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Jani Freimann

6 Years Ago

So...i Decided To Try Something...

I stopped commenting in the discussion pages and stopped entering contests and stopped running contest and stopped messaging my horse group and stopped posting anything to social media from FAA to see what would happen.
I usually announce the contests via social media and call for votes.
I usually generate about one or two sales a month. Since doing this though I haven't had a sale in months. For me, it seems, that social media works. That is FB, twitter, Google plus and sending messages to my group I host.
I had been thinking that I was spending too much time to get the one or two sales a month. Well, I am on social media the same amount of time, but not pushing my work. I'm going back to what I was doing. At least my time on social media will pay me more than zero.

What are your thoughts?

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Diana Angstadt

6 Years Ago

The images I sell seem to be NOT the ones I am promoting..... interesting.

 

Jim Hughes

6 Years Ago

I'm not a statistician but I'd say the sample size is way too small to draw any conclusions. I'm not selling any more than I did last year despite having more photos and (supposedly) getting a ranking boost from past sales.

 

Lisa Kaiser

6 Years Ago

Welcome back Jani!

 

Toby McGuire

6 Years Ago

I experimented with stopping tweeting and it had no impact on my sales at all. Even when I was Tweeting I never sold anything that matched up with what I tweeted out.

 

Bill Swartwout

6 Years Ago

I use social media and a couple of travel websites I own to send potential buyers to my AWP page (never to FAA or Pixels). It seems to help. I see an increase in traffic and occasional sales after I run a promotion on FB with Twitter. My Ocean City FB page has 19K fans and my corresponding Ocean City Twitter page has 7K fans. I am also careful to not post TOO many promotions and try to find other means of engaging fans.

I agree with Jim, however, about sample size, I am one person with one account so my results are not to be considered definitive. It seems to work for me much of the time - but not all the time. Except near the holidays - where I end up selling a LOT of calendars (unfortunately via another POD) every time I run a promotion. :)


---------------
~ Bill
~ US Pictures .com

 

Jani Freimann

6 Years Ago

It is a small sample size. If I go back to what I was doing and I start making sales again would it be a coincidence?

Thank you, Lisa. Nice picture of you. :-)

Diana, mine are usually a mix. Some that are promoted and some that aren't. Perhaps you are bringing interest to your page and they find something else that like better.

 

Mario Carta

6 Years Ago

I'm all for trying new ideas!

 

David Bridburg

6 Years Ago

You only miss 100% of the shots you do not take.

Dave

 

Roy Erickson

6 Years Ago

Jani - here is hoping your return to 'promoting' your work works out for you.

 

Jani Freimann

6 Years Ago

I agree, Dave.

I'll take that, RD.

Got some booth shows coming up. Signed up for 4 this year. Need to get painting...a lot...been doing hard stuff in my yard and am exhausted. Plus recovering from an injury.

I have 3 graduations next week and company coming. Been prepping for that.

I will get back to promoting, but I think I'll take a really long nap first.

 

Lois Bryan

6 Years Ago

Jani could it be timing in general, too ... maybe?? This is always a slow time for me ... though I realize that's not the case for everyone.

 

It is unfortunate that FAA doesn't show stats related to where the views/sales originated, such as from a facebook link or internal search on FAA.

I have Google analytics but, meh, more technical than I care to get involved with.

On Etsy, I am happy to be able to see how many visits my shop or a listing gets from various social platforms.
This provides me with feedback as to which sites are worth promoting on,(or, kick it up a few notches on the sites with fewer link backs).

Due to time constraints, I dropped way back on FAA promotion, (contests, social network posts etc), and yet my sales have increased steadily :)

 

Robert Yaeger

6 Years Ago

I have submitted FAA tech requests regarding adding statistics that show customer's breadcrumbs / how they found the artist.
I am adding a request today for the addition of an optional customer feedback form, that would give an opportunity for the customer to provide information to the artist, either anonymously, or including contact information. Having this information provided by willing customers could be very helpful to determine what social media sites, FAA groups, discussion threads, contests, etc., are worth investing our time.

 

Thomas Woolworth

6 Years Ago

I believe it's a complete package approach....
All of the below is a means of promoting your work.
Contest
Groups
Discusions
Limited Edition sales
Good lengthy image descriptions
Well thought out keywords
A well organized gallery of groups
Social media
AND new uploads for the Bots to chomp on....

We have no idea how FAA ranks accounts that appear to be inactive due to some of the above things not being done.
I have a respectable number of sales, However my 600+ sales do not compare to many of the great Aritist that are doing very nicely with their sales of 1000's.

So I feel I'm still learning from those Artists.

 

Edward Fielding

6 Years Ago

Spending all of your time and effort with other artists trying to sell their own work is for socializing.

For actual selling you need to engage in the world outside the bubble.

 

James McCormack

6 Years Ago

SM gets me visits no sales. Any time I have stopped SM, visits stop. No prints sold, but I have sold originals on SM.

 

Jenny Rainbow

6 Years Ago

Jani, sometimes we really need some rest from daily promotion without push visits/ sales. But by the practice I can see that suddenly things starting to work by the huge work which done previously. Also in my opinion and understanding the patience and consistence is the key - and better not stop but go further anyway.

I am absolutely agree with Thomas its a package approach with everything involved. I noticed that sometime getting a sale from contest - one of the most remarkable example was a red car image which I placed in contest and in 20 minutes got a sale! Sometimes I can see the sale from discussion - at least when I can make exact recognition which way brought me the sale.

Sometime I do claim the uncertain FAA statistic which never can give us the clear picture from where/ which path the buyer came. I know by other sites its possible to have such statistic why not set it here?? The help of that would be HUGE! Than we can be able to see where to concentrate and not get exhausted by marketing work!
I do use a big range of medias including Pinterest, Twitter, Google +,Facebook, Blog, Youtube, Houzz, Instagram, Flickr + consistent adding of new works and activity on FAA and the summary of sale is definitely not adequate for the huge work done and time spent! I want to market smarter but dont have a help from FAA statistic where I have to give more attention and more time. Where to concentrate my attention.
Give that tools to us and we really can do much more and not periodically give up on the vain efforts!

#Diana, I can totally relate with your words - always selling images what I did not promote, which sometimes have few visits and no comments and never been in any social media posted !! That make me nuts as could not find any explanation for that!

 

Kevin OCONNELL

6 Years Ago

I find that many of us are not into group settings. Going out and mingling at galleries and artist events and such. I feel its a part of the process to complete the circle and get yourself known in the business world and to others that may buy your work or tell others about you. I don't think the contests, groups and all the other stuff means much of anything really. its just more unnecessary work and time wasted. Real contests - Yes, but not here.

The happy medium between real life relationships, social media and your own website is the way to do it without guessing. I'm starting the real life relationship part that I stopped doing 15 years ago to finish my circle. I find that the major hurdle I'm going to have to adjust to in the real life part is - It will cost money to go out and socialize.

 

Jenny Rainbow

6 Years Ago

Kevin, please make a correction for the location of artists who is selling here. Not only USA. And in different countries is a different possibilities to art sales.
Somewhere I already mentioned that here is different attitude for the prints in home decor than in US
In Czech I cant do much go around. My buyers - 98 % Americans - thats why my concentration on online sales.

I do try to deal with designers and sometimes it works, but exhibitions and galleries at least in my place - nope, did not work at all. Well, at least for me.

 

VIVA Anderson

6 Years Ago

I really miss the friends I made through the art communities/groups on facebook....the care, support, was uplifting. I miss them more than they miss me, of course, lol..........
the
but....is, I am very tired of promoting, and the result is as expected: 0 !........Promoting and enjoying promoting do make a big difference, Jani. Am sure you're missed.
I hope you get back on the treadmill after the upcoming home events. Your work sells, of course ! Especially knowing, though statistically unproven::is anything proven?, that
you got returns for your efforts......Wishing you success/sales/good times.
Me? I'm keeping quiet these days......wishing but not willing to do the whole package to achieve a sale or two.

 

Brian Wallace

6 Years Ago

What does logic dictate?
(Answer your own question)

Much of social media and "word of mouth" as it relates to sales is not measurable. It can however give you certain statistics as to how many people you're reaching directly and how quickly etc., and all of it is free.

I see a number of people who question this "logic" for some reason, probably the fact that they have no way of relating any sales directly to it. They are frustrated with the amount of work they put into it for the returns they get, but that doesn't necessarily mean the networking, exposure, and connections aren't working. It could even have something to do with the art itself which seems to be the last thing we would suspect. It may have something to do with the targeted audience. Maybe you haven't targeted it at all? There are many variables which could influence the outcome, again most are not measurable and even if they were, you can't always look for something else to blame. You put in the work, you put in the time, you take your chances.

 

Nino Ponditerra

6 Years Ago

Thank you everyone for your opinions, suggestions and visions. I have just joined the FAA, and I try to learn from everyone here.
I have a little question:
Thomas Woolworth said above that he has 600+ sales and other artists even more...
But when I look at the accounts of the artists I do not see selling statistics, is it available publicly?

 

Joy McKenzie

6 Years Ago

Nino, no...artists' selling statistics are not available publicly. Most POD sites...or any sites that sell items that identify back to a specific person, don't make such details public.

 

Lisa Kaiser

6 Years Ago

The art business is daunting for sure! And tiring if you are trying too hard. We all have our own path to follow.

Here is my path for now.

I love painting and do it weekly on my down time for fun, so what choices do I have other than to put a few paintings in my front yard on Fridays while I paint?

What I do have is the perfect amount of business. I'm right where I want to be for now.

I set out a few of my artworks on Fridays and when people drive by, they might slow down or stop and I sell one or two a month. I'm painting anyway, why not in front of my house?

Facebook is my best marketing practice, as well as linked.in but I'm NOT wanting to take time for these customers. I want to paint in the now moment and sell in the same now moment thusly my movement entitled "impatientism"

I'm so excited to try out a new techniques, and I want to master them so bad, that this is what keeps me inspired and motivated. I laugh at my failure.

All I can say, is if you're getting tired, uninspired, it's not fun anymore, something is very wrong. It's supposed to be a labor of love so make it that way.

I take my art with me where ever I go. I am making brochures to pass out for next weeks painting session.

Believe it or not, too much art business is very upsetting to me so I want to keep it small. It's a lot of stress because I'm not ready to succeed but the money is really nice.

I need more years of practice. I'm the first to admit that I'm only an average or below average artist, my love of art is there, but I still need a lot of patience and practice...so WHY NOT sell the practice paintings? Some of my worst paintings sell rapidly I might add.

I'll let you know what I sold today, if I sell at all.

 

Shirley Sykes Bracken

6 Years Ago

I promote every day for several hours. I'm on all the places mentioned here. Not much luck, some, but not much. Sell Totes at Christmas fairly well.

I am good at what I do, and I do it a LOT. I am very prolific too. (and that's putting it mildly)

I'd like to know if any of you have experience with some of the companies that promote for you. At almost 200./mo, I'd like to know if they help.

One company, Network Solutions has been after me for years. They say they will link to FAA too.

Please advise me if you have any experience in this.

(Is it OK to mention that company here?)

 

Mary Bedy

6 Years Ago

Shirley, someone else will correct me if I'm wrong, but Network Solutions is just a domain holder like GoDaddy and a few others. All they do is link your domains to you web site for you, I think. They don't actually promote you, but I may be wrong.

I sell a little less than once a month on average and it seems to make no difference whether I tweet, post to Facebook, enter contests or just ignore everything. I suppose if I sold several a month, I could consider an experiment worth doing like what you did, Jani, but It's hard to say what works. I don't tweet everything or post everything because I usually upload up to 30 images at a time, and I don't want people to disconnect from me, but very little of what I've sold in the last seven years corresponds to stuff I have promoted.

 

Shirley Sykes Bracken

6 Years Ago

Funny, one day I got a huge amount of visitors, just that one day. I have no idea how that happened. Sigh...

Mary, yes, they do that, but they also market in SM. Targeting and all that. I don't want to advertise for them here, I just wondered about any companies that market. Do they help???

 

JC Findley

6 Years Ago

It is worth noting that what you promote may not sell directly but it can lead to other image sales.

Example, I do a lot of gun art. Frankly, most gun enthusiasts would rather buy the actual gun in the image than pay the same amount for a picture of a gun to hang on the wall. Now, those gun images and the knives for that matter, are extremely popular on Pinterest. They lead a lot of people to look at my AW site to look at the image of the gun they want. While they are there though they often roam around and look at other stuff. So while the gun images don't sell directly they DO get people, real people, to my art site and looking at other images they very well may want on their walls.

Any single image you promote may have a very small market or may not have a market at all as far as direct sales go but they may well draw a HUGE crowd of viewers and some in that crowd end up buying things they didn't even know they wanted until they got here.

 

Mary Bedy

6 Years Ago

True, JC. It's just hard to know where to put your effort in particular when your time is limited. I haven't pinned for ages, but I have tweeted and posted to FB. I need to get more stuff on Instagram and see if I can snag some freighter fans since I have a few of them "collected" now. I've sold one of those. Probably because someone tripped over it.

 

Nino Ponditerra

6 Years Ago

Lisa, you said that linked.in works well...
Could you, please, tell a little bit more about it: is it really worth to create an artist profile there, what opportunities it gave you, what are you doing on linked.in to promote your art?
May be somebody else has a profile on LinkedIn and would like to share her/his experience?

Thanks in advance

 

David King

6 Years Ago

In my case I couldn't link my rate of sales to any of my marketing efforts, even when I worked especially hard on marketing leading up to the Christmas shopping season last year I didn't sell a single thing. My marketing will be very limited going forward, and my attitude will be any sales at all will be a nice bonus, selling isn't my primary reason for being here anymore.

 
 

John Haldane

6 Years Ago

In December and January, I was getting 10,000 visitors a month. For June, I haven't had 2,000 yet. The numbers are declining every month and have been since January.

I had a good April for sales, then sold nothing in May and nothing so far in June.

I enter contests, but am finding it more and more of a pain in the toosh. I open a contest and somewhere, usually in the "fine print" are restrictions like "no photos" or "no digital" or "you must be invited" or "you must be a member of this group." Really, it is more trouble than it is worth.

I post images in numerous groups at least 2-3 times a month just as I have been doing for 5 years here. It makes no difference in sales whatsoever.

I promote every new piece on Facebook and Twitter. I also promote my website many times each week in several places including LinkedIn. I pass out business cards and write blogs.

But I have had terrible sales in the two local galleries where I hang my art the past 2 months. I haven't made even the rent, much less a profit. I had an art fair last Saturday on a GORGEOUS day and literally hundreds and hundreds of people were there. I didn't even GROSS enough to cover rent of the tent space.

Last year, I blamed the election and all the bad vibes nationwide from it (USA). This year, I have no excuse.

People seem to like my art - I have thousands of likes and favorites and comments - but sales are fickle. Sometimes I want to give up.

So, in response to the OP, I am seriously considering stopping all entries into contests, posts in groups and message boards, and time-consuming on-line promos. At least it costs little to be here. Elsewhere, I may drop out of the galleries.

_I_ like my stuff and my creativity won't shut off, but all this other stuff is a pain with no reward. Color me depressed.

 

David King

6 Years Ago

I know the feeling John, that's why I'm treating this now as just "sharing my hobbies" rather than as a business. Life is too short to spend a lot of time doing stuff you don't enjoy doing.

 

Floyd Snyder

6 Years Ago

Contests, commenting, liking, groups and the like are all social aspects of FAA that are not best of use one's time if they are looking to increase sales.

Posting to almost anywhere outside of FAA would be a much better use of time.

However, you can make contest wins or group features a part of your marketing outside of FAA and give them added value.

I used to post in groups and try to get the same image featured in any three groups. As soon as that happened to five images I would put together an album on Facebook and say something like: "These five images have been featured in three different groups on Fine Art America, home to the worlds' finest artist."

Each image would have a link back to the image on my AW, but you had to click on the image to see the links in the description. It did not show up in the original posts. This is a system I worked out with dozens of group administrators so my posts did not look like commercial advertising.

On Twitter, I posted the image and said: "featured in three FainArtAmerica groups" of words of that nature. I mixed it up a lot.

 

Lisa Kaiser

6 Years Ago

Nino. I just saw your post.

When I signed up with Linked.In I had no idea what I was doing so being the silly person I am, I added any skill related to the arts and science that I thought I had. I posted a painting I had sold and my artist website.

On Linked.in they will suggest friends and I took all of them especially if I didn't know them and if I did know them, I pushed the validation buttons for knowing and validating their skills.

I do the same thing on all social networking plus I always give out info on my FAA website and email.


All this said, I never really do much in social networking, email, Facebook and I never ever answer my phone as I am much too busy.

 

MARTY SACCONE

6 Years Ago

Am trying this out,...... to see if I get any bites????

I just purchased a mailing list of 100 names at a US city location of my choice.

Am drafting up a promotional introduction and will see what using the US postal service and first class postage,...drums up????

I created and had 5 x 7 post cards printed up with a montage of text and my images as my mailing promotion.

Nothing ventured,...nothing gained.

I can't do worse than,...my current no sales.

;-)) Marty Saccone

 

Lisa Kaiser

6 Years Ago

Good luck, Marty. I'm visualizing your success, I think it's a great idea.

 

MARTY SACCONE

6 Years Ago

Will stay tuned to keep up with the great comments shared here.

 

Nino Ponditerra

6 Years Ago

Thank you, James for the link and Lisa for sharing your experience.
I'm still not quit sure for the LinkedIn. So, It is something I put in my TODO list for later.
But I have just created a Google+ profile, so let's see what will it give.

Marty, good luck!
I love your birds photos.

 

J Morgan Massey

6 Years Ago

It's a rush whenever one of my pieces actually sells, but to be totally honest, I do this because I enjoy it (I swear that's the truth!).

 

MARTY SACCONE

6 Years Ago


Nino,...Your paintings are stunning,...I especially like Evening Forest,....and Matterhorn and Mist In Morning.

You have a gift touch and talent.

The detail quality of of your personal website images,....wow,...wonderful detail of your brush strokes, so three dimensional,..is like looking at the actual canvas, well done.

Thanks,....am now photographing a sequence of momma Robin on her nest in that same tree.

I should be able to catch the babies being fed and hopefully their departing first flight?

I submitted the,.... "Robin, Hanging in There" photo to a contest and it has been selected for use on the 2018 calendar for AARP

No payment but wide distribution with a bio and photo story line that might bring some exposure to my work.

A surprising achievement for this old timer non professional photographer.

Enjoyed viewing your work.

My best to you here on FAA and in your business.

Marty

 

Chuck Staley

6 Years Ago

12 years ago, when I discovered that I could call myself an artist... I was a director for 35 years... I was invited to participate in a lot of art gallery and museum shows, so I bought an Epson 13x19" printer and printed a lot of photos from my army days and framed many of them.

I have dozens of those prints and framed works left over and attempt to sell them on Craigslist, but to no avail.

A few weeks ago I was asked to participate in a neighborhood yard sale, so I said, why not? I would sell all my old work... Not any of the new.

I did so poorly... $4... that I decided to do it every week!

So, Saturday, I will host my 4th YARD/ART SALE. So far I have made $24, but people are beginning to show up and like my work and say they will come back the next week.

It is exposure and I have nothing better to do on Saturdays, so, we will see how it goes. Maybe I will sneak in a few new pieces if I get the traffic.



 

MARTY SACCONE

6 Years Ago

Chuck,

You ought to put out some of your current art work out for your weekly yard sale,......a fair portion of it has a distinct Maxfield Parrish look to it ,....wow

and his work has a following by collectors and art enthusiasts for sure.

I'm betting I'm not the only person to see that in your unique personal art style.

I'm an instant fan already

Nice work sir.

Best of luck.

Marty

 

Chuck Staley

6 Years Ago

Thank you very much, Marty. (You may be one of my BFFs.)

I will do that, but I must get my printer working again.

However, an artist dropped by who just bought a $4,000 Epson and will print for .04 cents a square inch if I supply my paper or canvas, so I may do that.

Probably cheaper than if I make my own prints.

 

Nino Ponditerra

6 Years Ago

Thank you Marty for such a high evaluation of my works.
Hope they will find people that would like to acquire them.
I believe that each artist puts a certain energy in his works, and this energy (if positive) should work, make people happy, perform changes not staying unclaimed.

Yes, I'm following you, so I will not miss your photos!

 

Jani Freimann

6 Years Ago

Nino, welcome to FAA. The people are amazing here. I have found them to be friendly and ever so helpful.

Viva, I think about you all the time. Glad to see you again. Hope all is well with you. :-)

Marty, good for you on trying something specific. I hope it works for you.

Jenny, I too have gotten sales shortly after entering into a contest here. Sometimes my own contests and sometimes someone elses. I'm picky about which ones I enter. I try to choose ones that I am willing to promote or are being promoted.

Some people here do well doing FB ads. That is something I am working on learning how to do properly. It may work best for selling prints rather than originals. Btw, that is actual ads not boosted posts. You can do them for as little as a $1 a day.

Floyd, I like your Twitter idea.

Chuck, I think you are onto something. Keep up the good work. Maybe kick it up a notch with a demo. There is a store near me that I could have a table set up on Sundays for $25. Thinking of doing that one of these days. Maybe once a month at first. If I am a regular at that, I think people would start looking forward to seeing you. Getting a sort of local celebrity going and then a word of mouth thing starts to happen.

If I did something like that, and like Lisa does, (selling from my yard) I would end up selling nothing because I live in the country. Lol

Being visible is certainly the key. Actually, it is connections; which, of course, includes visibility and it appears that Lisa and Chuck are tapping into that.

What are your thoughts about that? Connections.

I have also recently realized that, as artists, our product is emotion. Do you think you sell a specific emotion or a variety of them?
You may not think you are selling an emotion, but somehow they are connecting to your work and usually it is because it strikes a cord on the heart strings. A memory, somewhere they have been or want to be, makes them feel joy, or gives them a sense of peace, ect.

How can you incorporate that into your elevator speech of what and why you do what you do? After you make a connection with someone, they usually ask that question or maybe read your bio here to find out. If they find you here.

 

David King

6 Years Ago

"I have also recently realized that, as artists, our product is emotion. Do you think you sell a specific emotion or a variety of them?"

Viewers usually react emotionally to art whether that's the intention of the artist or not, however the reaction is often not what the artist expects or intends, you can't control how others respond to your art. I am often surprised by the comments on my art, people reacting and seeing things I never considered. When I paint a landscape I am usually relating to my personal experience from spending time in that landscape, I'm trying to capture the feelings I felt. However sometimes I'm just trying to make an interesting design and if someone reacts emotionally to it that's just a bonus.

 

Chuck Staley

6 Years Ago

Jani: "I think people would start looking forward to seeing you. Getting a sort of local celebrity going and then a word of mouth thing starts to happen."

My thought exactly.

On weekdays, hundreds of cars go down the side street where I hold my sale, so on Friday I hang a sign and some framed artwork that's easily seen while driving past.

As we all know, it takes repetition for things to sink in.

 

Lisa Kaiser

6 Years Ago

I think Chuck Staley has a great point.

 

Jani Freimann

6 Years Ago

Chuck, you have the right attitude.

David, I know you've said that you don't like selling your work, but most of it is about connection with your art. If they connect to your work you are at least halfway there.

 

Nino Ponditerra

6 Years Ago

Tank you Jani.
Being visible is something very important.
Of course, if more people see our works, more chance we get there would be somebody really interested in buying.
And I also believe in soul connection, and that there are people who could "feel" works and emotions behind them, because image is not everything, there is always something more behind....

A little step for today:
My first group on FAA has been just created.
And it is dedicated to UNICORNS!
Please, join everyone who feel connection, loves, admires these mythical animals:
https://fineartamerica.com/groups/1-unicorns.html

 

Sue Harper

6 Years Ago

I find Tweeting is making no difference to my sales. BUT what I am finding is people contacting me regarding the shipping rates at FAA, and asking for an alternative (which I have and give them). I wish FAA would offer free shipping at certain times of the year - it would certainly help to increase sales on FAA.

https://fineartamerica.com/profiles/1-sue-harper.html

(Please check out my photography!)

 

Jani Freimann

6 Years Ago

Well, one of mine sold yesterday and I had only just started up promoting on social media again. Wish I knew where they saw my work or if it was a random sale. It wasn't the one I promoted.
I just tweeted about it, google +, and Facebook.

It is Member Of The Band
https://fineartamerica.com/saleannouncement.html?id=9946c0695a50738ac1f055fdda8c5250

Sell Art Online

 

J L Meadows

6 Years Ago

I've actually stayed away from Twitter (my main marketing venue) recently because of the abrasive political climate there. Gets on my nerves. Besides, although I pushed like mad on Twitter during the Xmas season, I didn't get a single sale.

But despite staying off Twitter,my T-shirt sales are up. Yesterday I sold a tee of my design "Maneater". NOT from FAA, of course - I sold it from my other t-shirt site. Despite not pushing my art at all. Go figure.

 

David King

6 Years Ago

I tempted to get on Twitter again because I actually did get some interaction there, no sales but I'm more about sharing now, if Twitter gets my art in front of more faces then maybe it's worth doing again. I like IG but I don't have a smart phone so I can't send or receive DM's, I don't want to seem like I'm ignoring somebody because I can't see their DM.

 

Bill Swartwout

6 Years Ago

Social Media absolutely works for me. Another POD had a Father's Day sale - that I promoted through the last weekend - and scored two very nice sales. Today there is a "Summer Solstice Sale" - so guess what I've been doing this morning. (You can see a sample on my Facebook page - link is below in my sig.) I've also done that here at FAA - by creating some of the "special" stretched canvas deals. However, I've only scored one sale - of a popular print - at a greatly reduced price.


---------------
~ Bill
~ US Pictures .com
~ Visit me on Facebook.

 

Jenny Rainbow

6 Years Ago

Bill, its great work done! I was visiting your Facebook page and have some strange feel - 1600 + followers but posts "likes" a very much few.
And as per your words it doesn't affect the sales? So no matter how visible your posts? How much people by Facebook statistic approaching your posts usually?
Also I can see you often offering discounts - does it work for you?

All of my trials with discounts never worked for me - dont know why buyers not paying attention for my discounts and buying by whole amount.
Lately I decided dont give the discounts anymore...

 

Jenny Rainbow

6 Years Ago


Jani, congratulations on your recent sale!

- Wish I knew where they saw my work or if it was a random sale. It wasn't the one I promoted. - I would love to know that TOOOOO!!! Also got a sale of my 5 years old uploaded image recently and I never promoted that particular one.....

 

Bill Swartwout

6 Years Ago

Jenny, two thoughts...

1) That Facebook page is not the one where I really concentrate efforts - Most of my photography sales are landscapes/seascapes about four different "touristy" areas - and I have commercial FB pages for each of them that do get better engagement. For example, my page for Ocean City, MD has nearly 20K fans and the corresponding twitter account (/OceanCity) has 7,600 followers. I have a Myrtle Beach page with 11,000+ fans - and have just started adding images for there.

2) The recent sales I have promoted are by another POD, the one I used almost exclusively before I came here (and then, sort of, neglected the old place entirely). Well, since I discovered they are showing some of my "sold" pieces on Amazon I decided to take another look and do some A/B testing. Their "sales" are more realistic in that they don't come entirely out of the artist markup but, instead, off of the TOTAL price (even if an item is framed). I'm sure you saw the amount if you looked at my FB page. Go ahead and price something out to see how it works.


---------------
~ Bill
~ US Pictures .com
~ Visit me on Facebook.

 

Jenny Rainbow

6 Years Ago

Bill, Im just impressed by the quantity of your Facebook pages! I do have 4 and already feel exhausted to manage them )) and with less than 1000 followers...
Could you give answers for couple of questions - How long you have those pages? Did you get an organic followers with time or you were using the payable adds?

 

Bill Swartwout

6 Years Ago

Jenny - I just sent you a message (FAA mail?) because some things are best to not share in an open forum.


---------------
~ Bill
~ US Pictures .com
~ Visit me on Facebook.

 

Darcy Michaelchuk

6 Years Ago

Well, my single sample size is consistent with the original post. I have been focusing on more client work and volunteering and less on adding FAA art. Since I took that action in October 2016, I have sold 1 phone case. Prior I would sell 1 large print every couple months. FAA this past year isn't worth the membership. In fact I ended up selling locally through word of mouth 20 canvas wraps in a single month.

Further, I noticed last month some of my sponsored pages didn't show my sponsorship when searching in incognito mode. That was the real disappointment. The FAA approach seems to have some unwritten rules on how they market your art.

This is why I think after a number of satisfied years at FAA, I am contemplating not renewing and removing my work this summer.

 

Darcy, I too am disappointed with the sponsorship pages not working. However personally I would not remove my images after all the work I have done here. The annual fee is very reasonable. I am going to concentrate on other avenues as well, if only I can find the time. Hopefully all the bugs here will eventually get fixed.

 

Roy Erickson

6 Years Ago

Darcy - almost invariably - you will be able to sell your work better in person than on line in any POD venue. First - none of them really care about you as an artist or as a person - they are interested in only one thing - making money. And while FAA/Pixels has perhaps the best quality product that your images can go on, the least expensive member fee for what you get, they don't promote your work but whoever they can get whose images will sell and bring in the money. I think I could sell, sell, sell - IF I could afford to buy the prints myself and display them in the right venue locally - certainly not in the downtown area of this burg that shuts down before the sun is even near the horizon - they close the same time all other businesses that aren't up all night. People that work in the downtown area - the city hall, courthouse, lawyers etc - are on their way home - not stopping in the gallery to look and perhaps purchase art. There is no reason for out of town visitors - or even local people to go downtown after 5 pm. Well there is one bar and deli grill that seems to do pretty well - but other wise, the carpets are rolled up long before dark.

 

Jani Freimann

6 Years Ago

Darcy, I am not sure what you are saying about the sponsorship page. If you mean that you cannot see your image on the front page of a keyword, then that is probably because it has not rotated around to your turn yet. There are many others who have sponsored the same keywords. You are in a pool there as well. We cannot rely on just one area to get sales. We have to push all areas to get sales. At least 1/3 of your time should be on marketing or at the very least learning how to market your work. FAA will not do that for us. I do better in person as well, but like having a site to send people to. This site is for prints. I have another site I use for originals.
You have great work, Darcy. It may be that you suffer from what many of us suffer from. Not knowing how to market your work and not knowing who your customer is. That problem will follow you everywhere if that is indeed a problem you have. It won't matter where you sell your work online.

I signed up for a mentor this year and am learning a lot about why I am not thriving as an artist. I have also been learning how to do a proper Facebook Ad. Not a boost, but an actual ad. I haven't made it much of a priority due to other things that I am making a priority right now, but it is in my plans before summer's end.

The fee is incredibly reasonable. $30/year is the best you will get and be able to receive what you want for a sale, if you make one, and not have random discounts on your stuff. One sale usually pays for several years worth of fees for me. On all my sites that I pay to be on, the sales cover far more than what I have to pay in fees.

Aimee, I have found that my problem isn't finding the time, but a priority problem. We all make the time for what is important to us. The reason I don't make the time for some things is because I may have a problem believing that it is worth it. If we want to be successful, some things we don't want to do have to become a priority. I am saying this out loud to myself too.

 

I agree about prioritizing, it's just very time consuming for one site, let alone trying different sites and then there is the marketing..... About the sponsorship pages, they are not working as they are supposed to, they don't rotate, they are stuck on the same images. Honestly I have been marketing the same as always but since the sponsorship pages quit working I have found I have had less sales. Time to diversify.

 

Jani Freimann

6 Years Ago

The way I understand it, the sponsored images rotate. The ones that are stuck have gotten there by earning a spot or are the collections that have been put there by the administration.

 

Abbie admitted there is an issue with the sponsorship pages and that Sean would be working on it now that the baby has been born. : - )

 

Drew

6 Years Ago

Marketing? What marketing. Sometimes I paint or draw in the cafe'. Thatz about the extent of my marketing.

 

Jani Freimann

6 Years Ago

@Aimee, I was not aware of that. HopefI'll they fix it.

@Drew, unfortunately, marketing is needed to become successful. If you are in it for the hobby and don't care then that is fine too.

 

This discussion is closed.