Sometimes it is good to have a formula to help remember what you need to do especially when you are starting something unfamiliar. Over the years a simple formula evolved to help measure the effectiveness of marketing efforts
As in everything we have covered so far, revisit your business goals because the extent of those goals will determine what you do at this stage. Be honest and don’t expect your self to reach rock star levels with out the investment of time and skill building. Also, don’t consider yourself a failure if you decide to limit your growth to your own pace, there’s noting wrong knowing and practicing what you know works best for you.
Remember two things:
* Waiting for perfection will just keep you waiting;
* The best strategy as set forth by Seth Godin is to “fire, aim, aim” or more precisely don’t expect to hit a bulls eye your first time around actually, it may take several times making adjustments before you hit your mark.
Each of the artists featured here has made efforts to develop emerging artists through whatever ways work best, whether through teaching, lending a hand with a newcomer on Etsy or other on line venues or just making friends with somebody new to the scene. One of the important traits of a leader is their security in the uniqueness of their work and their knowledge that while technique may be copied style and vision cannot be.
Clearly defining my style and authentic voice and writing my artist’s statement were so closely linked that they actually became one large goal. Since I was terrified about writing my statement, having made several very lame attempts previously I called in professional help for this one too.
What are the most important lessons you have learned about being an artist and selling your work?
I have learned to value my art and time. To not let negative talk infect my work or attitude. I weed toxic people, places and elements out of my life. Stay positive. Build a good comfortable relationship with how money is exchanged for your art. Know how to handle a business transaction, handle it professionally and keep accurate records consistently. I know that it is ok that not everyone will like my art or want my art.
Tell us about your marketing journey…how did you start?
I learned a few things from my mother who did PR for our theater group, when I danced and sang in musicals. Her example taught me to be fearless about just asking or sending something in to the press, radio or TV stations.
When did you discover that you needed to market?
A retweet is when someone you are following adds RT to the front your tweet…big whoop!! Right? Well actually it is because those two letters send your tweet off to the retweeter’s network and is one of the ways information goes viral ( spreads fast).There’s a catch tho’ just because you tweet or ask for a RT doesn’t mean that your precious tweet will be spread around. So there are some simple points to keep in mind when you tweet:
* Show lots of tweet luv– tweet about something interesting or useful something that others may like to know. In other words give value when you tweet.
* Keep your tweets short enough to allow retweeting. When people RT you their user name gets added to your tweet…it doesn’t take long before your precious tweet starts getting sliced and diced leaving only a series of user names followed by gibberish.
* Always Ask for a retweet by prefacing your tweet with Please, studies have shown the frequency of RTs is directly related tothe use of Please.
* Be real, be human when you tweet the same way you would be if met this person at the old networking meetings.
* RT other’s tweets when they have value especially to your network.
Build your twitcred
fountain_server
* It is not about the numbers…it is about connection. Don’t worry about numbers, focus on finding the right followers and giving them value…your followers will increase organically as your value increases.
* Your value is directly related to your humanity your heartness which is your authenticity
* Have strategy for selecting and following and stick to it. If you want to build a network of buyers then seek them out and follow them.
* Just because someone follows you doesn’t mean you have to follow them. If you want to serve a particular group of buyers and potential buyers don’t be afraid to not follow or even block followers who are obviously not appropriate for you and your followers. You will get some leakage of high rollers, internet marketers and political/religious crazies …you have the power to block or not follow them.
unfollowers
* Think about your followers…why should they follow you? Because you are interesting,
* Your informative, your interactive,you’r not constantly promoting,You use Direct Messages (DM) for conversations,
* Have a community building contest for your followers. Base your contest on retweets, or the number of their own followers they can bring to an event.
Found on Chris Brogan’s feed this morning…an excellent example of how social media and Twitter specifically can be used by businesses in the LA Times. Watch the video and read the article it is social proof that the opt-in/permission based techniques now being implemented work far better than the old ways. Conversations work, engagement works, connection works and the beauty of it is anybody can do it and any business that wants to succeed from here on out will need to know how to use these and other tools not yet invented.
Also cool as Chris said is that the LA Times set up the video so it could be embedded in anybody’s blog or site just like YouTub not only does it spread the word about a very real example it also gets people to it’s site.
A lot of people still can’t figure out point of Twitter. We have been stressing it’s world wide connection ability as a tool to bring people together organized around an infinite number of subjects and objectives. Here is an existing live event organized as Twestival to help bring water to those in need. As I […]
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