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Want to be a Group Moderator?
General | Posted 12 years agoOne of our beloved moderators is leaving FA! This means we need to fill the position. We're looking to add a few more moderators to the group to help keep us more active and updated!
Moderator responsibilities include:
1. Logging on once weekly to check notes and comments.
2. Responding to price sheet notes and checking for icon addition.
3. Uploading qualifying price sheets to the gallery with the appropriate comments, including user icon and link to the original price sheet.
4. Checking through the gallery to ensure all price guides are up to date and users still have our icon on their profile, removing any who do not pass the requirements.
Any other modifications to the group, including profile edits and journals must be ran by either
pornography or myself, 
onyxavia.
If you're interested, post below with a little about yourself, why you're a full-time artist and how much time you believe you have to dedicate to moderating this group. Potential moderators must have a link to, or icon of, our group in their profile. After we receive enough volunteer applications, we will select 2-3 new moderators to join us!
Thank you so much!
onyxavia
Moderator responsibilities include:
1. Logging on once weekly to check notes and comments.
2. Responding to price sheet notes and checking for icon addition.
3. Uploading qualifying price sheets to the gallery with the appropriate comments, including user icon and link to the original price sheet.
4. Checking through the gallery to ensure all price guides are up to date and users still have our icon on their profile, removing any who do not pass the requirements.
Any other modifications to the group, including profile edits and journals must be ran by either
pornography or myself, 
onyxavia.If you're interested, post below with a little about yourself, why you're a full-time artist and how much time you believe you have to dedicate to moderating this group. Potential moderators must have a link to, or icon of, our group in their profile. After we receive enough volunteer applications, we will select 2-3 new moderators to join us!
Thank you so much!
onyxaviaPrice Guide Submission Guidelines
General | Posted 12 years agoA notification to watchers that the gallery has been cleaned up of old, deleted price sheets. Also note that, if you do not currently have our icon on your profile page, that your submitted price sheet has been removed from the gallery and you will need to resubmit.
If you are interested in submitting a price sheet to our gallery, there are some guidelines to follow that will help you get added!
1. YOU MUST ADD OUR ICON TO YOUR PROFILE PAGE.
I can't stress this enough. From here on out, if our icon is not added to your page, your guide will not be submitted to our gallery.
2. Make sure your price guide is legible and up-to-date.
Nothing handwritten and no 5000x5000px price guides please! Make it easy to follow and easy to understand!
3. Only price guides noted to this account will be posted.
You are more than welcome to post a shout with a link to your price guide, but it will not get submitted here without a note.
4. The title of your note should be "PRICE GUIDE."
Variations of the title, such as Price Sheet or Price Table Submission, are also okay. Notes with no titles or unrelated titles will not be accepted.
5. In the body of your note, link your price guide.
Please let us know if you've had a price guide uploaded here before so we can remove it!
6. Also confirm in the body of your note that you are a full-time artist surviving off of your commissions!
Because that's what Bread Winners is really about! We want to promote full-time artists like you!
7. Give us PLENTY of time!
All of the moderators of this group are full time artists like yourself. This means we're very, very busy!
8. Price sheet that have been deleted from the user's account will now be deleted from this account as well.
I will do a regular check. If I notice that the link you gave me to your price guide no longer works, I will remove the price sheet from our gallery.
9. Users who remove our icon from their profile will have their price guides removed from our gallery.
Like #8, I will be doing a regular check. If I notice that you have removed our icon from your profile, your guide will be deleted.
---
As a side note, I want to apologize for how lazily we've maintained this group. Something like this is clearly needed on FA. I haven't been around much because I've been ill, but things cleared up in November and I simply forgot to check this group. I'm terribly sorry. I've now set up a reminder to check this group once a week. I apologize in advance if I miss it a week here or there, but hopefully it'll keep this group better up-to-date.
Best wishes!
onyxavia
If you are interested in submitting a price sheet to our gallery, there are some guidelines to follow that will help you get added!
1. YOU MUST ADD OUR ICON TO YOUR PROFILE PAGE.
I can't stress this enough. From here on out, if our icon is not added to your page, your guide will not be submitted to our gallery.
2. Make sure your price guide is legible and up-to-date.
Nothing handwritten and no 5000x5000px price guides please! Make it easy to follow and easy to understand!
3. Only price guides noted to this account will be posted.
You are more than welcome to post a shout with a link to your price guide, but it will not get submitted here without a note.
4. The title of your note should be "PRICE GUIDE."
Variations of the title, such as Price Sheet or Price Table Submission, are also okay. Notes with no titles or unrelated titles will not be accepted.
5. In the body of your note, link your price guide.
Please let us know if you've had a price guide uploaded here before so we can remove it!
6. Also confirm in the body of your note that you are a full-time artist surviving off of your commissions!
Because that's what Bread Winners is really about! We want to promote full-time artists like you!
7. Give us PLENTY of time!
All of the moderators of this group are full time artists like yourself. This means we're very, very busy!
8. Price sheet that have been deleted from the user's account will now be deleted from this account as well.
I will do a regular check. If I notice that the link you gave me to your price guide no longer works, I will remove the price sheet from our gallery.
9. Users who remove our icon from their profile will have their price guides removed from our gallery.
Like #8, I will be doing a regular check. If I notice that you have removed our icon from your profile, your guide will be deleted.
---
As a side note, I want to apologize for how lazily we've maintained this group. Something like this is clearly needed on FA. I haven't been around much because I've been ill, but things cleared up in November and I simply forgot to check this group. I'm terribly sorry. I've now set up a reminder to check this group once a week. I apologize in advance if I miss it a week here or there, but hopefully it'll keep this group better up-to-date.
Best wishes!
onyxaviaSPOTLIGHTS: Artists in Need!
General | Posted 12 years ago
darkmoon and 
plasticrabbits are in dire need, trying to raise nearly $1,300 for vital medications. [You can read more about it here] or donate to them via paypal at felixkeigh[at]gmail.comand artist
mary-jane is trying to raise funds for a laptop to replace their computer! [Look here for their traditional prices] or contact them for more information. --
As a little side note I just want to say that I'm going to be doing my best as a mod to keep this group running smoother than it has been (due to our respective lives smacking us mods in the face with a dead fish and laughing repeatedly) and to apologize for kind of dropping the ball.
Thanks to all of you for your patience! Keep being awesome!
- L♥
Apologies!
General | Posted 12 years agoSorry for the long stretch of inactivity, guys!
I was mentally compromised and stressed for a while and
it seems my butthole mods aren't doing their jobs.
(i still love them though).
Anyways, I will be submitting everyone's price sheets and answering shouts/notes tomorrow!
Thank you for remaining faithful.
Much love,
waits.A wonderfully informative post on being a full time artist!
General | Posted 12 years agoSlight change of plans!
General | Posted 12 years agoThe icons made for our contest will only be cycled for one week each before being permanently changed to the winner's.
Sorry for any inconveniences.
The artist of our current avatar is apes!
You may have to F5 to see it.
-WaitsContest Winner!
General | Posted 12 years ago
!
the others will be cycled for one month each before changing permanently to the winner. 
Icon contest!
General | Posted 13 years agoWe need a new icon, so we're hosting a contest!
Rules:
Must be 100x100. (or have a version this size)
Animation is ok!
Be creative!
Winners will be picked based on creativity, not skill.
More than one winner may be picked.
All entries will be posted to our scraps!
The contest will end in one month (on April 15th).
The prize is a free colored bust shot from !
Want to submit a price guide?
General | Posted 13 years agoThe rules for submitting are as follows:
No nudity. (Boobs are ok and will be tackled on a case by case basis.)
You must put our icon in a VISIBLE spot of your profile.
You must make all or a significant part of your income from your art.
Send us a link in a note to be posted!Self-Employed Socialization Struggles
General | Posted 13 years agoSelf-Employed Socialization Struggles: A Field Guide to Freelancer Friendship
By onyxavia
One of the biggest struggles I've had transitioning from a retail illustration position to an independent freelancer is the lack of socialization. My daily interaction went from hundreds of people plus a team of 40 employees down to me and my pets. How do we, as the self-employed, combat loneliness and find friends when our interaction is mostly limited to our clients and the four walls of our office?
The answer is relatively simple: Stop limiting your interactions! Getting out and experiencing the world – creating new potential encounters for future friends – involves emerging from our safe corners. Here are some easy ways you might get some much needed human interaction.
[+] Take a class.
Have an interest or hobby? Want to up your knowledge in illustration or business? Local community colleges, school districts and community centers are always offering classes! Often, these classes are fairly affordable and at a time that’s conducive to running a business, such as the evening or on weekends. Taking a class that relates to your job helps you find other like-employed people like yourself. Taking a class that interests you as a hobby gives you the opportunity to find a weekend craft buddy or a gym pal. In fact, last year, I took an exercise course and ended up making friends with a woman 30 years my senior. We now have coffee once a month and discuss our progress.
[+] Local Interest Clubs
Look for flyers at places you frequent: book stores and libraries, coffee shops, craft stores and even your post office or local grocery store! These local clubs can entertain your hobbies and get you away from the 24/7 cubicle that is your computer. In fact, I often frequent a local religious store that has monthly meets. I now get out once a month to discuss important topics in my religion with others who share my faith. Add that with the friend I made from the class above and I’m now out and about twice a month!
Q. “But Onyx, I don’t have the time to get out. I have all these commissions bearing down on me!”
You’ve overbooked yourself, my friend. It’s so easy to do, particularly when freelancing artists are often living penny-to-penny. Don’t do this to yourself though! Lack of social interaction, sunlight, squinting at a computer screen, losing sleep, and stress all contribute to a multitude of mental and physical illnesses. It’s simply not healthy. If it comes down to it, taking a part time job to cover your expenses is preferable to overbooking yourself to the point that a social life isn’t a possibility. In fact, adding a part-time job to your schedule will inevitably foster new friendships as well!
Q. “I have a good balance for my work schedule, but I don’t have the money to spend on classes and entry fees for local clubs. What do I do?”
I have just the answer for you:
[+] Meetup.org
Can’t find anything around you? Don’t frequent a local shop? Don’t have the money to take a class? Meetup.org is a fantastic way to find people who share the same interests and hobbies you do. Many active groups have multiple meets a month. Most of these meets are free or donation-optional, so you save on money and can still be social. Adding my Meetup groups into the mix, I’m often out at least once a week.
Q. “I have a few friends through hobbies and even a few who freelance, but I still can’t really talk about what I do.”
It’s true – being a freelancing artist for furries can feel alienating at times. It’s not that we don’t love what we draw, but not very many people outside the fandom understand what a furry is. Even further, what if your income is based on drawing furry porn? Now you can’t even post your work up to your friends without them judging you. It’s true because I’ve been there. It’s a tough road. So what do you do?
[+] Furry Conventions
You can’t be on FA for more than a few minutes without hearing about the next furry convention coming up. Conventions are a great way to meet those who enjoy the fandom, including other artists making a living like yourself. Even if they don’t involve themselves with the X-rated side, they often completely understand if you do. Acquaintances who turn into friends here can become someone you can talk about your commissions and show off your work to without being judged. And that’s what I love so much about this fandom!
[+] Your Local Fur Organization
If you live in or near a city, chances are they have a fur organization. Fandom-related groups hold bowling nights, dinners and even parties where you can meet like-minded individuals who live close to you! Open up and you may find someone who will be your future sushi guru or work-day buddy, someone whom you can leave your work up on your computer when they visit without being asked what that is or why you have porn on your desktop.
[+] FA Groups like Breadwinners
Looking for someone to chat with while you work? Have a question about quarterly taxes or want to swap Paint Tool SAI tips? That’s what this group is here for! Breadwinners is a FurAffinity group for people just like you and me. This is where we can discover coworkers and get to know each other.
Lining the top of my profile are my close friends within the fandom. If you can find some of your own, you’ll find that you have a healthier relationship with your job as well. In fact, if you’d like to join me, here’s some of my information. Feel free to add me to chat business. Perhaps we can find coworkers in each other!
Contact information for:
onyxavia
AIM: Onyxavia
Skype: Onyxavia
E-mail: artist[at]Onyxavia.com
Contact information for:
pornography
Skype: Allowaits
Contact information for:
lilyface
Skype: pyro.nezbit
Tumblr: delilyrous.tumber.com
Best wishes!
Onyxavia
PS: Leave your Skype or AIM contact in the comments below and Onyxavia will add you to her contact list!
By onyxavia
One of the biggest struggles I've had transitioning from a retail illustration position to an independent freelancer is the lack of socialization. My daily interaction went from hundreds of people plus a team of 40 employees down to me and my pets. How do we, as the self-employed, combat loneliness and find friends when our interaction is mostly limited to our clients and the four walls of our office?
The answer is relatively simple: Stop limiting your interactions! Getting out and experiencing the world – creating new potential encounters for future friends – involves emerging from our safe corners. Here are some easy ways you might get some much needed human interaction.
[+] Take a class.
Have an interest or hobby? Want to up your knowledge in illustration or business? Local community colleges, school districts and community centers are always offering classes! Often, these classes are fairly affordable and at a time that’s conducive to running a business, such as the evening or on weekends. Taking a class that relates to your job helps you find other like-employed people like yourself. Taking a class that interests you as a hobby gives you the opportunity to find a weekend craft buddy or a gym pal. In fact, last year, I took an exercise course and ended up making friends with a woman 30 years my senior. We now have coffee once a month and discuss our progress.
[+] Local Interest Clubs
Look for flyers at places you frequent: book stores and libraries, coffee shops, craft stores and even your post office or local grocery store! These local clubs can entertain your hobbies and get you away from the 24/7 cubicle that is your computer. In fact, I often frequent a local religious store that has monthly meets. I now get out once a month to discuss important topics in my religion with others who share my faith. Add that with the friend I made from the class above and I’m now out and about twice a month!
Q. “But Onyx, I don’t have the time to get out. I have all these commissions bearing down on me!”
You’ve overbooked yourself, my friend. It’s so easy to do, particularly when freelancing artists are often living penny-to-penny. Don’t do this to yourself though! Lack of social interaction, sunlight, squinting at a computer screen, losing sleep, and stress all contribute to a multitude of mental and physical illnesses. It’s simply not healthy. If it comes down to it, taking a part time job to cover your expenses is preferable to overbooking yourself to the point that a social life isn’t a possibility. In fact, adding a part-time job to your schedule will inevitably foster new friendships as well!
Q. “I have a good balance for my work schedule, but I don’t have the money to spend on classes and entry fees for local clubs. What do I do?”
I have just the answer for you:
[+] Meetup.org
Can’t find anything around you? Don’t frequent a local shop? Don’t have the money to take a class? Meetup.org is a fantastic way to find people who share the same interests and hobbies you do. Many active groups have multiple meets a month. Most of these meets are free or donation-optional, so you save on money and can still be social. Adding my Meetup groups into the mix, I’m often out at least once a week.
Q. “I have a few friends through hobbies and even a few who freelance, but I still can’t really talk about what I do.”
It’s true – being a freelancing artist for furries can feel alienating at times. It’s not that we don’t love what we draw, but not very many people outside the fandom understand what a furry is. Even further, what if your income is based on drawing furry porn? Now you can’t even post your work up to your friends without them judging you. It’s true because I’ve been there. It’s a tough road. So what do you do?
[+] Furry Conventions
You can’t be on FA for more than a few minutes without hearing about the next furry convention coming up. Conventions are a great way to meet those who enjoy the fandom, including other artists making a living like yourself. Even if they don’t involve themselves with the X-rated side, they often completely understand if you do. Acquaintances who turn into friends here can become someone you can talk about your commissions and show off your work to without being judged. And that’s what I love so much about this fandom!
[+] Your Local Fur Organization
If you live in or near a city, chances are they have a fur organization. Fandom-related groups hold bowling nights, dinners and even parties where you can meet like-minded individuals who live close to you! Open up and you may find someone who will be your future sushi guru or work-day buddy, someone whom you can leave your work up on your computer when they visit without being asked what that is or why you have porn on your desktop.
[+] FA Groups like Breadwinners
Looking for someone to chat with while you work? Have a question about quarterly taxes or want to swap Paint Tool SAI tips? That’s what this group is here for! Breadwinners is a FurAffinity group for people just like you and me. This is where we can discover coworkers and get to know each other.
Lining the top of my profile are my close friends within the fandom. If you can find some of your own, you’ll find that you have a healthier relationship with your job as well. In fact, if you’d like to join me, here’s some of my information. Feel free to add me to chat business. Perhaps we can find coworkers in each other!
Contact information for:
onyxaviaAIM: Onyxavia
Skype: Onyxavia
E-mail: artist[at]Onyxavia.com
Contact information for:
pornographySkype: Allowaits
Contact information for:
lilyfaceSkype: pyro.nezbit
Tumblr: delilyrous.tumber.com
Best wishes!
Onyxavia
PS: Leave your Skype or AIM contact in the comments below and Onyxavia will add you to her contact list!
Paypal v.s. Digital Artists: Things You Should Know
General | Posted 13 years agoChances are if you're a digital artist, you're taking at least some of your transactions through Paypal. And chances are also that if you're doing so, you've either had to deal with or heard of people who have been hurt by policies that basically leave you (the seller) high and dry. Here's a few things about Paypal that do not make any sense to me:
1. If you are selling a digital commission, Paypal defines it as a sale of goods. In the court of law, by definition what you are selling is a service (time + accumulated skill + made to order w/customer input = service =/=good) unless it is a finished piece of work you sold (accumulated skill + time spent - made to order w/customer input = good =/= service). Therefore, if you were to ever take Paypal to court due to "mis-labeling of services rendered" you would be in trouble because of their ToS and wonky definition. That's right, you would get into trouble with the law for following their rules, that if not followed could result in your funds being frozen and/or confiscated by PayPal itself.
2. Paypal can freeze your account for "suspicious activity" without actually having to tell you what activity was suspicious.
Well how can you avoid it? Almost everyone uses Paypal. Some customers won't use anything BUT Paypal!
Here's how:
Use. Paypal. Correctly.
Funds should never. Never. be sent as a gift if it's a purchase.
Your account, if you're selling, should be a business account- they have free ones!
Paypal needs to know what it is that you're selling (physical goods is art you mail out, digital goods is art you send via email or over a gallery or personal website), and if you're selling digital goods.
And above all- you should be using invoices.
This avoids snafus in which someone was trying to be clever by sending it as a gift or a service so you could keep the full amount, because they didn't know any better, or simply out of habit. It also protects you against potential malicious acts like backcharging- someone claims they never received the goods they paid for, you have no proof because it was a digital good and you were not using invoices so there's no proof! You get charged, funds withdrawn from your Paypal, they get their money back and "free" art, and you get a red-flag from Paypal itself for "suspicious activity."
Using invoices lets you control the amount of money to be received, lets you keep track of who has or hasn't paid, and lets you label what the customer was paying for. You can also keep .PDFs of your entire transaction history for tax season. There's even a section on the invoice that lets you state your terms of service and what rights the buyer has- such as freedom for the buyer only to repost only with credit, and only for non-commercial use. By using an invoice, you now you have proof just in case someone decides to use your art illegally that you did NOT agree for it's use in that way and that they're infringing on your agreed terms.
I know, it's easier to have people send you the money than to have to log in and fill out a form. But by using the system the way they set it up for it to be used, you're that much more protected- from scammers and PayPal itself.
I know I've learned through experience that it's better to be safe than sorry, especially if this is your livelihood.
-Lily
P.S. Feel free to share any kind of relevant information or horror stories about your own experiences with PayPal!
1. If you are selling a digital commission, Paypal defines it as a sale of goods. In the court of law, by definition what you are selling is a service (time + accumulated skill + made to order w/customer input = service =/=good) unless it is a finished piece of work you sold (accumulated skill + time spent - made to order w/customer input = good =/= service). Therefore, if you were to ever take Paypal to court due to "mis-labeling of services rendered" you would be in trouble because of their ToS and wonky definition. That's right, you would get into trouble with the law for following their rules, that if not followed could result in your funds being frozen and/or confiscated by PayPal itself.
2. Paypal can freeze your account for "suspicious activity" without actually having to tell you what activity was suspicious.
Well how can you avoid it? Almost everyone uses Paypal. Some customers won't use anything BUT Paypal!
Here's how:
Use. Paypal. Correctly.
Funds should never. Never. be sent as a gift if it's a purchase.
Your account, if you're selling, should be a business account- they have free ones!
Paypal needs to know what it is that you're selling (physical goods is art you mail out, digital goods is art you send via email or over a gallery or personal website), and if you're selling digital goods.
And above all- you should be using invoices.
This avoids snafus in which someone was trying to be clever by sending it as a gift or a service so you could keep the full amount, because they didn't know any better, or simply out of habit. It also protects you against potential malicious acts like backcharging- someone claims they never received the goods they paid for, you have no proof because it was a digital good and you were not using invoices so there's no proof! You get charged, funds withdrawn from your Paypal, they get their money back and "free" art, and you get a red-flag from Paypal itself for "suspicious activity."
Using invoices lets you control the amount of money to be received, lets you keep track of who has or hasn't paid, and lets you label what the customer was paying for. You can also keep .PDFs of your entire transaction history for tax season. There's even a section on the invoice that lets you state your terms of service and what rights the buyer has- such as freedom for the buyer only to repost only with credit, and only for non-commercial use. By using an invoice, you now you have proof just in case someone decides to use your art illegally that you did NOT agree for it's use in that way and that they're infringing on your agreed terms.
I know, it's easier to have people send you the money than to have to log in and fill out a form. But by using the system the way they set it up for it to be used, you're that much more protected- from scammers and PayPal itself.
I know I've learned through experience that it's better to be safe than sorry, especially if this is your livelihood.
-Lily
P.S. Feel free to share any kind of relevant information or horror stories about your own experiences with PayPal!
Increasing Your Revenue: A Guide
General | Posted 13 years agoThe thing about the art community is that it's full of artists. Which, when you're trying to peddle your wares leaves you with two things: competition, and a bit of a whirlwind of clashing information- how to price your art, how to sell it, who your target audience is, and most importantly how to reach or increase your audience.
Don't ever forget that if you're working as an artist trying to make a living off of your work, you are running a business. And so, instead of thinking like an individual, think like a business owner.
If you're having trouble making money selling your art, ask yourself the following questions and answer them honestly:
How are you marketing your art? Are you advertising at all? Do you offer any incentives to buy your art or have more people watch you? Are you underselling your work? Are you overcharging?
- "What do you mean 'marketing' my art? Shouldn't looking at my gallery be enough for them to decide if they want to buy?"
In most cases, no, it isn't enough! Easy simple to follow rules for buying or purchasing your art are the best way to help customers decide if they want to spend their cash to buy something from you. Price sheets, commission guides, and even just a number of pre-priced slots are easy ways to exhibit your wares in a way that makes it easy on you and them. Just remember- buyers will want examples of your work!
-"But advertising costs money!"
That's not always correct. Paying for an ad on a website costs money, but there are other ways to increase foot traffic on your page or even gain watchers. Holding raffles for free art is one of these ways- so is crossposting announcements on websites like Twitter or Facebook. Keep in mind that you want as many people as possible to see your work, so in order to do so, you need to branch out. Even so, you might still want to consider buying an advertisement- it isn't much money and investing in your business is important.
-"Okay, but what about incentives? Aren't those counter productive- more work for no money?"
They don't have to be free! Sales are a great way to generate interest, as well as offers on purchases over a certain amount. If you income has slowed down as of late, try offering a little something extra or even a limited number of slots for a discounted price.
-"How do I know if I'm undercharging? How do I know if I'm overpriced?"
If you're not sure how to price things- think of it this way: minimum wage in the US is $7.25 per hour. How long does it take you to complete each type of work that you offer? When you divide the hours of work by $7.25, are you under lower than that? If yes, you're undercharging your work. Remember to keep in mind that if you're not making any money, it isn't necessarily your prices- it could be any of the things we talked about above. And as to overcharging? Well, think of it this way: are you still not making money despite having a ton of interest in your art? If yes, then you might be overcharging. You can set your prices however you want, but people looking to buy are ultimately looking for these main things: how low the price is, if it's a style they like, and how quickly they think their work will be completed. Other things influence buyers, of course- like marketing and the popularity of an artist, but chances are if your work is sound and your prices are fair, you're doing fine.
If you're still worried about not having enough business, keep in mind what else you can do to appeal to customers and what time of year it is. Around the holidays, offering sales will most likely increase your traffic. And after holidays people usually have less cash to spend so it's normal for your numbers to drop.
Overall, your work is yours and you can run your business however you like (so long as it's legal of course)- but it never hurts to cater a little bit to your customers.
Don't ever forget that if you're working as an artist trying to make a living off of your work, you are running a business. And so, instead of thinking like an individual, think like a business owner.
If you're having trouble making money selling your art, ask yourself the following questions and answer them honestly:
How are you marketing your art? Are you advertising at all? Do you offer any incentives to buy your art or have more people watch you? Are you underselling your work? Are you overcharging?
- "What do you mean 'marketing' my art? Shouldn't looking at my gallery be enough for them to decide if they want to buy?"
In most cases, no, it isn't enough! Easy simple to follow rules for buying or purchasing your art are the best way to help customers decide if they want to spend their cash to buy something from you. Price sheets, commission guides, and even just a number of pre-priced slots are easy ways to exhibit your wares in a way that makes it easy on you and them. Just remember- buyers will want examples of your work!
-"But advertising costs money!"
That's not always correct. Paying for an ad on a website costs money, but there are other ways to increase foot traffic on your page or even gain watchers. Holding raffles for free art is one of these ways- so is crossposting announcements on websites like Twitter or Facebook. Keep in mind that you want as many people as possible to see your work, so in order to do so, you need to branch out. Even so, you might still want to consider buying an advertisement- it isn't much money and investing in your business is important.
-"Okay, but what about incentives? Aren't those counter productive- more work for no money?"
They don't have to be free! Sales are a great way to generate interest, as well as offers on purchases over a certain amount. If you income has slowed down as of late, try offering a little something extra or even a limited number of slots for a discounted price.
-"How do I know if I'm undercharging? How do I know if I'm overpriced?"
If you're not sure how to price things- think of it this way: minimum wage in the US is $7.25 per hour. How long does it take you to complete each type of work that you offer? When you divide the hours of work by $7.25, are you under lower than that? If yes, you're undercharging your work. Remember to keep in mind that if you're not making any money, it isn't necessarily your prices- it could be any of the things we talked about above. And as to overcharging? Well, think of it this way: are you still not making money despite having a ton of interest in your art? If yes, then you might be overcharging. You can set your prices however you want, but people looking to buy are ultimately looking for these main things: how low the price is, if it's a style they like, and how quickly they think their work will be completed. Other things influence buyers, of course- like marketing and the popularity of an artist, but chances are if your work is sound and your prices are fair, you're doing fine.
If you're still worried about not having enough business, keep in mind what else you can do to appeal to customers and what time of year it is. Around the holidays, offering sales will most likely increase your traffic. And after holidays people usually have less cash to spend so it's normal for your numbers to drop.
Overall, your work is yours and you can run your business however you like (so long as it's legal of course)- but it never hurts to cater a little bit to your customers.
Help someone eat!
General | Posted 13 years agohttp://www.furaffinity.net/view/9707554/
Their foodstamps never went through, be kind and commission them, or maybe just donate?
NOTE: Journals from this page will mainly be supporting artists that need help/donations.
Their foodstamps never went through, be kind and commission them, or maybe just donate?
NOTE: Journals from this page will mainly be supporting artists that need help/donations.
Currently looking for mods!
General | Posted 13 years agoWe would like a max of three more mods for this group.
You're allowed to make edits to the page, upload things, post journals, and change the icon BUT YOU MUST GO THROUGH.
Comment here!
You're allowed to make edits to the page, upload things, post journals, and change the icon BUT YOU MUST GO THROUGH
.Comment here!
