4/9/08

Subscribing to an Art Magazine

Recently, my partner purchased a magazine subscription for me. The magazine is called "Art Calender, the business magazine for visual artists". It is a monthly magazine that contains articles for artists who sell their wares online, galleries and the like. It features artists who have successful careers and those just starting out.
Some of the articles include but are not limited to:
  • Developing a Pricing Strategy
  • Making Use of Multiple Markets
  • Marketing on the Internet
  • The Advantages of Blogging
and many more worth your while. In the back of the magazine are listings of galleries and nonprofit spaces reviewing portfolios, grants and fellowships, juried show callings for artists (fees and no fees).

I was particularly interested in the article "The Advantages of Blogging". I found this article to be helpful since I'm a new blogger and not blogging savvy.

Elise Tomlinson is an artist living in a remote area of Alaska, who has been blogging for approximately six years. In the article Tomlinson states that , "Now by traditional standards I haven't 'arrived' yet as an artist. I don't have gallery representation, and I sell paintings for less than they're probably worth. Even so, I'm doing significantly better than six years ago, BB...
Before Blog." Tomlinson attributes her increasing number of sales to the fact that she has a blog and is therefore able to reach more people than she would have had she not had this tool. Hmmm...I'm listening.

Tomlinson states that personal connections with the artist create a comfort level for buyers interested in purchasing art online. She stated, "Last year I sold more paintings (commission free) through my blog than I did through my opening at a popular local gallery." I found this to be true for me also. I participated in a solo show in Des Moines last year and it did generate a sale...yea!!! The person had taken one of my business cards from the show and then purchased the item from me online at Etsy.com! My work through Etsy.com reaches more people throughout the world than I could ever imagine and my sales are increasing as a result and that is where I learned the importance of blogging.

I kept hearing blog, blog, blog...I thought to myself, that is so not like me to journal and pour my heart and soul out to people I don't know and probably will never know. I resisted...and then eventually I caved. Someone told me to only blog a couple of times a week, and that I didn't have to get personal, that I could pass on information or do whatever I wanted in it. So I thought, maybe I'll try it.

Tomlinson goes on to share tips to consider when blogging. She suggests the following:
  • Post often
  • Write something interesting (decide who you're writing for, your audience)
  • Be very selective about the things you share about yourself
  • Use your real identity
  • Keep posts short
  • Ask a question at the end of the post to generate comments
  • Add other blogs to a "blogroll" and go to these sites often, leave comments for the blogger and more often than not they will visit your blog and contribute.
Tomlinson states that people WILL find you and your work. I am discovering this to be true! I have had my blog since the very end of March and already I have had well over 200 hits. The average length of time the visitor spends on this blog is 4.52 minutes.

Maybe there will be and article that will help in keeping the visitor's interest longer?
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If you would like more information about the Art Calendar Magazine and the article discussed in this blog, go to http://www.artcalendar.com

Has this article been helpful to you in any way? Agree/disagree with the information posted here? What did you like about the article? Care to share any personal experience with this topic? Please let me know in the comments section of this blog, I would love to hear from you!

Thanks for reading!

All credits go to Elise Tomlinson for her article "The Advantages of Blogging" copyright remains with her and Art Calender magazine.

25 comments:

Chauncey said...

as a person new to *blog world* I did find it interesting, Van. Nice job!

Precious Quilts said...

Thank you so much for sharing this Brett!

I do believe in blogging although it is a discipline you have to get into in order to update regularly and remember to do so plus everything else these days.

Ironically, I am in the process of starting a second blog (glutten for punishment!) to concentrate on the encaustic side of me. I will be interested in seeing how that goes. It is true that you can reach a wide audience around the world day or night. So, off I go to bloggland.

Mickey said...

Very cool article...thanks for writing about it. I'll be interested in watching your blog to see how YOU respond to the article.

Beth said...

Very good article,I enjoyed it.

joon said...

Great blog post, Van! Isn't it fascinating to you that you felt you had nothing to say or start a blog for/about and look at how naturally it has come to you. We are social creatures. Writing is an artful form of communication that is being rekindled via blogs. What a ray of sunshine and comfort we can all use on some of our stormy days in this increasingly chaotic, disconnected atmosphere. So glad you joined the blog world.

Zuda Gay Pease said...

Very interesting and well written, Brett!!! Not only are you a wonderful artist you are a gifted writer as well! Thank you for sharing this!

Anonymous said...

Van, I agree with what the person in the article says about blogging. I think that with blogs, as you reveal things about your world, your life and how you work, a personal connection is created with you so that people can see the artist as well as the art. A bit like a visit to your studio! That is how I blog, anyway. Even though sometimes people do have to see the mess I work in!!!

Dayna said...

The more people you connect with, the more people will come and read your blog and visit your shop. If it ain't out there where they can trip over it they may never know you existed. Comment on other people's blogs, even if a word or two. It's networking on a cyber level. Make sure you link to your etsy store is up there where they see it and they will come visit and hopefully buy!

artmixter said...

This is a really useful, constructive post, Brett, thank you.

Gracie Bird said...

Great blog, Brett! I'm off tolook for the mag.

Anonymous said...

That's a great article. I completely agree. My last sale came directly from a blog post.

Anonymous said...

Very interesting. I found her tips very useful. Thanks for posting this.

Anonymous said...

Very illuminating Brett. Thanks for doing this. Now I know that blogging is worth it.

Gardens by T said...

This was very good information, thanks for sharing.

Anonymous said...

Great job Brett! Makes me want to start a blog...but I would have to rely on you and other Boomers to help me out...in their spare time of course! ha

I love your blogspot and thanks for including me!

Note: This is not taking my password, that is why I'm anonymous)

Anonymous said...

thanks for the info - i found it very useful.

skiingweaver said...

Great tips! Thanks! I think I'll be checking that magazine out, too, it sounds excellent...

woolies said...

yes, totally agree, I've been reaching out to a non-etsy audience, and have been getting visitors to my blog from all over - hopefully this may bring a couple sales, but it's definitely fun to reach out to people and maybe even make a friend or two!

Judy Nolan said...

Great post about the usefulness of blogging, and how to make blogging useful!--JN Originals

Scott Bulger Photography said...

Great article. Very well done.!

Anonymous said...

Brett, thanks so much for this article. I have agonizing over this blogging thing and you have most certainly given me some useful information. Now I must act on it. Thanks again.

Kat said...

Very interesting article, Brett. I have a blog, sort of, but just don't have the time or energy to devote to it. Maybe I need to rethink that.

Kat

Jean Levert Hood said...

This is a very interesting post, Brett!

Anonymous said...

Brett - Very interesting article. I just may start a blog (once I figure it all out!) Thank you - Debby (Fabric Art By Debby)

Elise said...

Hi Brett,
It's Elise here! Thanks for reading my article and sharing it with others. I'm going to forward your article on to the publisher at Art Calendar so that he can see some people found it useful. It makes me feel great at well.

Keep blogging, you're a natural!