Arts Business Institute

Posted: 26 Aug 2015 04:00 AM PDT

Are you guilty of any of these? Stop. Right. Now. They won’t help your art business or your sales.

Apologizing for your work. If you are participating in the marketplace, then your work is good enough to sell, right? Go forth with confidence, and be prepared to dazzle prospective customers, not explain how you’re not really ready for prime time. Take compliments graciously, and thank people who admire what you make.

Lowering your prices out of fear. If your prices take a slide as a show goes on, or items in your online shop are priced at rock-bottom because you fear your competition is cheaper, step back and reevaluate your actions. When you set your prices, use a formula that makes each sale profitable for you. Add value to your work whenever possible – and be prepared to defend your prices. If you are afraid that shoppers cannot afford what you sell, it’s time to look into other venues or markets.

Displaying poor photos on your website. Your website is supposed to present your portfolio beautifully. Too many artists have images that are out of focus, overexposed, have poor lighting or inappropriate backgrounds. This shows a basic lack of respect for your own work, and won’t win you sales or praise. Review your site – do your photos need replacement? If so, make those changes. Your competition has excellent images; you need these too.

Neglecting your social media accounts. Decide if you want to use Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest or any social media platform – or not. If you have abandoned any of them, you are better off removing your account than leaving it for dead. If you link people to inactive social media, it looks like you might just be out of business.

Using your personal Facebook page for business. You must have a personal Facebook page in order to start a business page, but keep them separate. Your potential collectors are confused and turned off when they see your relatives and your holiday dinners rather than your art. Business is business. Use that page to share your work, your brand, your process as an artist. Gather “Likes” there and stay active.

Putting people on your mailing list who didn’t sign up. This is called “spamming” and can get you blacklisted or your account cancelled. In Canada, they take this so seriously that it can lead to a major fine. So, get permission, or don’t include them on your list.