Be SMART about Marketing your Art
by Robin Markowitz
 Shift your perspective and embrace the fact that you have the ingenuity and creativity to connect with your patrons and fellow artists in a new way. Now is the time to tailor your online presence and be
SMART about marketing your art.
Click the button below to see
SMART ideas that will help you
to strengthen your business through your online presence.
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Last Chance to APPLY:
Click logo for more information!
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October 24-25, 2020
Old Town Bluffton, SC
Application Closes: 5/31/20
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August 15-16, 2020 -
NEW
Hinsdale, IL
Application Closes: 6/15/20
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September 19-20, 2020
Durham, NC
Extended Application Closes: 6/1/20
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August 15, 2020
Petoskey, MI
Extended Application Closes: 5/29/20
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Click HERE to view more Calls to Artists:
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PPP Loan
Get Ready to Apply for Forgiveness
The shifting terms and guidance around the Small Business Administration's Paycheck Protection Program loan forgivness is confusing and frankly frustrating. If you were lucky enough to get a load, now comes the next hurtle, making sure that you are eligible for loan forgiveness.
For ordinary businesses, the load is forgiven if at least 75% of the money is used to pay employees. The other 25% can be used for other business expenses, including mortgage interest or rent and utilities. However, if you are your own employee, the SBA website is contradictory about whether you can use at least 75% to pay yourself.
According to the PPP rules, recipients must spend 75% of the loaf on payroll costs within eight weeks to be eligible for load forgiveness. That clock starts as soon as the money is in the bank. Please note that each bank has different requirements - you will need to contact your lender to ask exactly what they want. Also keep in mind that the PPP rules change constantly - the SBA now has a daily updated
FAQ sheet under Program Rules.
Another key change came last Thursday from the IRS. PPP loan forgiveness was supposed to be deductible in 2020 taxes for borrowers. But the IRS threw a monkey wrench into that plan when it said the amount forgiven would not be deductible. Legislation was introduced Tuesday in the Senate to overrule that IRS notice and clarify that ordinary expenses funded by PPP loans are deductible by taxpayers. The bill, the Small Business Expenses Protection Act of 2020, is currently in the Senate Finance Committee.
Best Practices:
- If you don't have a business bank account, establish a second account at your bank exclusively for your PPP loan proceeds - less difficult to track and verify usage of the money to validate forgiveness.
- Keep detailed records of everything you spend with the PPP money
- Apply for forgiveness on week 8
- Don't switch banks until the loan is paid back or forgiven
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This Issue's Quote: "Nothing in life is to be feared, it is only to be understood. Now is the time to understand more, so that we may fear less." Marie Curie
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FOCUS & CREATIVITY
 COVID-19 has upended nearly every facet of my life, and personally I was finding it hard to sustain my focus. Frankly the statement "use this time productively" makes me crazy as it is hard for many of us who are creative and overwhelmed right now with rethinking our entire way of doing business. I have started by breaking down my day into manageable, time blocked tasks. Organizing my studio has taken up the last couple of weeks - something I have successfully ignored for a very long time.
Getting organized has helped to ground me - letting me consider what will be possible for my art jewelry business and giving me achievable goals for the week. I have found old treasures in organizing my finished jewelry and some fabulous materials I had forgotten about that will inspire my next collection.
Below are some tips that I have used to help restart my productivity.
Daily:
- Create a schedule for yourself to manage your work availability.
- Give yourself a morning routine (even if it is just 5-10 minutes). Bonus points for not using phone or computer.
- Have a daily goal
- Begin your day with an action item that will contribute to your financial success
- Check emails only at regular intervals (example: 9am and 3pm)
- Turn off social media alerts while working
- Keep a list of what you need to complete
- Do at least 20 minutes of exercise every day. YouTube has a vast selection of free exercise videos that you can do without equipment.
- Take breaks (not naps!!)
- Drink Water
Weekly:
- Block time your calendar every week to work on what is most productive
- Write down your goals for the week - then break them down by day
- Batch monthly social media and blog content
- Write, design, and send promotional emails once a week
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We Are One: A Global Film Festival
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FESTIVAL RESOURCE
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WHAT CAN ART-LINX DO FOR YOU?
Show Directors
Attract qualified fine art and fine crafters to your event with out multi-platform marketing. We reach the artist community on seven unique platforms.
Artists
You can access open Calls to Artists, search for show details, find an link to festivals in your preferred geographic area using the Art-Linx Directory, read about industry developments and professional development ideas. All at no cost to you!
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