You can be a good artist, but it won't get any attention if you don't know how to promote your art. So, before deciding on selling your craft, you must first learn the art of sales. It would be best if you learned how to get the attention of clients and if you helped them find the art they are looking for. In this article, we will be discussing the seven things you should know before trying to sell your art.
1. Networking
People who appreciate art generally are visible at an art fair, or an art gallery. These people who are present here know what they are looking at and understand the craft. You can start networking at these places. Though they are strangers to you, they are looking to meet new artists and acknowledge their work. Start with a friendly conversation and talk to them about their interest and what they found interesting in the gallery. Don't push the conversation, use your common sense, and let them know your love for art.
2. Know their interest
It is essential to know what caught their attention on a particular piece of art. It can be a color or a thing. It will help you in including that specific thing into your creativity. Ask them whether it reminded them of a particular memory from their life. The more they elaborate on what they felt, the better you will be able to understand. It will help you in connecting with them even better towards your work.
The more they can relate to the piece of artwork, the higher are the chances of them responding positively, leading to you selling art. The more you discuss with them, the better you will be able to create a rapport that, in the future, will be able to develop a prospect into a client.
3. Find out what they are looking for
Understand what your prospect is looking for. Find out for which place they are looking for the art piece. The awareness of which specific room or a particular location will help you in understanding them better in what they are looking for. For a client to spend their money on a particular piece, they should be able to imagine your art at their thought location. For example, if the person lives in a small apartment, then trying to sell them a large artwork is not feasible. Try and understand what the potential buyer is looking for to come to a common ground based on their imagination.
4. Show interest in their talk
Show interest when they are talking. People don't like to see you looking here and there while they are speaking to you. It is not just a sales process happening, but it is a long term relationship building. It is the time when your listening skills come into play. A new customer who reaches you is open to an original art with no preconceptions. Their opinions and suggestions can be valuable to you as well. They will talk to you based on their previous experiences and thoughts. That means they can create multiple connections looking at your creations.
5. Share the background stories
To let a person understand you, you must talk about yourself a little bit. You can start with a story behind the creation of a particular art. How you got the idea to create this? Where do you get your inspiration from? Sharing background stories will help you sell your art. It will help if you decide which aspects you want to share and which not to share. It is okay if you are not comfortable sharing every piece of information related to the work. So, this way, you will prepare yourself in handling inquiries from a potential buyer.
6. Word of Mouth
Talk with the same enthusiasm with an existing customer as you would do with a new customer. Even if you feel the person is very knowledgeable about the art, it is still advisable to listen and answer the person with the same interest. Your enthusiasm can help you in showing them a second art piece. It will also impress them, and they might promote your artwork to their friends. Be active on social media. Whenever a customer purchases any art from your store, ask them if you can take a picture of both of you together and post it on social media. Please post it on social media and tag them.
7. Social Media Marketing
Social media presence speaks a lot about your store. In today's time, if you are not active on social media, you do not exist. Post your art online. Be active on all social media channels like Facebook, Instagram, Linkedin, and Twitter. Be consistent on your website and link them with your social media channels. Also, keep updating your email and contact number list to mail your new and existing customers about any upcoming offers. It would be helpful to set up different payment modes on the websites.
Conclusion:
The above are the seven things you must know before trying to sell your art. Putting effort into establishing a lifelong relationship would pay you later in life. It will lead to referrals, and eventually, customers coming to you without you making an effort. It will not be easy at first, but a little bit of research from your side is going to get you on top of the game.
