Understanding how to sell art means recognizing every piece’s unique story and helping others see it too.
— Barney Davey
Welcome, and thanks for joining me again as we dive into Part Two of “How to Sell Art. Sales Tips for Artists.” If you found the first part helpful, I’m sure you’ll appreciate this deeper look into mastering sales skills specifically tailored for artists. We’re talking about real, actionable tips to help you connect with buyers and get your art to those who’ll genuinely appreciate it.
Before we tackle Part Two of “How to Sell Art. Sales Tips for Artists”, here’s a quick recap of what we covered last week in Part One, where we covered the intricacies of selling art, the balance between creation and commerce, and the importance of communication and confidence in the sales process.
This information is practical for sales situations and the personal development of art sales skills. Learning how to sell art online is a different skill set. The best course to sell art on social media is Jason Horejs’s Social Marketing Insider for Artists. He guides artists to success in selling their art through Facebook and Instagram advertising.
Tapping into the Greater Resource
To give you a clearer picture, our recent discussions on “How to Sell Art. Sales Tips for Artists” Parts One and Two come together to form the whole chapter titled “The Art of Selling Art: Sales Tips for Artists” from my book, “Blueprint for Art Business Success.”
This chapter is just one of the comprehensive twenty chapters in the book, each designed to guide you through various aspects of the art business, from setting up and organizing to networking, marketing, and even planning for your artistic legacy.
The book’s content includes foundational topics such as:
- Setting Up Your Art Business
- Pricing Your Art
- Art Commissions and Custom Orders
- The Artist’s Legacy | Reflecting, Growing, and Envisioning the Future
Every chapter aims to empower and assist artists in their journey to succeed in the art world.
Honing Your Sales Skills: The Key to Selling More Art
Art is not just a passion; it’s a business. Selling is a skill, just like painting or sculpting. If you’re grappling with making sales, it’s time to face your fear or prejudice head-on and strive for improvement. Below, we’ve outlined seven key areas that can help you sell more art:
Practice What to Say: Every conversation can potentially lead to a sale. Just like crafting your art, dedicate time to perfecting your communication skills. Anticipate the questions that might arise in a sales conversation, prepare your best responses, and practice them. The more at ease you are with your script, the more confidently you will speak, leading to increased sales.
Portray Confidence: Confidence is attractive and contagious. It manifests in your posture, eye contact, and speaking. Work on these attributes and exhibit your confidence wherever you go. When you exude confidence, you eliminate hurdles to making a sale.
Maintain a Positive Mental Attitude (PMA): With PMA, every failure becomes a learning experience, a stepping stone. Selling is a numbers game. Realizing this helps you maintain your PMA. The more you employ it, the stronger it becomes.
Be Curious: Showing genuine interest in the person you speak with can be flattering. Use open-ended questions to maintain an engaging conversation. Your curiosity will make the other person feel valued and provide you with valuable insights about them, which could prove helpful in making a sale.
Negotiate: Negotiation is a skill you use daily, often without even realizing it. Learn to assert yourself and confidently counter your offer. Improving your negotiation skills can substantially boost your sales.
Offer Big: Don’t rush into revealing your best offer. Ensure you begin with your most expensive pieces and gradually introduce the lesser-priced ones. Your prospective buyer may surprise you by going for the higher-priced art.
Ask for the Order: You’ll never make a sale unless you ask. Yes, you might face rejection, but remember, each denial gets you closer to your next deal. The fear of rejection should never hold you back from making a sale.
Investing your time and energy in these areas will undoubtedly pay dividends in your art career. These principles can significantly increase the number of sales you make, leading to a more prosperous and rewarding career as an artist.
Becoming a Fearless Seller
Fear can be one of the biggest obstacles in an artist’s journey towards selling their art—fear of rejection, judgment, or not living up to your expectations. But it would be best to remember that courage is not the absence of fear but the decision that something else is more important. In your case, it’s your art and your passion for it. You must overcome this fear to grow as an artist and flourish in your business.
Firstly, understand that rejection is a part of the sales process. Not everyone will resonate with your art, and that’s okay. Each ‘no’ gets you closer to a ‘yes.’ Learn from rejection rather than letting it depress you. Analyze why the customer rejected the offer, use it as a lesson for future sales conversations, and constantly refine your sales technique.
Secondly, never underestimate the value of your art. Every piece you create is a part of you; as you manifest your creativity and talent. The price you put on it should be a reflection of its worth, not a reflection of the buyer’s perceived ability to pay. You’re an artist, and your art is priceless.
Lastly, always be prepared. Just like you train your art for an exhibition, prepare yourself for a sale. Understand your potential customers, know what they like, anticipate their objections, and prepare convincing answers. Being prepared will not only give you a higher chance of making a sale, but it will also boost your confidence.
Building a Connection
At its core, art is an expression of emotion. And emotion is what drives people to buy art. Connecting with potential buyers can differentiate between a missed opportunity and a successful sale. People are more likely to buy from people they like and trust.
Take the time to listen to your potential buyers. Understand their needs, their likes, their dislikes, and their passions. Not only will this provide valuable insights into what they might be interested in buying, but it will also help you to establish a connection.
Share the story behind your art. What inspired you to create it? What does it mean to you? Sharing these personal details establishes a bond between you, the buyer, and the artwork. It adds value to the art and can drive the buyer’s decision to purchase.
Creating a Sales Strategy
A well-planned sales strategy is essential to selling more art. You must be clear about your target market, their preferences, and how to reach them.
Identify your target market. These people are most likely to appreciate and buy your art. Understand their preferences – what type of art they like, what colors they are drawn to, and what themes resonate with them.
Once you understand your target market, you must figure out how to reach them. Doing this could be through exhibitions, art shows, online platforms, or social media. Choose the medium that best matches and reaches your target audience.
Price your art appropriately, which can be a challenging aspect of selling art, but it’s crucial. Consider the time, materials, and effort you put into creating each piece. Research the market to understand what similar artwork is selling for. And remember, the price should reflect the value of your artwork, not just the cost of materials and time.
Conclusion
Selling art is a challenging endeavor and a journey of self-improvement and skill-building. It requires understanding your potential customers, building connections, confidently presenting your art, negotiating effectively, and persisting through rejections. It’s a skill that can be learned, honed, and perfected over time.
By understanding these common challenges and implementing the suggestions mentioned above, artists can refine their sales skills, connect more meaningfully with potential buyers, and ultimately achieve greater success in selling their art.
Remember, each piece of art you sell is a piece of yourself going out into the world. It’s a representation of your creativity, your talent, and your passion. So, take pride in it, value it, and confidently share it with the world.
In the world of art, as in life, there’s always room for growth and improvement. Embrace this journey, learn from each experience, and continue to evolve as an artist and a confident and successful art entrepreneur. As you do, you’ll find that the art of selling art becomes less of a mystery and more of a rewarding journey.
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Thank you for joining me on this quest. I’m eager to continue sharing and growing alongside you. Until next time.