Art Festival Newsletter | November 2023

HOLIDAY SEASON MARKETING

How you and your art can stand out in a sea of end-of-the-year promotions and sales!

CREATING A CAMPAIGN

Graphics That Will Help You Get More Sales This Holiday Season

This is one of the busiest seasons of the year if you can get noticed by your patrons. Between Black Friday / Cyber Monday and all the holiday sales, there’s a lot of pressure to stand out from all the noise and reach your target customers.

Creating eye-catching graphics is one way to ensure that your audience notices what you’ve got going on and that they get excited about your offers!

A direct and compelling headline

Create polished and professional looking graphics!

When it comes to art marketing during the holiday season, your patron’s inbox is the key to making sales. Every time you hit send, you have a chance to reach out and remind them about your art and upcoming sale opportunities.

Having an attention-grabbing image in the body of your newsletter is a great way to increase your click-through rate. Don’t go overboard with the imagery, which could affect the deliverability of your email — one or two strategically placed images are all you need to make an impact!

Be sure that your eye-catching graphics link to your sales page or website! Your website needs to look the part to achieve that goal. You will be able to create excitment by doing a few simple things before your holiday marketing.

Start your promotion in advance: add a pop-up with a clear call to action to check your available pieces.

Consider motivating collectors to make a purchase with a special deal. This is a good time to run a promo code for returning patrons.

Update your online inventory to make sure you are showcasing all the pieces that are available.

Enhance your artwork descriptions: list the size of the piece(s), medium, and theme, as well as shipping and framing options.

Add room mockups of your art to the product description and give visitors a better sense of how the piece will look in spaces like living rooms or office spaces. If your art is wearable, consider a model wearing the work.

Offer a seamless purchase process. Have a visible “Buy Now” button that links to the your sales page.

Offer a fully rounded experience to potential buyers with shipping, packaging, and framing options and your return or refund policy clearly stated.

Shoppable Instagram Posts

50% of US consumers do their holiday shopping at the last minute. Want to drive sales to your site? Make shopping for those last minute holiday gifts as easy as possible and consider Shoppable Posts.

This feature lets you to tag your products in your posts and link them to your website for your fans to purchase with ease. To be approved for Instagram Shopping, you’ll need to meet these requirements. Click here to learn how.

The fast nature of these posts means that it is important to make a bold statement with your graphics in order to get people to want to know more and take action!

Make sure that you include a call to action or a hashtag that tells your audience how they can find out more information about your promotion.

Update your website & shop headers

Your website headers and shop headers should remain just as relevant as your other social media posts. This is commonly the first thing viewers will see when they arrive at your page, which makes it the best place to advertise new art or any current promotions that you have going on.

It’s hard to rise above the noise! The only way to do it is to make a solid plan for getting the word out multiple ways and many, many times. Think of all of the communities you are part of, and find a way to let that community know about your offerings.

ART FESTIVAL DIRECTORS CONFERENCE

EVENT DETAILS

This two and a half day professional development event brings together show directors and those connected to the industry for learning, discussion, inspiration and networking opportunities. This conference is tailored to individuals who are involved with the planning of art fairs or festivals, including board chairs, council or chamber staff, and volunteers.

TOPICS OF DISCUSSION

This is a sample of what the conference will discuss this year. Details will be on the Art-Linx website when finalized.

Go Green Initative - Reducing the Carbon Footprint of Shows
Hybrid Marketing
Enforcing Show Rules
Take a Bite - Food Contracts 101
Attracting the Next Generation of Volunteers
The Power of Influencers

SCHEDULE

Wenesday April 24th - Attend the fabulous Festival of the Arts - Arts Council Oklahoma City opening night event. Tickets provided by the Conference and include food and beverage.

Thursday, April 25th - Conference day with evening opportunity to return to the Festival of the Arts.

Friday, April 26th - Conference day that ends at 3pm. Walking tour of the gorgeous public art in Oklahoma City at the end of the day (tenative).

Registration opened NOW at https://www.art-linx.com/conference

Payment for early registration is due 1/15/24

Last Chance to APPLY: Click logo for more information!

Cottonwood Arts Festival

Richmond, TX

May 4-5, 2024

Application Deadline 12/1/23

VisArts' Rockville Arts Festival

Rockville, MD

May 4-5, 2024

Application Deadline 1/12/24

Thankful for The Arts This Year

As the year draws to a close, I find myself reflecting on the profound gratitude I feel for the arts and the talented artists who have enriched our lives. In a world often marked by challenges and uncertainties, the arts have been a source of solace, inspiration, and connection. Through their creativity, artists have provided a much-needed escape, allowing us to explore new worlds, empathize with diverse perspectives, and find beauty in the midst of chaos.

In its various forms, art has the remarkable ability to bridge the gap between people and fostering a deeper understanding and appreciation for the world around us. Whether it be through murals that breathe life into urban landscapes, sculptures that harmonize with nature, or photography that captures the essence of a moment, art has the power to imbue our surroundings with meaning and emotion.

This year, in particular, art stands as a testament to the human spirit's indomitable nature. It is in these challenging moments that artists channel their creativity as a force for healing and understanding. I am profoundly thankful for the transformative power of the arts and the dedicated individuals who continue to fuel our collective imagination.

Wishing each of you a Happy Thanksgiving, and hope that every day is a masterpiece waiting to be appreciated.

Robin Markowitz, Editor

Robin@Art-Linx.com

The Art-Linx website has the most current Call to Artist information