So far, I think I’m doing really well at ignoring my learning from the past about the right way to set up a business.
However, there’s one small residue “should”, that keeps coming back to haunt me. It’s the need to answer the question of who I am writing for and, having answered, to always have that in mind when I write.
I can see the logic in that but when I find myself thinking about it I get into a right muddle and am unable to decide how to proceed.
From where I sit it looks like I could be writing for:
- fellow artists who are interested in painting/creating
- people who would like to buy my art
- people who are interested in the 3 Principles or living a happier life generally
- my personal friends
- myself
The latter 2 will take care of themselves. I will write what I want to write and, if my friends aren’t interested sufficiently they will stop reading or unsubscribe but they’ll still be my friends so no biggie!
However, according to traditional marketing theory the top 3, are a different matter.
Conventional wisdom says that a website selling art should have an artist’s statement, a gallery and stories about the paintings and what inspired them. The main focus always being on the art itself rather than the words. It also says that a blog should focus on one niche and one niche only.
That simply doesn’t work for me. I can’t see a way to write for everyone and it certainly doesn’t feel right to tailor my words to one market or another. At least not at the moment.
Trying to work it out just blocks my creativity and stops me writing. And, anyway, the whole point of this is recording my journey as I practice living in the unknown and doing only what feels right for me despite what the world may say! So, I’m going to let myself off the hook and write whatever comes to me, trusting that people will turn up and like what I’m doing. Even if the majority find nothing of interest here I’m hoping that some will enjoy the experience enough to return. And then, who knows where we’ll end up together!
So, on that note, would you be willing to help me get some more eyes here?
I currently have 15 subscribers and an average of 9 visitors per day. I’m excited about putting some energy into increasing those numbers – without breaking the “only doing what I want to do” rule, of course!
Here’s how you can help:
- If you’re reading this and enjoying yourself and aren’t subscribed to receive updates please do so by signing up in the top right corner.
- If you’re already signed up and can think of someone else who might enjoy this blog please tell them about it. Maybe find the post you most enjoyed and do whatever is easiest for you to get the word out – Facebook, Twitter, Email, Pinterest, face to face conversation even!
- Finally, please leave your comments when you see or read something you particularly like so I can see what you’re most interested in and we can get some conversation going.
And . . .
Thank you, thank you, thank you for being here because, truthfully, if nobody was reading this I don’t think I’d bother writing just for my own pleasure. 🙂
Linking to PPF and Inspire Me Monday
Great post and artwork!
♥♥♥
Happy PPF!!
Mary
Mixed-Media Map Art
Gorgeous texture and color! HPPF!
great textures and colours. I just paint and do all kinds of crafts etc to make me happy and if they sell then great…but I know what you mean about “selling your art” by writing the correct words etc..doesnt appeal to me to use words like “juxtaposition etc” and only doing one kind of art! but good luck with your sales
Thanks Lorraine. I’m totally with you on only doing stuff “that makes me happy and if they sell then great”. Its so much fun just playing around and then seeing what happens next.
Always the Gillian we know and love LVRL
Great artwork! I’m no help since I don’t sell my art. If I make something I’m not pleased with I cut it into a size that could be a background paper for a greetings card.
Thanks Faye. I use any art I’m not pleased with in the same way. If there’s a lot of texture then I sometimes just take bits of it and use it as an embellishment. I must admit to feeling a certain satisfaction in ripping a canvas off it’s frame to reuse bits of it elsewhere.
Beautiful art and words…love the colour and texture!! As for generating followers…the best thing to do is start commenting on other blogs. Keep commenting and leading people back to you! That way you meet new artists and they will return if they like the content!! It sort of works along the lines of the law or attraction….what you put out you get back!!
Also always be authentic and write from heart….it’s the only way to go…again you will attract those interested in your thoughtful posts!! All the best!!
Hugs Giggles
My Blog is titled “Creating leaders, followers want to follow.” Though, I don’t always write about leadership.
Sometimes it’s teams, how to sell, behavioral assessments, political events, or my favorite chicken wing recipe.
Keep your audience in mind. In the end, you’ve got to write about what lights you up on any given day.
Each Monday on my I have an open invite for people to share posts that they think will be of interest to coaches (‘cos that’s generally who reads my blog).
A selection of those posts are then included in a post on my site in a Sunday recap and anyone who also includes their twitter name will also get a link sent out on my blogs twitter account.
You’re more than welcome to share links to any of your posts there. A quick glance of some of your previous posts and I can spot some that would appeal to at least some of my readers 🙂
Thanks Jen. I’ll see which posts might be of interest and make a note to post them on Mondays.
Thank you for the only write what makes you happy thought. I have been for sometime trying just write, just speak to one ideal client. It has the tendency to stop one it it’s tracks.
Appreciated the blog! I am new to blogging and would not write if not to talk to myself. I write for anyone, someone, or no one. It doesn’t matter, but someday I hope to have people join in the conversation. Blessings on your site. It has a very creative air to it!
Hi Gillian, I just saw your blog shared on our friend Michael Neil’s fb page. I think you are definitely doing the right thing by just writing without focussing too much on who for or why. I just had a conversation with my husband, who is at a Hay House conference, and he had just heard Doreen Virtue speak and her big message was ‘stop thinking so much about how things happen, your job is just to show up as you are’ – and then I read your blog! Perfect timing.. And perfect for me to think about it too as I definitely think about who will read when I write and what they might think and so on… You have inspired me just to go for it..
Very best wishes to you, from Hollie
Hi Hollie. Glad to hear you’re feeling inspired to just go for it. Please come back and let us know what happens when you do! 🙂
I think that a blog should help you connect with the person, and not just the artist (speaker, coach, teacher etc.), so think it’s great that you’re letting go of this so-called blogging (business) rule. A rule whose main premise seems to be to ALWAYS be maximising earned income, to always be growing, to not ‘leaving money on the table’ (yuck!). I, like you, prefer to ALWAYS want to trust myself, my inner wisdom, and do what feels right… in each moment!
So, I’ve tweeted and commented, and now I wish you well with your ventures into being the persona that is ‘the artist’ 🙂
Steve
PS I’m here cos of Michael Neill’s FB post by the way
Hi Steve.
Thanks for your thoughtful comment and tweet and for the heads up that you found me via Michael Neill’s FB. I didn’t realise he’d mentioned the post until I read your comment! 🙂
Hi Gillian, I think it is a brilliant post! I too find it limiting to just write blog posts for the industry. In fact I have been avoiding writing because it feels like a job – rather than pleasure. I am sure there are a lot of people who feel this way too. I will most definitely subscribe to your blog & twit about it. May be through your writing I will be able to pick up my own writing. And also (of course) I am really interested in your creative process & how things materialize in you art/life. And I love those words of wisdom in your beautiful artwork! Warm wishes, Viktoria.
Thanks for the lovely comment Viktoria. Now . . . get yourself writing if that’s what you want to do. No rules. As I said in one of my paintings “put it out and let the world decide”!
Thank you Gillian!
Hi Gillian, thank you for writing this as it’s exactly how I feel! Keep being you and doing what you do – that way you’ll attract people to you who resonate with the same,, and they’re the ones you want right? I’m listening to my own advice here too! Linda
beautiful work!
“The whole point of this is recording my journey as I practice living in the unknown and doing only what feels right for me despite what the world may say!” There you have it!! This is what attracted me to your blog, and that you are following a path of creativity. I listened to a webinar yesterday about blogging for artists, and as for finding an audience, the speaker, Julie Fei-Fan Balzer (balzerdesigns.com) said: you don’t find your audience, your audience finds you–it’s like a comedian, the ones who laugh are your audience, and they will come back. (My paraphrase is not as hard-hitting as her actual words.) 🙂
Tadaaaa …. I subscribed! 😉 And will pass the info along!
Thanks for all your comments. Much appreciated. Let me know how the mini books go!