What Are The Odds?

i'm counting the seconds until someone asks how you are marketing.

Roy;

How are you marketing?

(How was that, Menega?)

lol
We are everywhere and anywhere! I see the same faces on twitter, Google plus, and so on!! We follow each other here and there and everywhere. So get off your lazy bums and get your signs out and stand on that corner! "Buy My Art! Please!" Hand out your business cards and see what happens.

Yes it is discouraging.

Everywhere but google+ - I think. I'm not into standing on the corner anymore. I sold MORE before I started being active on FAA in the formums, contests, or Pinterest, twitter, etc, etc.
I essentially uploaded images and walked away to another POD - until they fell in the crapper - then I came back, after I had been notified of a sale. I think that IF ( really huge if) I could afford to print them up - I could sell the real things to people who saw them and could immediately take them home or to the office.

Wasting time within FAA might be your problem.

"Wasting time within FAA might be your problem."... lol

Roy.. of the six sales..what do those images have that your other 650 images don't?.. what's their appeal?

Roy, I do not get a chance to market and I also have no sales :) Just part and parcel of sitting here all day

Roy...I feel your pain. FAA does not seem to produce any real interest in may work. Maybe this fact is more testimonial to my failed abilities than to shortcomings with FAA. Anyway, here's my pitch: "Please buy my art! Or I will give you a drawing for food!"

Roy; " I think that IF ( really huge if) I could afford to print them up - I could sell the real things to people who saw them and could immediately take them home or to the office."

I have been getting mine printed through NPL, and have had more sales in person than on line. It is not that expensive to do, plus anything over $50.00 is free shipping. I am about to send in a 175.00 order now. Which I should make some good money on. I don't know why, but I market my stuff on everywhere I can, and it does not sell on line, but I can sell them in person.

I'm all for quality over quantity.... I believe it's more efficient and more effective to make a big impact or statement with a small body of well produced work as opposed to offering hundreds of pieces covering every angle all at once. And this doesn't just apply to FAA but the (art) world in general. I think a slow release plan is good. being discouraged won't help. embrace the challenge:-)
edit:...I also have NO sales!

I think your work is fabulous and I don't see any reason why it won't sell. Have you thought about doing art fairs? I sell my photography very well at local art and craft fairs. That being said, it is a LOT of work. I have to lug around a tent, pro-panels, lights, matted photos, etc. I'm a big talker, so I like to meet people in person and chat them up. It doesn't even feel like I'm working when I do art fairs (except for the setting up and tearing down part). I also sell my photos in coffee shops, furniture stores, florist (great place for your cards!), galleries, curio shops, pop-up shops, and local food markets. "Don't put all of your eggs in one basket" (FAA)

Roy, here is how it works for me. I don't do any promotions but I constantly post new images on flickr, Facebook. I post daily with either painting or photo and after a while it build up a following and some sale from it. Some of my sale here are from people from those sites. I believe different site has a different audience and it is important to expand to more more audience than just the one here.

Roy,
Why don't you sell prints? This is very nice, but looks soft to me.

--mary ellen anderson

Ah yes, MaryEllen - thank you for the compliment - unfortunately - I don't have the original painting any longer - I sold it within weeks of having finished it and hung it in a gallery - the only copy I have is this poor photograph. these are there - just to show what I once used to do.

Jane - once upon a time - I did art fairs - with my watercolors - There are two states where I was 'successful' - California and North Carolina. Florida was been a bust and in the two years I 'participated' - I sold quite a few - but the bottom line was that I went into the red about $4,000. The ones that were successful - were very successful - the ones that were bust - often not even a single sale. One that I went to was so bad that they refunded all of the artists money/fees; another two day event - only one person out of about 120 that displayed sold ONE painting. Perhaps just my bad luck - but it appeared to me that the only folks making money were the sponsors and promoters. At one, the jury fee for acceptance was $15 - there were almost 400 applications = $6,000; there were 300 booths available X $100 = $30,000. the prize money total was $10,000 divided about 9 ways + the best of show. You are at the mercy of the weather, you must pay for travel and accommodations, food, you must have a proper tent and display, and you haven't an idea if people will come, if they come to look or to buy. and for sure, don't forget the set up and tear down - and if you are carrying glazed art - you have to carefully pack that all up so that it doesn't break or get damaged. No thank you - two years was enough.

@ Barry - I haven't a clue. Except that most were photographs. I have sold several of my abstracts - a couple here on FAA - but more on another POD that I no longer use.

Yeah...I'm discouraged! It's been 2 months since I sold something....sigh...

"I'm counting the seconds until someone asks how you are marketing." (Menega Sabidussi)


:)

There are a lot of super talented artists on here, lots of competition that's why it's harder to sell here. It's not impossible to sell here, just harder. My philosophy is: Don't put all your eggs in one basket.

--Roz Barron Abellera

257 images, 34678 visitors.
I had one print sale, but it was returned. Since then I have sold 1 card and 1 phone case. So I made stuning 2 USD in 9 months on FAA.
Yes, Discouraged enough. I have started choosing 25 images for my non-exclusive account

There is hope dont give up,
just keep putting you good work out there,
all the best Roy and everyone!!

Yup...I get discouraged and think of quitting this on a daily basis...you are not alone Roy!

Getting discouraged too. My last sale was December 16. What a difference from last year.

Roy...This is just a long shot and a lighthearted observation... But do you think that your similarity in appearance to the famous Walter White from Breaking Bad might be affecting your sales??? He is a nasty character and these things tend to stick in the public's mind.. EDIT:............................................................................................. :-) maybe a different avatar will help?
(although I jest..it may be something worth considering)
Peace!





(no Mexicans were harmed during the making of this post)

There are too much artistis on this site, it's difficult, for all. Marketing or not. I think it's only a matter of luck

Barry I think that was uncalled for and inaccurate

Sorry you feel that way Abbie..
It was an innocent observation made in a lighthearted manner.
Apologies to anyone who may have been offended.... ????

Let's help this guy out. Everyone tweet, facebook, stumble upon, your favorite Roy and see if we can't drive some traffic to his site. What say you?

I made great money as a commercial photographer and am so glad I didn't have to make it selling my fine art. Much like we are a spec in the universe, our images are a spec in the internet world and all the promotion in the world as I'm seeing may not get you a sale. I hope I sell but it's not the end of the world if I don't!

It is discouraging. I'm thankful I have a steady paycheck in the exciting field of accounting and do not have to rely on my hobby as a source of income.

@ Barry - hmmmm - you say he's famous? that should be a plus rather than a negative - I imagine if he did art - it would sell on his name alone - was he a good actor? I don't know - never saw the show. BTW - There are worse observations - I take no offense.

Abbie...Lighten up...Barry's tongue-in-cheek jest was for fun...I laughed when I read it. Sales? where and when? I, too, don't need to sell art to make a living, but that restriction is simply because I can't! Meanwhile, my inventory keeps building up--walls and rolls of paitings. Someday, if not the market, perhaps the dumbster, sadly enough, will be the ulitmate resting palce for my legacy--a rebel without a headstone.

I find that that the vast majority of people shopping this site are looking for art for their walls. Now I say "art" but in reality, to them, its a pretty picture, a decorating choice, for a home, office, etc. They choose stunning photos or paintings of people, places, or things that have significance to them, and or move them visually.

I suggest, that as a whole, the number of people who are "moved" by digital abstract art such as the majority of your portfolio is smaller than people who maybe want a great photo of New York City. In addition I feel its a crowded segment, which has driven down the price of really high quality digital abstracts very low. I see this as a possible reason of your sales discouragement.

The best way for me to fight discouragement is with action, that eventually shows results.

Hi Roy... I'm glad your not offended...there was obviously none intended... Bryan Cranston who plays the part of Walter is a fantastic actor..however the character he plays is one seriously nasty dude.. maybe I should have used the term infamous :-) Just do an image search for Walter White or Breaking Bad and I'm sure you will find reason to giggle... you may even consider the change of avatar! lol

Barry - I am who I am - and with my temper - and background - I can be a "bad dude" as well.

LOL... Have you considered doing a series of work exploring a concept or theme?

I most certainly have been discouraged! You are not alone :) I have only had my FAA for 2 months and I know it will be a while before I get one but I pray for one everyday... but there is always that one little spot asking, "What if no one wants to buy my work?" Then I just have to keep to the positive thought and ex out the bad :)