With so many art blogs competing for your audience’s attention, it’s very important that you find a way to stand out from the crowd.
Sure, you can always try to win more readers by offering free gifts or fun competitions, but the best way to build your readership (and keep them coming back) is to build trust in you, the artist.
Now besides being real, honest, and authentic, here are a few additioanl ways to build trust online:
1. Create an “about me” page
We talked about how to create an about page before, but it bears repeating—if you’re just hiding behind your blog, you’ll probably give the wrong impression.
Posting an “about me” or “bio page” with some information about your professional life, including a photo, is important because it allows you to connect with your readers and it tells them you are a real live person.
2. Provide relevant posts
Heidi Lee, a New York-based art advisor says “one way you build trust on your blog is to provide RELEVANT content when posting.”
Take Heidi’s blog for instance: she realizes to effectively reach her targeted audience, she has to provide information that interests them—information that draws them in and keeps them coming back. And she does that by providing her readers with “the most up-to-date art events, artist news, and other related facts and insight.”
3. Be open to communication
Heidi goes on to say “My motto is ‘good communication leads to happy clients.’ So I make every effort to keep in touch, stay on trend, and remain open to all feedback. These have been the keys to developing my loyal and engaged following.”
4. Be consistent
It’s also important that you find a posting schedule that works for you, and that you stick to it.
Some might even say that if you’re reliable with your posting schedule, you’re probably going to be reliable with the art commissioned to you, too. (Learn more about creating a blogging schedule here.)
5. Upload videos
Jonathan Bentz, director of client marketing at ProspectMX says, “When it comes to building trust, artists should utilize YouTube or Vimeo videos as part of their blog content.”
“When an artist is trying to use the web to connect with a buyer, daily or weekly progress and production videos are the best way for them to show that they are the ones actually producing the work on a regular basis.”
“Likewise, sit down videos where they speak candidly and directly, in their own voice, about the intention and inspiration of their work will resonate best with buyers.”
(Here’s how to put a You Tube video on your art blog.)
6. Show your offline success
Wade Shepard, the online editor of Vagabond Journey and a successful travel blogger, says, “You must show that you are not just an online entity. Let your readers know that you are known and respected in the brick and mortar world.”
“Make sure your readers know about your in-person speaking engagements, art workshops, teaching engagements, art shows, and anything else that shows your readers that actual people regard you as an authority or respect you enough to work with you.”
7. Share your online successes
Wade goes on to say, “Piggy backing on other websites/publications that are respected in your niche is essential. If a big website does an interview with you, let your audience know by including a link to it in your about page and media kit.”
And of course, don’t forget to write it up in a brief post on your blog, too.
8. Guest post on other websites and blogs
“Finally,” Wade says, “getting your name out there is vital. Writing about or submitting art images to other big name websites is a key way to get known in your art niche, and, by extension, help build trust for your blog.” (We’ve talked about guest posting here if you’re interested in learning how to do that.)
9. Make your privacy policy known
Obviously, if you want people to comment on your art blog, let them know that you respect their privacy enough not to share their email addresses, or other personal data. And if you are going to sell your art online, let them know that their financial information is safe and secure by using a trusted merchant.
Really, it all boils down to this: trust is something you must earn—it’s not freely given. So make sure that the actions you take online are ones your art readers, and art buyers, can feel comfortable with.
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