Guess what – they don’t trust you.
And that is why they aren’t buying your art.
I’m not talking about the folks that aren’t buying because they aren’t into it – I’m talking about the people who adore your artwork, but still haven’t shelled out their hard-earned dollars in exchange for some beautiful things.
In a nutshell, people buy from people and businesses they trust. Especially when it comes to larger purchases and investments. But good news – this is an easy fix.
Branding is a huge part of your overall image as a business, it gives your audience something to grasp onto and remember you by. In the sea of artists, it gives you that sparkle that calls to them, and has them returning for more.
So let’s get a move on! Here are 4 ways that you can take your business to the next level through branding.
1) Packaging
So you’ve made a sale, congrats to you! But don’t dig too deep into that bubbly just yet, you’ve got work to do!
Sure, you can throw your hard work haphazardly into a bubble mailer and throw it to the wind, but be prepared to never hear from that customer again (or rather, hear anything positive from them – get ready for the negativity!).
The post-transaction work can be a total joy if you put your heart into it. Spent hours carefully choosing the perrrrfect colour scheme for your website? Visit your local dollar store and grab a few packs of tissue paper that matches. Boom, super easy branding.
Invested in a super fancy wax seal stamp with your logo like I did? How about you use that badboy to seal up the most adorable handwritten thank you note to your dearest customer.
That customer should feel as if they are opening a gift (that they bought for themselves, sure), completely with a pretty little metaphorical bow (or literal, you do you). A little gratitude can go a very long way, not to mention packaging is a killer way to further strengthen your brand in the face of those who really matter (AKA the amazing folks willing to invest in your with their hard-earned dollars).
2) Your Language
Believe it or not, the words you use have a huge impact on your branding.
Are you a spunky little fireball with a bright and furious passion for what you do? Rock that energetic phrasing!
Are you a peaceful greenthumb that infuses your natural energy into your art? Then lean into some crunchy granola words and find your tribe.
The point is, you have a voice that aligns to your unique energy, so let that voice roar!
Don’t worry about being perfect, polite or normal – that does nothing but suppress your fire.
Just be you.
3) Your Actual Art
Really like painting lilies? Or always find yourself reaching for Phthalo blues to give a chilly boost to your shadows? These kinds of things contribute to your art image over time, fans can begin to recognize your work before they hear your name attached to it.
Take a moment to analyze what themes, colours or subjects are recurrent in your work, and twist that until it starts to have a place in your brand.
I always find myself infusing deep purple tones into my shadows, which are often paired with warm amber highlights, sometimes even a gaudy and delightful shock of metallic gold. So, lo and behold, my brand colours eventually morphed into the eggplant-grey-sunny gold combo that it is today.
It all comes full circle.
4) Dig into your weirdness and throw it up on display
We’re all unique little balls of sunshine, so dig into your weird factor and lean into it! Extract those little quirky things that make you you, and let them shine.
People buy from businesses and people they trust – and they’re not exactly likely to trust someone that seems robotic and cold. But we aren’t cold robots, right? So let that dazzle them.
Create a list of 3 to 5 things that make you unique. These can be interests, philosophies, hobbies, infatuations, etc. Then talk about them. A lot. The goal here is that your audience will become familiar with your interests, and have you come to mind when they encounter these things.
Don’t be afraid to get strange. Sure, you might not click with some people, but those people aren’t in your tribe. I absolutely adore skulls, in fact I collect them. And I talk about my dog, A LOT. Your tribe will fall in love with this sparkly confident person you will become, and will reward you with their hard-earned dollars.
There are a million and one other ways to strengthen your brand as an artist, so stay tuned for Part 2!
Want to take an even bigger flying leap towards your (inevitable) success as an artist?
Watch my FREE masterclass training, Scale Your Art Sales.
It’s the online class for beginner artists that are filled with a fiery creative passion, and want to grow an audience online that actually want to BUY their artwork