I got a direct message on Twitter about a week ago that asked this question:
What serves a better purpose in your opinion, a blog that show one’s work, or one that shows an artist’s journey to success?
Great question! And if your main focus is licensing, or if you have several interests and focuses as an artist – it can be a little tricky. So I thought I’d throw some pros and cons out there and hope that you leave your 2¢ in the comments. Deal?
This blog that you are reading now – pretty easy. The focus is to talk about the business of art licensing so artists can learn more about the industry. It is meant to educate, inspire, share… and if I do say so myself, it is doing a pretty good job! (Others say it too – not just me! 😉 )
As for my personal art blog – I have a harder time. I share a lot of information and photos of products that feature my art. I share some of my travels – mostly business related. And I share some things about me personally – so people can get to know me. The problem I have with that blog (www.TaraReedDesigns.com/blog.html) is that I’m not sure who the audience is or who I really want it to be. Hard to blog well if you aren’t clear about that!
Do manufacturers who license art read the blog? I have no idea.
Do artists who read this blog read that one? Some.
Do consumers who like my art check in? Yes.
Do I know the mix of visitors? Nope.
In my opinion, which is what I was asked, blogs serve several purposes:
- They are an easy way to offer new information on a regular basis. It is much easier to write a blog post than change the text of web pages, not to mention, people expect to find new information on blogs and not to have sweeping changes on the more static pages of a website.
- Blogs help with SEO. New information brings more hits which should help with SEO.
- Blogs help your reader get to know you. And as we’ve discussed before, people like to buy (products) or license (art) from people they know, like and trust. Blogs help people get to know, like and trust you.
I’m so glad I was asked this question and I’m still looking at my art blog strategy and trying to decide if it is working as-is or if something should change to make it better. I really hope the insights, opinions and strategies of artists who read this blog will help.
So those are my thoughts – what are yours?
Here’s to your creative success!
– Tara Reed
Thanks Tara for sharing this Q/A topic. Nice to know that others struggle with the same question. I had always thought a website would show the professional artwork and that the blog would showcase the artists ‘personality.’ It has been through the blogs where I learned that even seasoned professional illustrators struggled with doubts, artist’s blocks, lack of enough time issues, etc. etc. The blog made those artists more real to me, and gave me confidence that if I continued to work hard that I too could become successful. As a newbie, my blog also serves as a form of feedback/critique. Fellow followers will share their thoughts on a sketch which lets me know if I am on the right visual track.
Thanks for another great post Tara! I’m an art student and still working on finishing my portfolio before I approach manufacturers. That being said, it often leaves me to wonder who my blog audience is, what they care about, what will get them to return, how much art I want to share at this stage, and what kind of personal info to share. Mastering blog content, like many worthwhile things, is a learning process. For me, it’s consoling to know that even the pros have their moments of uncertainty. 😀
Hi Tara,
I agree that blogging is most effective when used as a interactive medium for building relationships. For artists, blogging can help create or strenghten bonds with clients, galleries, students, and others in our creative industry. By linking my blogs to my website, I can let my visitors keep up to date with my everyday activities and gain insight into my creative process. They can watch my latest painting progress from the initial drawing to the final varnish, see my how my workshop students advance, read about my latest or upcoming shows, or just hear me rant about my hubby’s fantastic meatloaf (he really does make the world’s best meatloaf, but he won’t tell me the recipe; so I’m sorry, but I can’t share it with you).
My art is a business and the goal of it is to make money, and my blogs allow me to cultivate relationships with potential customers. The personal insight and tone of blogs enhances the customers experience when they visit my website, and helps me to more effectively introduce them to my products (ie: paintings, prints, DVDs, books, classes, workshops, etc.).
I think artists should blog about their journey, as well as the progress of paintings and art that they are working on. It draws people in, learning about a person, and if you are blogging from the heart, honestly and openly, you will connect with and attract more people than you can imagine.
Oh, Tara, I’m really not one to be giving a whole lot of advice here, given blogging is my Achilles’ heel. And… if we leave me out as an example (;-), I really like what Annie has to say. I think you can’t be as concerned with who your audience is as with what you want to communicate, and your “just right” audience will respond to that.
And from what you’ve described, it sounds as if you have a good mix of: personal, business, journey/travels. Getting to know you – as well as show casing your art – is probably the most effective use of artist blog time.
And, for artists who have a unique slant to their work (I’m thinking about one of my private clients whose art focuses on native habitats), incorporating information that will educate or inspire your readers to connect with you around that unique focuse is another way to draw in people that could end up collecting your work just based on a common interest or passion.
This has been a great topic – thanks to everyone who has commented. Keep them coming!
I get this question a lot. My answer starts with putting it into context. As is my nature I start with asking questions to understand the person asking the question. How does your blog fit into your marketing strategy? What other tools do you use? Do you know who you want to attract? How often do you Blog?Many great points have already been made. I get this question a lot. My answer starts with putting it into context. As is my nature I start with asking questions to understand the person asking the question. If the message is to be authentic, they have to make a few decisions. How does your blog fit into your marketing strategy? What other tools do you use? Do you know whom you want to attract? What do you find yourself talking about most often with artists, art professionals, general public? How often do you plan to make time to Blog? Are you comfortable with writing? Do you have the technical interest/ skills/ help? Do you want to broadcast a message or stimulate interaction?
For three years on the UK Painters On Line [POL] I ran a daily blog sharing quirky insights into my life and the Fen flat-lands and it got a lot of interest. I added a blog to my website to record my thoughts on me, my art, my inspirations, reflections on my art [I usually paint a series on a common theme] and my thoughts on the art-buying process. From my quarter of a century in education I have a life-coach art blog too @ http://meltemispage.blogspot.com/2010/05/success-as-artist-would-be.html. But as neither of them attract any attention I am perhaps wasting my time. I guess I prefer to be the practising artist rather than the art writer.
A combination is the best way to go about.
Great way to get comments Tara 🙂
I like to see a mix of the journey and demonstrating success. One artist whose blog I enjoy is Latifah Shay (http://www.latifahshay.com). I like it because you consistently get the feel of who this artist is and her artistic journey. But this is regularly interspersed with posts about shows and installations. You get the feeling of an artist going somewhere and I think that is very important if you want to grow and build success.
Daniel.
Since making art is about communicating and sharing with the world (if you’re indeed out there trying to show/sell it), it makes sense that blogging would probably always include a bit of both the journey and the finished work, too. Thanks for a great informative blog!
Tara, this is a great topic. I am a newbie to art licensing and focused on learning as much as possible about the industry as well as spending beaucoup time on developing collections.
Blogs have been a life line to the world of art licensing and many other topics. My favorites are yours, Joan Beringer and Kate Harper. Each one seems to complement the other.
I’m new to blogging and am beginning to use it as a way to communicate. I find that it has been useful for those who go to my website for their free painting instructions for glass and china. However, during the last two years I’ve been changing my focus to art licensing and the blog needs to reflect that change.
It seems as though a blog is a great way to get a static website to become a hub of information. Yours is a prime example of effectively and successfully creating a presence on the ever expanding internet.
Mary Lou