38 Ways to Improve your Art Sales

From Art Marketing 101:

• Set aside a specific day and time each week for marketing.

• Create a quiet office space for your business.

• Start collecting names for your mailing list.

• Call five to 10 art world professionals each week.

• Spend one day visiting local galleries.

• Subscribe to an art publication for one year and read it.

• Enter a competition.

• Sponsor a community event.

• Host a studio party.

• Donate time to some charity. Let people know you are an artist.

• Barter your art for services.

• Support your statewide arts organization by buying an art license plate with your art-business name on it.

• Try to get an interview on your local radio station.

• What interior designer could you take to lunch?

• To what local business could you lease your artwork?

• In what cafe could you hang your paintings?

• Give out coupons with a Valentine’s Day e-mail blast.

• What special offer could you make on a postcard to your clients?

• What storyline can you create for the local art writer?

• What previous client would be able to give you a useful referral?

• What sign could you put on your car to advertise your work?

• What bumper sticker could you create to give to your clients?

• Create an e-mail newsletter to send to clients.

• How much would it cost to put up a billboard at the entrance to town?

• Create an unusual, catchy name for your new group of paintings.

• Apply to the next local art fair.

• Start saying, “I am an artist.”

• Provide a specialized service that no other artist provides.

• Get a phone number that spells out something (or figure out what your current one spells).
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• Be friendly with a competitor.

• Place your artwork in model home displays.

• Work with a local chapter of American Society of Interior Designers—give a talk at one of their meetings.

• Contact your local International Furnishings and Design Association chapter affiliation.

• Place a display of your work at the local library, associated with a talk you will give.

• Find a Realtor’s office that will let you exhibit. Offer agents a commission on sales.

• Create a gift certificate form.

• Check out your local doctor, veterinarian, optometrist, emergency room, hospital, medical facilities office. These venues often do have a budget for “decoration.” If they are not in the position to buy, offer a lease option.

• Smile at everyone today.