Marketing Tools

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Permalink Reply by Lana Gramlich on April 17, 2010 at 11:04pm

One thing I have is an extensive contact list of local media outlets, to whom I send press releases when applicable. It's been a help--I've had articles published in the local newspapers as a result.
Business &/or postcards with one's current contact information are always a plus.
I also have tri-fold pamphlets that I display & hand out, which include samples of my work, my contact info, my artist statement & awards I've won.
All of these just help me get information about who I am & what I do "out there."

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Permalink Reply by Judah Mahay on April 18, 2010 at 8:05am

Great ideas.

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Permalink Reply by Lynda Lehmann on April 19, 2010 at 10:55am

Here's a quick list of some other things we can do to promote ourselves (not TOO shamelessly, I hope!) when we have created a body of work.

1) Join local art leagues or the local camera club
2) Participate in events like "Winterfest" at a local business or a neighborhood studio tour.
3) Hang your business cards on public bulletin boards.
4) Volunteer to help out at your local art cinema or other art organization
5) Enter juried group shows.
6) Request solo shows of your work at available venues.
7) Give an art lesson to the Girl Scouts or at a library program for kids, highlighting your specialty or an offshoot of it that's age-appropriate.
8) Write articles on art or creative process for virtual AND real-time venues.
9) Blog.
10) Donate some of your art to local charities.
11) Open your home for an "Art Party" and put your stuff out. Offer refreshments and good will and maybe a small printed piece with one of your works featured on it.
12) Subscribe to the newsletters of online art-marketing gurus.
13) Hang your work in bookstores and coffee shops, offering the management a percentage of sales, of course.
14) Say "yes" when school kids want to interview you for a class project.
15) Donate a painting, print or sculpture to a local library or house of worship.
16) As Lana pointed out, printed materials (brochures, business cards and frig magnets) and up-to-date lists of local press contacts and heads of art organizations, can help with getting exposure.
17) Take a class in an aspect of art that will broaden your range or increase the level of your present skills
18) Hang out in museums and talk to people you meet there.
19) Participate in a performance event.
20) Talk to your town supervisor and whomever else you need to, with an offer for a display or installation in the park or other public space.

I'm sure I've overlooked a lot of ideas. Waiting to hear more of them....

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Permalink Reply by Lana Gramlich on April 20, 2010 at 3:30pm

I also noticed that in my area, there was no local art group in my town, so I started one. That's led to newspaper interviews, shows, meeting all kinds of new people, invitations to participate in town events, etc.

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