#1: Self-Promotion & Social Networking as an Artist
Suggestions to think of in Self-Promotion and Social Networking –
1. Put a small watermark on all of your work.
And not for the reason you’re thinking.
They advised that you should have your name, the date you made the work and your website in the bottom corner – because just like you and I… they spend an insane amount of time browsing the Internet —and if they see something that catches their eye, they’ll download and save it for future reference and possibly contact YOU for a job. (Now, how awesome would that be?)
2. When contacting Art Directors – Be Politely Persistent. (AKA Don't be a stalker!)
If you’re a new artist and just breaking into the art-world, send out self-promotion postcards about 4 times a year to prospective companies (but only if you’ve got new and better work to be showing off!). As you get more experience and have more of a signature style start slowing down to about 1 or 2 times a year.
* Do NOT tag them on images on Facebook and don’t Facebook message them.
Send them a direct and polite email and wait for them to respond. If they do not, wait a week then send an email asking politely if they had received your last correspondence – They are busy. They have a ton of projects that they are over-seeing and you have to be aware of this.
3. Keep your online portfolio, blog, facebook, twitter constantly updated.
Also, be sure to cull your earlier work as you get better at what you do. You want those to represent how you are now.
4. Keep your images at least 72 dpi and right-click downloadable.
As stated above, they will often save images that catch their eye and possibly contact the artist later for possible work. They stated that if people are going to steal your work, they will do it no matter what- even with a screen-capture. Many times, people will save the image because they actually like it. And if they like it enough, maybe someday, they’ll want an original.
5. Portfolio reviews.
They’re happy to do them. Just don’t be a dick.
If you’re young and new – present yourself as a student. They appreciate that you admit that you’re not quite up to par yet and are happy to help you figure out what you need to work on. They’re not your enemy. They realize that young artists are lucrative to their business if it is supposed to keep growing and they are willing to give you constructive criticism.
Just be willing to hear it! Don’t make excuses and don’t simply blow off their advice when you just asked for it.
6. Make sure you present work in your portfolio that you can actually deliver if you were to be hired for a job.
If you hate drawing people…then don’t include people in your portfolio. Make sure it represents the work and style you can actually do and you actually enjoy. That will often be your strongest work anyways! Show off the work you're passionate about!
Coming soon : Post #3 The next step: AKA If you manage to land that dream job.
