1. Create note cards or greeting cards
The strategy:
This is an often overlooked but excellent way to market your artwork. Select one or two of your best pieces and create
a couple hundred greeting cards. Don’t create a seasonal design. Pick something that will work well as a thank you
card or note card year-round. Make sure your name and website is included on the back of the greeting cards (this is
the marketing part!). Package them into sets of 10. Now you have not only an excellent product to sell, but these
make the perfect gift for friends, family, and business contacts. Think about professionals in your family that may
need to send thank you cards to clients. Know an attorney, doctor, or accountant? Make sure to give them some
cards - that way your work is circulated among people who are more likely to have expendable income to purchase
artwork.
Resources:
www.PrintPlace.com is an excellent resource - they’ll even wrap the cards in groups of 10, 20, etc., and include
envelopes so that you can just pop them into a box for re-sale or gifting.
www.Uline.com has a variety of affordable note card boxes you can choose from in a variety of sizes.
2. Work with a non-profit organization to create a fund raising poster
Non-profit organizations are always looking for new ways to raise awareness and increase funding for their cause.
Creating a limited edition poster for sale to their donors is an excellent way to cross-promote your work and make
some serious sales.
The strategy:
Here’s how you handle the approach. First, it’s important that you aren’t going into the organization asking for them
to front any money. These days that will be a tough sell. The investment on your part will be to create the art (or
select a piece you already have), and take the steps necessary to set up a poster or limited edition. This will be a
print-on-demand project, so you’ll only need to create one or two sample posters/prints up front to assist the
organization in sales.
The organization will then set up a donation structure. For example, for a donation of $50 dollars the donor receives
a poster, for $200 they receive a signed limited edition on paper, and for $500 they receive a very limited ready-to-
hang signed canvas giclee. You could even work with the organization to have an auction for the original painting on
opening night.
Before any sales take place you will need to sit down with the non-profit and discuss how much you need for each
print/poster. You can set a price per piece, or tell them you’ll go 50/50 on sales. It’s up to you. You’ll provide one or
two samples, if they want more, they have to buy them. You can also offer them a discounted price if they want to
purchase in bulk up front.
This works best when your artwork ties in with the theme of a non-profit organization. Wildlife artists can team up
with wildlife rescue organizations, etc.
Although it requires a little planning, creating a fund-raising poster program can really be a nice way to promote your
art, make some sales, and help out a worthy cause at the same time.
A word of advice: make sure you have a basic plan outlined to present to the organization at the outset, and don’t
create any work or posters until you’ve had approval from the organization for the project, and their written agreement
to go ahead with the program.
Resources:
www.PrintThatImage.com can handle everything from scanning your original work and setting up a poster, through
printing and drop shipping the posters and giclees direct to the organizations you work with.
Develop relationships with interior designers
Interior designers work with a wide variety of clients who have widely differing tastes in décor and fine art. Chances
are they’ll be happy to keep your info on file for when the need arises. The key here is professionalism.
The strategy:
Create a portfolio of work which highlights your own unique style and creative strengths. Include your strongest
work, but no more than 20 images. If you’re not sure about the quality of a piece then it’s better to leave it off.
Also include a list of sizes and retail prices (prices that the end user of the piece will pay) along with commission
rates and incentives. If you offer giclees or other art products make sure you include prices and sizes offered. If you
will create custom work specifically for clients also include that information. Make all of this information simple and
easy to access so that there will be no confusion and a designer can quote a client without having to call you.
I suggest making at least 10 portfolios at once, and then visiting as many local designers as you can. Drop off the
portfolio, get the designer’s card, and send a thank you email or note. Then keep in touch. Create a specific email
blast just for designers and send at least one every month. It doesn’t need to be long - just some pics of new work
and a brief note to remind them you’re still around. If you are consistent with communication, create high quality
work, and offer generous commission rates (20% minimum), then you will make sales.
Resources:
Check out your local Office Depot for some affordable portfolio books and binding options. You don’t need to spend
a fortune. It just needs to display the information and keep it organized. For printing, you can create adequate prints
on your home inkjet printer, or get color copies at the local copy shop if you’re creating a lot of portfolios at once.
Thanks for reading!
Chris Kennedy is the owner of PrintThatImage.com, a specialty fine art printing company located in Fort Lauderdale,
FL. Chris works with fine artists, galleries, and art publishers to develop custom archival print editions that perfectly
match their business needs. He can be reached at 954-353-1095 or by email at chris@PrintThatImage.com.
This Article Copyright © 2011 Chris Kennedy, All Rights Reserved.
The strategy:
This is an often overlooked but excellent way to market your artwork. Select one or two of your best pieces and create
a couple hundred greeting cards. Don’t create a seasonal design. Pick something that will work well as a thank you
card or note card year-round. Make sure your name and website is included on the back of the greeting cards (this is
the marketing part!). Package them into sets of 10. Now you have not only an excellent product to sell, but these
make the perfect gift for friends, family, and business contacts. Think about professionals in your family that may
need to send thank you cards to clients. Know an attorney, doctor, or accountant? Make sure to give them some
cards - that way your work is circulated among people who are more likely to have expendable income to purchase
artwork.
Resources:
www.PrintPlace.com is an excellent resource - they’ll even wrap the cards in groups of 10, 20, etc., and include
envelopes so that you can just pop them into a box for re-sale or gifting.
www.Uline.com has a variety of affordable note card boxes you can choose from in a variety of sizes.
2. Work with a non-profit organization to create a fund raising poster
Non-profit organizations are always looking for new ways to raise awareness and increase funding for their cause.
Creating a limited edition poster for sale to their donors is an excellent way to cross-promote your work and make
some serious sales.
The strategy:
Here’s how you handle the approach. First, it’s important that you aren’t going into the organization asking for them
to front any money. These days that will be a tough sell. The investment on your part will be to create the art (or
select a piece you already have), and take the steps necessary to set up a poster or limited edition. This will be a
print-on-demand project, so you’ll only need to create one or two sample posters/prints up front to assist the
organization in sales.
The organization will then set up a donation structure. For example, for a donation of $50 dollars the donor receives
a poster, for $200 they receive a signed limited edition on paper, and for $500 they receive a very limited ready-to-
hang signed canvas giclee. You could even work with the organization to have an auction for the original painting on
opening night.
Before any sales take place you will need to sit down with the non-profit and discuss how much you need for each
print/poster. You can set a price per piece, or tell them you’ll go 50/50 on sales. It’s up to you. You’ll provide one or
two samples, if they want more, they have to buy them. You can also offer them a discounted price if they want to
purchase in bulk up front.
This works best when your artwork ties in with the theme of a non-profit organization. Wildlife artists can team up
with wildlife rescue organizations, etc.
Although it requires a little planning, creating a fund-raising poster program can really be a nice way to promote your
art, make some sales, and help out a worthy cause at the same time.
A word of advice: make sure you have a basic plan outlined to present to the organization at the outset, and don’t
create any work or posters until you’ve had approval from the organization for the project, and their written agreement
to go ahead with the program.
Resources:
www.PrintThatImage.com can handle everything from scanning your original work and setting up a poster, through
printing and drop shipping the posters and giclees direct to the organizations you work with.
Develop relationships with interior designers
Interior designers work with a wide variety of clients who have widely differing tastes in décor and fine art. Chances
are they’ll be happy to keep your info on file for when the need arises. The key here is professionalism.
The strategy:
Create a portfolio of work which highlights your own unique style and creative strengths. Include your strongest
work, but no more than 20 images. If you’re not sure about the quality of a piece then it’s better to leave it off.
Also include a list of sizes and retail prices (prices that the end user of the piece will pay) along with commission
rates and incentives. If you offer giclees or other art products make sure you include prices and sizes offered. If you
will create custom work specifically for clients also include that information. Make all of this information simple and
easy to access so that there will be no confusion and a designer can quote a client without having to call you.
I suggest making at least 10 portfolios at once, and then visiting as many local designers as you can. Drop off the
portfolio, get the designer’s card, and send a thank you email or note. Then keep in touch. Create a specific email
blast just for designers and send at least one every month. It doesn’t need to be long - just some pics of new work
and a brief note to remind them you’re still around. If you are consistent with communication, create high quality
work, and offer generous commission rates (20% minimum), then you will make sales.
Resources:
Check out your local Office Depot for some affordable portfolio books and binding options. You don’t need to spend
a fortune. It just needs to display the information and keep it organized. For printing, you can create adequate prints
on your home inkjet printer, or get color copies at the local copy shop if you’re creating a lot of portfolios at once.
Thanks for reading!
Chris Kennedy is the owner of PrintThatImage.com, a specialty fine art printing company located in Fort Lauderdale,
FL. Chris works with fine artists, galleries, and art publishers to develop custom archival print editions that perfectly
match their business needs. He can be reached at 954-353-1095 or by email at chris@PrintThatImage.com.
This Article Copyright © 2011 Chris Kennedy, All Rights Reserved.
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Three Great Strategies to Market & Sell Your Artwork
| © 2011 PrintThatImage,com. All Rights Reserved P.O. Box 222, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33302 |
Decorative Printing Specialists (954) 353-1095