You Don't Have To Convince Everyone That You Rock--just 6 Or 7 People

Here is the link for more information

http://kleinartistworks.com

If it's all about relationships I'm screwed. lol

DK - I don't think that developing relationships is all that overwhelming. Nothing more than what you're doing on the forum here I think.

I find it easy on forums, virtually impossible anywhere else. I'm just not the networker type, I've recognized that for quite some time and more recently that without networking you don't have an art career therefore I've accepted the fact that art will never be a career for me, I've made my peace with it.

Very nice thanks man.

I hear ya DK.

Same with me.

Interesting. Thank you for sharing, Frank!

Nevermind convincing 6 or 7 that you rock...some need to convince 1....themselves.

"It's about relationships." for me - that is a total fail. I can do that in person - but have never succeeded at it on line or even with snail mail.

The idea of meeting people and buillding connections online isn't dumb - it's exactly what we all thought the Internet would be about, back when it was getting started. Today we're going through a rough patch where everything of value seems to be getting swamped by a deluge of nonsense, marketing, manipulation and noise. I think better days lie ahead, as the digital world evolves and technology eventually steps up to the plate and gives us ways to cut through the bull. Maybe that will happen sooner than I think - I feel like today, so many people are frustrated and have lost patience with the 'online community' idea and have pretty much decided to tune it out. So there's a big and growing demand for better ways to communicate and interact.

Many of us thought Google+ might be the breakthrough, but it wasn't the right thing at the right time.

Back when forums like this were the only SM I built quite a few online relationships, once it went to FB, Twitter etc it all went to hell. People abandoned the forums for FB which IMO sucks royal for interaction, though better than all the other SM's, but that's not saying much and the forums became ghost towns. I only post on SM to get links out there for SEO, I've given up on interaction on SM.

That was brilliant, Frank. Thank you.

Andrew you have a very good point.

Lisa you are very welcome. My pleasure. Hope you enjoy the free webinar.

Thank you Frank. He made a lot of sense. I will check out the free but $1000 is a hefty price.

The video is ~ meh ~ but I am living proof that 6-7 solid clients are all that's needed to sustain a career for decades. And you don't even need them all at the same time :-)

Nor is 24/7 networking needed. That would kill me. All that's needed in that department is to get out of your house from time to time. Go do what you do. Live your life. Say "Hi" every once in a while. Let people find you and then let them buy from you.

"There must be more to it then that." Not really. Success is simple. *Failure* is complicated.


Dan Turner
Dan Turner's Seven Keys to Selling Art Online

Dan, I do get out, but not usually to where anybody is talking about art, it really isn't that simple. Aren't your clients companies that commission graphic design from you? Not really the same thing as selling fine art in galleries let alone POD. I just read about a fine artist that did work for several years in graphic design before switching. He said the money was real good right from the beginning in graphic design and illustration, but after he switched he had a few very lean years, in fact he lived solely on savings for a while.

I'm thinking of doing a series of blog posts, or perhaps starting a chat group, or maybe I'll write a book:

"The Wallflowers Guide To Selling Art"

I've done it, so I know it can be done, and I have never "networked", never handed out business cards at a mixer or social event. At just about every party I ever attended, I only get to know what shoes people are wearing.

I can't even begin to count how many times clients called me "Steve", and I'm not kidding about that!

I have a lot of respect for people who can do the "relationship marketing" thing, but like DK and so many more of us here on FAA, I fit more comfortably in the "non-traditional route" category.

Online people think of me as bold and courageous, outgoing, a Mr. Niceguy, and a bit of a know-it-all (I do know it all).

In real life, you wouldn't notice me unless I set my hair on fire.

-YoPedro
YoPedroPix.com

Twitter@YoPedro

"I do get out, but not usually to where anybody is talking about art,"

Me neither. I'm in a lot of biker bars because I play drums. There are sometimes half-naked girls *literally* hanging upside down from rafters. Guess how much art talk is going on in those places? And yet, just by virtue of being there and saying "Hi" I've met people from all over the world. Nice people looking to buy a second, third or forth property. People starting businesses. Financial planners. Lawyers. Dentists. Couples, singles and "It's complicated."

I always have four different business cards on me; one for drums/drum lessons, one for graphic design, one for fine art and one for church. What do they need? Not what do *I* need; what do they need? They could end up with no cards or all of them; it depends.

It's like breaking pool balls. Pow! Where do all these cards and people end up? Who texts, calls or emails me in the following weeks/months?

I have a steady art buyer in Colorado who I met while hiking in Arizona. I probably only saw six people the whole time and most of those were at the trail head.

You can meet people wherever you are. You don't even have to go off your beaten path, although that often proves productive. If you can open a short conversation (most of the time they will do it for you) then you're on your way. If you can launch a few relationships in real life, your online communications with them and with people they know will sizzle.


Dan Turner
Dan Turner's Seven Keys to Selling Art Online

Dan, what your are describing is networking, whether in a bar or at a gallery reception it's still networking. I get out but not to social gatherings because I hate them and even when I am at them I don't meet people and network with them because all I want to do is leave. That's just not my world and never will be, and like I said before that means I'll never have an art career because online alone just isn't working for me either, it is what it is, I've learned to accept that.

David, we both hate the same things. Seriously. Years ago I attended parties, chamber meetings and networking clubs for the sole purpose of drumming up business. Bleech!! I'll never do it again. People have to find me where I am and where I want to be or we are simply not going to connect.

"it is what it is, I've learned to accept that."

I don't think you've accepted that at all. Not selling well is all you write about. It's a mantra to keep disappointment at bay. As soon as you think you can, you will.


Dan Turner
Dan Turner's Seven Keys to Selling Art Online

Thing is Dan, I usually prefer to be where there are not other people, definitely not where there are lots of them, especially in a small place. I enjoy car shows, however I left one pretty quickly a couple weeks ago because there were just too many people and even when at one where I'm there enjoying myself I almost never talk to anybody, and on the off chance someone does talk to me it usually annoys me if it goes on longer than a minute. lol

It's not a mantra Dan, it's just a fact and I think it's kind of ironic, even funny now since this is a place for selling art. I do understand fully now what it takes to sell art and that's why I have accepted the fact that any sales I get will be pretty much by accident since for the most part I don't do the things that sell art, I just don't want to. It's not a matter of can or can't, it's a matter of the reality that I'm unwilling to do what it takes because what it takes is doing things that I hate doing. So, I just make my art to please myself and upload it to a couple places on the internet and what that gets me will be what that gets me and that's it.

I think it's admirable to know who you are, and who you will always be.

I still surprise myself now and then.

-YoPedro
YoPedroPix.com

Twitter@YoPedro

Great conversation here. Developing professional relationships is what this thread is about. And the method for this is different for everyone, as you can see from the posts here.


Yo Pedro - I surprise myself now and then too. Life is a work in progress. Soon as you think its figured out, we learn something new or more ...

What DK and Dan have been discussing very much seems to me to be the point of a favorite book of mine titled "Hypnotizing Maria" by one of my favorite authors Richard Bach.

DK - "it is what it is, I've learned to accept that."

Dan - "I don't think you've accepted that at all. Not selling well is all you write about. It's a mantra to keep disappointment at bay. As soon as you think you can, you will."

In "Hypnotizing Maria", Bach suggests that we are all hypnotized either by someone else or by ourselves thus self-hypnotized. This is based on his theory that hypnosis is merely "suggestion," suggestion accepted (as opposed to rejected), suggestion affirmed, suggestion confirmed....voila you're hypnotized.

I strongly suggest everyone read "Hypnotizing Maria" by Richard Bach. Not an endorsement. Just a SUGGESTION. :-)

Bill Tomsa

https://billtomsa.blogspot.com?

I know what you are talking about Bill, it's similar to Scott Adam's theory that we are all "moist robots" meaning that we are all programmable just like a machine. I buy that to a certain extent, but there are physiological factors involved as well that make us who we are. On this particular subject I've been this way for as long as I can remember, so if I was "hypnotized" or "programmed" it was done to me in my very early years.

David King - "so if I was "hypnotized" or "programmed" it was done to me in my very early years."

IMO you're right on that point, David. As our many of us are hypnotized or programmed very early in life. Sometimes for the worse and sometimes for the better.

The good news is that recognizing that fact means we can de-hypnotize ourselves and then self-hypnotize ourselves or "reprogram" ourselves. Not necessarily an easy thing to do but doable all the same. IMO.

Bill Tomsa

https://billtomsa.blogspot.com/

In reference to my earlier comment in this thread.

Selling art is no different than anything else in life. In most cases we are our own biggest obstacles to success. So many people think it's someone or something else's fault that they aren't succeeding or don't have more wealth or whatever...and never realize that they are stepping on their own toes the whole time.

I always pop in to look when Frank initiates at thread, there is always insightful information about marketing or networking. The information is great, but useless without self-confidence.

I am most definitely and introvert. I would never go to a networking event. I would not have success, because it's not my element and I'd feel very uncomfortable and unnatural. I can still network though, and do. I just have to find venues and opportunities that work for me and my individual personality type.

When I look at people marketing their art online, I see a lot of talented artists that need more self confidence and on the flip side people with little talent that ooze self confidence. There is a self realizing middle ground that needs to be found to be successful and happy in your endeavors.

In my younger days when I studied martial arts, some favorite phrases of instructors were things like: "There is no such thing as CAN'T".....and.... "CAN'T is a four letter word, don't use four letter words"

Andrew P. - "In most cases we are our own biggest obstacles to success. So many people think it's someone or something else's fault that they aren't succeeding or don't have more wealth or whatever...and never realize that they are stepping on their own toes the whole time."

To back up that thought....another of my favorite authors, Steve Chandler, states that we are prone to blame others for being "the problem" in our lives when in fact WE ARE THE PROBLEM.

Chandler goes on to say that the good news is, once we accept that we are the problem we can also realize WE CAN ALSO BE THE SOLUTION.

Bill Tomsa
https://billtomsa.blogspot.com/

Bill, great thoughts. "Chandler goes on to say that the good news is, once we accept that we are the problem we can also realize WE CAN ALSO BE THE SOLUTION."

It's such a refreshing contrast to the truckload of reasons posted here every day regarding people's lack of success, health and happiness. Personal responsibility is a beautiful thing.


Dan Turner
Dan Turner's Seven Keys to Selling Art Online

Dan - "Personal responsibility is a beautiful thing."

So true.

Bill Tomsa

https://billtomsa.blogspot.com/

Dan- "Personal responsibility is a beautiful thing"

This works both ways. If you take responsibility for the times when you aren't succeeding... you do do what it takes to get out of your own way and turn it around. On the flip side, when you are crushing it, you know it's all you and your hard work paying off. It leads to empowerment and future success.

It's a virtuous circle!

Double post

So true Andrew and the way I feel about it...

Not selling at the moment? Work my tail off to improve my standings.

Selling at the moment? Highly motivated to keep improving!

No matter what though, keep improving.

But I am like dk in that I'm not a good networker. I passively get in front of people, mostly by getting my stuff able to be found in search regularly and I'm trying really hard to take Twitter seriously (and make it a daily habit).

Because of this most of my customers are one timers save for a couple of companies that I've worked with more than once.

An update note from Paul Klein about the free webinar tonight is below, I'll respond to the discussion soon, thanks everyone:


Get those expectations ratcheted up. There’s a lot to learn.

Our LIVE, 1st webinar is tomorrow, Monday, beginning at 7 PM, Chicago time.


( Here’s the Link for info http://kleinartistworks.com )

You already have what it takes to be a successful artist.

What I’ll do in this webinar is:

• Explain how I know that you can have a highly successful art career
• Show you the broad overview of how you go about achieving success
• Reveal several initial steps that will help you immediately
• And hopefully, inspire you to work with me to fulfill your goals.

LIMITED SEATING: We are overbooked. Show up a bit early to guarantee a spot. There should not be a problem. This is the ONLY FREE WEBINAR for the year.

I will log in 20 minutes early so we can resolve any problems you may have.