Most of us artists are pretty happy hanging out by ourselves for a good part of the day and doing our artwork. I mean, that's what we enjoy the most, right?
Well, right. But we aren't going to sell anything unless we put ourselves forward, let the public see a little who we are and what we do. Our glass art doesn't just sell itself, even though we would dearly love it.
But face it, the economic cosmos are swirling and right now, we're getting just the debris. High end retailers like Neiman Marcus and Nordstroms reported double digit drops in December. I've read that shoppers are changing their buying style from high end looking good, to feeling good. In the retail world, less bling and more classic styles are moving along.
While I'm no economic marvel or even Ben Stein, I think this could bode well for our industry in the long run. If people are buying more classic clothes, then won't them want more original art jewelry at a reasonable price to make themselves stand out?
So how do they find us? It certainly won't be sitting behind our torches in our studios. We need to put ourselves out there and promote ourselves. Have you signed up for Twitter.com, Facebook or even Classmates.com? Do you have a solid online presence? What do people find when they google your name or your business name? Most importantly, can they find you...easily?
And how are you advertising your glass art beads? Are you on Flickr.com? Do you have a blog? Post on public forums and just as importantly, have a local presence? Are you advertising in places where people who would want to buy your work might be?
Tell us what you're doing to put yourself and your art "out there". You don't need to give away business secrets, but a few hints and tips would be nice. Let's hear them.
And by the way, this is my current Facebook profile photo. It makes me laugh and apparently it amuses others too. If you look closely, that's my black handbag on my head and I took the photo with my Mac computer's camera. Who knows, maybe I can start a trend with recycled handbag hats?
See you tomorrow. I've won the Marie Antoinette Blog Award from Sterling Sue and will blog about it. But first, I need to bake a cake so we can celebrate appropriately.
Marcy, I think you covered it all. The only thing I think I need to do is to make more jewelry. I just don't like to do that.
ReplyDeleteI agree you have named quite a few social networks. The bad thing is some personality is lost on-line. I do seem to sell better in person. SO I am still a big believer in the home party and getting in galleries and doing craft or art shows.
ReplyDeleteif time is money I may be in trouble- The social networking does get me down a bit because of the time spent doing it. that time could be better spent in my studio. I sure hope you are right about people dolling up the classics and shopping handmade.
You know that I have an upbeat spin on what's going on right now. The people who don't love making beads will wash away because the money isn't flowing in and those of us who love it will remain....AND those who SURVIVE will be the ones who truly learn the value of self-marketing.
ReplyDeleteArt is like few other businesses... WE are our product (in addition to what we make). When people buy a Marcy bead, they are buying a tiny bit of Marcy...so you have to package yourself as well as the "product." (and you do that very well)
Time to work on branding, my friend (sounds like the script from the Apprentice or something) Maybe the 2 of us should work on a new online class about THAT! :)
...or one about handbags as haberdashery!
Ooh La La! Nice hat. In my head I'm adding 'You goofball' but meaning it in the nicest sort of way. :)
ReplyDeleteI don't do enough to promote locally. I think, with the economy headed the way it is, I'm going to have to really work on that more than anything else. And I think I'm finally ready to start teaching. That should help me connect a little bit. If I can stop talking long enough to demo anything, that is.