The Artist’s No-Excuse Weekly Self-Promotion Routine is printed on the inside cover of the 2011 edition of my book, I’d Rather Be in the Studio.
Five years is a long time in this fast-paced world, so it’s time to update that list and make it workable for late-2016.
A Sample Weekly Self-Promotion Routine
There is such a thing as a promotional campaign, but mostly I want you to think about your promotions as ongoing. You’re consistently sharing your art with the world. It’s a routine you commit to.
©Margaret Galvin Johnson, Sophisticated. Oil on canvas, 24 x 36 inches. Used with permission.
Perhaps it would be helpful to see what a self-promotion routine could look like. But before we get into it, I have a note of caution.
Don’t take this literally. This is just an example.
I don’t mean to imply that you should do these tasks on the day of the week that I assigned them to. Obviously, you should move things around to work with your schedule and goals.
Nor do I want you to think that you need to do all of these tasks every week. You might select one or two under each day for the current week.
Make it work for you!
As you work on your self-promotion routine, remember that your time in the studio is always your most important priority. Add it to your schedule before anything else. Without the art, you have nothing to promote.
With this in mind, let’s look at a sample routine.
Monday
Focus: Clarity
Review your calendar for the week and month.
Look for networking opportunities in the weeks ahead.
Review any leads or opportunities that have come your way. How can you follow up?
Tuesday
Focus: Venues
Review all of the venues and VIPs you want to keep your art in front of and leave meaningful comments on their Facebook pages.
©Alison Dickson, Havasu Splendor. Watercolor on paper, 30 x 22 inches. Used with permission.
Research grants, residencies, and show opportunities. Make time to apply to those that look like a good fit.
Check in with the venues and galleries you haven’t heard from in awhile.
Wednesday
Focus: Connection
Send three handwritten thank-you notes to people who have purchased your art, taken a class, or done something nice for you.
Send three postcards with your art on them – to galleries, venues, or anyone who might be interested in your art.
Thursday
Focus: Writing
Write a draft of your next newsletter or blog post. If you don’t publish weekly, review the ideas you have for future articles.
Friday
Focus: Winding Down & Preparing for Next Week
Schedule anticipated social media posts.
Acknowledge your accomplishments for the week and celebrate all that you have done.
Review your calendar for next week.
Every Weekday
Journal about your art because you’re a word-collector. You need words for your marketing.
Post your art to Facebook and Instagram. Tweet, if that’s your thing.
Write your gratitudes. Who are you grateful for? What are you grateful for? You will never receive more abundance until you are grateful for what you already have.
Recite your affirmations. It sounds super woo but I swear by it. Use affirmations to get yourself into a positive frame of mind and envision your beautiful future.
Saturday – Sunday
Play! Enjoy the down time that feeds your creativity.
©Patricia Scarborough, Promise. Pastel on sanded paper, 12 x 12 inches. Used with permission.
Run errands. Carry a portable portfolio and a stash of business cards, flyers, or postcards wherever you go. You never know who you’ll run into that needs to know about your art.
Rest. Play some more.
Look over your upcoming week before heading to bed on Sunday night.
Your Turn
What does your weekly self-promotion routine look like?
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