Web Presence, Exposure, and Evolution
When it comes to selling and marketing on the internet, speed and intensity is key. You may have this already working out in your favor, considering you have OCD tendencies, like me, and can’t wait to do this and that in regards to your business and art.
The internet’s rate of evolution is going at a much faster pace and increases. Now, if you spend about a month off of the internet and come back, you will notice new sites, new tools, new avenues of revenue possibilities. You may feel collectors or fans have long gone. It’s a catch 22, being an internet business. It’s about consistency and progress. It’s survival of the fittest or fastest!
Anything that’s static will die.
It’s why basic websites are almost a thing of the past. If you don’t incorporate new information, like a blog, or constant updates, people will slow down watching too.
It’s all so fast, that at times, you feel left out and left behind.
If you want to improve your chances in success as far as art exposure and sales go, you need to improve your determination and dedication to your business model.
They say it’s 20% product/art creation and 80% marketing. I would have to say that is true. From personal experience, I spend a majority of my time networking, blogging, creating sale events, talking with other artists, microblogging (twitter.com), and brainstorming with other people about my work and business.
I’ve had friends and fans online ask, “How are you getting all of this done, and how are you doing so many projects?” It’s because I spend 12-20 hrs a day doing the research, the networking, the designing. I have multiple tasks and read up on things that are new. I have to keep up on what’s going on, what’s new, and find out what works or doesn’t work. It’s my responsibility, being my own marketer after all.
It’s about determination and dedication. From there, speed and intensity will fall into place.
If you love what you do and love the adventure that business creates, you won’t have to worry about any lack of speed in the process.
So what is this “SPEED AND INTENSITY” and how do I do it?
- Research social media. Learn about basics like blogging, microblogging, social networks (myspace, facebook), and e-newsletters.
- Test test test. Try out sites that you would like to understand more and to see where your audience sits the most. Maybe you can’t use Myspace for networking with fans and other artists, but testing can’t hurt. This helps in the process of finding your target audience. Give yourself 6 months to try new web tools and social networks before you decide if you will stick to it or not. That will give you ample time to analyze and determine final goals.
- Be consistent. Web presence requires consistency. Be on there at least once a week or more. Keep in touch with art collectors. Connect with new ones. Talk to other artists on their blogs, their twitter, their myspace, etc.
- Spend time writing out your thoughts on your target audience. This will help fill out your possible goals as they change and improve.
- Connect for the sake of connecting. Make new friends, regardless of your goals. Don’t think of social media as just a way of marketing. Calm down and remember that things fall into place when your intentions are good, and when you do it for the real aspects of the tool – social community!
TOOLS FOR SPEED
- Notebooks - keep track of ideas, brainstorming, and to do lists
- Cell phone - smart phones and pdas help support and inspire new ideas and functions to keep up on the web. I love my 3G iPhone and it helps do all that while I’m away from the office. I have a voice recorder to take vocal notes while driving. The notepad to jot things down I learn while reading in the bookstore, and I have apps that keep me connected to the web and to my social networks!
- Books – go to Barnes and Noble, or the local bookstore and read all you can on these subjects.
- Be ravenous – read blogs, sites, other artists’s blogs, and learn from exposure and experience too.
