Marketing Goals: A Necessity for Every Artist

When I started Cotton Studios a year and a half ago, my services included Fine Art, Illustration, Graphic Design, Logo Design, Web Design, and so much more.  With such a broad spectrum of services, it was VERY difficult to make a single marketing plan.

A few months ago, I realized that although the design work was helping to pay the bills, the fine art was my passion.  After a review of my progress through the first year of business, I found that my fine art always sold almost immediately after completion.  In addition, wouldn’t it be easier and more cost effective to focus on promoting one skill rather than six?

I haven’t currently done enough self-promotion for my work, and I know it.  And I am not alone.
Far too many artists and creatives either don’t know how to or choose not to spend the time and money on self-promotion.

I took several classes in grad school on the art of self-promotion.  I just haven’t put my know-how into practice.  Time is sparse for me, when I am creating I am on a role and don’t want to be interrupted.  I often become a hermit, not wanting to answer the phone or leave my studio.  Promotion can feel like an interruption.  And money – well honestly, starting out full-time, how many artists actually have the money to spend on self-promotion?  It’s hard, but everyone should have a plan, especially when you rely on your craft to pay your bills.

So here it is, my marketing goals for the next six months.  Hopefully this will help someone else too:

1. Spend more time on self-promotion. Schedule it into my calendar.
2. Send out quarterly mailers to Art Directors, Local Galleries, Children’s Boutiques, Art Collectors, and Art Directors
3. Monthly e-newslettters highlighting the news of the month as well as the new artwork, blog entries, and artist interviews.
4. Give-aways enticing people to visit and comment or link to my site.
5. Blog 1-2 times a week on pertinent artistic/entrepreneur information. Share the clog posts on Twitter, Facebook, Friend Feed, etc.
6. Interview other artists once a month, and share those interviews with the world via my blog.
7. Join 2 “in real life” networking groups.
8. Find a Gallery in Savannah to show my work.  This will include preparing digital portfolios, fine-tuning artist statement, and setting pricing.
9. Teach a Class – I love to teach. I find it enlightening and stimulating.
10. Research and Create Digital Art Statements.

I will keep you posted on my progress and my results. Now, make your marketing goals, share them and stick to them.

For more articles on self-promotion, please check out the following links. Special Thanks to Natasha Wescoat, Mashable, and Empty Easel for the following articles:

The Artist’s Guide to Flickr
Imitation and Art Marketing: How to Imitate your Way to Success
7 Popular Blogging Styles for Artists to Choose From
Artist Guide: Artist Brains
Tweetable Art: 10 Twitter Tips for Artists
Artist Guide: Digi-Art Statements