My utter bliss is to help artists make business systems that streamline their lives so they can spend more time in the studio.
So when Skip Hill said he needed a system for following up with his collectors and important relationships, I knew I wanted to help.
In this encore episode of The Art Biz, I walk Skip through the steps to create a plan for nurturing his relationships.
We go through these steps to create his plan:
- What do you want to happen?
- By when does it need to happen? Or … How frequently does it need to happen?
- What do you need to have/acquire/learn to make that happen? And/Or what tools and technology will you use for the process?
- Who do you need to enlist to help?
- What are the exact steps needed to make this system hum?
The steps in that last question provides the fuel. Miss a step, and your system crashes. Find Skip's specific steps below.
This is a remix of episode 147, one of my most popular shows of 2023.
Listen
Join me!
Are you, like Skip, letting important people slip through the cracks?
I'd love to you create and implement your system in a new training season: Essentials for Cultivating Connections and Collectors.
We start by making you a plan in Your People Plan and then roll right into implementing that plan.
Skip's Steps for His Relationship System
These are SKIP's steps—specific to his goals. You will need your own set of steps (which I'll walk you through in my upcoming The People Plan workshop).
The steps here have different numbers than those on the recording because I reorganized them to make better sense.
Skip's to do first:
- Block off time on your calendar every week. You wanted a whole day for this.
- Decide how you will use the various tools (MailChimp, Artwork Archive, Google Sheet).
- Input contact info for new people that you've been keeping but doing nothing with.
- Update your Google sheet to have proper fields. Add fields for the next date to follow up, last contact, mutual contact, and notes.
- Start using a daily task list in your journal. Don't leave anything in your head.
On your “relationship day”:
- Open your spreadsheet. Sort it by the date to follow up field.
- Open Artwork Archive and your collector list.
- Reach out to at least 5 people you need to stay in touch with from those lists. Note that reach out in your Google sheet.
- Consider: Who needs to know about me and my art? Add them to your list and/or reach out today.
To use your email list:
- Begin storing ideas for what to send to your list. Decide where you will keep those ideas so you can find them.
- Send one email every month to your list. Start with a Tuesday or Wednesday (your relationship day), mid-month.
- Your first email (in a very long time) will be a re-introduction to warm up the recipients to hearing from you more often.
Mentioned
- Acuity online appointment management (my scheduling service)
MailChimp email marketing platform
- Zapier and IFTTT to connect apps (I can't see that you're able to do this with Artwork Archive)
- Notion – my favorite thing to organize artist businesses
- 2 Free reports: No longer available
Highlights
3:27 Skip Hill's artistic journey and philosophy
7:43 Creating a system for art business success
11:58 Identifying the components of Skip's new system
28:07 Finalizing the plan: Steps towards a systematic approach
28:28 Crafting your contact strategy: Calendar blocking and tools
29:15 Organizing contacts: From MailChimp to Google Spreadsheets
31:34 Personalizing your outreach: Keeping track and making connections
32:46 Updating and maintaining your contact lists
33:48 Strategizing collector engagement and follow-ups
41:45 Exploring automation and re-engagement strategies
51:05 Final thoughts and next steps
Join me!
Are you, like Skip, letting important people slip through the cracks?
I'd love to you create and implement your system in a new training season: Essentials for Cultivating Connections and Collectors.
We start by making you a plan in Your People Plan and then roll right into implementing that plan.
Quotes
“I've done the Bohemian thing for years. That’s the area where I really am looking for your help and guidance in developing systems to maximize business potential for my art.”—Skip Hill
“Intention, that's the operative word.”—Skip Hill
“Choose one day in the beginning and then know that when you're starting a system, it's always gonna take more time in the beginning.”—Alyson Stanfield
“You have to distinguish the purpose for each app you use because there isn’t one app that’s going to do everything for you.”—Alyson Stanfield
“Before I find that magical someone I haven’t identified to help me with my business, I have to clarify what the tasks would be.”—Skip Hill
“You dictate who you want to have your art, as opposed for waiting to whoever comes along.”—Skip Hill
Related Episodes
These episodes focus on business systems.
About My Guest
Visual artist Skip Hill creates colorful, lyrical art that exudes moods of epicurean delights and layers of sensory experiences.
Some of the most captivating parts of his mixed-media collages are in their peripheral details – expressive patterning, looping graphic lines, kinetic scribbling, Kanji calligraphy and African motifs. Like a shaman, Hill communicates freely between dreams and reality, while managing to artfully coordinate his visions with his hand. Working out of his studio in Oklahoma, Skip Hill's art is influenced by literature, music, art history and his travels through Europe, Southeast Asia and Brazil.
Follow him on Instagram @skiphillart
