Alease Michelle - A Mixed Media Artist

11 Lessons Learned from My 1st Art Market

Last week I participated  in my first art market- NODARoity, in Charlotte, NC. Based on selling out of two of my prints, I think I did pretty well for my first time. Although I did good in sells, I also learned a lot from my first art market. Below is a recap of what I learned.

1. Merchandising your table is really important to the overall branding of your image.
2. Be ready to explain how work over and over again.
3. Bring a few snacks and drinks with you.
4. And make sure you have proper clothing for the weather. ( I was inside, but I almost froze my butt off).
5. Walk around and view other artists' table. It is a good way to get new ideas for products and merchandising.
6. Establish a price point that is suitable for the target audience or have several items at different price pts.
7. Have enough product to sell -to maximize your table area
8. Establish a goal or purpose for participating in the art market - gain exposure, sell a prints for extra cash, to do a little market research on a new product. Just make sure to have some type of goal.
9. Keep in mind the purpose that many people attend art markets. For this event- my assumptions was that many of the people there, where looking for unique Christmas gifts.
10. Have some type of way to gather information from people who stop by your booth. I missed out on this opportunity-  I got a few names and address, but I could have gotten alot more if I had a book for people to sign. 
11. Bring your camera. I should have brought my camera to take pictures of my table- but again a missed out opportunity.

Show your Support and Subscribe to this blog. Peace and More Love, Alease Michelle

10 Tips to Staying Happy and Positive

Today I wanted to share 10 of my favorite Tips of on Staying Happy and Positive.  During the stuff times I have to often reflect on these tips to help me get through my day. We all have bad days, but what is important is how we handle those days so they don't become part of our everyday lives. Take some time and read over the following 10 Tips of Staying Happy and Positive.

1. Don't Put Yourself Down- It's important to recognize your weak areas, but it's not important to beat yourself up. Instead of thinking about your weaknesses, match them with strengths to help keep confidence levels high.

2. Stretch Away Toxins - During the winter months we sometimes neglect exercise. But still try to add some type of activity to your lives, even in the cold months. Try walking around the house, or doing yoga or pilates by video. Keep your body's circulation going and get rid of those winter blues.

3. Have a Tea Party - Simply going through the motions of making a cup of tea can reduce stress. There are four (black, green, white, & oolong) types of teas that have their own health- giving benefit.

4. Make it Moody- Put on your favorite piece of music. It can be something that reminds you of a pleasant memory like a happy holiday (Christmas music is my favorite) or your first romance. Then sit back in a comfortable chair, dim the lights and just listen. Music is said to appeal  directly to the primal part of the brain to calm and soothe.

5. Be Beautiful - Fill your home with things that give you the most pleasure. Do worry about conforming to others' perception of beauty; simply choose things that appeal to you and just sit around and enjoy your beautiful things.

6. Write it Down - Keep a pen and paper by your bedside. It can help you in two ways: first, write a list of things you need to tackle the next day; second writing it down allows you to let go of anything playing on your mind.

7. Bath before Bed- A warm bath will gently warm and relax you, and not only that, the reduction in your  body temperature mimics your body's natural sleep rhythms.

8. Learn for Another - Find a story about someone who has achieve greatness. Use their story to help you stay positive about your life and the opportunities you have.

9. Admire your Reflection- Make time each week to reflect on the decisions you have made and how they affected your life positively or negatively. Then make a promise to yourself to learn from your successes and failures.

10. Embrace Challenges- It's all too easy to be grateful for things like your house, family and loved ones, but remember to be grateful for life's challenges too. Often, it's facing challenges that helps uncover hidden strengths.

If you have any tips on how you stay happy and positive, please share them, I would love to add them to my list.-

Using Email Marketing to Sell Art

Preparing myself for making a few holiday sales this season. So, I decided to create an email marketing campaign. I've read alot about the benefits of email marketing and I have worked a little with it in the past, but not until now did I really see the benefit of creating an email marketing campaign.

Yesterday sent out my email newsletter to 160 friends and family on my email list. I got a few responses back saying I love your newsletter, and great marketing.  I just waiting to see if I get more responses from the items I have for sell.

I've posted it on my facebook and fan page and plan to post it on other social networks I've joined.

If you would like to see my Holiday Sales Email Marketing Campaign - You can check it out here: News from Alease Michelle, Mixed Media Artist- Holiday Art Sale

Setting Goals

"The most important thing about goals is having one." Geoffry F. Abert

Currently I am planning my 2010 goals but I was wondering if any of you were thinking about your 2010 goals. So I am asking,

What are your 2010 goals?

Here are a few of my 2009 goals, part of my plans are to review over my last years goals, check off what was completed, move those I did not complete and cross out entirely those I plan to never to complete.

Internet Goals for 2009

Commitment Plans for 2009

 

Build a Strong Brand With a Marketing Portfolio

What's the best way to build your company brand? Should you focus on your website, direct mail, print ads, advertising specialties, electronic newsletter or social networking? What is the magic bullet that will build your brand?

There is, of course, no magic bullet. Effective marketing requires a variety of targeted communication tools with a strong marketing message. Think of this approach as building a marketing portfolio, a mix of marketing strategies that ensures that your message reaches your customers and prospects consistently and continually. Whether you have a shoestring marketing budget or a more sizable one, you can develop a powerful marketing portfolio. Here's how.

• Understand your customers. Effective marketing is always customer-centered. It focuses on the needs of your customers, not your products and services. Thus, the more you know about your customers and prospects, the easier it is to convince them to do business with you. Begin by looking at who your customers are and who you want them to be. Understand the pain points or needs that drive them to purchase your products or services. Find out how your customers get information when they make a decision about a purchase. If you aren't sure of the answers, talk to your customers. Conduct an informal or online survey. If your budget allows, consider a focus group. Review over Building a Foundation for Artist Career: Why People Buy
• Develop a strong marketing message. Now that you understand who your customers are, you need to develop a concise marketing message that captures your customers' pain points, your solution and what makes you different. This message should be a succinct, memorable statement of 25 words or less and should be included in every marketing strategy you use.
• Plan. Armed with information about your customers and prospects, develop a marketing plan that includes a variety of marketing strategies. Focus on those strategies that are most important to your customers. Ensure that you are in contact with customers and prospects on a regular basis. Include a timeline and assign responsibility for each task to hold yourself and your staff accountable. Think of your marketing plan as your roadmap to branding success.
• Execute your plan consistently. Once you have developed your plan, execute it consistently. Refresh your website on a regular basis by making it copy rich. Distribute your newsletter at regular intervals. Take part in networking opportunities. Use social networking tools as yet another avenue for reaching people.
• Evaluate and adjust. Closely monitor the results you receive from each strategy over a period of time. If one strategy is not giving you the results you anticipated, consider adjusting your plan.

Build your marketing portfolio consistently and continually and watch your brand grow!

_{Written By: Joan B. Marcus, president of Joan B. Marcus Communications LLC, helps small businesses and nonprofit organizations build their brand through the power of words. Sign up for a free newsletter that offers practical and low-cost strategies to market your business at http://joanbmarcuscommunications.com. Services include branding and marketing message development; communications audits; marketing communications planning; implementation of marketing tools including websites, electronic newsletters and brochures; writing coaching; and grant development.}

Artist Tips: 5 Ways to Introduce Yourself to the Art World

 Artist Tip 1

Whenever you receive gallery representation, sell an important piece of artwork, receive a grant or a major commission project, it is an opportunity to communicate with the media. Do not wait until a big show to send out press releases. Build your reputation and your relationship with the press over time by keeping them abreast of significant milestones in your artist career.

Artist Tip 2

The general public is hungry for a personal connection with the artist, to know what it is like to live the creative life. Many artists have successfully connected with their clients by sharing  insights into some of their art techniques, studio tours of their work spaces, sharing other talents other art, or just background information past careers or their journey to becoming an artist.

Artist Tip 3

Always include information about any upcoming shows or new major works in progress in your communications with the media or potential clients. Demonstrating to the media that you  are building and mastering your art style shows confidence in your reputation and professionalism as an artist.

Artist Tip 4

Many artists who are represented by a gallery believe that they don't need their own website, especially if the gallery has one. But this is so untrue. An artist needs a website. Having your own professional website creates a centralized location for the media and art collectors to find everything they need to know about you and your work. On your website you have total control on what is posted and what is not posted. Of course you should link to the gallery or galleries that represents your work.

Artist Tip 5

Art collectors whose visual knowledge isn't highly developed are greatly influenced by the recommendations of other collectors, gallery directors or the media's endorsement. You should seek publicity whenever possible to keep your name in the forefront of the minds of people of influence to your artist career.

How to Talk About What You Do: Building a Foundation for Your Artist Career

How to Talk About What You Do - is a creative prepared conversation that will spark curiosity and interest about you and your artwork. This prepared conversation is intended to replace the static, boring and usual responses to the question, "What do you do?". Our typical response is 'I'm an artist" and the typical response for the other is "oooo" or other reactions.

Yesterday you created your who and do what statement. That's was a great first step and an fantastic tool for starting a conversation about what you do. We are going to break this down into its smallest parts and gather all the information we've worked hard to compile in the past few days. If you've read and completed the exercises this week, then you will be in good shape to complete the last step to Building a Foundation for Your Artist Career.

How to Talk About What You Do.

Lets get started. Each of the following 4 parts you have already been answered. All you need to do is plug the pieces into the formula below. The examples are in a script format that you can use as a template. Here we go....

Part 1: Summarize your target market into one sentence.

Part 2: Identify and summarize the motivating and purchasing habits of your target market.

Part 3: Explain how you help your clients.

Part 4: Explain the reason why you do what you do.

Conversation: All you need to do is insert parts 1-4

• You know How (insert Parts 1 & 2)
• Well, what I do is (insert Parts 3 & 4)

Here is how the conversation may go: Setting: Retail Store

Angel:Nice to see you again, Alease. I have not seen since I left ABC Corp. What are you doing now?

Me: Well all is good. You know now I work with family oriented women who are seeking  quality and a stylish to display family photos (Parts 1 & 2).

Angel: That sounds really interesting. Why this field of work?

Me:Well what I do is I help these women tell their family stories and at the same time I am able to share with them my way of telling these stories visually and how important it is to preserve the memories (Parts 3 & 4).

Angel: How do I learn more? Do you have a card?

Now we are talking! See how easy it is to talk about your work. Angel knows more about my new profession then she imagine. And I was able to give her a card and maybe a potential sale.

If you are in a short conversation with someone - you could just answer the what do you do statement with... "  I help (part 1) ...(insert part 4).

Real Easy, Right? You should never be caught off guard again. I suggest you continue to hone and refine your message and then practice it over and over again. Telling and committing to a creative profession to others might be a little hard, but when you can answer someone's question about what you do, you know to say it with confidence and assurance.

Well this ends our five day series of Building a Foundation for Your Artist Career. I hope is was helpful.  Peace and More Love, Alease Michelle

 

 

Develop a Personal Artist Brand: Buliding a Foundation for Your Art Career

Having established your target market and your VIP list we are now ready to develop a personal artist brand for your art career. A personal artist brand will help clearly and consistently define, express and communicate who you are, and whom you serve. Successful artist I have studied such as Claudine Hellmuth,  Lotta Jansdotter, Michelle Caplan and Amy Butler all have found their personal artistic style,  they've build a brand based on it and has boldly express themselves through that  artist brand.

This his how a personal artist brand works- it defines you, but first you must define it. Developing a personal artist brand that looks like you, thinks like you, sounds and feels like you and one that is instantly recognizable as your essence should be clear, consistent, authentic, memorable, meaningful, soulful and surly personal.

There are two components to your personal artist brand: The "Who and Do What" statement & The "Why You Do It" statement.

Your Who and Do What  Statement

The is statement lets others know exactly whom you help and what you can help them do. It is the first filter that people will put you through when considering your product or services.

Start with the basics. What is your who and do what statement? Whom do you help and what do you help them do?  Finish the statement, " I help..." For example: I help people see art through the eyes of a story teller.

Your Why You Do It  Statement

This statement is the reason you do what you do. This is something you never get tried of and others know what it's like to be around you. Your Why You Do it statement will serve as an emotional connection you make with people.

Be your most idealistic, inspired, creative, powerful you when you describe - What is your purpose doing art ? and What is your vision of what you hope to achieve through your art? Begin with, " The reason why I create art is ... "   For example: The reason why I create art is to share with others my sense and love of family and my pride for my African American community.

We are almost done. Now take your two statements and put them together. You have just created your personal artist brand. Other words in the art community it is called your artist statement, in the business world it is called your brand. Place your personal artist brand statement on the wall of your studio, place it in your about me page on your blog or website. Just place it somewhere for other people and yourself can see it.

For Friday- I will be ending the Building a Foundation for Your Artist Career series with a post on "How to Talk About What You Do". I will see you Friday, subscribe if you have not yet. And I'm looking forward to hearing a few of your comments on the Building a Foundation for Your Artist Career series.

Peace and More Love, Alease

Why People Buy Art : Buliding a Foundation For Your Artist Career

Yesterday you looked at the qualities of the people you wanted to work with, not lets identify your target market. Your ideal clients are a subset of the target market you choose to serve. It is just as important to identify a target market you feel passionate about as it is to identify the ideal clients that you are inspired by. The benefit of identifying a target market is that it allows you to more easily determine where to find potential clients/ art lovers who are looking for what you have to offer. In order to reach these potential clients/ art lovers, you've got to know where to find them.

The next step we are going to take, are steps that will be will worth your time. Understanding why people buy art is really important in creating relentless demand for your art. The following four steps will help you understand the why.

 Who's the Target Market of Your Artwork

Take a few moments to think about the following questions and jot down whatever comes to mind.

1. What is the geographic location of your target market? 

 Name the neighborhood, city, state, region they may live in. Do not forget to consider the social networking sites they may also live. Since many artist typically sell art online works very well (Etsy). Considering online sites might be better, but if you are considering selling at a market, then you specify the general location.

2. What are the demographic characteristics of your target market?

A few years ago, I was working with a client who said her target market was women you liked wearing dresses. Well that is a very large target market and that size of a target market is very hard to sell to. So to help her out- I asked her to choose her favorite television show or movie  of women who would wear her dresses. She chose Girlfriends and Sex and the City. With this new information we were able to actually visualize each woman wearing her dresses. We used the characters personalities, jobs and interests to describe the demographic characteristics of her target market.

If choosing a character from a movie or television show helps you identify your target market, then please do so. But make sure to  describe the observable, factual characteristics of your target market - such as age, income level, family size, gender, ethnic group and hobbies/interest.

 3. What is your target markets'motivations and purchasing patterns?

The observable factors are important, but you also have to consider the less tangible factors. Try to answer these questions.

What is important to your target market- price, quality, or convenience?; What kinds of companies do they prefer to do business with - small, large, socially responsible, or locally based?; How do they view themselves- technically savvy, smart shopper, stylish or cutting edge?

What are your customers purchasing patterns- paypal, cash only, credit? How often do they buy art - once a year, every other month, when there is a sell, or during special occasions?

4. What is the market size of your target market?

Keep the answer to this question simple. Do you think the market size for your art is small, medium or large. If it is small look for other small target market group, if it is medium, then you are good to go for a few years, and it is large, then that is great, but you are going to have to keep coming up with unique ideals to keep them interested in your art.

Now look over your answers and try pulling it all together. Write a brief description of your target market.

My Target Market is .........

 

This new found information will help you more successful at creating and selling your art.

Alright we are almost there. We have 2 more post to go, before we have completed the foundation of our art career. Thursday I will discuss the importance of developing your personal brand  and Friday I will end How to talk about what you do.

Make sure to subscribe to my blog if you haven't already. Peace and More Love, Alease

2 Steps toward Creating a V.I.P. Artist Client List

Do you have a V.I.P. client list?  If you don't, then it's ok, I will show you how to create a V.I.P. Art Client list in 2 steps.

 Why is a V.I.P. list important? It's important 'cause when you work with clients you love and like to be around, you'll truly enjoy the work you are doing. And we all know when you love doing something, you'll do your best work, which is essential to becoming a successful artist.

Ok enough with the pep talk- lets get down to business.

Step 1 Dump the Duds

Yeah I said it- Dump the Duds

Identify the types of clients you don't want to work with. List their characteristics or behaviors you refuse to tolerate. Think about what really pisses you off and what type of people should not be placed on your V.I.P. art list.

Now take a look at your list and think about who among your current clients fits the profile you've just created? The next part might be little hard- but you are going to have to dump the dud clients. I know this is a bold action and requires some courage, especially if they are friends of yours. I too faced this same issue, but after I decided not to take on anymore projects from them, a ton of weight was lifted from my shoulders.

 

Step 2 - Create Your V.I.P. List

Let me start out saying the benefits of working with V.I.P. clients totally out weigh the negative. Currently the benefits I've noticed are: I am more invigorated and inspired, I connect with my clients on a more deeper level, I feel more successful and confident, I now know that the time I put in creating my artwork matters and I am surrounded by positive energy which allows me to do my best work.

Ok, lets get down to identifying your ideal clients. Ask yourself what type of people do you enjoy being around?  What do they like to do? What do they talk about? What ethical standards do they follow?  And what kind of environment do you want to create in your artist life?

Now look at your current client list? Does any of them have qualities you've listed? If so, they are keepers. If you are just starting out and have no current clients, then look over your list. Picture in your mind what your new clients would look like and then write down 3 to 5 characteristics of these clients.

CONGRATULATIONS you've completed the first part of Building a Foundation for Your Artist Career!  But I have to remind you,the process we've just completed is one that you will have to do on a regular basis. Just check over your V.I.P. every so often and dump the duds that need it, and reward those that are keepers.

In Wednesday's  post I will discuss "Why People Buy Art?"

See you then! Peace & More Love, Alease