivered directly to subscribers’ email inboxes. Your email newsletter should only go to people who have agreed or requested to receive it. For your art business, a regular email newsletter can keep your customers and contacts updated with new work, events, and any announcements you want to get out to them.
Communication Channel:
Blog: A blog primarily functions as a one-to-many communication channel. You publish content on your blog; visitors can access and engage with it by visiting your website. Then, they can leave comments, share posts, and interact with other readers.
Email Newsletter: An email newsletter is a one-to-one or one-to-many communication channel. You send newsletters directly to subscribers’ email addresses, allowing for more personalized and targeted communication. Subscribers can reply to the newsletter or engage with specific calls to action within the email.
Audience Reach and Engagement:
Blog: Blogs are typically accessible to anyone with internet access, and content can be shared across various platforms, like social media, to reach a wider audience. Visitors can discover your blog through search engines, social media, or links shared by others. Engagement happens through comments, social media shares, and discussions.
Email Newsletter: An email newsletter is sent directly to subscribers who have voluntarily provided their email addresses. It offers a more direct and intimate connection with your audience. While the reach is narrower than a blog, the engagement is often higher since subscribers have explicitly opted to receive updates from you.
Use Your Artist Blog and Email Newsletter to Complement Each Other
Both platforms can complement each other, with a blog serving as a content hub and a newsletter helping you maintain direct communication with your audience. Integrating both allows you to provide a variety of content formats on your blog while leveraging email newsletters for more personalized updates and building stronger relationships with your subscribers.
Don’t Miss a Post
We’ll continue to explore email marketing and blogging for your art business. Don’t miss a post by subscribing to my weekly email newsletter here.
To learn more about how to use both of these tools effectively together, join in August’s Roundtable on blogging.
by Rebecca Sciullo | Jun 5, 2023 | Channels, Learning
Email List Building For Artists
As an artist, cultivating a strong connection with your audience is essential for growing your business. One powerful tool that can help you achieve this is using email marketing. Sending email campaigns allows you to engage with your fans, share updates on your latest creations, and promote your artwork directly to those interested in your work.
Once you choose your email marketing system, you need a list of people that have agreed to hear from you. In order to build this list, you need to figure out ways to get people to opt-in or give you permission to email them. Perhaps you already have a list of clients and contacts that have given you their information, but you are going to want to have a good strategy for continuing to grow this list.
Below are effective strategies artists can use to build a healthy email list and connect with their audience.
Encourage People to Join Your List
To encourage people to join your artist email campaigns should include exclusive content such as behind-the-scenes insights into your creative process, tutorials, art tips, or sneak peeks of upcoming projects. You’ll motivate people to join your email list and stay engaged with your artistic journey by providing valuable content and incentives.
Optimize Your Website for Email Capture
Your website is a crucial platform for growing your email list. Include prominent and visually appealing sign-up forms on your website’s homepage, blog posts, and relevant landing pages. Keep the process simple and ask for minimal information to reduce friction for potential subscribers. Communicate the benefits of joining your email list to encourage sign-ups. Some artists use pop-up or slide-in forms to capture visitors’ attention and convert them into subscribers.
Leverage Social Media Channels
Your social media presence can be a powerful tool for expanding your email list. Encourage your followers to join your email list by promoting the exclusive content and incentives mentioned earlier. Use compelling calls to action in social media posts, such as “Join my email list to receive the first look at new art.” Pin a post on your profiles highlighting the benefits of joining your list and including a sign-up link. Additionally, consider running targeted ad campaigns on social media platforms to reach a broader audience and drive email list sign-ups.
Collaborate and Cross-Promote
Collaborating with other artists, influencers, or complementary businesses in your niche can effectively expand your email list. Explore partnerships where you can offer joint incentives or create co-branded content. For example, cross-promote each other’s email lists through guest blog posts, social media shoutouts, or joint giveaways. By tapping into each other’s audiences, you can reach new subscribers with a genuine interest in your artistic work.
Attend Events and Collect Emails Offline
In-person events such as art exhibitions, workshops, or craft fairs present valuable opportunities to connect with art enthusiasts and collect email addresses. Set up a sign-up sheet or tablet to allow visitors to join your email list on the spot—post QR codes with a link to a place on your website that includes an email opt-in. Consider offering a small incentive, like a free digital print, to motivate people to share their email addresses. Be sure to inform them about the exclusive content and benefits they will receive by being part of your email community.
Don’t Forget! Engage and Nurture Your Subscribers
Building an email list is not just about collecting email addresses; it’s about nurturing a community of engaged fans. Once people join your list, consistently providing them with valuable and relevant content is key. Send regular newsletters, updates about your latest artwork, upcoming exhibitions, and news about your artistic journey. Encourage two-way communication by asking for feedback, inviting replies, or featuring subscriber stories in your emails. By engaging with your subscribers, you’ll strengthen the bond and loyalty of your community.
Building an email list is a valuable asset for artists seeking to connect with their audience on a deeper level. By creating valuable content and incentives and working to engage subscribers, you can consistently grow a quality list of people interested in hearing from you.
Email Marketing Resources For Artists
For more tips on email marketing for artists, join my free weekly newsletter below. As a thank you, I’ll send you an Email Marketing Checklist for Artists.
by Rebecca Sciullo | May 1, 2023 | Channels, Events, Learning
Selling Art Online: From your website to popular e-commerce platforms.
There are a lot of choices when it comes to selling art online. Online marketplaces like Etsy allow you to sell direct consumers without using your website. Online galleries such as U-Gallery will connect artists directly with collectors. Or, you can set your website up for commerce and directly sell yourself. Finally, some sites allow you to sell your original art and offer print-on-demand products such as art prints and greeting cards.
So, if you want to sell your work online, how do you navigate and decide which avenues to use?
Join a free art marketing round table where we discuss these options and strategies for deciding which ones to use for your art business.
Art marketing roundtables are informal but informative events where artists come together around a specific top related to marketing and selling art. There will be a short overview of the topic at the start of the session; then, we will jump into questions and discussion. Whether you’ve had great success selling online or are looking for direction, we welcome your participation!
Art Marketing Round Table: Selling Art Online – Wednesday, May 24, 2023
Please choose one time slot below:
11:00 am EST/8:00 AM PST
or
6:00 pm EST/3:00 PM PST
Free Event to Help Your Art Business
This event is free, but space is limited.
For more information about upcoming round tables and other resources to help with your art marketing, please join my email newsletter.
by Rebecca Sciullo | Mar 18, 2023 | Channels, Events, Learning, Tools
Public relations (PR) and publicity can play a crucial role in the success of your art career. In today’s competitive art world, standing out among the sea of many talented artists is essential. PR and publicity can help you build your reputation, increase your visibility, and establish your credibility as an artist.
Please join me for an upcoming art marketing round table where we will explore the benefits, how-tos and strategy of PR and publicity for visual artists.
Let’s Talk about Getting You PR and Publicity!
Learn about resources that can help you with writing press releases and pitching journalists.
PR and Publicity for an Art Business
PR and Publicity for an Art Business
March 28, 2023
Please register for one time slot below:
11:00 AM Est/8:00 AM Pacific
Or
6:00 PM Est/3:00 PM Pacific
Free Event to Help Your Art Business
This event is free, but space is limited.
For more information about upcoming round tables and other resources to help with your art marketing, please join my email newsletter.
by Rebecca Sciullo | Sep 21, 2020 | Channels, Learning
A Must-Read if You’re Participating in a Virtual Marketplace With Your Art
I just wrapped up a Zoom meeting regarding a virtual marketplace that my father, artist Robert Yonke, will participate in this fall. I’ve seen many social media posts and information about similar opportunities recently. As I’m sure you are, we are always thankful to have new opportunities such as these.
This upcoming event gives him the ability to sell work and provide information about his practice. Because of the event’s marketing and publicity plan, we expect it to get many visitors. Whether or not the visitors purchase work from him is another story, but I’m not focusing on that.
Of Course, I Want to Sell Art!
Don’t get me wrong. I want to make sales and do my best to present work that I think will appeal to the audience the marketplace attracts. My bigger goal is to find new fans and followers for his work. I know that a first-time browser may not buy, but if we can develop a relationship with them, they probably will over time.
Using Virtual Marketplaces to Sell Your Artwork
The Virtual Marketplace is a great way to sell your work and find new customers. Particularly during this time when many live events are postponed or canceled. If you are participating in a similar event, prepare to sell, but also be ready to connect with marketplace visitors. A blog-based website allows you to capitalize on your Virtual Marketplace.
Make sure you have a link back to your website so that you can connect with them. Encourage them to join a mailing list or contact you via email. Ask them to say hello and give feedback on your work. Work to make that initial connection.
The Virtual Artist Marketplace as part of Your Art Marketing System.
I like the analogy of a wheel for your art marketing system, using a blog as the hub of that system. The virtual marketplace is a channel in that wheel.
Here’s how this wheel looks in action.
A blog post devoted to the virtual event is published, encouraging readers to visit the marketplace, This hopefully results in sales from current collectors and fans. The marketplace will also have links back to his blog-based website and a post about learning more about him. This information will allow new contacts that find him on the marketplace to discover more about him at his blog. It’s pretty simple, but for this to happen, there has to be a system in place. We have to have the blog based website, and we have to make sure that we give ample opportunity for people to visit it with links back to it on the marketplace.
Would you Like Help Preparing for Your Virtual Artist Marketplace?
Do you need an artist blog? Get my free guide to setting up an artist blog here.
For even more help, visit my Artist Blogging Services or Artist Blogging Courses.
If you subscribe to my newsletter, I’ll send a follow-up message to a link with my father’s profile when it’s ready, so you can see what we did. You can join the list here.
Photo by rupixen.com on Unsplash