Here's a list of some things we've done that have helped: Get professional headshots, make a company video (you can do this for very cheap or free many places), hand out coupons, talk to a digital marketing firm for some help. If you've tried all of these, read our blog post on how to market your business, even if it's online! https://www.merchantcardservic...
You have some very nice specialty art items and a very nice online brochure. For some this is very good and all that they want their brochure err... I mean website to do. If you are looking to use your web presence as a tool for selling then you need to learn some about the changing world of online marketing. Using your website as a selling tool is very possible but it does require some re-thinking.
Are you active on social media (i.e. Twitter, FB, Instagram, etc?). Those are going to be prime drivers to get views on your website. Perhaps tease part of a piece of your artwork with a link to the site.
One of the key things I've found, though, is to use social media as a tool not to shout "Hey, I've got something you should buy!" but to engage with people by making yourself and your work interesting. Participate in art-related hashtag groups on Twitter (I'm assuming this is a thing, as there a groups for darned near everything under the moon on Twitter).
Another way might be to run a Rafflecopter giveaway (a small prize of your discretion) for which one of the qualifying entries is to visit your site. While this will attract people whose only purpose in life is to enter contests, you will actually get some folks who might be genuinely be interested in what you have to share.
BTW, kinda hard to critique your site w/ no link to it posted here...
Become a member of related organizations ….. Exchange links with non competitive entities …. Participate in related public functions … Does your website have a visitor tracking system …. Is your Website/Services specific in your demograhics and market place ….
Mike, As one Artist to another all I can say is exposure, exposure, exposure! Get you work up on every social media site known to man. It’s free advertising! Face Book, Instagram, Tumbler, Twitter & Pinterest! Research for more thosr are just the ones I can list off the top of my head. Dont listen to those who’d tell you to post porn because it’s Not professional & you’ll get a rep for bait n switch, most people hate that! I’d never take any Artist seriously if he resorted to that type of tacky traffic scheme. Anyway, selling Art isn’t easy but it would help if you’re actually in a Store Front Gallery. People respect & recognize legitimacy through professionalism stick to that train of thought & you’ll get where you want to be w/out resorting to low rent tactics. Always present polished work never post anything that’s second best. I hope some of this helps, Good Luck! Teri B.
Without going into your art itself. I personally wouldn't buy it. I'm clearly not the target market. That's okay. If you feel there is a market for it. That's what matters.
Your website needs to be redone from scratch. There's a few major issues with it. It looks dated for one (Twitter hasn't used that logo in over 6 years) - a contemporary site is important. If you don't think making your website look good and current is important, how can I know you take the rest of your business seriously. It is in many cases your first impression on potential customers - and first impressions count. This is partially the colours, layout and use of animation. The larger issue is the image quality. A portfolio site needs bigger images and they need to be high quality.
You have a lot of text - your art should speak for itself. I Don't want to go to a site selling paintings and have a wall of text as the first thing I see. I don't care, I'm not going to read it. The only place I want to read is a section about the artist - which should be it's own page/section.
Your facebook link goes to a personal page instead of a business page. That's a bad idea.
Who is your target customer? Are you providing something they actually want? Who is your competition? What do you offer that they do not?
Is this a full time business or a hobby? What are you expectations for sales? Are they realistic?
There are many places you can find an audience for your work... but define you "ideal clients" is another thing.
So, ask yourself this...
"how do I find these ideal clients?"
Do you want to find "just any audience" or an "ideal clients" someone who can not only visit your website, but someone that also buy from you?
For some, you can hear... - posting on Facebook, - do coupon deals - build your marketing funnel etc.
Understand this, how can you build a house on a hill if you can't tell if the ground you're building on is steady and doesn't have any sink hole?
You can't.... Why? Because you never tested the ground first. This is no different than marketing.
Some network can kills your advertising investments in seconds, left you clueless of what's going on and why aren't you get the results you were hoping for etc.
So the question is how you overcome all these obstacles?
Here's what will help you define your real ideal clients...
- Market Research - Analyze The Market
- Build your foundation
- Connect and Monetize.
Now why is these steps is helpful for you?
- First, this will help you not only with your marketing, but it will also help you understand that you are investing in the right market.So every dollar you spends is worth spending, instead of losing it on a dead market that no one can buy or visit your site.
- Second, now you know there's a competitions in that market, you know people are spending money in that market. It just better than not KNOWING if every dollar you put on the market will ever bring you your return of investment, other known as "ROI."
- Third, now that you know there's a money to spend on that market, you now know you will able to build your audience in that market. This is where you build your "ideal clients" instead of wishing if there ever be an audience sign up or visited your website.
Understand that not every networks such as Facebook, Google, etc have an equal audience in those market. That's why its really important for you to layout your steps before you can move further down the road.
In business, you can't go shooting blind in any direction just to hit your target or mark. You have to analyze every steps of the way, in order for you to shoot and hit your mark or target.
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Answers (11-20)
Mike,
Here's a list of some things we've done that have helped: Get professional headshots, make a company video (you can do this for very cheap or free many places), hand out coupons, talk to a digital marketing firm for some help. If you've tried all of these, read our blog post on how to market your business, even if it's online! https://www.merchantcardservic...
Good luck
Hello Mike,
You have some very nice specialty art items and a very nice online brochure. For some this is very good and all that they want their brochure err... I mean website to do. If you are looking to use your web presence as a tool for selling then you need to learn some about the changing world of online marketing. Using your website as a selling tool is very possible but it does require some re-thinking.
Do a raffle for your people.
Hi Mike,
Are you active on social media (i.e. Twitter, FB, Instagram, etc?). Those are going to be prime drivers to get views on your website. Perhaps tease part of a piece of your artwork with a link to the site.
One of the key things I've found, though, is to use social media as a tool not to shout "Hey, I've got something you should buy!" but to engage with people by making yourself and your work interesting. Participate in art-related hashtag groups on Twitter (I'm assuming this is a thing, as there a groups for darned near everything under the moon on Twitter).
Another way might be to run a Rafflecopter giveaway (a small prize of your discretion) for which one of the qualifying entries is to visit your site. While this will attract people whose only purpose in life is to enter contests, you will actually get some folks who might be genuinely be interested in what you have to share.
BTW, kinda hard to critique your site w/ no link to it posted here...
Best of luck,
Keith W. Willis
www.keithwillisauthor.com
https://twitter.com/kilbourneknight
Add pictures of naked girls and tweet about it. It may polarize your audience, but it will drive traffic.
just put info on FACEBOOK.
and wait.
And inform your friends and friends' families that You have this skills.
not every day, but continuously.
jolanta
Become a member of related organizations ….. Exchange links with non competitive entities …. Participate in related public functions … Does your website have a visitor tracking system …. Is your Website/Services specific in your demograhics and market place ….
Mike, As one Artist to another all I can say is exposure, exposure, exposure! Get you work up on every social media site known to man. It’s free advertising! Face Book, Instagram, Tumbler, Twitter & Pinterest! Research for more thosr are just the ones I can list off the top of my head. Dont listen to those who’d tell you to post porn because it’s Not professional & you’ll get a rep for bait n switch, most people hate that! I’d never take any Artist seriously if he resorted to that type of tacky traffic scheme. Anyway, selling Art isn’t easy but it would help if you’re actually in a Store Front Gallery. People respect & recognize legitimacy through professionalism stick to that train of thought & you’ll get where you want to be w/out resorting to low rent tactics. Always present polished work never post anything that’s second best. I hope some of this helps, Good Luck! Teri B.
Without going into your art itself. I personally wouldn't buy it. I'm clearly not the target market. That's okay. If you feel there is a market for it. That's what matters.
Your website needs to be redone from scratch. There's a few major issues with it. It looks dated for one (Twitter hasn't used that logo in over 6 years) - a contemporary site is important. If you don't think making your website look good and current is important, how can I know you take the rest of your business seriously. It is in many cases your first impression on potential customers - and first impressions count. This is partially the colours, layout and use of animation. The larger issue is the image quality. A portfolio site needs bigger images and they need to be high quality.
You have a lot of text - your art should speak for itself. I Don't want to go to a site selling paintings and have a wall of text as the first thing I see. I don't care, I'm not going to read it. The only place I want to read is a section about the artist - which should be it's own page/section.
Your facebook link goes to a personal page instead of a business page. That's a bad idea.
Who is your target customer? Are you providing something they actually want? Who is your competition? What do you offer that they do not?
Is this a full time business or a hobby? What are you expectations for sales? Are they realistic?
So, ask yourself this...
"how do I find these ideal clients?"
Do you want to find "just any audience" or an "ideal clients" someone who can not only visit your website, but someone that also buy from you?
For some, you can hear...
- posting on Facebook,
- do coupon deals
- build your marketing funnel etc.
Understand this, how can you build a house on a hill if you can't tell if the ground you're building on is steady and doesn't have any sink hole?
You can't....
Why? Because you never tested the ground first. This is no different than marketing.
Some network can kills your advertising investments in seconds, left you clueless of what's going on and
why aren't you get the results you were hoping for etc.
So the question is how you overcome all these obstacles?
Here's what will help you define your real ideal clients...
- Market Research
- Analyze The Market
- Build your foundation
- Connect and Monetize.
Now why is these steps is helpful for you?
- First, this will help you not only with your marketing, but it will also help you understand that you are investing in the right market.So every dollar you spends is worth spending, instead of losing it on a dead market that no one can buy or visit your site.
- Second, now you know there's a competitions in that market, you know people are spending money in that market. It just better than not KNOWING if every dollar you put on the market will ever bring you your return of investment, other known as "ROI."
- Third, now that you know there's a money to spend on that market, you now know you will able to build your audience in that market. This is where you build your "ideal clients" instead of wishing if there ever be an audience sign up or visited your website.
Understand that not every networks such as Facebook, Google, etc have an equal audience in those market. That's why its really important for you to layout your steps before you can move further down the road.
In business, you can't go shooting blind in any direction just to hit your target or mark. You have to analyze every steps of the way, in order for you to shoot and hit your mark or target.