Knowing how to sell art will help you learn how to attract customers and get to know the intricacies of the art business. If you're selling for the first time, don't worry; You don't need an expensive agent or create a masterpiece. Follow the tips below to make all your hard work pay off.
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Part 1 of 3: Promoting Your Name
Step 1. Create business business cards and promotional flyers
Share these items around local galleries and art exhibitions.
- Ask local vendors if you can leave your business cards or put flyers on their community bulletin boards. You can contact vendors who will invite the right clients for your works.
- Also advertise in local restaurants and shops. This allows you to capture people of all interests.
Step 2. Tell all your friends, family and coworkers about your work
The people closest to you are your biggest supporters. Tell friends, family and co-workers that the works are for sale.
Show them some of your favorite works so they can convey firsthand information about them. Also make sure you provide some promotional materials so they can share your contact information
Step 3. Display your work at a local exhibition
Most communities hold art exhibitions throughout the year. Look through several options and decide which exhibition will be the best fit for your type of art.
- For example, if you intend to sell paintings, choose an exhibition that emphasizes painting more.
- Keep in mind that you usually have to pay for a booth at an exhibition, but think of it as an investment cost in the business. Paying a little money will be worth the sale of some of your art.
Step 4. Bring your works to interested customers
If you know some people who might be interested in your work, organize a get-together at your home or at a customer's house.
You can also host some kind of private show for only a handful of guests. Some people prefer to attend an intimate event like this rather than an art exhibition. Get everyone invited to bring guests, and again, expand your client base just by word of mouth
Part 2 of 3: Expanding the Network in the Community
Step 1. Have a local exhibition at an art gallery to showcase your work
An art gallery will showcase the work of newcomers, who can make a name for yourself in the art world.
- Local galleries will attract real art lovers, making them an ideal place to network. Even if you don't catch their eye, your name will be known by people who may know the art lovers.
- Galleries also tend to have well-established networks of art promoters who like to support newbie art. The small size of the gallery tends to pay special attention to individual artists. They will also focus on how to bring in interested collectors, which is actually the same as advertising your work.
- While galleries are a great place to be, you can also use other places to showcase your work. Cafes, office lobbies, schools, and other places of business are often the site of a mini-show of local talent. This is a great way to expose your artwork to the general art enthusiast; Remember, not everyone goes to art galleries, but they will often be in the places mentioned above.
- You will most likely have to share some of the sales profit with the gallery. They've already helped sell your name, and it's not a free service. Do not worry; this is the low price you pay to promote your work.
Step 2. Attend your fellow artists' art exhibitions and events
Showing support for your colleagues comes in handy later when you're hosting your own exhibition. This event will also expose you to unique business opportunities and information.
- When selling art, remember that it's about who you know. Most cities have local art councils that promote and manage art events and exhibitions. The council is known to provide funding for local talent, asking artists to take part in community projects or other similar tasks.
- Your arts community may have a website that regularly posts job opportunities or small-scale events. They can also promote local exhibitions and shows. Make sure you stay up to date with interesting information in your community to find business opportunities.
Step 3. Contact local businesses
Apart from art lovers and promoters, some businesses also like to be seen supporting artists.
- It's not uncommon for an artist to be promoted at a network event. Try attending events hosted by local businesses, and share your business cards there. You may be contacted later to work on an interesting project.
- Clients may need your services to decorate their offices, or create art as a gift for an event. If you market yourself well, you will probably design websites and products that present a certain image.
Step 4. Send letters or emails to local radio stations, newspapers, and other publications
Tell the local press about your exhibition and ask who you should contact to get it featured in an editorial in the local paper.
- The local media loves to present unique character profiles from the local area. Artists are often referred to as "unique" or "special" characters, which is why journalists and bloggers will cover you for a story.
- Every time you have an exhibition, win an art contest, or complete a new project, send a little press release to the local media. You can even offer them free tickets to your exhibition.
- Don't be intimidated by the media. They were also ordinary people, and they wanted to highlight the newcomers. Being featured in the local media will help you stay prominent in the local community.
Step 5. Showcase your work at a local charity event
Engaging in non-profit charity events will make you known as a trustworthy artist in your community. This will expose you to business opportunities.
- Look for charities that truly inspire and relate to you. For example, if you like painting dogs, contact an animal shelter. Contact them and offer to take part in their next event for free. You can donate art as their gift, or offer to decorate their place of business.
- Most local charities already have ties to the media. Charity is not only a good deed, it also gets you written in the media. Giving back to the community is essential to building a loyal fan base that will continue to buy and support your art.
- In November 2013, the Philippines was hit by a powerful typhoon that destroyed millions of homes. Wells Fargo is holding a charity campaign that will donate IDR 30,000 for every decorative hand drawing they receive. Many local artists take this opportunity to show their support and highlight their work altruistically.
Step 6. Sell your work on the internet
In today's digital era, most business transactions move from the street to computers. Visit the following websites that can display your work easily and inexpensively.
- Artpal.com is a free gallery that sells art. The products they sell vary from sculptures to jewelry and cater to a wide variety of artists. Artpal offers free membership, has a user-friendly site, and offers lots of features for selling your art online.
- Advertise your work on popular trading sites like Amazon or eBay. You just pay the shipping fee, and you will get a lot of customers. If enough people buy your work, your work can be linked to other popular works and listed as " People who bought this, also bought…"
- Make a bid on Craigslist.com. Craigslist advertises anything from job openings to used electronics. Showing and selling your work to the general public will help you build confidence as well as make a profit when you want to gain local exposure.
Part 3 of 3: Maintaining Relationships with Clients
Step 1. Register on a website or blog on your own domain
Selling art means "business" yourself. You've built a few fans, it's time to give them a place to learn more about you and your work.
Use social media like Facebook or Twitter to connect people to your website. That way, your followers will know if you can always be reached here, regardless of the ups and downs of internet trends
Step 2. Get the names and contact info of all your supporters
You've sold or showcased your work, it's time to create a means to maintain communication with your supporters.
- A database of backers and investors is your most powerful marketing tool. Make sure you have a way to let them know about upcoming exhibitions. Get their phone number, email address, and mailing address.
- Avoid sell your art through other channels if you have a deal with an art gallery. Many art galleries are hesitant to even share artist contact info, because they fear the artist will sell themselves without them.
- Be tenacious when contacting new prospects. It may take a lot of work before you find someone willing to sell your work.
Step 3. Create a mailing list with your local contacts and subscribers
Whenever you create a new work or have an exhibition, share it on your mailing list.
- Make sure you ask permission to contact the client. You want to provide them with meaningful updates, not unwanted spam.
- Contact customers personally whenever you are about to sell new art, or when someone has purchased your work. Send a letter expressing gratitude for your purchase of art. Remember, someone who has purchased your art and expressed a genuine interest, and has invested in you. Failing to maintain contact with a customer beyond the first transaction can be considered rude and insulting.
Step 4. Give your supporters special treatment and benefits often
Once you have a stable following, determine who the regulars are among your fans. Give them special treatment, such as a chance to get in touch with you or the first chance to buy your work.
- If you're painting a mural, offer a free small portrait of your fan's face. If you're making a t-shirt, send your free t-shirt information in your email. Show your supporters that your artistic passion is about more than money, and they will probably show the same.
- Regular customers are the foundation of a loyal fan base. They've already proven that they want to support and they appreciate your work. Show that you value their support and interest by giving the majority of their followers special treatment that you don't offer.
- Remember, your best customers are not limited to a group of individuals. This number will surely grow along with the number of your followers. Don't be stingy with special treatment; You have to keep others from coming back.
Step 5. Set up frequent lunch or dinner appointments with existing and potential prospects
Building social relationships with your investors outside of the arts and business world is just as important as building a loyal fan base.
- Let investors get to know you on a personal level. Sometimes getting to know an artist's personality provides interesting insights into the artist's work.
- Do not be afraid to recommend the work of fellow colleagues to investors. Who knows, maybe the artist will recommend you back in the future.
