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Monday, October 21, 2013

Hide and Seek



This last weekend we attended a local Scottish festival.  While there, I found a booth that sold, among other things, some beautiful watercolor pictures. I immediately wanted a dozen of them.  While trying to narrow down the selection my hubby suggested I just take a card and take my time perusing the art on her website.  I asked the people running the stall and ended up being introduced to the artist who happened to be right there. After introductions and polite chit chat I asked about her website, what the selection was like and whether or not I would see some of the small but gorgeous pictures I was trying to choose between.  She laughingly informed me that her website was old, defunct, that there were no paintings listed there, no, she didn’t advertise her showings on the website, she’d been meaning to update for years but had never got around to it.  She ended by saying it hadn’t been a priority because no one had ever contacted her over the internet.

Well, no one’s been able to.

And I would have.

Not only that, I would have shared.  I would have passed her name on to other people I know who would love her style and the sense of nostalgia in her pictures.  But now I can’t.  I did end up buying something there. I’m glad I did. If I had come home and tried to find her online I would have been very disappointed. 

If you have something to sell, make sure there’s a way for people to find it.  Make a website.  If you don’t or can’t sell things from your website then link to places that do. Advertise your showings, signings, or other events.   It doesn’t have to be a website, it can be a blog, facebook, instagram, whatever.  Just find a way for people to be able to buy the product you’re selling.  Make it easy for people to find you, because if they can’t, they’ll find someone else and you’ll be left behind.

28 comments:

  1. You're so right. It is essential these days to at least have a website to promote your work. Think of all the sales this artist is missing out on by not having one.

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  2. Good point.
    Are you interested in a used type 40 TARDIS?

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  3. Good tips, and a Scottish festival? Where can I sign up for one of those? :)

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  4. Fantastic post, Sara! Gets my wheels churning.

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    1. Or turning. I guess wheels probably don't churn.

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  5. Oh, I didn't even think go the festival this year! That's okay, this last weekend was full enough. I'm glad you bought it. And thanks for the lesson on sales. We all need to know that if we ever get our books done. ;-)

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  6. Good tips to pass along. Hopefully her conversation with you inspired her to do more with her website. Meanwhile, I just got back from a cruise that included Nova Scotia. You would have loved that era. Everyone had Scottish accents and there was so much history there. Not to mention how visually beautiful it was. You would have loved the watercolors for sale.

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  7. Such an important and good point! I've been telling my coworkers this a lot lately--making yourself visible and findable on the web is so important in almost ever field these days!

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  8. Yeah... she's really missing out on a lot of sales... oh well. Live and learn, right? Or maybe not learn in her case...

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  9. YES YES YES. My daughter fell in love with the artwork of an artist during the Calgary Stampede last year. Unfortunately his was a common name and he had no information about his website. We couldn't look him up again. :(

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  10. True true. Working on a real website in the meantime :)

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  11. I had a similar issue at a Greek festival I went to a few years back, but with a jewelry maker. I definitely wish they had a website :(

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  12. Hopefully your comment will prod her to update her website! Glad you bought some of her pictures at the festival so you can enjoy them!

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  13. This comment has been removed by the author.

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    1. I meant to say that I've heard a few folks make comments like: "when I start selling my stuff, then I'll get a website" - so illogical. Great post, Sara!

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  14. Indeed and also, my human and I are getting tired of being redirected to Google+ in order to find somebody's blog, or site, or whatever. It's becoming a magical mystery tour to get to some sites.

    Pawsitive wishes,

    Penny the Jack Russell dog and modest internet superstar! :)

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  15. That's so sad!! I agree. And I have an artist friend who needs to update. I'll pass this along.

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  16. Really good points, Sara. It's disconcerting how many people out there feel the same way. I once had an author ask me how to gain readers for his blog. I told him. He then huffed and puffed and said, "Well, I've got no time for that!"

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  17. Good thing the artist was actually there! Wonderful advice, and great encouragement to keep up with blogging, as well.

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  18. That's so sad! Especially because it takes no effort at all - she just needs a blogger or wordpress page and a few scanned photos. Aww :-(
    I want to go to a Scottish festival too! I miss Fergus!

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  19. Sometimes we need people to steer us in the right direction, and I think you helped her to do that.

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  20. My mum is an artist so I convinced her to set up a website. She doesn't update it often, but at least it's there with samples of her paintings, along with her awards, and how to contact her. :)

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  21. So true. Sista, I love your posts.

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  22. Great points. And a must have is- an email or phone contact me button.

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  23. Really good points. And especially for artists.
    In this technological era, if you have something to sell, then a web site is a MUST.
    I know lots of artists put it off. Sooner or later, they will have to do it.

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  24. Yup. Same thing happened to me last summer. I visited several artisan fairs looking for artwork for my daughter's new home. I thought I would collect business cards and then let my daughter make her choice. The great majority of artists did NOT have a website. I was shocked (and disappointed.)

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