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Why Every Artist Needs a Blog
Unless you've been living under a rock, you've probably heard the term blog used over and over again in the past few years.
This month's Market Insider kicks off a three-part series on this marketing phenomenon. This month, we'll focus on the basics of blogging--what they are, how to start one and why you need it. Next month, we'll discuss more in-depth tactics for marketing your work and your blog. The final part of the series will explore some artist blogs, and some common mistakes that bloggers experience.
What is a blog?
Short for web log, a blog is a website where entries are written in chronological order and commonly displayed from most to least recent. Many blogs started as online diaries, but are now one of the most powerful, easy-to-use, cost-efficient means of marketing a business. (An excellent, detailed history of blogs can be found online at Wikipedia).
There are numerous types of blogs--personal blogs, photo blogs, video blogs (otherwise known as vlogs ) and more. And there are blogs for just about every topic imaginable--politics, pets, music, art, business, marketing, public relations--the list goes on as far as your imagination can stretch.
According to Technorati.com, a website that tracks more than 110 million blogs (and counting),
"Blogs are powerful because they allow millions of people to easily publish and share their ideas, and millions more to read and respond. They engage the writer and reader in an open conversation, and are shifting the Internet paradigm as we know it."
The core of any blog, however, is not only the content or theme, but also the technology behind it. One of the reasons why there are more than 100 million blogs is because the technology enables anyone to publish anything on the web--without having to know any programming what so ever.
How to start a blog.
One of the first steps to starting a blog is to determine the general theme for what you will be discussing in your blog. Your blog could be personal, delving into the inner workings of your mind as an artist. Or it can be strictly business, exploring your ideas of how to make your arts business successful. It could be a showcase for new work, or it could be a forum for you to discuss the aesthetic theories that fuel your artistic drive. Or it could be a combination of all these things.
The next step is to choose a blogging service. There are a number of free services out there, some with more bells and whistles than others. Often times, when you use these services, you receive a personalized website address. If you have a little more technical savvy (or have access to someone who does), then you can also host your blog on your own website.
Here are some services you can check out--most of them are free:
There are many more out there, but these are the most well-known services. If none of these suit your needs, simply look up "free blog service" in any major search engine.
Why you need a blog.
With so many blogs already out there, some people might feel that they don't have anything to contribute. Fortunately, they're wrong. An artist saying that he/she doesn't have anything to say about themselves is like not doing a show because there are already hundreds of other exhibiting artists. If you're an artist, then you have something to contribute that your customers will want to read.
Blogging allows you to have your own, personalized voice. It lets you have a conversation with your customers, and it can also help you to find more customers (tune in next month to learn how this works).
A blog will help you establish yourself as an expert in your field. With a blog, you can be the source to go to for the best glass blowing, wheel throwing, wood turning, or jewelry making techniques (if that's the theme you choose). With a blog, you can keep customers informed about what's going on in the studio (if that's the theme you choose). With a blog, you can share ideas with other artists about the best ways to manage a studio (if that's the theme you choose).
Moreover, it's cheap or even free! What other marketing channel can you think of that let's you publish anything you want with practically no associated? The answer: NONE!
There are other, more technical reasons for blogging, which we'll go into next week. But for now, your assignment is to start a blog.
And let us know about it! Post a link to your blog in the comments section of this post about blogs at Wholesale Matters.
Wholesale Matters Blog-Watch
Wholesale Matters, the official Buyers Market blog, is updated almost every day. Find out what's new in the wholesale marketplace, get wholesale tips and tricks, find cool online business tools, and more at http://buyersmarketblog.typepad.com. Here are a few recent headlines:
- Earn your city or town fortune and fame
- Craftcast with Alison Lee
- 5000+ Resources to Do Just About Anything Online
- Five More Cost Saving Ideas for Exhibitors
The Visiting Artist Program Returns to the Buyers Market!
The next Visiting Artist Program will run February 15-18 at the Pennsylvania Convention Center in Philadelphia, Pa. Sponsored by the Arts Business Institute (ABI) , a national non-profit that provides business education to artists, the Visiting Artist Program provides artists with the opportunity to explore the wholesale marketplace before making the commitment to exhibit.
The program features educational seminars designed to help artists grow their business skills, guided tours of the Buyers Market , individual and group mentoring sessions with gallery professional, a Q & A session will Buyers Market staff, a panel discussion with Buyers Market artists, and numerous opportunities to ask questions and network with all Buyers Market participants.
Visit www.ArtsBusinessInstitute.org to see find the full schedule of seminars and events, and to register!
OPPORTUNITIES KNOCKING
2 nd Annual Texas Teapot Tournament
The newly formed HPG C.A.M.E.O. - Houston Potters Guild Clay Arts Museum and Educational Organization - will host the Second Annual Texas Teapot Tournament in January 2008 in Houston, Texas.
Hundreds of teapots created by clay artists for this international competition will be juried by Oliver Goldesberry, owner of the highly respected fine craft and three-dimensional gallery, Goldesberry Gallery. A Grand Prize of $1,000, a purchase award, will be presented, with the winning teapot becoming the third acquisition for Houston's newest museum. Goldesberry will also select the winner of the 2008 Memorial Award, given this year in honor of Tom Acquisto, owner of The Ceramic Store, whose sudden death this summer saddened the whole of the Houston clay community.
The teapots will be on display for public viewing from January 5-31 at the Houston Potters Guild Shop & Gallery, 2726 White Oak Drive.
A special Champagne Reception will take place on Thursday, January 3 from 6 to 9 p.m. at
3195 Inwood Drive. Also on January 3, a $500 "People's Choice" Award will be voted on by those present. On this dates, there will also be a silent auction of pieces (closes at 8 a.m. on January 3) by featured potters.
Proceeds from the event will benefit the building and special program fund for C.A.M.E.O.
The deadline for entry to this event has been extended from November 5th to November 16th, 2007. More information is available at www.hpgcameo.org.
Rosen Media Advertising Opportunities
Artists across the country are gearing up for the winter trade shows. Rosen Media has two great opportunities to get your work in front of thousands of galleries and consumers.
AmericanStyle magazine is producing its first ever Resource Guide for artists who specialize in custom & commissional work, galleries and consumers, due out in the April issue. Reservation deadline for the Resource Guide is December 7 ; materials are due December 14 .
Advertise in the Buyers Guide, the only on-site promotional magazine at the Buyers Market of American Craft. Reservation deadline is December 14 ; materials are due December 22 .
Call 1.800.642.4314 ext. 221 for more information on both these time-sensitive offers.
Penland School of Craft Spring 08 Concentration
Penland School of Craft is accepting work-study applications for spring eight-week classes in letterpress, metals, textiles, and wood until December 7, 2007 .
Spring Eight-Week Concentration
March 9-May 2, 2008
A list of classes and instructors can be found at http://www.penland.org/classes/fall_07_spring_08/Spring_8.html
Quote of the Month:
Technology adds nothing to art. Two thousand years ago, I could tell you a story, and at any point during the story I could stop, and ask, Now do you want the hero to be kidnapped, or not? But that would, of course, have ruined the story. Part of the experience of being entertained is sitting back and plugging into someone else's vision.
--Penn Jillette (1955-), US magician & showman
Market Insider
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