7 Ways To Build Trust With Collectors
In a sea of talent, how can you stand out as a reputable artist worth doing business with? This weeks blog takes you through 7 key ways to promote trust with collectors and a wider audience.
Represent Your Work Accurately
We’ve all been in situations where the photo looks way better than the actual product- it’s a sure fire way to disappoint buyers. Make sure your photos, lighting & language always represent your products accurately. When you’re selling art, you don’t want to exaggerate or deviate too much from what it looks like in real life. As tempting as it may be to tweak things- keep your photos natural and minimize the photoshopping for the best results. It’s better to wow someone when they receive your work over hooking them with unrealistic images.
Be Consistent
It’s better to use one social media platform regularly than several in random spurts. Pick one platform to really master and stick with it. Spreading yourself too thin can be exhausting & diminish the quality of your engagement. It’s really helpful to consolidate all of your communications on one platform instead of jumping all around to locate messages.
Be Attentive
Answer emails, messages & respond to comments. These people are taking the time to engage with your business. Honor their curiosity and follow up with a timely response. They key is to stay engaged with your audience. Relationships take time to build. You might need to go back and forth a couple times- but you win people over with consistent feedback. Paying attention to potential collectors seriously pays off.
Make Sure Your Website Works
This seems like an obvious one but it’s so important. If you have a website- please make sure it works! It’s way better to have a simple, clean site over a really complex one with a bunch of broken links and plug-ins. If you need feedback, ask a friend to click around and take it for a test drive. Make sure everything is secure, and functioning properly.
Know Your Limits
It’s better to under promise and over deliver- not the other way around. Burn out and rushing leads to mistakes (think commissions). Only take on commitments you can fully show up for & deliver on time. This applies to events, meetings, collaborations- everything really. You represent your work & business directly. Be sure to plan ahead and know when to decline opportunities if it’s not going to work out.
Be Yourself
Uptight, inauthentic marketing is weird. People can tell from a mile away- and they don’t like it. Talk to your audience like they’re a new friend. Be yourself- get away from stuffy artist statements and over the top art descriptions (unless that’s REALLY your style). Winning over new collectors is all about trust- you don’t want to put on an act or say things you don’t mean. Sometimes art (especially writing about art) causes us to think we have to be pretentious. Don’t do it! The average person legitimately just wants to know more about you and what you love- so they can share in that experience with you.
Stay In the Game
It takes time to build trust & buy in from people. Stick with it, keep doing your thing and your audience will gather over time. Taking an abrupt hiatus isn’t doing you any favors. Try your best to be consistent, visible & speak positively about your progress. People are watching & want to learn more about what you’re doing.