| As artists in the time of COVID-19, we are facing unique economic challenges. Galleries have closed, workshops and exhibits are cancelled, and we have no idea this will end. However, we still have at our disposal the most powerful marketing tool ever created. The internet is a way of selling art that many of us have ignored and have no idea how to use properly. In the midst of economic chaos, we can learn to use this resource to help us sell more artwork, now and in the future.
To explore some fundamentals of online selling, we invited marketing professional Dave Geada to join us on this episode of the Messy Studio Podcast. What he has to say is deceptively simple: tell your story. We all have one, though we may not realize it. Dave emphasized when people buy art, they buy not only the work itself, but you and your story. That personal connection can make all the difference in a decision to purchase.
Stories are like any other form of art. They contain essential elements that, when properly composed, are satisfying for the audience. In much the same way a painter uses the visual elements to create a painting, a storyteller uses characters, setting, plot, conflict, and resolution. A basic, archetypal storyline involves a hero/heroine who faces a villain (a person or other obstacle) and then triumphs with the help of a guide. This basic storyline can be applied to any person's life and struggles, and Dave proves telling your story to collectors is an extremely effective sales device.
Today's episode tells a story, too. Our hero is the artist facing the villain of COVID-19 and, with the help of a guide, learns to use the internet to sell their art. Our guide is Dave Geada, the CMO at Boldbrush, who has over 20 years of experience in technology and marketing. The interview provides some great ideas for art marketing online, but if you want to learn more, Dave has a special offer for Messy Studio podcast listeners that is posted on our website. |
