How to Be More Productive Marketing Art Online

Productive Marketing Art Tips

Would you like to sell more art online? 

Is your online marketing plan taking up to much of your time? 

Are you finding it challenging to finish your commission projects?

Does it seem impossible to create an inventory for your next local craft show?

In this post, you will discover several tips on being more productive in marketing art online so you can spend more time creating art.

Increase The Value Of Your Time

Most 9-5 jobs give pay raises depending on how long an individual has been working for the company.

Some companies will give bonuses or pay raises depending on productivity.

The same will be valid for your art business.

The longer you are an artist and marketing your art online, the more valuable your art will be. Your art will be in demand, and you will be able to increase the prices.

The more productive you can be with your time, the more money you will make.

Here is an example. If it takes you twenty hours to create a piece of art and you are charging $200.00 (to make it easy to calculate), you will earn $10.00 an hour.

What if you can get the piece done in ten hours?

You are now making $20.00 an hour.

Your time has now become more profitable.

Because you are a selling artist, you probably do most, if not all, of the work yourself. 

You are creating the art, promoting the art, marketing the art, talking to potential buyers, and shipping the art.

To increase the value of your time as an artist, you will need to be productive in these categories.

Why Be More Productive

Being more productive with your time will not only make your time more valuable, but it will also positively affect your life.

When you are more productive, you have control of what you are doing.

You know what needs to be done, how you will get it, and when you will be working on the project. This will reduce unnecessary stress in your life.

When a problem arises, you will be ready to tackle it.

In time, you will be working on autopilot. 

Learning how to manage your time is how you will be successful in selling art online.

Are you ready to enhance your time management skills?

Know What Needs to Get Done

The first way you become more productive with your time is to know what needs to get done.

Knowing what needs to be done might sound obvious, but we often get caught up in the moment and forget our priorities for the day. 

Make a to-do list every day before you get started.

Write down everything that needs to get done for your art business, including:

• Studio time
• Answering emails
• Shipping products
• Blogging
• Sending newsletters
• Posting on Social Media
• Engaging with your social media followers
• Researching new marketing strategies
• Pinning on Pinterest

There will be days when your to-do list will be longer than other days.

No matter how long your list is, it is essential to prioritize the list.

At the top of the list should be the most critical tasks that must get done that day.

The rest of the list should contain tasks that you wish to get done but are not as important.

Put The Phone Away

Smartphones have made life easier in many ways.

• You will no longer find a stack of maps in a car.
• You can order dinner to be ready for pickup on your way home from work.
• You can check your emails.
• You can set reminders, so you do not forget key events.
• You can shop online.
• You don’t even have to call someone to communicate anymore. All you have to do is send a text.
• You can keep up-to date with your family and friends o your social media accounts.

The smartphone has changed the way people live.

With all the good, there is also some bad.

Smartphones can be a distraction, especially at work.

Many people find it challenging to work at home because of all the disturbances. As an artist, you will have to learn how to minimize all the interruptions to get your work done.

One way to reduce distractions is to turn your phone off or leave it in a different room during working hours. 

Manage Social Media

Another way to be more productive marketing art online is to manage your social media accounts.

The first step is to only be on your social media accounts for as long as it takes to complete your marketing plan.

When you are marketing your art, you are working. You are not socializing or checking in with your friends. Scrolling through your personal newsfeeds can be done when your work is completed.

Take advantage of all the social media marketing apps available.

There are apps for your phone to help you take beautiful social media images and apps to schedule posts on several different social media platforms.

Here are a few apps to consider:

• Buffer
• IFTTT
• Social Oomph
• Tweet Deck
• Social Flow
• Sprout Social

Weekly Plans

Take some time at the beginning of each week and write out a weekly schedule.

Set specific jobs for different days and block off times during the day for particular tasks.

The best way to write out your weekly schedule is to write down everything you want to get done during the week.

The second step is to schedule different tasks on different days and write them down on your calendar.

Every day you can look at your calendar and see what you have to put on your daily to-do list.

Time Blocking

What is time blocking?

Time blocking is when you dedicate a set amount of time to one project.

Time blocking examples:

• One hour for revising older blog posts
• Thirty minutes for social media marketing
• Two hours to write a new blog post
• Three hours in the studio for painting 

Time-blocking works so well for many people because there is a set time to get something done. 

It is easier to be more productive if you know you only have an hour to complete something.

Clear Your Mind

According to Kate Bartolotta,

• Taking a break once an hour increases our work productivity.
• A break can serve as creative fuel.
• Physical movement keeps us from being mentally stagnant.
• An afternoon tea break gives us more than a caffeine boost.
• Playing hard helps us with working hard.

You can read more about this in Kate’s post, 5 Science-Backed Ways Taking a Break Boosts Our Productivity.

When your time starts to wander, take sixty seconds to clear your mind.

Simply standing up and walking to a different room for a minute will clear my mind and get me back on track.

Standing up every half an hour will also do wonders for your back. Just take a second to get out of the chair and stretch.

You will need to be focused to be more productive in marketing art online. A few minutes to clear your mind will be well worth it in the long run.

Productivity Tools

There are so many tools available today that make life a little easier.

Here is a small list of some of the most popular apps marketers and artists are taking advantage of.

Any.do

This free app for Android and iOS helps you keep your schedule on track with to-do lists and reminders.

Just Press Record

This app is 4.99 for iOS which allows you to record your messages and makes note-taking a breeze with its built-in transcription features.

MyScript

MyScript is a free app for iOS that allows you to take handwritten note. This app might be perfect for you if you are faster at writing than typing.

Outlook

Outlook is a free app for Android and iOS that brings your emails, attachments, calendars, and contacts into one place. If you have multiple email accounts, this app will make it easy for you to keep on track with your important emails.

IFTT

IFTT is a free app for Android and iOS that will automate repetitive tasks. This app will make it easy for you to share content to multiple social media networks.

How to Be More Productive Creating Art

Above are some tips to help you manage your time better when you are marketing your art.

Marketing art is only half the job of an artist. You will also have to spend time creating art.

The more art you create, the more money you can generate.

Here are some tips to help you create more art during the week.

Create Art Daily

Practice makes perfect. The more you do something, the better you will be at it. You will also be quicker at it.

If you want to be quicker at creating art, you must get into the habit of creating art seven days a week.

You do not have to spend eight hours a day painting or drawing, but you will want to spend time every day creating.

Time Blocking Creating Art

Time-blocking works for creating art, just like marketing your art. 

There are things that you can set a timer for that pertain to creating art.

For example, searching for reference images, cleaning supplies, painting backgrounds, and working on a specific drawing or painting section.

Maybe you like to work on more than one project at a time. Set a timer for each project.

Break down all the tasks you take to create your art. 

Set a time for each task and stick to it. 

Selling Is A Job

If you are selling art online, it is a job.

You have a responsibility.

Most artists are still working multiple jobs to help supplement their income.

Think of selling your as your part-time job.

If you want to make money selling art, you will need to make time to create art.

Force yourself to stick to a schedule no matter how tired you are.

One benefit of operating your own art business is that you are the boss. The negative side is that you are responsible for the growth of your business.

You do not have anyone to lean on for help when times are tough. But if you can keep yourself motivated, you can find that you can build a thriving business that someday you might work fewer hours at your other jobs.

Organize

One way to lose motivation is to work in an area that is all cluttered with junk. Keep your work area clean and organized.

You will waste so much time if you have to stop what you are doing to find something you need. Everything should have a home and stay in its home unless it is in use.

Schedule some time for clean-up at the end of the day. Clean all your supplies and put them back in their home.

The next day you will go into the studio and be ready to go.

Production Line

A great way to save time is to batch projects.

Batching means you do similar tasks and group them, like a production line.

For example, paint five or ten skies simultaneously if you paint landscapes.

Next, paint all the grass for each of the paintings.

Then add all the trees to each painting at the same time.

Not only will you be able to create more art in less time, but you will also save money on supplies.

Think about ways to set up a production line for your art.

Set Deadlines

Setting deadlines is a great way to stay motivated and on track.

It is easy to procrastinate if you do not have an end date. In some cases, the end will never come.

You will want to make deadlines that you can keep. Unrealistic deadlines will be counterproductive and create unnecessary stress on your days.

Instead, give yourself an extra day or two in case of any problems.

Setting deadlines will help you train your brain to focus on what you are doing.

Get Rid of Distractions

Just like getting rid of distractions while marketing your art online, you should eliminate all distractions while you are in the studio creating art.

Most artist’s studio is a designated rooms in their home. If this is the case for you, you will want to find a space and a time when it will be the quietest for you.

Not only will you get more done, but you will also be able to focus on what you are doing.

Creating art takes much concentration. If you are constantly being interrupted while creating, it will show in your painting or drawing.

If there are people in the house when you are painting, just let them know that you can’t be interrupted unless it is an emergency.

Take Breaks

You will also want to take breaks while you are in the studio. Taking a step away for five minutes will help you stay fresh and focused.

Schedule Days Off

Your body and mind need a break to perform better.

The more days you work in a row, the less you will get done during the day.

Schedule a day or two off weekly for downtime and to do things you like.

When it is time to work, you will be rejuvenated and get more done.

If you work other jobs, you might want to take the same day off with your art business.

Final Thoughts On How To Be More Productive Marketing Art

The more productive you can be, the more valuable your time will be.

The more productive your time marketing your art business, the more time you will have to create new art.

The more art you can create, the more money you will be able to generate.

Time management is a skill that can be learned.

Find ways you can be more productive with your time.

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