Start & Grow Your Art Business’ Email List
In today's fast-paced digital world, where social media dominates the landscape, you might wonder if email marketing is still relevant for your art business. The truth is, building and growing an email list can be a powerful tool for artists to connect with their audience, build relationships, and boost their business. In this blog post, we'll explore the benefits of having and growing an email list for your art business, give you some tips on how to get started, and mention some of the best platforms to do so.
Contents of this article:
The Benefits of an email list for art businesses
Practical Tips to build an email list for your art business
Popular Platforms to start building an email list for your art business
The Benefits
Direct and Personal Communication: Email marketing allows you to communicate directly with your audience in a personal and intimate way. Unlike social media platforms where your posts can easily get lost in the noise, emails land directly in your subscribers' inbox, giving you a higher chance of being seen and heard. It's like having a one-on-one conversation with your subscribers, which helps you build a deeper connection and establish trust with them. You can share updates about your latest artworks, upcoming exhibitions, behind-the-scenes insights, and even exclusive offers to your email list, making them feel special and valued.
Targeted and Segmented Messaging: One of the biggest advantages of having an email list is the ability to segment your subscribers based on their interests, preferences, and behaviors. This allows you to send targeted and relevant messages to different segments of your list, ensuring that your content resonates with your subscribers and is more likely to convert. For example, you can send a newsletter about your abstract paintings to subscribers who have expressed an interest in abstract art, or a promotion on your landscape artworks to subscribers who have previously purchased landscape paintings from you. This level of customization helps you tailor your messaging and increase the effectiveness of your email campaigns.
Increased Engagement and Conversion: Email marketing has been proven to have higher engagement and conversion rates compared to other marketing channels. According to a report by the Direct Marketing Association, email marketing has an average ROI of 3800%, meaning that for every dollar spent on email marketing, the average return is $38. Email campaigns can drive traffic to your website, promote your artworks, and generate sales, making it a cost-effective way to boost your art business. With compelling content, attractive visuals, and clear call-to-actions, you can encourage your subscribers to take action, such as making a purchase, signing up for a workshop, or sharing your artworks with their networks.
Ownership and Control of Your Audience: Unlike social media platforms where algorithms and policies can change overnight, your email list is something you own and have full control over. You have the power to decide when and what to send, how often to communicate with your subscribers, and what content to share. You are not dependent on any third-party platform, and your email list remains a valuable asset for your art business, regardless of changes in the digital landscape. It also allows you to have a direct relationship with your audience, without any intermediaries, and build a loyal following that can support your art business in the long run.
Insights and Analytics: Another benefit of having an email list is the ability to track and measure the performance of your email campaigns through analytics. You can see how many subscribers open your emails, click on your links, and convert into customers. This data provides valuable insights into the preferences and behaviors of your audience, allowing you to optimize your email campaigns and make data-driven decisions. You can experiment with different subject lines, content formats, and call-to-actions to see what resonates with your subscribers and adjust your strategy accordingly. This data-driven approach helps you improve the effectiveness of your email marketing efforts and achieve better results over time.
Long-term Relationship Building: Building an email list is not just about short-term sales, but also about long-term relationship building. When someone subscribes to your email list, they are expressing an interest in your art and giving you permission to communicate with them on an ongoing basis. This allows you to nurture a relationship with your subscribers over time, creating a loyal fan base that can support your art business for years to come. By consistently delivering value through your emails, such as sharing exclusive content, providing insights into your creative process, and offering special promotions, you can build a community of engaged subscribers who become your brand ambassadors and help spread the word about your art.
Flexibility and Creativity: Email marketing gives you the flexibility and creativity to express your unique artistic voice and showcase your artwork in a personalized way. You can design visually appealing emails that reflect your artistic style, use storytelling techniques to engage your subscribers, and experiment with different content formats, such as videos, interviews, or tutorials. You can also collaborate with other artists or creative professionals, and feature their work in your emails, creating a win-win situation for both parties. The creative possibilities are endless, and you have full control over how you want to present your art and connect with your audience through your emails.
Building a Sustainable Art Business: Ultimately, building and growing an email list is about building a sustainable art business for the long term. By nurturing a loyal and engaged audience, you are creating a foundation for your art business that can withstand changes in the digital landscape, economic fluctuations, and other challenges that may arise. Your email list becomes a valuable asset that you can leverage to promote your artworks, sell your creations, and sustain your artistic career. It allows you to have a direct relationship with your audience, build a community of supporters, and create a sustainable income stream that can support your creative endeavors.
Practical Tips
Here are some practical tips on how to grow your email list as an art business:
Create Compelling Opt-in Offers: Offer valuable incentives for people to subscribe to your email list. This could be exclusive content, such as a free e-book, a downloadable print, a discount code, or a behind-the-scenes video. Make sure your opt-in offers align with your brand and resonate with your target audience to encourage them to subscribe.
Optimize Your Website for Sign-Ups: Place prominent sign-up forms on your website, such as a pop-up, a sidebar widget, or a landing page. Make sure they are visually appealing, easy to fill out, and clearly communicate the benefits of subscribing to your email list. Also, ensure that your sign-up forms are optimized for mobile devices since many people access websites on their smartphones.
Leverage Social Media: Use social media platforms to promote your email list and drive traffic to your sign-up forms. Create engaging posts that highlight the benefits of subscribing to your emails and include a call-to-action to join your list. You can also use social media advertising to reach a wider audience and promote your opt-in offers.
Collaborate with Other Artists or Businesses: Collaborate with other artists or businesses that share a similar target audience and cross-promote each other's email lists. This can help you tap into a new audience and expand your reach. You can collaborate on joint giveaways, guest blog posts, or social media shoutouts to encourage people to subscribe to your email list.
Attend Events and Collect Sign-Ups: If you participate in art shows, craft fairs, or other events, make sure to have a sign-up sheet or a tablet with a digital form to collect email addresses. Offer an incentive for people to sign up, such as a free gift or a special promotion, and make it easy for them to subscribe on the spot.
Use Content Upgrades: Create content upgrades, which are bonus content pieces that complement your blog posts or other content, and offer them in exchange for email sign-ups. For example, if you write a blog post about your creative process, offer a printable checklist or a step-by-step tutorial as a content upgrade in exchange for subscribing to your email list.
Optimize Your Email Signature: Include a call-to-action and a link to subscribe to your email list in your email signature. This can be a simple and subtle way to promote your list in every email you send, including personal emails.
Run Contests or Giveaways: Organize contests or giveaways where people need to subscribe to your email list to enter. This can create buzz and excitement, and encourage people to sign up to receive updates and participate in the contest.
Ask for Referrals: Encourage your current subscribers to refer their friends or family members to join your email list. You can offer a referral incentive, such as a discount or a free gift, to motivate them to spread the word about your list.
Be Transparent and Respectful: Clearly communicate what subscribers can expect from your emails in terms of frequency and content, and always respect their privacy and preferences. Be transparent about how you will use their email addresses and provide an easy way for them to unsubscribe if they wish to do so.
Remember, growing an email list takes time and effort, so be patient and consistent with your strategies. Focus on providing value to your subscribers and building relationships, and your email list will become a valuable asset for your art business in the long run.
Popular Platforms
Here are some popular email marketing platforms that artists can use to start and grow their email lists:
Mailchimp: Mailchimp is a popular and user-friendly email marketing platform that offers a free plan with basic features, making it a great option for beginners. It provides customizable sign-up forms, automation tools, and a variety of email templates to create professional-looking emails. Pricing starts at $9.99/month for the Essentials plan. Visit: https://mailchimp.com/
ConvertKit: ConvertKit is a powerful email marketing platform specifically designed for creators, including artists. It offers features such as customizable landing pages, automation sequences, and subscriber tagging for targeted emails. Pricing starts at $29/month for up to 1,000 subscribers. Visit: https://convertkit.com/
Constant Contact: Constant Contact is a popular email marketing platform that offers a variety of features, including customizable templates, contact management, and automation. It also provides integrations with popular e-commerce platforms, making it suitable for artists who sell their artwork online. Pricing starts at $20/month for up to 500 subscribers. Visit: https://www.constantcontact.com/
MailerLite: MailerLite is a budget-friendly email marketing platform that offers a free plan with basic features and affordable pricing for higher subscriber counts. It provides drag-and-drop email editors, landing page builders, and automation features. Pricing starts at $10/month for up to 1,000 subscribers. Visit: https://www.mailerlite.com/
AWeber: AWeber is another popular email marketing platform that offers features such as customizable sign-up forms, email automation, and a variety of email templates. It also provides integrations with popular e-commerce platforms, making it suitable for artists who sell their artwork online. Pricing starts at $19/month for up to 500 subscribers. Visit: https://www.aweber.com/
These are just a few examples of email marketing platforms that artists can use to start and grow their email lists. It's important to research and choose a platform that best fits your specific needs, budget, and goals for your art business. Don't forget to review the pricing plans, features, and customer support options before making a decision.
Conclusion
Building and growing an email list can be a game-changer for artists in their art business. It provides a direct and personal way to connect with their audience, share their latest works, promote their events or exhibitions, and ultimately sell their artwork. With the right email marketing platform, such as Mailchimp, ConvertKit, Constant Contact, MailerLite, or AWeber, artists can create professional-looking emails, automate their marketing campaigns, and track their results to optimize their strategies.
By utilizing the benefits of an email list, artists can cultivate a loyal fan base, nurture relationships with their audience, and generate repeat sales. It allows them to have control over their marketing efforts and not solely rely on social media algorithms or other external factors. It's a valuable asset that artists can leverage to grow their art business, increase their revenue, and achieve their artistic goals.
So, if you're an artist looking to take your art business to the next level, consider starting and growing an email list. Invest in a reliable email marketing platform, create compelling content, provide value to your subscribers, and watch your art business thrive. Happy emailing!
