Advertising Ideas

[Mark Prince]

I'm an emerging visual artist just starting out professionally. I wondered whether anyone has any useful tips on advertising/publicising methods that aren't going to cost a fortune before making a return?

I have recently published my official website http://www.markpbg.com and am now in the battle to get to the top of search engines etc. I also have a Facebook page http://http://https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100002994078668 and you are all welcome to pay me a visit and leave me any feedback for either (or both!).

I have thought about things such as putting up ads in the local supermarket etc. but after that i'm getting a bit stuck so any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

[Laurel Sternberg]

Hi Mark,

I looked at the artwork you have on your site here and I find your ink paintings very unique and interesting. You're already starting with the best promotional avenues. Purchasing advertising is the most expensive and least effective route.

People aren't ususally thinking about or looking for art in a supermarket, so I wouldn't advertise there. Even at a very high end shopping mall, they're coming for clothes and coffee, that's all.

If you're willing to sell very modestly, you can try street fairs and selling from a table outside a big art museums. Think about purchasing an iPhone and a Square, so you can take credit card payments on the spot.

You can enter local art competitions, so that your art is shown and you can meet visitors to the show, get their contact info and develop a mailing list. I recommend starting close to home, so you don't have shipping and travel expenses.

It's not easy to be both the producer and promoter, but it's what we all have to do. I generally devote the daytime hours to painting and do a couple of hours of internet marketing at night.

all the best, Laurel

[Mark Prince]

Hi Laurel,

Thanks for your reply. And thank you for the compliments in regards to my ink paintings :) I have been trying to avoid purchasing advertising due to the costs and i think you've just cemented that decision.

I particularly like the idea of the iPhone and Square; i never really knew that this was a possibility but now that you have mentioned it it seems fairly obvious and definitely something i'd like to explore. 

I'm trying to get in on a couple of Art Markets/Fairs at the moment as one of my main current goals is letting people know that i'm out there and to try and compile a mailing list. As i have only very recently started out professionally the main problem i have been coming up against is that my mailing list consists mainly of friends and family so i want to expand this as the next step up.

Producer and promoter is definitely hard work but it wouldn't be any fun if it was easy huh?! 

Thanks again for your advice, it's greatly appreciated!

Regards, Mark

[Laurel Sternberg]

Hi Mark,

The iPhone/Square combo is really fantastic. You can get instant authorization on the credit card, and the customer can sign with their finger on the face of the phone! Without the authorization and signature, you just donated a piece of art to someone, if the card isn't good.

[Mark Prince]

Hi Lani, thank you for your compliments :) it's great to know the work you've dedicated so much time to is appreciated by others! I'm glad you pointed out that the link to my Facebook doesn't work otherwise i would continue to be blissfully unaware. Hopefully this link should work ..... http://http://https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100002994078668. I don't think many of us artistic types are naturally business minded so i wouldn't worry about it, just another learning curve.

Thanks for your comments and taking the time to browse through my work it's much appreciated!