Everyone trying to make a living creating art wants to be labeled as a professional.
But, credibility can be a fickle thing because it’s built whenever people come into contact with your art brand. Interactions — big or small, in person or online — can affect whether or not someone trusts you as a professional artist.
And, potential buyers want to buy from credible artists. That’s why making an effort to build your credibility as an artist should be at the top of your to-do list. To give you a head start, we’ve rounded up ten different actions you can take to build your credibility as an artist. Take a look:
1. A Working Website
Your art might be amazing, but a mistake-ridden website is as good as saying, “I have no idea what I’m doing.” To make sure buyers focus on your art and not whether they should trust you, fill your site with high-quality photos and descriptions, double check that all your links are working, proofread everything, and always keep your site updated with your latest art business endeavors.
2. Strong Social Media
Much like your artist website, the rest of your online presence will be scrutinized for mistakes. And, neglected or overly-promotional social media accounts make you appear unprepared or inexperienced. A fresh social media strategy for 2017 may be just what you need to get your credibility back on track.
3. Completed Deadlines
There’s nothing more satisfying (and credible!) than delivering a finished piece of art on time — it signifies that you respect your client's’ time and that you run a tight ship. Need to step up your game? Take a look at these tips for artists on how to meet deadlines.
4. Compelling Writing
As much as we’d love to let our art speak for itself, it doesn’t quite work that way. Your unique story and background help art collectors fall in love with your artwork in the first place. That’s why it’s essential to write a phenomenal artist statement or about me page. These writings serve as introductions to your art business — so, why not impress buyers from the get-go?
5. Professional Reports
A professional artist is a credible artist. A site like Artwork Archive lets you print all sorts of professional reports to help you stay organized and demonstrate how serious you are as an artist.
Create consignment reports so that your galleries always have exact information on hand. Print gallery and address labels to streamline shipping and present your work with style. Generate invoices to ensure a professional experience for your clients. Or, produce beautiful portfolio pages to share and promote your work in person or online.
6. Artist Workshops
Teaching an artist workshop, or accepting any speaking engagement for that matter, demonstrates that you are an expert in your field. You have enough experience with your craft and know-how that people trust you to teach them about it. Worried about where to begin? Use these tips for teaching your first workshop.
7. Content Marketing
Another way to illustrate your expertise? Content marketing. Whether you write for an art blog, create fun videos for social media, or host your own art podcast, it’s a brilliant way to reveal how much you know as an artist — all while keeping potential buyers entertained! Learn more about how content marketing can be your secret weapon here.
8. Social Proof
If people are happy with your art, don’t keep it a secret! Add testimonials to your website and share good reviews of your work on social media. Were you recently accepted into a juried show or gained gallery representation? Put it on your resume. The more people can see that you have satisfied clients, the more credible you will become as an artist.
9. Event Success
Events are yet another way people come in contact with your art business, and they need to run smoothly to reflect well on your credibility. To help things go off without a hitch, check out our advice on hosting successful art openings, studio visits, and art fair booths.
10. Thought Out Responses
Believe it or not, the way you talk about your art can affect your reputation. Even if you are not a born extrovert, you will at some point have to share about your art, influences, and experience. Being able to speak genuinely and clearly about your passion will help others believe in you as well.
The key is to be prepared! Practice answering some common questions when writing your artist statement, and you’ll be all set for when you have to speak.
What’s the bottom line?
It’s no secret that people want to buy from credible artists. When it’s clear that an artist knows what he or she is doing, a potential buyer feels a lot more comfortable about moving forward with a sale—they’ll get a high-quality piece of art and a good customer experience from start to finish. While these credibility-building tactics are small, they can really add up and make a difference in your art business.
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