"Sculpt Your Life From Sketch to Masterpiece" Special Introductory Launch

It's finally here.. I've been working hard over the last few months to complete the Sculpt Your Life From Sketch to Masterpiece Program designed to get you to focus on your purpose in life, set goals, plan and take action, overcome fears and criticism and increase your mastery so you can lead your Masterpiece Life. Wow that's a mouthful!

I'm really excited to be launching this Program, which includes an E-Book and Call to Action Journal. I wanted to create a Program that was Inspirational--by using quotes and stories of the Master artists from the past--and also Motivational--to begin to take action now. If you still have aspirations that you have not yet accomplished, then this Program is for you.

I've designed this to be an affordable Program that anyone in any place in their lives can follow. To read more and see what other Bonus items you can get, click Here. You could even win a free Kindle Fire!

P.S.- Now during the Holidays, I'm thankful this year for my successes as well as my failures that have become learning opportunities. I wish you much love and prosperity this season and into the new year.

Here's to your success...Bon Voyage on your journey!

Overwhelmed and Can't Find "Enough Time"?

Time stays long enough for anyone who will use it.
~Leonardo da Vinci

How are we going to complete all our tasks today? Many of us entrepreneurs and professionals get caught in the trap of never having "enough time." We regularly feel overwhelmed with having too much to do all by ourselves. Guess what? You'll never have "enough time"!

In many cases, there is work you don’t want to do, don’t do well, or just don’t have any "additional time” for. For example, assume this week you must create a new website, set up accounting software and print marketing material. Even though each of these projects may not be particularly difficult to undertake individually, you prefer not to handle any of this “busy work.” Plus it may take an inordinate amount of research and execution time to perform each of these tasks properly because you are not an expert in any of these functions.

Delegating some administrative tasks may be a blessing! For affordable prices, you could hire an assistant or contractor to handle duties such as answering emails and creating marketing material. Many assistants are professionally trained and actually want to help you! Ask friends and colleagues for referrals, search online databases of freelance professionals or research a reputable local concierge service.

Apart from administrative duties, assess other areas in your life that may be zapping undesired time and energy every month. Can you eliminate or lessen unimportant routines, processes or frivolous requests? Can you create automated systems for recurring items, such as online billing services? Finding solutions to even these menial tasks can feel liberating. 

Imagine what freeing up 10 hours a week of this “busy work” would do for you and your business? Passing off these items will get your mind back to focusing on your Masterpiece Purpose. You can even use that extra hour or two a day for fun or rest! Delegating these tasks actually affords you more time, energy and the possibility for profits! Do you really want to sacrifice your sanity, health and potential masterpiece work to save a few bucks?

When life starts to get tough and you don’t know how to handle it, remember that all it takes is one small step forward. This may also be the right time to seek additional support, hire an assistant, call a success coach or attend a productivity seminar! You can handle it! 

   
*Excerpt derived from Ch. 5 of Sculpt Your Life From Sketch to Masterpiece(TM) Success Program. This program has 12 keys to success and is designed to motivate you to increase your productivity, reach your goals and ultimately fulfill your purpose! 

I also encourage and welcome comments and appreciate you forwarding this article to others who may find it valuable.

Thank you for all your support!

Thank you from the bottom of my heart for all your support these last few weeks! 

Through last week I was working on the final touches of my book and have been highly immersed in completing and publishing the e-book program. This is a culmination of the best strategies to help you reach your greatest level of success! I'm really proud of the book and program! More details to come!

This week as well I had to leave town due to a family emergency, and have had little access to internet. Thank you for all the thoughts, support and understanding during this time. 

I will be resuming my weekly blog posts in the next couple of weeks and will share the details and date of the Success Program launch by then.

My sincerest appreciation and regards!

~Alex

Power of Partnership: Leveraging the help of others to succeed

In Western society (particularly in the U.S.), being a lone hero is somehow encouraged and respected. We often feel that we have to do everything ourselves, saying “Yes, Yes, Yes” and multitasking several jobs at once. No one’s ever surprised when we finally break down or get sick, because it’s just not humanly possible to do it all!  

To be successful, there is strength in numbers. “Group think” is highly synergistic. This means that it’s better to have several people working with you, than just you working.

Finding partnerships is a catalyst for elevating you to the next level. These are some ways you can apply the group approach to help your business:

1. Join a Cooperative or Association: There is power in community! These groups are designed to pool resources together to help their members. There may be business associations, chambers of commerce and other such organizations in your city that are available for you to join. Also take advantage of communities online, such as ArtistaMundo.com, which provide each member with benefits such as an online portfolio and search databases.

2. Create a “Master Mind” Group: A Master Mind is essentially a small group of 5 or 6 like-minded and successful peers that meet once or twice a month. You share ideas, frustrations, concerns, advice and requests with the group. You brainstorm together, benefiting from the experience and knowledge of others, plus they provide third-party unbiased objective views. Make sure that everyone in the group wants to succeed and they are more positive than negative. The last thing you need is a pessimistic “Debbie Downer” contradicting or bashing all your ideas. Another option is to join a group coaching program that functions in the same way, but is led by a professional (in this case, me).  

3. Find an Accountability Partner: If you can’t find a whole group, just one other friend or trusted professional such as a Coach can serve to keep you focused on and accountable for your goals. Similarly to the group, this person can provide valuable insight and advice on a consistent basis. If it's your friend, you can cross-mentor each other. The advantage of having just one other person is the flexibility and attention to strategize your issues more intimately.

4. Find a Mentor: Sometimes you do need to seek out others you admire who are where you want to be. A mentor can be a former boss, professor or some other highly respected person you meet with regularly, or anytime you need advice. Another option is to ask someone you don’t know personally but respect, such as the CEO of a company you greatly admire. Depending on their availability, you can ask just to chat on the phone or treat them to lunch. They may be highly flattered for the request and want to help you because successful people like to give back! Take advantage of these situations to ask for advice and feedback.

5. Assemble your “Dream Team”: You excel at what you do best. Find other people that excel at all the jobs that take away valuable time from your creative process. Search online for concierge services that can hire a part-time assistant or intern so you delegate all the administrative work, social media or marketing that are time and energy zappers. Seek experts who are holding workshops or informational sessions in areas you need help in. Perhaps you need professional consultants such as accountants and attorneys. Ask your local SCORE or arts and business council if they recommend affordable professional resources. For example, in Miami there is a group called LegalArt that provides affordable or pro-bono legal services to artists. Even if you think you can’t or shouldn’t spend money on hiring these folks, remember that what you’re not delegating out may be costing you a fortune!

Sometimes all we need are little nudges along our path to success. Leveraging the help of others will help you tremendously, if nothing else to free your time and energy so you can continue to do what you do best. 

*If you need additional help on your road to success, check out some additional resources: my new book Sculpt Your Life From Sketch to Masterpiece(TM), join me in Individual or Group Coaching, check out an upcoming webinar or workshop.

Marketing your Art - Mini Training Video

Check out this 15-minute clip from a larger segment I did on Marketing for Your Art Business. I go over some principles of Traditional Marketing, Sales, Online Platforms and Branding. 


Hope you find it useful!

Find out more information on the "Masterpiece Marketing" DVD Training Series or one of the individual courses on marketing. 

"Masterpiece Marketing" Product Launch!

I'm launching a new marketing video training series! I've been working feverishly to complete this, as many of you artists who were unable to attend my workshops or the webinar series have been highly interested in the information. Here it is! 

Each of the 3 DVD Video Courses are sold separately.... but it's actually a better value to get all 3 video courses plus the bonus video for just $67!! This is a limited time offer only good for the next week as this is the product launch!

This is specifically made for Fine Artists, but the concepts and strategies can be applied to mixed media, commercial art and other arts genres as well. Below are more details and you can read about each one individually in the Products page.

Here's a short explanation on the series:

Here's to your artistic success!!!

"Masterpiece Marketing" 3 Video Course Series plus FREE Bonus Video!

 

Take Marketing, Sales & Branding to the next level with this "Masterpiece Marketing" DVD Video Training Series. Create strategic marketing plans for your business that are personalized and suited for you and your work! Based around Alexandra's 3 Keys to Marketing Success to allow your work to stand out!

Video Course #1: Traditional Marketing & Sales
Video Course #2: Online & Social Media Marketing
Video Course #3: Branding for Long-Term Success  

Plus BONUS Video & Workbook Questions: Targeting Your Ideal Audience - this 45-minute video and applicable workbook questions will help you identify your ideal clients, find new leads and organize your client lists (Valued at $19.99).

Alexandra's practical and easy-to-follow approach guides you through each of the video courses. Follow along to a step-by-step video presentation of the most important marketing topics relevant to fine artists. The Manuals, available as PDF's, include detailed Notes summarizing the video to easily read at any time. Take the lessons to a new level by answering intensive questions for each section, allowing you to better comprehend and apply the concepts specifically to your business. The programs also include suggested reading resources and Actionable Steps to further your business practice even further.

Buying all 3 Video Courses, plus the BONUS video, is an excellent value at just $97.00, and a must-have for moving your fine art business forward!!

Training Series Introductory Offer: Just $67.00 for a limited time only through October 17, 2011 at midnight EST!! (Price Originally $97.00). 

If you're ready to take your Marketing, Sales & Branding to the next level: 

P.S. - If you have used and are satisfied with this course or would like to refer any of the ArtistaCoaching products, sign up for the Affiliate Program to earn 30% commission on these products. 

"ArtistaTip" Question: How to Attract Customers

Today's "ArtistaTip" question comes from Patty from Philadelphia who asks:

Q: I feel as though I'm running around in circles trying capture my clients; I wish they would just come to me. Do you have any suggestions?

~Patty, Philadelphia, PA

A: This is a great question and I've received many similar questions and concerns from artists lately. Without knowing your background or where you are in your business, I recommend focusing your efforts on a Branding campaign for you and your work. Branding is all about finding your niche and uniqueability, or your expertise that people remember you by. Once you hold that memorability factor, you can begin to attract more of your followers who love your work. Branding is not a short-term technique but a long-term strategy; however you can begin today to increase your efforts. Make small changes to your website or in your marketing material to reflect your You-niqueability. Ultimately remembering that you and your style are unique can build your confidence, which aids you in attracting more clients! 

For more information on branding or marketing, check out one of my upcoming Webinars or workshops Scheduled, topics include Branding on 4/23, Strategic Online Marketing and Publicity. 

Or check out my new success e-program Sculpt Your Life From Sketch to Masterpiece(TM)!

*If you'd like to submit a question for an "ArtistaTip", please email Alexandra@ArtistaMundo.com.

Marketing your Art Online

It’s no secret that Social Media and online tools are very cost effective for marketing your work. The problem is that everyone’s using it, and there’s way too much clutter online. How do you know the right people are even seeing your message?

Consider the following points when creating your marketing plan online:

1.  Be Aware of your Goals: Online Marketing can be particularly effective if you wish to promote your art to all your online followers. You may even be able to attract a good amount of your friends and supporters to attend your openings and events with just a simple Facebook event invitation. But if your goal is to sell your $5,000 pieces, you may need a more aggressive, creative and tailored approach.  

2.  Be Aware of your Audience: Who are you trying to reach online? If you want all your followers to know about the latest series you created, or about the newest partnership you formed with a local curator, then go ahead and share online. However, if your intent is to reach buyers to buy your expensive art pieces or attend your next opening, they may not be hanging out on Social Media or reading all your perfectly manicured e-newsletters. I always suggest doing research to determine where your clients are.

3.   Be Aware of your Medium: There are so many social media platforms and online tools out there, which one do you choose? Once you know your Goal and Audience, again, research can help you figure out the best strategy. Facebook and Twitter are well-known for engaging with your followers, but have you ever considered LinkedIn to find a certain type of buyer or agent in your area? Perhaps you have a great client email list but you haven’t sent out an e-newsletter in 6 months. Look at what approaches have and haven’t worked in the past. And don’t be afraid to try something new!

Nowadays we move so fast that we often do things too quickly or spontaneously. Whenever possible, try to brainstorm and come up with a plan in advance before implementing it. It will also serve you to do a bit of research to see what is the best strategy given your Goals and Target Audience. You may be surprised or amazed what you find. A week or two of preparation and research could save you a lot of time, energy and money in the long-run!

For additional resources on promoting yourself, check out Ch. 10 of my success e-program Sculpt Your Life From Sketch to Masterpiece(TM). This e-program takes you through the 12 essential strategies for success! Here's to your future!

How Traditional Marketing May be the Edge you Need

We've been bombarded over the last decade with talk about how social media and online marketing are useful, practical and affordable! However, many of us are spending more time online and less time building personal relationships with key clients, agents and partners. Since buying art is largely an emotional experience, online tactics may not be as effective. Instead, a more sensorial and customized approach usually works best.

If you've felt that something is missing in your sales approach, you may need to add back the traditional marketing techniques that were employed before the Internet became popular. As humans, we like to feel special. Receiving a mass email does not particularly make us feel special. Receiving personalized, one-on-one attention customized to our needs and wants, does make us feel good!

Some elements you can bring back into your marketing plan can include some of these long forgotten direct marketing strategies:

1. Phone Call - We're so buried behind our email, that we've forgotten what it's like to make a sales pitch on the phone. Your phone is still one of your best tools for getting attendance at your events and ultimately sales.

2. Studio Visit - Although online sales have been increasing over the years, buyers are still largely accustomed to experiencing art with all senses. What better way than through a personal invitation to your studio? While there, you can tell your "story", answer questions and show them your fabulous repertoire.

3. Snail Mail Post Card - Don't worry about your post card getting portrayed as "junk" and thrown away. If you create a professional invitation or post card with a high quality image of one of your best works, it will likely end up on the refrigerator or even framed! Always include your contact information on the card!

4. Newsletter - A real, live newsletter can definitely make you stand out these days! However, a personalized, professional e-newsletter can be effective as well. The goal is to keep your buyers up to date on your events and newest art work so you remain top-of-mind. Remember to add any awards, public commissions and media coverage you've received. 

Ultimately, persistence is key! Sales don't usually happen overnight, so maintaining consistent follow-up with your buyers is crucial. Dust off your old tried-and-true methods and get cracking!

What has and hasn't worked for you? I'd love to hear your comments!

*If you'd like to learn more about traditional marketing, you may be interested in
one of the Training courses or future Workshops Scheduled. Or if you need additional help on your road to success, check out my new book Sculpt Your Life From Sketch to Masterpiece(TM).

To get more of my FREE tips and strategies, sign up for my newsletter:

Enter Your Name:
Enter your Email:

The Art of Networking and Making Connections

Have you ever been to a networking event in which you talk to dozens of people but don’t seem to find a connection with anyone? Or worse yet, you find yourself in the corner by yourself?

Many artists and arts professionals I know are shy or simply dread networking events. In order to elevate your success to the next level, you’re going to have to communicate about yourself and your work. By not attending these events, you are forgoing possible opportunities to find new leads and sell your work. 

Recently I participated in a really great tele-seminar “Mastering the Art of Quick Connection was as easy as 1 - 2 – 3!” about networking and making connections. The chat was hosted by Lisa Marie Platske, President & CEO of Upside Thinking, Inc. who was interviewing Bonnie Ross-Parker, CEO & Founder of “The Joy of Connecting®”, two fabulous ladies that help other women and entrepreneurs succeed.

Bonnie's approach takes the “work” out of networking and her three-part connecting system is easy and effective. In order to make a quick connection and increase your success in any networking event, remember to do the following:

1.     Differentiate

2.     Be Memorable

3.     Make a Difference

Differentiate: Always be yourself and feel free to be different. If you’re shy, an easy conversation starter that gets others to approach you is wearing your own personalized name tag with your name, business and logo. Also try going out of your way to make a connection. Rescue that person who’s alone simply by introducing yourself; they’ll be so grateful and more likely to be interested in learning more about your work. You can even connect people you’ve met that have things in common. One time I connected a young designer who needed copyright legal advice with a qualified attorney I had met earlier in the night.     

Be Memorable: This refers to your appearance and behavior. As far as your look, people remember those who stand out. Go ahead and wear your wild jewelry or blue hair if that’s “you.” Even simple things make a big impact. Once I attended a professional networking event where everyone was wearing black or neutral colors while I wore a red outfit. I made a lot of good connections that day. When it comes to behavior, try to leave a positive impression. Be a great listener, invite people to come to your next opening or send articles they would enjoy. And try not to be remembered for the wrong reasons, such as having one too many drinks.

Make a Difference: People see right through those who are too sales-y or self-serving. What are you doing and saying to others? Are you leaving positive imprints in people’s lives? Think of those who have made a difference in your own life and model yourself after them.

Although you should try to stand out and make a good impression, it’s about making real connections and fostering those relationships. It’s better to have a great conversation with one potential lead rather than have superficial chats with 30 people. And if you do make some positive connections, remember to follow up with them with an email, call or personal invitation to your next exhibit.

Lisa Marie Platske is the President & CEO of Upside Thinking, Inc., an international leadership development company which provides coaching/consulting to leaders and business professionals; she can be found at http://www.upsidethinking.com and http://www.DaretoShareEvent.com. Bonnie Ross-Parker, aka "America's Connection Diva" is CEO & Founder of “The Joy of Connecting®” which helps business women and entrepreneurs create relationships and professional alliances through connections: http://www.thejoyofconnecting.com.

*If you need additional help on your road to success, check out some additional resources: my new book Sculpt Your Life From Sketch to Masterpiece(TM), join me in Individual or Group Coaching, check out the Masterpiece Guild, or one of my DVD Training courses.

I also love reading comments, feel free to leave your thoughts or what has or hasn't worked for you. Please feel free to share this article with others who may benefit from it. Cheers to you!