Blogging for Artists

Blogging - The Online Two-Step 

You have several tools in your Social Media Marketing tool box. One of these is "blogging" When we use the term "blogging" in context with Social Media Marketing we are referring to a two-step process.

• Maintaining your own blog e.g. keeping it fresh with relevant information
• Participation on other blogs where people share the same interests

It all starts with your art business blog

Blogging starts, of course, with having your own blog. Look at your blog as a crucial extension of your brand and product. Two common mistakes people make with their blog is over selling and writing about topics that are not relevant to the intended audience. 

If the content on your blog is always just about you and purchasing your art work you are unlikely to attract or maintain a significant audience. Use your art business blog to discuss your own achievements or milestones and also provide information on topics of interest to your community. For example, if you recently travelled to Europe discuss the trip, share tips on where to stay and how to get around. In that context it is perfectly naturally to go on to discuss how you made certain images. And of course, invite your visitors to comment and offer their own experiences.

Another mistake a lot of people make is writing too much about things that people following your career might not be all that interested in. For example, problems with your mother-in-law or children's grades from school. Some people have separate blogs, one for their art business and other completely  separate blog for sharing with family and friends. It's really not a great idea to mix the two in most cases.

Participating on other blogs

One of the best ways to build relationships and start driving visitors to your site is to participate on other blogs. Find blogs where people discuss things you are interested in or relate, even tangentially, to your art work. In the above example, there are probably blogs focuses on the same areas and experiences you had in Europe. These blogs may not have anything to do with art but the sites and experiences of your visit may share some commonality.

We recommend visit and watch blogs that you have an interest in for awhile before jumping in and commenting. The investment of a little time will help you better understand the "culture" of the blog and its other participants. Once  you are comfortable and understand what's cool to talk about (and what's not) go ahead and start commenting.

Important Tip: Don't comment just to comment. Be sure you have something relevant to contribute. The last thing you want to become is unwelcome.

When you sign-off your comment be sure to include the link to your web site or blog. You don't need to add any slogans or hype unless you can do so in a subtle way. People that become interested in what you have to say, will become interested in you, and will click your link.

Investing some time every week in blogging can pay huge dividends. We hope you take advantage of it in your art business. Please post your comments about your blogging experiences. We'd love to hear from you.