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LIVE PODCAST: THURS., JUNE 11, 3 PM ET

Part III, Marketing with Social Media: Using Facebook to Sell Art

Facebook is an online social media and social networking service with with more than 2 billion users worldwide. Wow! Bigger than any art fair I've ever attended, but what can it do for you as a business tool? Can you turn all those members into customers. Or, how about .1% of them. Would that work?

This is an artist driven podcast with input from three artists who have experience on the platform:

1. Richard Sullivan from Naples, FL, who says he has "literally been to Facebook College. I know it sounds crazy but they have spent countless hours working with me."
2. Erik Jensen from Utah, who uses his very tech savvy skills to sell his art, created from computer keys, from his website and interconnected Facebook and Instagram accounts
3. Dawn Wilson, a high altitude and high latitude photographer and writer from Estes Park, CO, who integrates her website, Facebook and Instagram to manage her sales and serve as president-elect of the North American Nature Photography Association. 

With all of that expertise you will be inspired to finally use all these free tools to grow your art career.

Questions and answers the second half of the show. 1-800-243-1338

Leave comments below and questions you'd like answered by our guests. This should be good! We all use Facebook for fun ... how about for profit too?

October 16 - 18
Decatur, Alabama
Downtown Decatur
Presented by River Clay Fine Arts Foundation
Friday Preview Party 5pm-9pm
Saturday 9am-5pm & Sunday 10am-4pm
75 Artists

Located in the beautiful Tennessee Valley, Decatur is a burgeoning arts community whose City Hall campus is surrounded by Alabama's largest Victorian historic district and a picturesque, revitalized downtown complete with numerous bistros, restaurants and unique retail boutiques. The city of Decatur is conveniently located midway between Nashville and Birmingham. You'll find Huntsville, home of NASA, Redstone Arsenal and numerous technology/engineering firms boasts the highest per-capita level of education and income in Alabama, just 25 minutes to the east.

Testimonial:

	Lindsay Farrer, Jewelry

"Very professionally run from application, to set up, to load out. The artists are appreciated with an exceptional party with patrons, not to mention they provide us lunches! The art is exceptional, and show is well balanced... they appreciate fine art and artists!" ... Roger Poer, Designs by R & R

American Advertising Federation North Alabama Gold ADDY Award in 2016 and Decatur Morgan County Tourism Event of the Year for 2018

Apply: https://www.zapplication.org/event-info.php?ID=8355

Learn more: https://www.riverclay.org/ 
Contact: Luke Hamilton, lhamilton@mccommgroup.com

July 9 - 11

The Fenton ArtWalk is something that our community looks forward to every year. It is with heavy hearts that we announce the cancellation of the traditional Fenton ArtWalk 2020, that was scheduled to take place on July 11, 2020.

Our committee has been working on plans to keep art alive and well and is very excited to announce plans for a virtual Fenton ArtWalk Facebook event!

Artists are encouraged to share their virtual storefronts to sell and showcase their artwork. The wonderful businesses of Fenton are also encouraged to share their virtual storefronts to sell their products too. We will get through these difficult times together.

Please visit https://www.facebook.com/events/699181330601322/ and click “going” so that you can shop amazing artists and local Fenton businesses.

LIVE PODCAST: Thursday, JUNE 4, 1 PM ET

Part II: Using Social Media to Sell Art/Etsy

Etsy is an e-commerce website focused on handmade or vintage items and craft supplies founded in 2005. It is a global online marketplace, where people come together to make, sell, buy, and collect unique items and supports independent creators. Will it work for you?

Successful Etsy sellers share their information to help you decide whether or not Etsy is the place for you. 

David Klenk is a custom furniture maker who has increased visits to his Etsy page by linking it to my product photo pins on Pinterest. He has not done a craft show or trade show since 2016. My first online sale was in 2006. I sell between $40,000 and $70,000 per year online.

Jackie Kaufman selling on Etsy since 2008 has two shops, a long established jewelry business and a newer shop with prints. She  successfully uses her social media posts on both Facebook and Instagram to bring customers to her Etsy Shops to be able to sell worldwide."

I realize there are lots of pros and cons about Etsy and I want to know about them. We really would like to hear from you also about your Etsy experiences. Will you leave a comment or question below or call in to the show, starting at 1:30? 800-243-1338

As always, you can listen to this podcast right here: ArtFairRadio.com/Etsy

Farmers Markets are considered essential and we are hiring! Looking for friendly, responsible, dependable people to help us sell our baked goods at farmers markets in Colorado. Must have a valid driver's license and a decent driving record. If you can drive a cargo van, that's a plus. Must be available Fri-Sun until the end of September. Decent maths skills and the ability to stand on your feet for long periods are needed, as well as the ability to lift 40 pounds.
I know we are all hurting right now so I decided to reach to others like myself. Housing may be possible for the right person/people. Give me a call at 303-587-9658 for more information.

Help wanted: seeking podcast guests:

1. Etsy - June 4
2. Facebook - June 11
3. Instagram - June 18
4. Pinterest - June 25

Highland Park Stone Slab cutting machine  - Model F-4

Make me an offer - pickup only - Chicago area.

If you have some time over the next few days and want to take advantage of upping your knowledge of earning a living as an artist, here are our best podcasts to help you on your way.

(As an aside, these podcasts can be found online anywhere  podcasts are hosted, including ArtFairRadio.com, Apple Podcasts -- download any time.)

1. Can a Website Contribute to Art Sales? Our newest podcast and just about my favorite ever, inspiring and so helpful. Five artists, with prices from $15 to $8000, talk about their experience selling online. They are so smart, business-savvy and motivated to make the business work for them. By the end you will be inspired.
2. How Artists Can Apply for Economic Relief -- ArtFest Fort Myers under Executive Director Sharon McAllister's leadership, is using their website to act as a clearinghouse to help artists interpret and access the financial services under the CARES Act.  Sharon is joined by accountant John Brodie of Comprehensive Accounting in metro Detroit.
3. 10 Reasons You Didn't Get in the Art Fair -- show directors from the St. Louis Art Fair, the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival and the St. James Court Art Show speak from experience
4. How We Bring Buyers to our Art Fairs -- Patty Gregory of Belleville's Art in the Square and Christi Salamonie of the La Quinta Art Festivals share their tactics
5. 10 Tips to Use Now for Artists and Show Directors -- Do you have questions about using the Internet to further your career or better position your art fair online? Anything Internet, Scott can answer and point you in the right direction. Concerned about your jury imaging, booth design, visual appeal, digital help? Larry is the expert.
6. Who is Buying at the Shows and Why-- the art fair buyers tell us what brings them to the art fairs and what they buy
7. Is Anyone Here Earning a Living? -- We speak with art fair artists who actually pay the bills and make a living. Are there people like that? This is a very practical nuts and bolts discussion of entrepreneurship. Creating art and earning a living with it are two separate endeavors.
8. My First Art Fair - Zero or Hero? -- A panel of beginner and experienced artists from various media discuss their "first time."
9. The No Mistake Art Fair Career - 10 tips from Larry Berman and Bruce Baker: we talk about nailing getting into the show and then how to make sure when you get there that your work sells.
10. Online Marketing for Artists 101: an oldie, but goodie because good advice never changes.

and for when times change: Selling Art Face to Face -- Ever hear, "I'll think about it? " Gain confidence and learn what to DO and SAY when they say they need to think about it! Listen to find out what to do next including solid tips to take to your next show.

That's the tip of the iceberg. Fine 80 more helpful episodes always available to you at ArtFairRadio.com

They are all pick up in Palatine, IL.

LIVE PODCAST: THURS., MAY 21, 1 PM EASTERN TIME

Can a website bring you sales of your fine art or craft? Five artists join in a roundtable talk about their experiences. Their work ranges from small items (hand made soaps and associated products to $5000+ oil paintings.) Your work undoubtedly will fit into this continuum. Some of our guests: 

• Kathleen Eaton, www.eatonart.com
• Cat Tesla, www.artbycat.com
• Stephanie Wheat, www.rebellionbags.com
• Barbara Bloom, https://imagesinbloom.com
• Lucy Kelly, www.belmonili.com

We invite your comments below AND we'll open our phones to your questions also. (805) 243-1338

Harry is finally ready to sell his well-equiped studio. Contact us at mackie-designs@comcast.net. He also has casting materials. 

Available in Palatine, IL.

So, whether or not we may be ready, different places are loosening the shelter in place restrictions.  Not sure when art fairs will be happening for sure or not,  but I'm starting to think about how it will work when customers are actually looking for jewelry again at art fairs.  Has anyone had any thoughts about how to protect ourselves and customers?  Do you think it's going to be possible?  I'm still having a hard time accepting that I'm "elderly" and "high risk!  LOL  Seriously, how will we handle it? I live in Indianapolis where we have a bunch of Covid cases.  How do we handle it when we go to another area where their Covid cases are either many more, or many fewer.  I'm apprehensive, no lying, and feel some responsibility to try to keep from exposing others as well as protecting myself. Anyone else having these thoughts? 

Online Seminar: Tuesday, May 19 at 1 pm ET

Mark Loeb of metro Detroit's Integrity Shows continues to develop helpful tools for artists.

Thurs., May 14, 1 pm ET - Part IV of our website building help

Scott Fox, a financial and self-help author, specializing in entrepreneurship and startup company advice joins us to answer questions about SEO (search engine optimization) and why it makes a difference to you and your website. He is the author of 3 best-selling books, including Click Millionaires: Work Less, Live More with an Internet Lifestyle Business You Love, full of easy to follow direction on how you can use the Internet to build a sustainable business. 

Scott has been my mentor in building my art fair websites. His step by step, no nonsense, non-techie style is meant for you.

**This is a question and answer podcast. If you have a specific question, we can help you right away. If we don't receive your questions, we can't help you.

We want to hear from you. You will be able to call in, but to insure your question is answered please add it in the comments below. 

Website Checkup - 2 pm ET

Web designer Franklin Piuck and ArtFairInsiders.com will be hosting a ZOOM webinar on Tues., May 5 at 2 pm ET. The topic of discussion will be critiquing websites and answering artists questions about web design, SEO and all the attendant options. 

If you haven't participated in a ZOOM meeting yet, it is a visual meeting, like Facetime or Skype, where you click into the site and appear on screen. We can see one another and chat about the topic. You must contact Frank ahead of time with your interest in participating so he can add you to the invitation list. 

1. Contact Frank: fpiuck@cyberhenge.com

2. If you are interested in adding your site to the critique also alert him to that and send him the link. 

There is a limit to the number of participants. We have room for 25 more at this time.

Should you bother creating/updating/promoting your art online? 

Look what I just found:

• The Louvre in Paris says its web traffic has gone from 40,000 visitors a day to 400,000 a day since the museum closed to visitors due to the Coronavirus. The website offers videos and virtual reality experiences here. 

Okay, that's the Louvre ... but what about all the shows that are offering virtual art shows? Artists are also. Will they come? Will they buy?

Crossing our fingers here. 

This is some promo we've done to encourage virtual shopping for art: https://conta.cc/3c1mwm9

What do you think? What are you doing?