Should I be building an email list, and how important is it compared to social media?

Yes, build an email list. While social media and direct messaging have their place, email allows you to communicate with your audience in a more personal, controlled way. If you’re more comfortable with face-to-face contact or direct SMS messaging with clients, that’s fine for now, but work on growing your email list, especially as you establish a public space or online presence. Email gives you a direct line to people who want updates on what you’re doing, new work coming out, and upcoming events. There’s a balance between respecting people’s private space and keeping them engaged—realize that people do want to hear from you about what’s next. Don’t be afraid to be in their inbox with valuable updates.

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Asked by an artist who primarily uses social media and direct messaging · Answered by Patrick Shanahan · art-marketing-podcast · 2025-02-28