A - Advertise

Advertise - Successful business people must think about advertising. Advertising needn't cost a fortune though. There are many ways to advertise for little to no cost.

To advertise for free, find blogs that feature items similar to those in your shop. E-mail the blogger and ask if he or she would be interested in featuring your item. This tactic can also be applied to print media. Companies such as Lark Publishing look for artist submissions of images and craft projects. Getting exposure online and in print media can help to boost sales and pad a resume.

Other sites such as Facebook (see F) and Craftcult (see C) offer advertising space at a low cost. Facebook also allows artists to create a fan page for their store. This fan page can generate more interest and drive traffic to the Etsy store.

Artists need to also remember to advertise their products on the go. Business cards come in handy when networking with potential customers. Word-of-mouth advertising is also vital, so customer satisfaction has to be a high priority. Good service can translate to more sales while bad service can kill future business.

It is important to use a combination of advertising techniques to expand the customer base and reach a diverse audience. Artists who promote will reap the benefits.

B - Brand, Blog

Brand - Customers want to be able to identify with your product. They want to be able to look at your store and understand the type of style, subject matter and quality they will receive when ordering from you. This is why artists need to pay close attention to branding their product.

Branding is a process of defining the visual qualities of your store. The products need to have a unifying element that ties them all together. For instance, a store could feature all modern-inspired items that use bold colors and simple geometric shapes. That same store should use logos, packaging, business cards and promotional materials that also use modern elements, bold colors and simple geometric shapes.

When branding, it is important to ask a few questions such as:

• What are the three main visual elements that define my work?
• Is their an overall theme to my subject matter?
• Do my shop images, logos, packaging, business cards and promotional material complement the visual quality of my artwork? i.e. If the artwork is organic in nature, do the promotional materials convey that as well?
• How is my work different from all of the other artists doing what I do? How do I stand out?
• What three words would a customer use to describe my products? Can those three words apply to all of the products?

Blog -  Blogging can be useful for artists who want to engage customers in the process and developments of making and selling art. Blogging can help to raise awareness of a product, provide free advertising (see A) and help the artist track his or her business journey.

Sites such as blogger.com and wordpress.com offer free blogging platforms that look professional and are simple to use. Bloggers needn't write a ton of content to stay current. A post a week is enough to generate interest.

Successful bloggers use some specific tactics to increase their blog followers. They invite guest bloggers to write a post, so that the guest will direct traffic to the blog. They feature other artists' items on their blog so that those artists will advertise the blog. They also join blogger groups of writers who cover similar topics. Each of these tactics, should increase a blog's following.

C - Craftcult.com, Craft Show Listings

Craftcult.com - This website allows Etsy users to see how many new hearts they have received on their individual items and on their shop. Users need to click on the "heart-o-matic" link on the site and type their store's name in the provided space. A list will then be generated that shows all of the current and new hearts.

Users can also use Craftcult.com to find out if their store has been featured on Etsy's front page. Users need to click on "the vault" tab at the top of the page and then choose "search for member". Type the store's name in the space that pops up and a list will be generated of any past front page treasuries featuring items from that shop.

Craft Show Listings -  There are a number of databases online that advertise upcoming art shows. I've compiled a list of some websites that feature craft and art shows throughout the country. Some of these sites require membership, but all are free.

E - Etsy

Etsy - Really, what else is there to say about Etsy.com, except that it is THE place for art business. Not only does Etsy provide artists with a free shop and low listing fees, but it also offers a wealth of information in their seller handbook.

For those still in the dark, Etsy is an online marketplace for artisans and those selling vintage items. Etsy is a great way for artist to start small and build their brands. Artists pay by listing, so they can choose whether they want to list a lot of product or just a few things.

Besides the shop, artists can find selling and marketing tips in the "seller handbook" section. Some helpful tips include how to take quality product photos, how to create gift certificates, and how to increase your item views. Because of these useful business aids, Etsy is a wonderful place for artists to start and learn the basics of online art sales.

Ofcourse, every good thing has a flip side, and Etsy is no exception. The down side to Etsy is the fact that it is saturated with artists. A new artist on Etsy really has to struggle to be seen on such a huge site with so many competing stores. If an artist depends only on the Etsy search tool, he or she will see very few sales. This is why artists must advertise (see A) and promote their items off of the site. If an artist drives traffic to his or her particular shop, the sales should go up.

F - Facebook Fan Page

Facebook Fan Page - Facebook.com is a useful social networking site that can help artists to generate traffic to an online store. Artists can create a fan page for their artwork and invite friends to become fans.

A Facebook fan page can be created for free. It should feature a variety of artwork images, a description of the artist's business and a link to the online store. The fan page can be used to introduce new products, announce promotions or sales and advertise upcoming events such as art shows.

Once a fan page has been created, artists can also purchase advertising space on Facebook to promote their fan page and their site. The advertising cost is relatively low and the ads will be targeted to people who show an interest in similar shops and items.

G - Good Customer Service

Good Customer Service - Good customer service is the best advertising an artist can create. It is important that artists provide quality products and excellent customer service to generate repeat sales and word-of-mouth advertising.

One of the ways artists can ensure quality costumer service is by providing clear communication. Create a set of policies that clearly express information such as:

• When should the costumer expect to receive their item after ordering?
• What is the return policy?
• What payment types are accepted?
• What to do if a refund or exchange is needed.

If clear policies are set upfront, customers can avoid frustration during the buying process.

Shop owners should also e-mail customers as soon as a purchase is made to let the customer know that they received the order and will be mailing it out soon. Once the order is mailed, artists should e-mail the customer with the tracking number for their package. It's also helpful to tell the customer to contact them with any questions. By maintaining an open stream of communication the seller can make the customer feel more comfortable and more satisfied with the buying experience.

H - Hand Gel

Hand Gel - This may sound like an odd tip, but antibacterial hand gel can be invaluable at art shows. Not only does it help to keep vendors healthy while handling all of the germ-laden money, but it can help to disinfect jewelry. In this way, jewelry artists can allow customers to try on jewelry such as earrings. They can just coat the earring posts in hand gel and rub them clean with a cloth.

J - Just Smile

Just Smile - This tip carries a few meanings. First, it is important for artists to appear pleasant and welcoming at art shows. They shouldn't try to oversell their product. If the product is good, it will sell. Instead, artists should just smile and let the customer know that they are there if they have any questions. This method will make customers more likely to browse and feel comfortable at the booth.

Also, it is important for artists to remember that there will be up times and down times. Sometimes running an art business can be frustrating, but it is important to persevere. So when it seems like nothing is working, just smile and push through until you find something that does work. The ability to adapt to problems is the one thing that will ensure future success for any business person.

N - Network

Network - Networking is one of the most useful ways of finding new opportunities to sell art. Making friends with other artists allows you to pick their brains for useful art business information, such as upcoming art shows, selling tips and time management.

It is true that WHO you know is sometimes as important as what you know. You could be qualified for an art show, but maybe the organizers of that show know other qualified artists that they'd like to feature. Is it fair? Maybe not, but it happens all the time. It never hurts to get to know people that can advise you on your art career.

A key rule of thumb, as corny as it sounds, is to be friendly and pleasant to show organizers and other artists. If people think you are easy to work with, they will want to work with you again. Making a good impression is so important to securing future show spots.

Bottom line, don't burn any bridges. Your talent is very important, but no one will want to work with a talented snob.

O - Outright

Outright - Outright.com is an online book-keeping software program that allows artists to track their income and expenses. This software documents spending and income and can be linked to a Paypal account. It will automatically deduct or add money based on Paypal transactions. Spending or income can also be entered manually.

Outright.com is a useful tool for tax season as well. It will tally up individual business expenses and income and divide them into categories used by tax preparers. Doing taxes for a business can be incredibly difficult and this software helps to make it a bit easier by preparing all financial information.

Another great aspect about Outright.com is the fact that it is free to use. Artists simply have to sign up with a username and password and then grant access to a Paypal account. Outright will track expenses as they happen and generate timely reports of earnings or losses.

Q - Question the Pros

Question the Pros - The best way to be successful in the art business is to ask the advice of people who have already succeeded. There are a number of ways to do this both virtually and in person.

To start, take advantage of the Etsy forums and their "Quit Your Day Job" series. Though forums can be bogged down with people wasting time and chatting about who knows what, some posts can be extremely helpful. I find that the "Business Topics" section is best for useful advice. Many successful artists post in that section and are quick to share knowledge with newbies.

The "Quit Your Day Job" series is a string of stories featuring people who were able to make a full-time living from their art business. They share the ups and downs of making a full-time living from their art. It's useful to hear what has helped in their success and also what challenges they have faced in the process.

Participating in art shows is another wonderful way to pick the brains of seasoned art pros. Get to know the people participating in the event and ask them about their businesses. Each person will probably be able to offer something useful, and it never hurts to network (see N).

Taking an art class can also expand access to other artists in the area. Look for community art classes that target art educators and art business people. These classes can provide invaluable information and help you to network with many other artists and art educators.

R - Receipts

Receipts - Receipts are important for both sales records and to present a professional business appearance. Luckily receipts are easy to produce in a couple ways.

When using a knucklebuster (see K) to process credit cards, the receipt is automatically generated with the swipe of the machine. The artist simply needs to input the sales information as well as the expiration date, type of credit card and customer contact information. The sheet then produces a carbon-copy that can be given to the customer and an original receipt that the artist keeps.

When processing a cash transaction, artists can use carbon-copy receipts purchased from a local office store like Kinkos, Office Depot or Staples. They simply need to fill out the sales information, add the tax and provide a total at the bottom. These sheets can then be separated so that both customer and artist can have a copy.

The receipts can be kept in a file box, with a different file for each show. This helps artists keep their sales straight and provides clear, organized records that will help at tax time.

Any receipts from purchases should also be kept and tracked using book-keeping software such as Outright.com (see O). Artists should keep receipts from purchases such as the following:

• Supplies
• Gas for riding to and from art shows
• Application and booth fees
• Etsy fees
• Paypal fees
• Legal or tax services
• Workspace improvements
• Internet (and possibly phone) bills
• Any other related expense

T - Twitter

Twitter - Twitter.com is a fast and efficient way of alerting customers to deals, new products and events. Twitter.com allows users to post small announcements of 140 characters or less. These announcements can feature links, but no pictures or other html.

Because of the space limitations of Twitter, two sites offer services to shrink URL's to fit on the Twitter posts. These sites are bit.ly and tinyurl.com. Simply go to either one of these sites and type in the original URL. The site will then generate a much smaller URL that can be posted into Twitter. This allows a business person to link to an Etsy shop or a blog.

Twitter can also be linked to a Facebook fan page (see F). This will automatically input any fan page updates directly on the artist's Twitter page. This is a great way for artists to make announcements without having to go back and forth between social networking media.

Business owners can also learn more about Twitter's features in the Twitter Business Tips Center. This section will give business owners information on how to promote their wares and increase customers by using Twitter.

V - Value Your Time and Work

Value Your Time and Work - Crafters and artists face a lot of competition when trying to sell their goods. Sometimes it is tempting to lower prices to compete with all of the other art businesses online. Though this is tempting, artists should never sell themselves short by devaluing their work. Instead, hold the work to a higher standard and take pride in your ability to offer a unique, high-quality product that customers will recommend to friends and family.

Though artists need to price their work realistically to compete, they need to find a comfortable price point that will provide them with an adequate hourly income (see L) and still produce regular sales. If the work doesn't sell at the price, it may need more advertising, marketing or exposure at art shows and events. Don't immediately drop prices if items aren't selling. Instead, give the business time to build a loyal customer base. This could take six months to a year. If, after the first year and excessive marketing, the sales are still slow, than it might be time to think about slightly lowering prices.

X - eXtra Order Sheets

eXtra Order Sheets - When participating in art shows, instances can occur when someone likes an item, but wants it in a different size, color or format. In this case, artists should have order forms handy so that they can immediately take an order for an alternate product.

By having order forms handy, artists can receive on-the-spot payment and increase sales. It is important to provide the customer with a time frame in which they should expect to receive the order. It is also important to make sure the customer has adequate contact information in case any problems arise. Simple order sheets can be printed up at home and filled out by hand at an event or art show.

Order forms should include the following information:

• Customer's shipping address and contact information
• Item order
• Dimensions of item
• Materials used to make item
• Colors of item
• Size of item
• Price of item
• Item shipping date (The latest date on which the item will be shipped)