marketing-art agent.com

[SDavy]

This intrepid artist went searching for art buyers last night...via dogpile.com ( I know- not a great name- but searches 15 or so engines at once).Anyway-in the top 10 results, of all, I did not see art-agent, which was disappointint. How do propspective buyers find us? Is there any wayt we, the artists, besides giving out our site addresses non-stop, can get more people to art-agent? I ave sold one thing, and find many many people have looked at my art, but I want more- I'm compulsive that way...any suggestions, ideas?

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www.artistnation.com/members/lofts/sdavy/ (http://www.artistnation.com/members/lofts/sdavy/)

[timelady]

I think you'll find that sales via the internet are very few. Some artists have established a better record but I don't think it's a replacement for galleries/shows/fairs/etc. It's a good marketing tool though.

You need to set up your site (through artistnation if you like) - you'll need to use html and build your site that way if you want complete control to add what you wish. I'm pretty sure you can build your own html and then paste it into artistnation. http://www.wetcanvas.com/ubb/smile.gif

Then you put a lot of time and work in - do metatags, descriptions, keywords. Submit to all the search engines. (I have bought software that does both these tasks - but it's mac only. Read some of the other threads for PC search engine submission tools. There are free ones too.) You trade links with other artists, join webrings, possibly ad swaps and other commercial advertising but I haven't found any of these bring significant hits. Put your website address in the signature of your emails. ALWAYS, even to friends and family. I also use eBay to sell, which breaks even and sends people to my site. And of course have it on your business card.

Tina.


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http://www.tina-m.com
<BR>May the Force be with You.

[SDavy]

Thanks for the input. Myfeeling on my website is that it is a place for visitors to see my work, and then contact me, not necessarily to sell, tho' I have sold one thing, I have address on biz cards, and hand out fliers and cards to every poor devil that I meet!
I still think that there must be ways to target a buyers market on the web, as well as the outside world, and that is what I am trying to find. I've done searches for buyers, patrons, stuff like that. They've been pretty fruitless. Also to home decorators, etc. I do mailings, and make all family members tell everyone about me. Maybe someone has more ideas on how to target the buying public, on or offline. I winder whwether doing a mailing via phone book to expensive addresses is worth it, tho I expect people will more likely hate you than want to see your art. It's a tough call, but I jst know there are ways of target marketing I just haven't thought of. Any and all suggestions are welcome!
Stephnaie www.artistnation.com/members/lofts/sdavy/ (http://www.artistnation.com/members/lofts/sdavy/)

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www.artistnation.com/members/lofts/sdavy/ (http://www.artistnation.com/members/lofts/sdavy/)

[scottb]

Keep in mind that while art-agent.com provides the tools for you to catalog your work and offer items via the network, the age old ruels of marketing still apply. The artists who market their art-agent.com presence to their patrons, see sales - repeat sales. Those that don't do anything, rarely ever see a sale.

Cheers.
Scott

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B. Scott Burkett
Founder, WetCanvas!
http://www.scottburkett.com

"Old tankers never die, they just lose track..."

[hairballsdotcom]

Scott wrote: The artists who market their art-agent.com presence to their patrons, see sales - repeat sales. Those that don't do anything, rarely ever see a sale.

So thats what I'm doing wrong!
But where do ALL THOSE HITS come from? Is that really people looking to buy, or is it hits from search engine spiders, or other artists checking the "new stuff"...what? I am trully amazed at all the hits my images get, and yet no sales.

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Lori Lee
Hairballs.com (http://hairballs.com/art) Cat Art & Collectibles

[scottb]

The hits come from visitors of all types, some brought to the site perhaps by other artists, some perhaps through our own marketing efforts for the site, search engines, etc.

Think about it this way. How many people walk into an art gallery, look at a painting, and don't buy it? Now, consider the fact that online art sales are still in the embryonic phase (buyer behavior is slowly changing in this regard). You could see thousands of hits on a piece without a sale. Right piece, right buyer, right time... :-)

Cheers.
Scott

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B. Scott Burkett
Founder, WetCanvas!
http://www.scottburkett.com

"Old tankers never die, they just lose track..."

[LarrySeiler]

IF there's one thing I know about marketing at least my own work....it is that you'll have months/seasons in your life where things click, and you'll think you've "arrived!" I've also learned that to remain so, takes a great deal of work. The greater likelihood is that longer periods of slump will follow.

I was reading some statistics where a number of working professional artists were saying that out of a common work week, perhaps 1-2 days were spent painting, and the others were marketing, and other business related affairs. Sad...but for many, true.

It has taken a very long time for my wife to see that my time sitting here at the computer has a function in a much larger picture. I too at times wonder about it, but am decidedly trusting in this technology as a tool. Now...my wife is one of my greatest proponents of my getting a new computer and software. She is my defense now among family that does not quite get it!

Think about it this way. How many people walk into an art gallery, look at a painting, and don't buy it? Now, consider the fact that online art sales are still in the embryonic phase (buyer behavior is slowly changing in this regard). You could see thousands of hits on a piece without a sale. Right piece, right buyer, right time... :-)

Scott is so right on here! One gallery is better than another. Consider the why's of that. Location....location....location is one. The other is the knowledge about the field of art of the work hired to sell the art, their enthusiasm for your work, etc;

They have not yet designed the ideal art salesperson software program for online that will lead the internet surfer to your work and talk you up. You have to do that, and it takes time.

For one...developing a reputation among your peers. Developing a knowledge of doing e-business, promotion, use of search engines, etc;

Right now...I'm experiencing a bit of renewal in my success. Its been a long time coming. In fact, suddenly...I'm trying to figure out how I can manage to get my hands on frames fast enough on my end! I credit that with having found finally a good gallery, in a good location, with sales people that believe in my product.

Secondly...I credit this with the "bigger-than-life" personae having a presence on the internet brings to the artist. A presence that physical galleries can use as well in their sale's pitch.

I sold one piece to a buyer passing thru this art's town in a gallery there, who in turn visited my internet site because of that one sell...and in liking my work now sees seven other pieces they are interested in buying. One of those rare existing art collectors. Its a complicated interwoven networking system that requires patience and a careful building up.

I'm excited and pumped up about it now, but I'm also aware that next month may prove a total let down. It will require persistent focused effort on my part.

Larry Seiler

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Larry Seiler NAPPAP
The "Artsmentor"
http://www.artsmentor.org

"Painting is easy when you don't know how, but very difficult when you do!" Edgar Degas

[SDavy]

Thanks Larry- I am in agreement with pretty much everything everyone has said. In fact, I just got off the phne with a local artist who will be part of our village's "Art Council" one more way to promote, as well as give back to our community by teaching.
Meanwhile, word-of mouth is one of the best ways to sell. THe trick ids getting the work seen by the right people, who think nothing of spending $1500 for a "duvet cover" -the problem is they are... scared? disinterested? whatever- about buying art.
I have been trying to send high-end decorators to art-agent and my site, hoping they have the clientele. There are so many angles, you could spend your life trying to market, and never do another painting.
My dream is that at some point, people will want my work enough that marketers, agents and galleries will clamor around and want to do all this work, and I can make art!
Wouldn't that be nice for all of us?
Stephanie

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www.artistnation.com/members/lofts/sdavy/ (http://www.artistnation.com/members/lofts/sdavy/)

[Paintbrush74]

Posted by Larry:
It has taken a very long time for my wife to see that my time sitting here at the computer has a function in a much larger picture. I too at times wonder about it, but am decidedly trusting in this technology as a tool. Now...my wife is one of my greatest proponents of my getting a new computer and software. She is my defense now among family that does not quite get it!

Isn't it helpful when our spouses stand behind us! My husband is not computer savvy, and has no desire to be. However, he is very understanding about my time spent in front of this box.

Now I'm talking about moving this computer into the dining area, which is where I do my painting. (We moved the dining table into the kitchen.) That way, I can watch digital reference pictures on the computer screen, as I paint. My husband is going along with that, too. Bless his heart!