Let’s link to each other!  In order for me to link to your site, you must have content on your site that will be of special interest to my visitors, and you [...]]]> You can get more out of the Cotton Studios website! Didn’t you know?

Promote your business for FREE!

1 – Request a Link

Let’s link to each other!  In order for me to link to your site, you must have content on your site that will be of special interest to my visitors, and you must place a reciprocal link on your site.  Links to your site from outside sources help to improve search engine optimization, so what are you waiting for?

Please copy and paste the HTML link below onto your site, and then fill out the contact form in order for me to add a link to your site. Spammers will be ignored, so don’t even bother.

<a href=”http://www.cottonstudios.com/”>Creative Explorations of Artist RM Cotton</a>- Savannah artist sharing artwork and tips for creative growth

2 – Write a short blurb about me

If I have done work for you in the past or if we grew up in the same town, write a your impression, your memories, or your kudos abut me and be featured in a blog post on Cotton Studios.  Again this helps us both.  I get an awesome blog post and you get some much deserved PR!  Email your writing to rachel@cottonstudios.com.

3 – Show your support for the Arts

In addition to being a great supporter of my own work , I am also a great supporter of the arts, including art education, collecting and business.  If you or your company has done something wonderful to help support the arts in your area, please share that with us, so that we may share it with our readers. Or if you have heard of something wonderful happening, please share that as well.  There are good things happening in this world, and we would love to hear the positive.

As a small child, I remember fondly the trips to the library. My mother and grandmother both held a tremendous love of books and reading, and our community library was only [...]]]> I was honored to have my work used to help promote the Fall Literature and Arts Festival in Columbia, South Carolina.

As a small child, I remember fondly the trips to the library. My mother and grandmother both held a tremendous love of books and reading, and our community library was only a few blocks from home. I loved to go into the children’s section and look through all of the books. I was held entranced by the pictures and the words. They each opened up a whole new world of possibilities to my child mind. It is a love that I still hold dear to my heart. I have an entire shelf in my studio dedicated to my ever growing collection of children’s books. I suppose this may have been the driving factor behind my choice to get a Master’s Degree in Illustration.

It is hard for me to imagine not having books in my life. So much joy has been brought into my life by reading and illustrating, but illiteracy is a serious problem in our country and around the world.  Literacy issues can have a lasting impact on income levels and future generations. In order to promote community wide literacy, Richland School District Two Education Foundation successfully inaugurated the first annual Fall Literature and Arts Festival in Columbia, South Carolina. The event was held on October 17, 2009 at Dent Middle School in Columbia.  The following description was written by James Manning on the Facebook event Page:

The Richland Two Foundation has partnered with the City of Forest Acres and Books-A-Million to bring in over 25 authors for book signings, reading time, and speaking events.

Acclaimed Authors Hill Harper (from CSI New York), Edie Hand (Elvis’s Cousin), Rose Rock (Mother of legendary comedian Chris Rock), and Anton Gunn (House Representative 79) along with many other authors will be there to sign books, provide speaking sessions, and to take pictures. Cocky and Clifford the Big Red Dog will be making appearances for the kids. There will also be performances by Richland 2 Students, reading time for kids, food from local vendors, and many other events.

For More on Literacy Statistics and Concerns in the US, please check out the following sites:

http://www.eurekawebs.com/humlit/fast_facts.htm
http://nces.ed.gov/naal/
http://www.begintoread.com/research/literacystatistics.html

Consider helping out with literacy initiatives in your area, or contact the Richland Two Foundation to offer your help for next year’s festival!

A few months ago, I realized that although the design [...]]]> 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

Join me on Second Brain!

Second Brain has been my life saver! I keep track of everything on here.

I regularly browse the net looking for really awesome artists, reference sites, and other things that interest me.  With Second Brain I can keep track of all of these AND organize them [...]]]>

Join me on Second Brain!

Second Brain has been my life saver! I keep track of everything on here.

I regularly browse the net looking for really awesome artists, reference sites, and other things that interest me.  With Second Brain I can keep track of all of these AND organize them into folders.  Plus I can keep track of RSS feeds I find online, upload documents, keep track of my social networking information, and so much more.  By marking items public or personal, you can also limit what is shared with others.

Second Brain works like bookmarking on a browser on crack! It is one of my favorite tools.  Check out my SecondBrain here.

I have created a sample website for artists using Google Sites that should act as a guideline for artists who are in need of a website, but hesitant about the mysteries of the web and web site building.  I built this basic site in about an hour and a half.  Check it out.

Sample site with links to Tutorials

If you have any additions, corrections, or questions concerning this mock up site, please let me know!

Thanks

at Cotton Studios

Oh Boy!  I have been introduced to a marketing MIRACLE for small businesses.

Look What You Can Do!!

Imagine, 10 seconds to pick up a card or postcard, write a special message, sign it and mail it, PLUS a built in contact system with reminders of birthdays, anniversaries, etc.  PLUS, you [...]]]>

at Cotton Studios

Oh Boy!  I have been introduced to a marketing MIRACLE for small businesses.

Look What You Can Do!!

Imagine, 10 seconds to pick up a card or postcard, write a special message, sign it and mail it, PLUS a built in contact system with reminders of birthdays, anniversaries, etc.  PLUS, you can even upload your own photos to the card.

Interested?  Check it out by going to https://www.sendoutcards.com/cottonstudios.

Any questions – Call me at 912-655-7687.  I will be glad to answer and questions you may have.

Press Releases are a great way to market your business, but the information contained as got to be news and not advertising.  There are a few ways you [...]]]> With the economy in a downward spiral, it is more important than ever to market and network strategically to avoid high costs and small results.

Press Releases

Press Releases are a great way to market your business, but the information contained as got to be news and not advertising.  There are a few ways you can become news.

1. Do some pro-bono work for a non-profit organization and make it BIG!  Then both your company and the organization can become news, and you are helping out fellow community members
2. Create an Annual Award in your industry or community and publicize it.
3. Sponsor an Adopt-a-Road area in your community to help clean up roads.  The sign in the area will have your name on it, and people will see it constantly, and you are news!
4. Have your employees pick a common interest, and volunteer as a company to help in a community event or non-profit need.

For further information about writing press releases, visit about.com.  Don’t forget to include your website in the release!

Creative Marketing

There are some other tricks you can use for reviving your customers interests and gaining new ones without spending tons of money.

1. Try out some of the online advertising options such as Google Ad Sense.
2. Write a column for the local newspaper or business journal.
3. Try an email marketing campaign.
4. Create a new or improved company logo or recolor the traditional logo.
5. Join or organize a breakfast club with other professionals (not in your field) to discuss business and network referrals.

Your Website

You MUST have a website in this day and age. Obtain a memorable URL, and use it on all coorrespondance, press releases, and  marketing collateral.

There are inexpensive ways of creating a basic website.  Companies like networksolutions.com offer basic website packages with a built-in WYSIWYG (What You See Is What You Get) editor. This means that you do not have to know html to build your site.

A better solution for sites involving more information and e-commerce is to have a Web Designer create a good CMS (Content Management Solution) website for your company.  This will enable you to do updates, page additions, blog posts, and many other things yourself after the initial design.  Save printing expenses and trees by using your website to contain valuable information that you would otherwise have printed – manuals, forms, informational brochures,  – put them all online and within easy grasp of your customers and your employees.

Get to it!

The experts say that our economy will face some pretty tough struggles over the next year.  Use your money wisely, market efficiently, and help others in your community.  You don’t have to pay big bucks to get people interested and supportive in your business – you just have to think outside of the box.

For more information visit these resources:

Small Business Administration – 100+ Marketing Ideas

Google – Ad Sense

Tips to Hire the Right Website Designer

Small Business Now – Entice Customers Online Using Offline Advertising