Art Wortd Coop

Ok ... so in getting back to my Saturday posts for artists, today I want to talk about a recent class I took from one of my favorite people, Alyson Stanfield, the Art Biz Coach.  I signed up for yet another one of her blog formatted classes and this one is called Cultivate Collectors. This is the third class I have taken from her and I have to say I have not gotten much from it "yet" and the class just ended.  Hold on, hold on ... this is not a critique on Alyson.  I have not gotten much from the class due to the fact that I failed to keep up with the class assignments and I did not participate at all in the class blog comments etc. The reality is I have been snoozing and dreaming during class just like the sleepy Rottie above surrounded by summer travel brochures. Not to worry ...  I still have 2 weeks to download all the pdf assignment sheets and give all the audio lessons yet another listen.

The main thing that I have gotten out of the class, even with my very limited participation is reinforcement that I have got to set up a data base for all of my clients and do that digitally with the help of software. I learned about a software program called Bento for the Mac and I am going to give it a try.  I have wanted to maintain a strong mailing list for years, and if I had started doing this back in 1998 I would probably have well over 3000 names in my contact data base.  Well it is never too late to start.

• Setting up a data base, and training Lola to help me keep up with it.
• Printing some thank you cards to start sending out to all pet portrait clients.
• Getting back on track with sending out e-mail newsletters starting this month.
• Work harder to follow up with leads and dropped ball potential clients that for whatever reason fail to follow through with placing their portrait commissions.
• Remind myself every step of the way that having a marketing plan is not just about making more money or more sales, it is also about taking care of my clients after their portrait commission. I like my clients so much, and with the amount of repeat business I am fortunate to have I really need to take much better care of them after I deliver their artwork.

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For art marketing help visit the Art Biz Coach  Alyson knows her stuff and even class slackers like myself will walk away with valuable knowledge and resource info.
Bento Data base software for Mac users.
Constant Contact  This is who I use to send my e-mail newsletters. I find their site very easy to use and I like the reporting features.