I totally agree on the email list and it also boggles my mind that so many artists don't think of their existing customers as their bread and butter. My customers are collectors, they need to know where I'll be next and what's new in order to buy more! Thanks for the video Evan!
I do the fishbowl technique where I set out a large jar or bowl for them to drop in their email and have a chance to win a free oil painting for signing up. I use the email list for way more than announcing shows. I communicate regularly, send blogs, and then have a launch where I sell my paintings online. Just wrapping up my holiday launch now and it was better than any of my art fairs, without a booth fee or travel expenses. Just had to pay shipping costs since I offer free shipping. Minuscule expense compared to doing a show. By staying in touch with my VIPs, I get calls, studio visits, commissions, and purchases years after the initial contact, without leaving home. Thanks for the tip about SendInBlue. I'll check it out.
That’s a great idea! Yes, an email list is valuable for so much more than announcing shows. It’s really one of the only ways to “own” your audience. Even social media doesn’t always allow us to reach our audience directly like an email does.
Best tip ever! I like your approach to asking if they want to be informed of upcoming shows and new art. I feel like I trip over what to say, but still manage to get people on there - haha! I love my email list
Exactly! People on your mailing list never have to be “sold” to again, they already know who you are and what you do. They just need reminding from time to time. Artists who aren’t doing this are loosing thousands of dollars every year.
Evan, what's a good way to get people interested in signing it, do you ask at checkout? Or direct people to it while they are in the booth browsing? How often do you email people? Thanks again!
Great question. I had thought about addressing this in the video but left it out in order to keep the video brief. Leaving an email sign up form in your booth will get a handful of sign ups on its own. If someone seems interested but isn’t ready to buy yet or asks what other shows I’ll be at, I’ll say something like “if you’d like to leave an email address, I send out a list of upcoming shows so you’ll know when I’ll be in the area again.” And when someone buys something I ask if they’d like to get an email about new artwork and upcoming shows. You could screenshot the receipt page with their email if they say yes and later copy it in to your email program that way also. Asking for an email address is something I do at the end of an interaction when people are about to leave. I send a maximum of 2 emails per month. If I’m doing a show every week that month, I’ll mention my next two shows and then 2 weeks later send another email with the next two shows. If I’m not doing shows but have some new work or something to say, I’ll send just 1 email that month. If I have no new work and nothing to say, I don’t send any emails. But 1-2/month seems to be frequent enough to keep you on peoples minds but not be obnoxious.
I totally agree on the email list and it also boggles my mind that so many artists don't think of their existing customers as their bread and butter. My customers are collectors, they need to know where I'll be next and what's new in order to buy more! Thanks for the video Evan!
Exactly! Thank you for watching☺️
I do the fishbowl technique where I set out a large jar or bowl for them to drop in their email and have a chance to win a free oil painting for signing up.
I use the email list for way more than announcing shows. I communicate regularly, send blogs, and then have a launch where I sell my paintings online. Just wrapping up my holiday launch now and it was better than any of my art fairs, without a booth fee or travel expenses. Just had to pay shipping costs since I offer free shipping. Minuscule expense compared to doing a show. By staying in touch with my VIPs, I get calls, studio visits, commissions, and purchases years after the initial contact, without leaving home.
Thanks for the tip about SendInBlue. I'll check it out.
That’s a great idea! Yes, an email list is valuable for so much more than announcing shows. It’s really one of the only ways to “own” your audience. Even social media doesn’t always allow us to reach our audience directly like an email does.
Best tip ever! I like your approach to asking if they want to be informed of upcoming shows and new art. I feel like I trip over what to say, but still manage to get people on there - haha! I love my email list
Exactly! People on your mailing list never have to be “sold” to again, they already know who you are and what you do. They just need reminding from time to time. Artists who aren’t doing this are loosing thousands of dollars every year.
Great Info Evan!!!! Glad to know there are other options than Mailchimp.
Thanks! Nothing against MailChimp, I was happy with their service. It just got very expensive.
Great info Evan!
Darn, I was hoping the tip was something I wasn’t already doing 😂
Hahaha…then you win by already doubling your sales!
I started little by little is just hard to keep up. Thank you for sharing your knowledge 🙌🏼
You’re welcome. Sometimes it’s overwhelming to keep up. Going little by little does add up quickly and is easier to manage.
Hey Evan. Great tips in your new video! Joe Homsy
Thanks, Joe! Happy holidays.
Great Tip!
I’m guilty and I’ve been doing shows for many years. Going to try it !
I love to hear that! The best time to start is right now. There will never be a better time to start than right away😆
Evan, what's a good way to get people interested in signing it, do you ask at checkout? Or direct people to it while they are in the booth browsing? How often do you email people? Thanks again!
Great question. I had thought about addressing this in the video but left it out in order to keep the video brief. Leaving an email sign up form in your booth will get a handful of sign ups on its own. If someone seems interested but isn’t ready to buy yet or asks what other shows I’ll be at, I’ll say something like “if you’d like to leave an email address, I send out a list of upcoming shows so you’ll know when I’ll be in the area again.” And when someone buys something I ask if they’d like to get an email about new artwork and upcoming shows. You could screenshot the receipt page with their email if they say yes and later copy it in to your email program that way also. Asking for an email address is something I do at the end of an interaction when people are about to leave.
I send a maximum of 2 emails per month. If I’m doing a show every week that month, I’ll mention my next two shows and then 2 weeks later send another email with the next two shows. If I’m not doing shows but have some new work or something to say, I’ll send just 1 email that month. If I have no new work and nothing to say, I don’t send any emails. But 1-2/month seems to be frequent enough to keep you on peoples minds but not be obnoxious.
@@EvanReinheimer Thanks Evan! Great information!