Should I build my long-term business around in-person art shows or my online presence?

Your long-term business should be built around your online presence—your website where your gallery is available 24/7. In-person shows are valuable for making initial connections, but there’s no guarantee people will attend the same shows year after year. The only way to build lasting collector relationships is through ongoing communication via your website, email list, and social media. When someone buys from you at a show, your goal should be to transition them into your online ecosystem where they can see new work, receive updates, and purchase repeatedly over time. Think of your online gallery as your real gallery—it just happens to be accessible from anywhere, anytime. That’s where sustainable, scalable business growth happens.

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Asked by an artist selling at shows · Answered by Nick · art-marketing-podcast · 2020-09-03