Strategies Now that you have defined S.M.A.R.T. goals to move forward the marketing of your art, it is time to stop and refine what is the right strategy for you to reach them.
The right strategy takes your constraints and resources into consideration in order to focus on the right path for you: the path most likely to bring you success or, to use financial terminology, the best return on your investments.
What are your constraints?
- How much time do you have every week to dedicate to the marketing of your art? Be realistic and honest with yourself,
- How much money do you have for marketing, creating presentation packages, attending workshops to further your skills, etc.
- What skills do you have that can help you? Are you a good writer, a graphic artist, a fantastic public speaker, a great story-teller, a good administrator?
- Who do you know that can help you? Who are willing to help? Who have skills you lack? Who know people you need to know?
In short, identify what you like to do, what you are good at. Then identify the people or training that can help you with the skills you need. The best strategy for you is the one that will take advantage of your natural abilities: work with your strengths and not your weaknesses. If you are a computer-savvy artist, your may use the web to find your Patrons. If you are good at writing you may write articles for publication or a book. If you are a natural salesman you may attend shows or fairs, etc.
Discarding all the approaches that don’t work with your strengths will leave you with a well-defined, workable and successful strategy.
Thought To Ponder?
Which one activity, that would help your marketing and you enjoy, would you do if you had only one hour a week to dedicate to it?
Tip of the Month
Even with a well defined strategy stay flexible and take advantage of the opportunities that come your way.
Exercise 1. List all the constraints that prevent you from achieving your marketing goals.
2. List all the resources that you have to achieve your marketing goals.
3. List all the marketing activities that you enjoy doing
4. List all the possible marketing paths to achieve your goals
5. Discard the paths that do not fit with your constraints, resources and enjoyable tasks.
6. Don’t hesitate to stretch your perception of yourself! You have more resources than you know and you will have more fun than you can imagine!
Lesson Learned
Your strategy is realistic and uses your natural abilities that will make you successful.
