@andreea-nica The one solo artist I worked with didn’t get the concept of a strategy, and she was all over the map. A lot of her problem was based in fear responses–as in lack of money and the rest was her intensely creative spirit.

However, entering and participating in a Juried Show was very helpful, because many people came by and saw her work firsthand. The hard part was getting her to offer something to collect names for future marketing.

Also, getting placement in some local businesses that had a lot of traffic, while it didn’t generate a ton of sales, got her more awareness.

Networking can be helpful, if you can strategize on where her best relationships might be formed, so you can zero in on some good places to network. Perhaps new home builders, home stagers or interior designers might yield good results from relationships, but without knowing price point, geographic limitations, etc. I can’t say much more.

First and foremost, though, is knowing the target market, and other demographics so you can look at various strategies and determine if they will work.

@trudy LOL – “not the internet cloud” I do agree with you, progress can be very slow with the creative…They feed my soul, and I love being with them, but I found working with them challenging.

Maybe a drill sergeant…

But I would also love to hear ideas from those who are successful helping artists.

Grew up surrounded by independent artists and musicians…so I hear and concur with everything said here. “Helping” an artist who hasn’t approached you first is better done in parallel play, rather than in more traditional meet-greet-present-plan type activities.I would never take on an artist client for profit purposes, but love collecting “things” and “goods” they find useful and making them available for purchase online. Prayer and purchases, I’ve been told by some artists, are personal matters best done in private, lol.  I contribute to the “concept” of artist marketing by collecting video resources on “artist marketing” and “social media for artists” on my website. Love the art, love the artists, but understand that that kind of originality doesn’t mesh well with traditional marketing methods… or even the term “marketing.” Crafts people… now that’s a different story entirely… definitely a marketing and marketable group there.

@atlantarobin I agree with you that a traditional structured approach doesn’t usually work well. Hopefully instead of scaring @andreea-nica, the resources you mention on your website offer some concrete ideas.

If you are a marketer and have a creative/artist client, just be prepared for a wild ride at times. I do suggest you figure out what you need to effectively work and set boundaries…for example, no calling you at midnight with a bright idea or need to launch a campaign the next day. Your other clients won’t benefit, and neither will you.

While I seemed to attract the creative types, I quickly realized I wasn’t going to keep my sanity or build my business around them.

My brother is a full time artist with a wife and raising 3 kids and paying off his mortgage.Several times the house has been on the line but he always manages to pull through.

I have helped where I can and push him regularly but it falls back to the basics,

A website that is Google friendly. Type in’ Pop Artist Australia’ into Google and you should find ‘Nick Morris’ on the home page

His newsletter data base though has been his single greatest revenue raiser. It alerts people to up coming gallery exhibitions but also reminds people they can buy online. He uses this as a fun ‘here I am this is what I am doing’ much more so than a direct selling tool but he has occasionally has absolute fires sales to keep the sheriff from taking the keys to the house

This is also coupled with Facebook and Twitter. I am really pushing him into LinkedIn, Pinterest and Google+ at the moment.

At the end of the day once my brother figured out it’s a business and he needs to market his business things turned around quite dramatically and he has had exhibitions in London, Paris and New York now.
So once you know what you want to achieve and int his case it is pretty simple. Sell art.stick to the formula 

1. Website Google Friendly (with analytics)
2. Blog regularly (Particularly about exhibitions)
3. E Newsletters (Get the list yourself, how many people do artists meet on a daily basis, at exhibitions etc. get their details, don’t rely on info being volunteered to your website)
4. Social Media as applicable particularly Pinterest.

@annfurnivall LOL “like herding cats” so applicable.

Call me crazy but Myspace has re-branded itself catering to artists and musicians – I know nothing about it but may be worth a look - http://goo.gl/2i3ho