Blogging class and a new uploaded video section!

We had the wonderful opportunity to give a presentation to the great folks at Art Space this past Monday evening. It was a really great primer introduction into blogging and what it means to your online marketing experience. While the possibilities can be a bit overwhelming, most blogs start new and small. Keeping that small, clean design is much preferred than a more cluttered blog environment.

The rest of the week was spent preparing a Mitigation Demo video for the Indiana Public Defender's system. With the kind assistance of Albert Stork and Darby Casey - we were able to create a sample video of what a mitigation production might look like. I created a new section on the website - dedicated to small video production work that I've been working on. Check out the new section here.

I'm looking forward to a brief break Saturday so that we can run down to nearby Delta, Colorado and perhaps a picnic in some "up and out of the way" place between here and there.

It was a good week and we're looking forward to the upcoming projects. September has become quite a busy month!

Take care!
-Michael

Blogging Do's and Don'ts

• Do make the time to update your blog. Once might be good enough but a good average to shoot for is three times a week. The more you blog the more interest your blog will gain and the more repeat visitors you will have looking and buying your work.
• Don't make similar posts every day. It might be nice to show a painting everyday, but just posting the painting and no thoughts, insights or process will lose your visitors interest.
• Do reply back to emails and comments from your blog. The personal interaction is key to keeping them coming back.
• Don't engage in online drama. You might get some criticism about your work and it is important to be polite, thank the person for perspective and then move on. Don't get in a battle your time is more important.
• Do make sure your blog loads quickly. You only get 8 seconds to lure them to stay and get to know you.
• Do visit other bloggers, comment and add their link to yours if you enjoy their blog. Interacting with other blogs brings them to you. And eventually you will get more people linking to you adding more traffic to your website and blog.
• Do give it time to grow and become a success for you.

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this is part of the brochure that we handed out in the blogging class

Blogging for the Artist

copyright Reflecting Time Productions

http://www.reflectingtime.com

Why and What Should I Blog as an artist?

Why Should I Blog as an artist?

Marketing is the main reason. The following points all bring it back to a blog is good for marketing your art.

• It is the easiest way to keep your website fresh and new without needing to revamp your website constantly. Fresh content means visitors will be more apt to re-visit your website to check out what’s new.
• It creates a personal experience for both the visitor and you. Your vistors/customers see "behind the scenes" of your work, your art and your mindset. A visitor – goes to the gallery - they look at the piece and go: "that’s cool." And then walk on to the next piece. A blog allows you the opportunity to discuss the piece – what was the inspiration, the state of mind or emotion that went into the piece.
• Communication and networking with not only people locally but world wide.
• Easiest way to get on your art on the web. CAVEAT: you SHOULDN’T be treating the blog to be your "end all, be all" A blog should be ENHANCING your online presence and not become it’s only presence. Your blog should be a piece of your online presence.
  

What Should I Blog as an artist?

• First and foremost - show off your art. Finished pieces or
  progress of a piece or series.
• Tell about your experiences and thought process on your work.
• Share what inspires you - a story in the newspaper nature, something you found at a flea market. Whatever it may be share it.
• Share your knowledge tips and techniques associated with your works and the art business.
• Share your daily life (within reason).
• Share your upcoming shows, events or anything else significant in promoting your art.

Your visitor wants to get to know you and the art you create. Each of those things will help you bring them back again and again. And also of course buy your art.

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this is part of the brochure that we handed out in the blogging class

Blogging for the Artist
copyright Reflecting Time Productions
http://www.reflectingtime.com

Selling Art on the Internet

Websites discussed during "Selling Art on the Internet" for Artspace & Open Studio. If you have any questions, please feel free to leave a comment or email me.

Selling
1. Etsy.com

• is a market place not an auction
• 20 cents each item
• 3.5% percent of the total sale (excluding shipping)
• paying fee – credit card on file - billed or auto billed once a month
• built in shopping cart so not needing to have one on your website
• can use your own logo and put links to your website in profile

2. Ebay.com

• do a search for self representing artist to see what others do
• fees vary to price listing – 20 cents to $4.80
• percentage of total sale starts 5.25 and then goes down high the price it sells forself
• representing artist – then broke down into medium, subject or style

3. yessy.com

• fee yearly - $59if you use –their shopping cart then the fee is a 10% percent of sale but if you use your own merchant account then no additional fee

4. artbyus.com

• free - you put up your items but you use either your merchant account or paypal
• also good for networking

5. Boundless Gallery - Stephanie mentioned this one. It looks like they have a free sign up and many free features but I am not sure if you sell things via them - their might be a fee. But I haven't signed up or know enough about them to know for sure.

6. Absolute Arts - I don't know anything about them - but came upon them in some searches the other night. It looks like there is a free sign up but if you want more features then it costs.


Networking & Marketing
1. a blog - Sept 10th Class is on Blogging

2. many of the above sites where you can sell your work also have forums which are good for networking - make sure when you sign a post to forums that you put your web url under it.

3. EBSQ Art

• $78 yearly fee for artists
• Portfolio
• links to your website, etsy, ebay, blog
• in rotation for being a featured artist
• online community
• not a site for selling but a site for showcasing and networking

4. Wet Canvas

• a forum
• articles

5. writing articles - because the more your name is out there the more you will get unexpected hits from many sources (I haven't used any of these yet.)

• http://www.squidoo.com/
• http://www.ezinearticles.com/
• http://www.associatedcontent.com/
• http://www.helium.com/

6. Yahoogroups or Livejournal Art Communites

Yahoogroups - do a search for your medium or just a general search of art and see if something catches your eye. There is not only valueable information for marketing your art online in many of these groups, it is a place to market, network, find new techniques and communicate with other artists.

Livejournal - it is not only a place to blog but it has many artists communities - again do a search for your medium or art in general.

7. Myspace.com, 723.com, deviant art, indiepublic

They are all similar. They are a place to have a profile, blog (I would never use it as my main blog though), network and communicate with others. They are all free for sign up.

Myspace.com - I don't really have a fondness for as most of the time when I got to people's myspace pages they are very clunky in loading.

The rest of these are geared towards artists.

723.com - it is like a myspace but for artists. It is fairly new so not sure on where it will go.

indiepublic - Again like a myspace but for artists

deviantART - it is more like EBSQ where you can have a gallery, people can comment on your art, there is a shop but it is for prints of your work, and there is forums also



Tips

• make sure your business cards, letterhead, brochures, advertising has your website address
• make sure when you do emails to anyone - everyday correspondense or online forums have your web address in your signature