HOW TO START AN EMAIL LIST AND GROW YOUR BUSINESS.

How to Start an Email List and Grow your Business.

7/29/2021

The pandemic is almost over, are you gearing up your business for success? Have you applied to some art venues? Or are you spending time marketing your business online? No matter what it is, you must combine email marketing with your chosen business model. It is essential to your business.

Email marketing is vital for your business because you can keep your audience informed about your art projects, process and sales via newsletters. Without this form of marketing, you will not be able to reach out and connect with your followers. To start sending out newsletters you need an email list.

Your email list is the best asset for your business. Your subscribers are your warm audience that enjoys you and your work. You need to nurture your list consistently and cultivate your audience into art collectors and buyers. You do this, by creating helpful and inspiring art content that impacts your audiences' life.

I have grown my list for the past 13 years. Many of my customers have supported me since day one, and without my email marketing effort, there would be no way to reach out and share my art and sell to them.

Your email list has a direct correlation to the success of your business. It has a better impact on your business compared to any social media channel. Here is the stat, only 2-5% of your social media followers will see your posts but 20-35% of your email subscribers will read your emails. That is why it is vital to have an email list.

Without further adieu, let’s get you started on your email list. I am keeping this tutorial simple so that you can implement it within a day. It just takes a little effort, and commitment and you are on your way to cultivating art collectors.

Here is how to start.
#1) Pick an Email Service Provider.
An Email Service provider is an email platform where you build your email list and send emails to the people on that list. It also supports you with tools and resources to help you with your email marketing.

Here are my suggestions: Swiftdigital, Convertkit, and Mailchimp. These email service providers also offer attractive templates for your landing page needs.

#2) A Lead Magnet.
Next, you’ll need to offer an attractive freebie to give to your audience in exchange for their email addresses, and this is called a Lead Magnet.

My Lead Magnet Suggestions are:

- A (Time frame, Quarterly, or Monthly? ) Free Print Draw.
- A 10% off on their first purchase (make sure this correlates with your website, that you can offer your audience a discount code once they sign up. And remember to link your discount code with your Email Service Provider.)
- A Guide, Pdf Download. For example, for your art audience; you can create a guide on "How to choose the right art for your living space. "
- A Digital Tutorial, if your target audience is art students. You can offer a mini instructional digital video on How to do Knife Painting.

#3) Create a Subscriber Form (Landing Page).
With your chosen lead magnet, create a Landing Page in your Email Service Provider. On your form, use words that will entice your ideal customers to sign up. Explain what you are offering in a clear, concise, and engaging manner. For example, if you sell landscape art, and you are offering a free print draw, you can say this;

"Sign up for my Newsletter and get a chance to Win an Open Edition Landscape Print of your Choice Valued at $ price. " Quarterly Draw. (specify the time frame)

#4) Share your landing page everywhere.
Next, embed your landing page on your website, put it under your signature and your Social Media pages. You should do a Pop UP on your website as well. The best rule for a pop-up landing page is to have it appear 45 seconds after your visitor entered your website.

#5) Newsletter Frequency.
Once you start collecting email addresses, decide your newsletter frequency. Weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly, whichever one you’ve decided on, commit and be consistent. Always make your newsletter interesting, educational, and inspiring.

Offline Fishbowl Technique.
This is for artists that are doing art events with no internet excess.

Collecting email addresses has to be one of your first priority. If you are doing shows and do not have internet access or an Ipad for people to sign up for your newsletters, you can use the Fishbowl Technique.

Bring a box or a small fish tank to collect your customers' info. Put an attractive sign on your container, explaining your offer in exchange for their email address. You can do this by either asking them to drop off their business cards or provide them with a custom-made email sign-up form. Keep your form simple and to the point, ask for just the First name and Email address. And out of courtesy, you can include a line to show your trustworthiness by saying; “All information received will be kept confidential and will not be shared or given to other companies”.

Anyone that shows interest with your art, ask them if they would like to sign up for your offer. Don't be shy about asking. Remember you are at the show to do business, don't let anything deter you from utilizing your show time to your advantage.

Conclusion
So there you have it, I hope you are inspired to start your email list today because it is an effective way to build your business. If done right, you can consistently grow your email list and create a sustainable art business.

If you find this information helpful and would like to learn more about art marketing, you should join my FB Group, Creating a Profitable Art Business! Come and learn with like-minded creatives like you to market your art and bring it to the right market. Enjoy the camaraderie of fellow artists and stay positive with the right mindset.

With Creative Joy,
Ting