Finding New Customers

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One of the tasks I take very seriously is finding new customers. In fact I think this needs to be a very high priority for any artist who wants to grow their business.

So what do I mean by "finding new customers"?

It's really easy to sit around and do what every other artist is doing. Post your paintings on your website. Talk about them on your blog. Post photos of your paintings on Facebook. And sit back and wait for sales. And wait.

Don't get me wrong. If you are doing the three things listed above then you are probably selling. But if you really want to expand your art sales then you need to ALSO be actively finding new customers. And new customers are not defined as everyone on social media who buys art. New customers are a small group of people that you have identified as the best buyers of your art. They have been identified as potential customers because you have already carefully studied all of the characteristics about your existing customers. Right?

Probably not. So before I continue this conversation on tomorrow's blog post you need do a little research. Look at your client list from 2015 and answer the following questions:
1. What is the male/female breakdown of your clients?
2. What are their types of employment?
3. What type of art was purchased? Subject matter, medium, etc. (For example, of the total paintings sold, what percentage were still life, landscapes, etc.? Is there one subject matter that was most popular?
4. Do any of your clients have similar jobs or interests? Do they belong to the same types of organizations?
5. In examining this group, do you recall any reasons they shared as to why they bought your art? 

Take some notes and I will tell you tomorrow what else you need to do to identify your "new customers".