OK, now I'm Adding Twitter to the Mix

Facebook Fan Page.  Check.  LinkedIn Profile.  Check.  Personal Website.  Check.  Facebook Ads.  Check.  Fine Art America Site.  Check.  Etsy Shop Site.  Check.  Blog.  Check.  I've done everything I need to announce to the world, I AM an ARTIST.  Right?  Wrong.  Now I've had to figure out this Twitter phenomenon.  I read statistics that state 37% of your Twitter followers are likely to become a customer compared to 17% of your Facebook Fans.  Facebook tends to lead you to people you already know, where as Twitter leads you to people you don't know.

Fair enough.  I started a Twitter profile under @amypryorfineart.  I already have 63 people following me and I'm following 112 people.  Everyday, people come out of nowhere to follow me.  Obviously it's not hundreds of people, but a few people.  The more people I follow, the more people who follow me.  Let me tell you, it takes work to keep up with the comments of 112 people.  Some post continually.  I'm not sure how they do it.  I get to tag my favorite posts when I have time and read the linked article later when I have more time.  I can Retweet someone's post or copy it in my own post and add my own two cents.

Its like I'm a part of this whole new world of people.  I follow so in so, who follows so in so, who follows so in so, who follows so in so.  Dizzy yet?  I am.  It makes me wonder if we're all just posting to the same people over and over again.  Later in the day, you see a post from someone thanking you for retweeting something of theirs. It's a continual fascinating loop.

But then something cool happens.  It's this thing called "Follow Friday."  Everyone lists the people they recommend to follow.  It's really exciting when you see your name show up.  I just started, so my name didn't show up much last Friday, but it makes me look forward to this Friday.  I get to do the same thing.  I recommend my favorites.  My favorite this week is definitely @redheadwriting.  She writes exactly what she thinks and it is very refreshing.  Check her out, especially her Bitch Slap articles.

I see people who follow 20,000 people and are followed by 20,000 people.  I have no idea how they keep up.  Their Twitter page must be like scrolling news on steroids.  But when they post something, 20,000 people have a chance of seeing it.  Pretty awesome.

You'll see all the different "Buttons" on the right of my Blog.  Ways to share in my computer world, but more importantly, see my art creations.

Am I missing anything?  Do tell.

I've Rejected YOU but buy MY Stuff

It's probably just me, but does anyone else get annoyed when you end up on galleries distribution lists after they rejected your submission? Throughout the year I have submitted my work to various galleries, open calls, art contests and grants. Luckily I have had a few say yes, but a lot more say no. Now, I actually hear more from the ones that said no than the ones that said yes. Even worse are the ones who never responded to your submission, but they added you to their list. My inbox gets filled each day with announcements from galleries about the artist they chose over me. A constant reminder and slap in the face of my rejection. I know I'm an artist and I'm ultra sensitive, but am I alone here?

What they are telling me is, "we didn't like your work, but we like your money and all your contacts money. I'm going to send you an e-mail every other day in hopes that you and your friends come in and buy the paintings of the artist I like over yours."

I'm mostly joking here, but who else is with me?

Tell a Story, Your Potential Clients Will Connect to You More

I spend way too much time looking at artist websites to get ideas on how they market their art.  Don't worry, I'm not stealing images to duplicate.  :)  One of the things I have noticed on a few sites is a story being told about each painting.  I really like that.  I learn about what the artist was thinking while they were making the painting.  Were they in a happy mood, depressed mood, flirtatious mood, really dark mood or no mood at all?  Some paintings will express the artists mood without an explanation attached.  But a lot of abstract paintings, which is what I paint, don't fully tell that story.

I sold a few paintings to a law office because they wanted paintings that had more meaning behind them.  They had the traditional cityscapes on the wall at the time.  They wanted to tell their clients a story.  I was able to provide that.

I know one of the things I'm going to work on over the coming weeks is adding the story to each of my paintings.  If you look at my work at www.amypryorfineart.com, you'll notice I have different series.  A Circle Series, a Floral Abstract Series and a Women Series.  I'm in different moods whenever I paint those paintings.  I realize now, my potential clients should know what those moods are.

My question for you is, "What mood are you in, when you feel you create your best work?"

The Communication of Our Next Generation

I wrote a blog yesterday about being persistent to stay ahead of the competition.  My message was about using the phone to make contacts.  I received some really interesting comments back.  Most of the posts said they didn't like making phone calls because they didn't want to come off as pushy or desperate.  That is certainly the mental block of most salespeople.  They don't want to come across as being a used car salesmen.

One particular post presented an entirely different conversation.  The post basically said the younger generation finds a telephone call annoying.  They want to be communicated to through any version of the internet.  It made me think about how I use my cellphone or smartphone.  I surf the web, text, e-mail, twitter and Facebook.  I'm realizing now how little I actually use it as a phone.  We don't even have a home phone.  We kind of thought why pay for a phone when we both have a cellphone.

They talk about the current generation of college grads lacking leaders.  We've raised this current generation to have their entire lives scheduled for them.  When I was eight years old, I used to be able to be outside with my friends until sun down.  With all the crazy people out there, I won't let my eight year old play out front unless I'm out there with them.  That's caused us to schedule everything for them.  They basically wake up and spend the day having their parents walk them to school, pick them up, schedule a play date, put them in sports, dance, theater, etc. etc.  Those kids are in college now saying, "WHOA, you mean I need to do this myself?"

Now the next generation has all of these technological tools to communicate without actually talking to each other.  What effect will that cause?  One of the funniest commercials right now is the one where the girlfriend texts her boyfriend from across the table that she is breaking up with him.  She changes her Facebook status to single.  Finally, she calls him as the commercial ends.  Funny now, but a glimpse into our future?

If we're concerned about who will be the leaders of this current generation, shouldn't we be concerned with who will be the communicators of the next generation?

Be Persistent and Stay Ahead of the Competition

In the age of Social Media and technology, it seems we have left the original technological advancement in the closet.  Well, we haven't actually left it in the closet, since we need it to text, e-mail, twitter and Facebook.  How much are we actually using our phone as a phone?  Much less then we should be in my humble opinion.  If you want to set yourself above your competition, make sure you keep the phone calls on your "to do" list.

Statistics and my own personal experience show that most people are not capable of making enough contacts to make a sale.  This is true whether you're a stockbroker, insurance agent, or artist.  If I were to hire 10 people to make 1000 calls, only one person will see the entire process through to make a sale.  Let's assume, I have done all the pre-marketing work through ads, e-mails, newsletters,  etc. etc.  Based on the marketing, I have compiled a list of 1000 people who have shown some interest in my product.  Now I need the 10 hires to call those 1000 people.

• All 10 people will make the first contact.
• 3 of the 10 will make the second call
• Only 1 person will make the third call

The average sale takes 7 - 9 contacts to close.  This doesn't mean if you contact everyone 7-9 times, you'll get a sale.  The contact needs to express an interest in your product to give you reason to follow up.  Once the prospect gives you a reason to follow up, you need 7 - 9 more contacts to close that sale.  If only 10% of my salesforce is mentally capable of making the third call, you can see why most salespeople are struggling.  I hate to tell you this, but if you have a product and you need someone to buy it, you're a salesperson.

Here's the positive part of this.  If you're an artist in an ocean full of artists, it is very easy to differentiate yourself from 90% of your competition.  Add calling to your marketing.  Make the second and third call.  If a prospect or gallery has shown interest in you, do not be afraid to follow up.  They will say they are busy or some other excuse three or four times.  It is not a rejection, it's just one contact closer to the yes.

If you have a success story from following up, please share it.  It will help motivate people to make the call.

An Amazing Artist Story (Not Mine)

Through Social Networking I came across this fantastic artist. How did I come across her? Someone I follow through Twitter retweeted something she tweeted. I liked what she said so I needed to see if there were anymore good tips. I'm always trying to get good marketing ideas for my art business. I ended up visiting her Facebook page and business website. The first thing is, the artist is absolutely beautiful. But not knowing her and reading her story, my guess is she is more beautiful on the inside. Her body of work is amazing, fresh, uplifting, sexy, bold, colorful etc. etc. Reading through her accolades, its easy to see she is a very successful artist and has been doing the business for five years. Very impressive.

Her backstory is even more impressive. She was an Olympian hopeful in gymnastics. At 8 years old and 35 pounds, she was going for Gold and when she stuck a landing she broke her nose when her face hit her knee. With blood covering her face, she finished her routine to a roaring crowd. I think she learned something that night at 8 years old. She was able to handle adversity. She was able to take something unexpected, deal with it, and finish the job. She didn't win the Gold, but because she finished, she won the Bronze.

She kept training throughout the years in hopes of winning an Olympic Gold until her next test of true adversity came. She was hit by a hit and run driver and thrown 100 feet into oncoming traffic. The terrible accident actually severed her foot right off. Luckily there were people around and one unknown individual took his tie off and wrapped it around her leg. She hasn't met the person to thank him to date. Some other people got her foot on ice and she was rushed to the emergency. Her foot was saved, but her gymnastic career was over. Another difficult lesson in life, but she picked herself up again and is finishing the job. A new job, but a job none the less.

Now she faces another battle. For the last 7 years she has tried to have a baby. Hasn't this girl, now woman, been through enough? This battle versus the other two has been emotional. Her blogs say as much. My guess is this is her toughest battle. I'm sure it has been unbelievably difficult to share it with her fans, but I hope it has been therapeutic for her as well. My prayers are with her that her desire for a baby happens. My admiration is with her for her ability to accomplish everything she has accomplished. I am amazed at her ability to respond to all her Facebook posts. She must have hundreds a day. She is an inspiration and I hope hope hope, her dream of being on Oprah and meeting her human savior comes true.

The artist is Chandra Michaels and is the creator of the amazing Sugarluxe. Her website is www.sugarluxe.com and her Facebook page is www.facebook.com/sugarluxe.

Is there an artist or someone who has inspired you?