Art Marketing Advice Goes Viral

Preparing and promoting your online media room just got easier for artists thanks to art marketing advice from Coach Alyson B. Stanfield.
I’d Rather Be in the Studio! The Artists No-Excuse Guide to Self Promotion is a quick read full of practical ideas and action steps.

I contacted Alyson to discuss a presentation to graphic artists and was delighted to discover she shared my interest in and appreciation for online media kits. In her chapter, “Be a Media Magnet,” Alyson suggests adding a dedicated media kit to your website. Her must-have items align with mine (news release, bio, contact information as basics) and she outlines a specific treatment for high resolution images, perfect for artists.

Alyson walks the talk, providing a media room of her own and more importantly, including a clear self-promotion letter as part of her book review request. What I liked about Alyson’s package:

• She included a bookmark with my copy of the book
• The cover letter with the book gave me specific promotional options to consider
• A “REVIEW COPY” label clearly marked the book
• The tone of the letter was upbeat, conversational and friendly
• The book was well-organized and easy to read
• The stories were believable
• The testimonials were true
• A thank you to two coaches (creative writing coach Cynthia Morris and life coach Rachelle Disbennett Lee) made the book of special interest to me

Throughout I’d Rather Be in the Studio! Alyson challenges artists to move from the background to the foreground, keep art as a primary focus, and create a workable promotion plan. She also cautions: “no whining!” an admonition I love. Unlike many inspirational gurus Alyson also adds specific steps (applicable to real life) to make going from obscurity to familiarity a distinct possibility.

It occurs to me that this volume could work for any profession, particularly one that involves creativity. One thing’s for sure: the artists I know will hear about this work. Given an occasion, I may even buy their copy!