What should I focus on if I want the highest return on my time and money as an artist?

Focus on digital marketing that builds your own direct customer base. That means having your own website where you sell, building an email list, running online ads to drive traffic, and creating content (photos, videos, live streams) that attracts your ideal collectors. These activities have the highest long-term ROI because every dollar and hour invested compounds: you’re building an asset (your audience) that grows over time and that you fully own. Compare that to renting booth space at shows or relying on galleries, where you’re paying fees, giving up half your revenue, and building someone else’s business. Digital lets you keep 100% of the profit, reach a global market, and work from home. It takes longer to ramp up, but by year two or three, you’ll outpace the traditional routes with far less cost and effort.

---

Asked by general teaching point · Answered by Patrick Shanahan · art-marketing-podcast · 2020-06-13