Why Every Artist Needs Email Marketing
Why Every Artist Needs Email Marketing
I know what you're thinking.
You hear the words "Email Marketing" and immediately get the ick.
Maybe you're worried about spamming people. Maybe the tech is making your eyes water. Or maybe you think it's solely reserved for sales people or big agencies and has no place in your art business.
But I want you for a moment to trust me that it doesn't have to be this way, bombarding your audience with ewy sales pitches.
Because when done right, email marketing is so much more about building a simple and effective marketing strategy that's easy to implement, whilst growing and nurturing your audience along the way.
Let's take a look at how this works and why I think it should be a non negotiable for art businesses.
You Own Your List
I love social media, don't get me wrong. But where I see a lot of businesses actually go wrong is by seeing it as the whole strategy, rather than one small part of it.
Because as great as social media is, it isn't really *yours*. You don't control the algorithm, engagement or your following list.. and let's not get into how often I see an account being hacked and the owner losing everything.
With email, you own your list and your database of customers. You're not fighting with an algorithm - when you send an email your message is going straight to your subscribers inbox ready to be opened.
Direct Contact with your Fans
To be honest, sometimes getting your work in front of the right people can be tough. And though social media is great for reaching new people, email is where your most loyal fans are hanging out.
These people are opting in to hear more from you and be kept in the loop with what you’re up to in your business, and being able to contact them directly is more valuable than most things when it comes to marketing your business.
You don’t have to wonder if they’re going to see your instagram story that day or if your content is going to be shown to them. You know that at the bare minimum they’re going to see your name pop up in their inbox, keeping you top of mind and engaged with your business.
You Can Control the Narrative
On social media, it can often feel like you’re at the mercy of creating the content that the algorithm wants. But with email, you get to make it exactly how you want it to be.
Want to share your latest art piece, talk about your process, or offer a sneak peek of an upcoming collection? Go for it. Email gives you the space to tell your story and share your personality in a way that feels authentic and direct.
Plus, email allows you to be more personal and create a sense of “exclusivity”. You can send out special offers and promotions, or VIP invites to your audience behind the scenes.
That’s a level of connection that’s hard to achieve on social media, where everything is competing for attention.
It’s Easy & Affordable (Even on a Small Budget)
Let’s talk numbers. Compared to most forms of advertising, email marketing is one of the most cost-effective ways to reach your audience. Platforms like Flodesk offer affordable plans for small businesses and individual creators.
And the best part? You don’t need to be a marketing expert to make it work. Flodesk is specifically designed to be user friendly, so that you actually want to jump on and send out emails to your audience.
Sold yet?
The truth is, email marketing doesn’t need to be complicated. It’s one of my favourite ways to market my own business and the only regret I’ve had is not starting it sooner.. And I so often hear this from others, too!
If there’s ANYTHING I can encourage artists to do, it’s to start building your list today. Your art deserves to be seen—and email marketing is the way to make sure it gets to the right people.
I teach my email marketing strategy for artists setting up their side hustle in my 6 week self paced program Become an Artist from Home.
You can sign up anytime right here.
