Do you ever wonder what a regular marketing schedule for your art would look like?
When thinking about content to share here, on social media, or in my newsletter, I comb through previous blog posts and a folder of ideas—always discovering something new.
Something that didn’t strike a chord a year ago suddenly calls my name. The time is right to explore the topic. Or to revisit it.
Many years ago I found this request deep in my filing system: I find it helpful to be reminded of what I can do or perhaps really should do on a daily, weekly, monthly, etc. basis.
The cheat sheet that follows is for Julie and everyone who finds comfort in knowing what to do and when. Here is a simple marketing schedule you can follow and adapt to your needs.
Daily Art Marketing Tasks
- Spend time in the studio, connecting with your work. Without it, you have no reason to have a marketing schedule.
- Read something about art or business for motivation and inspiration.
- Post an image or video to to social media.
- Add a new pin to your Pinterest boards. Remember that Pinterest is the third most powerful search engine online, so don’t forget the description!
- Spend 5-10 minutes commenting on other social media accounts, especially those from people you want to connect with or, perhaps, students you are supporting.
- Make a note of what you accomplished during the day and give yourself a pat on the back.
- Write your gratitudes or say them aloud, remembering that you won’t get more of anything (money, followers, students, subscribers) until you appreciate all that you already have.
Weekly Art Marketing Tasks
- Post an article and images of your art to your blog.
- Check in a couple of times with your online community. And join the Art Biz Connection if you aren’t already supported by other ambitious artists and a team of artist mentors. When you make these connections, you’ll discover all kinds of strategies and support.
- Send a few personal emails, notes, or thank-you cards to collectors or others who have been kind to you.
- Make and post a new video or do a livestream.
- Find a few new people on social media to connect with.
- Work a little on your newsletter ideas so that you’re ready to publish on your monthly schedule.
- Review your week. Identify what was really good and what you might have learned to carry into the future.
Monthly Art Marketing Tasks
- Make a date with yourself to revisit old content or your content ideas folder. You might have an experience similar to mine and find a well of inspiration.
- Send a newsletter or simple message to your entire email list.
- Attend an art function or event in person where you can meet new people and connect with old friends.
- Update your list with names of people who want to receive email or regular mail from you.
- Review your income goals to see if you’re on track for the year. Step on the gas if you’re behind.
Quarterly Art Marketing Tasks
- Send postcards to everyone you want to keep your name and art in front of.
- Check in with your gallerists to see how they’re doing, and how you might be able to help them sell more of your art.
- Update images and text on your website.
- Update your art inventory records if you don’t do it more frequently.
- Review your upcoming plans, adjust and recommit to your goals. Let me lead you through this process in the Artist Planning Sessions.
Yearly Art Marketing Tasks
- Review your income goals to see how you did and what you need to add or change for the New Year.
- Set realistic, but challenging, goals for the year.
- Comb through your entire website to see that the content is fresh and the design looks current.
Adapt
This list isn’t intended to be used out of the box.
Sit with it. Play with it. Use what works for you.
Most of all, enjoy the journey.
That’s what Optimize Your Online Marketing is about. Not about doing more, but about recognizing your limited capacity and choosing a path that is right for you.
Your life as an artist won’t be meaningful if you don’t have a little fun along the way.
This was originally published September 15, 2014 and is updated frequently with original comments intact.
41 thoughts on “A Cheat Sheet for Your Art Marketing Tasks”
Thank you!
Love it, Alyson. Thanks!
Well, when you break it down like that it looks totally manageable. Thanks Alyson.
Very useful. Thanks Alyson!
Thanks, Alyson! Great reminder of what we need to be doing and when!
Thank you Alyson. This is just what I’ve been looking for.
I’m on track with this, except for the bi-monthly contact with galleries. That often? Really? Won’t they be annoyed with the pestering?!
Catherine: Really? A quick phone call or email to someone who has thousands of dollars of your art is too much? Okay, how about quarterly?
The postcards via snail-mail are really effective. For my current show (opening was this past Friday evening), I did the large over-size cards, the image of one painting on the front, and two small thumbnails on the back, with return address of the gallery, and info/dates, etc. about the show. I’m thinking quarterly is a good idea…and people do seem to hold on to these (pretty) postcards for a while! And…I did find that one of my sales came directly from the postcard, before she had even seen the work in person. (she just wanted to be texted a photo of the frame it was in….she loved it, bought it!). She was leaving on vacation & wouldn’t make it to the opening, but didn’t want to miss getting the painting she wanted!
That’s great, Roxanne!
Fantastic post. Thank you.
Thank you for your marketing cheat sheet Alyson. Very helpful.
I love the cheat sheet, Alyson. Now I need one for every hour of the day!!
Your post was timely – I am looking over my systems and fine tuning them. This cheat sheet is just what I needed! Thank you.
Terrific. Happy to hear that, Pattie.
Essential! Thank you! Will re-organize my schedule!
Alyson,
This is so helpful for planning throughout the year. It makes an overwhelming set of tasks manageable. Thank you for all the important information you share and teach to your students.
Elise
Glad it’s helpful, Elise.
Hi Alyson,
I’m a Facebook Administrator for the Northwest Watercolor Society and thought this is an excellent blog post to share with my audience. Thank you! I’m sharing it on Tuesday, September 15th. This is such a timely topic for me; I’m trying to figure out how to “socialize” more!
Margaret: I’m glad you think it can be valuable for your members.
Thank you Alyson…after reading this I am feeling better about how far I have come since I read your book and started taking your classes…I can see what is next on the list to start. I also created some marketing spread sheets to list content to schedule for posting and then a schedule to plug in when these things will go out…
I just glanced at your website and watched the video. Bravo! Love your energy – thoughtfulness – and work (play!)
What book are you speaking of?
Kate–Awe thank you for checking out:) I appreciate–assuming you found Alyson’s book:)
Brooke: Way to be organized!
Kate: http://artbizcoach.com/irbits
Thanks for being here and for asking.
I am learning Alyson:) and am eternally thankful for you who are being in the world and knowing that you are a constant resource…I also like to listen to past coaching calls while organizing…it helps me sit down and the sound of your cheerful voice on the calls is like my own cheerleader on the headset
Alyson, this is very helpful, thank you!
Thank you for making this available, Alyson! I am still transitioning from my “day job” to my desire of being a fulltime bookbinder and book & paper artist/craftsman. The thing I struggle the most with is managing my time. This tool will certainly help me set and organize some of my priorities.
This is so helpful! Thank you so much!
This cheat sheet will be pinned to my studio wall – what a well organized resource. I like that it is pared down to manageable tasks. I came to your blog by way of Elizabeth’s blog – I now have my reading material for the evening (and the rest of the week and probably weekend too!) – Your workshop looks so helpful, I wish I could attend!
Lisa: You should be at Art Biz Makeover. We’re going to have a lot of fun and people are coming from far far away.
Thank you for your post.
I neant to post my shop so this “group” can see a little of what I make. I heard about your workshop through ELizabeth At. Hilaire Nelson’s post – it would be fantastic to attend – my kind of “vacation”
Love your blog a painting a day – I have practises like that and they are so helpful when I am in the process – then I get distracted.
I am inspired to start one fabric mandala a day.
🙂 Thanks for the re-inspiration!
I’m so happy to hear that you all found this useful. Now … make it happen!
Very helpful list, thank you. Do you have any tips or suggestions for self reminders to put these into action, i.e. actually do these activities? That seems to be one of the hurdles for me. Thanks!
Ann: Learn how to use a task list effectively. This is something I teach in the Organize class: http://organizeyourartbiz.com if you’re interested.
Thanks so much for this – it’s always great to get new ideas on what I can be doing on a regular basis and working on a newsletter for people interested in my work is something I hadn’t considered before so thank you for the inspiration! 🙂
Thank you Alyson – so easy to get lost, great to read a sound to do list.
Happy you found it helpful, Camilla.
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There are things here I need to be reminded of and more things that are relevant for me now, than in previous years. Thank you for updating this excellent reminder!