Ways to Increase Your Email List As An Artist

You may already know that having and growing an email list is a valuable art marketing tool if you want to increase art sales and gain other important career opportunities. Many artists ask me, how to I get more email subscribers? That’s an excellent question! This article answers that question with more than 20 ways to increase your email list. It also includes links to other informative and related articles.

What Benefits Are Your Offering?

First, consider why people will want to join your email list. What will they receive from you? Here are a few ideas:
* Invitations to your exhibitions and open studios
* Announcements about new art when it becomes available
* Free gift and/or discounts
* News about your workshops and/or lectures
* A regularly scheduled email newsletter
* Links to your new Art Blog posts

Grow Your Art Career Success

Throughout your art career you’ll always want to keep growing your connections. Art marketing is like having a tree with many different interconnected branches — your art website, social media activity, live exhibitions, online art exhibitions, art memberships, networking, your art blog and an email newsletter — among other efforts. When these powerful forces are combined, you’ll have a continuously growing email list with prospective and loyal customers.

Ways to Increase Your Email List – More Than 20 Ideas

Add Your Email Address to Your Business Cards
When you meet people face to face and you offer to exchange business cards, ask them if you could add their name and email address to your subscription list. You may want to have this printed on the business card with the address to your opt in form.

Create a Special, Patron or VIP List
Everyone likes to feel they are receiving something exclusive. Make people feel special by referring to your list as for Special VIPs. When they sign up ask them to add their birthday. On that date, reward them with a special offer, such as a discount coupon. Continue that exclusive feeling and reward your loyal email followers regularly with specials that are only available to subscribers.

Create a Regularly Scheduled Email Newsletter
If you don’t already have one start now. Decide how often you will be sending it and stick to the schedule so your subscribers will know when to expect it. Also let them know they can opt out” at any time.

For more in-depth information about how to create an email newsletter read:
How Email Art Marketing Can Lead to More Art Sales
Email Tips For Art Professionals
How to Write Your Artist Email Newsletter

Make it Easy for Readers to Forward
When you send an email newsletter, include a forward-to-a-friend link for those who want to want to forward your content. Make sure the link directs these newcomers to a page with your sign-up form.

Share A Link To Your Enewsletter
Whenever you send an email newsletter to your subscribers, post a link on social media for everyone to read and ask them to “Enjoy, Share & Subscribe”.  If you follow me on Facebook and Twitter you may have seen me doing this for all of my email newsletters.

Create An Art Blog
Your art blog provides a great way to build a personal relationship with prospective customers and to gather their email addresses. When you deliver good content readers will want to sign  up to receive notices about new posts.

For more in-depth information about Art Blogs read:
The Benefits of Having An Art Blog
Topic Ideas for Your Art Blog Posts
Simple Steps to Writing Best Art Blog Posts.

Use Your Art Blog to Invite Followers
Consistently end blogs with a call to action that encourages readers to sign up for your email messages. At the end of each blog post, remind them to subscribe so they won’t miss any new posts.

Encourage Comments
Ask for visitors to your art blog to write comments. Require they add their email address and tell them they can expect to receive news from you.

Use Direct Mail
Whenever you send an exhibition announcement through the postal service, add a line next to your website address to the invitation telling them how they can stay connected and subscribe to your email newsletter.

Optimize Your Art Website for Opt-Ins
Add a subscribe or sign up form on every main page of your site and especially on your “Contact” page. On the sign up pages add a few testimonials from current email subscribers who have praised the quality of your content and how much they enjoy receiving your email newsletter.

For more in-depth information to help you with your Art website read
How to Get Started With Your New Art Website.
Does Your Art Website Pass This Test?

Remind Your Website Visitors to Sign Up Before They Leave
If you really want to be ambitious set up a lightbox pop-up plugin on your art website to remind your visitors to subscribe. It can be configured to pop up when they are about to navigate away from your website or blog.

Engage Through Social Media
Use social media to encourage people to sign up for your email list. For example, add a sign up link to your Facebook business page. Whenever you engage with friends or connections frequently ask them to join your email list and reciprocate by joining theirs.

Hold A Raffle at Your Art Event
If you have a guest book for people to sign it is not always easy to read their writing or they may not sign it, so instead offer this incentive: Set a glass bowl in a prominent location and ask visitors to fill out a form with their email address. Place a sign near the bowl to announce a person will be chosen to receive a free print, discount, or similar item.

If you’re interested in getting advice on how to have successful art events read Ideas to Help You Create Successful Art Events.

Ask for RSVP via Email
When you have an art opening or want to share news of any kind such as a new edition, book, or other, organize an “event” on Facebook and ask people to RSVP with their email address. Let them know with their permission you will be adding their address to your email list.

Piggyback on A Colleague’s Efforts
Consider sharing email lists with other artists and art-related businesses. Offer to mention them in your email newsletter in exchange for including information about you and your art and a link to your opt-in form in their email newsletter.

Ask Friends and Colleagues to Invite New Signups
Encourage your existing friends and follows to forward the link to your sign-up page to their friends and family members.

Tag A Sign-Up Reminder to Your Email Signature
At the end of every email you send, in addition to your name and website address, ask your recipient to join your email list with a link to your op-in form. Caution: If you already have a few links on the bottom of your emails you may want to skip this idea to avoid over loading the email with links that could cause your email to be considered spam.

Be Active on Blogs and Forums
Frequent the blogs and forums your customers do and offer insightful comments. Include a link to your website where visitors will find your opt-in form.

Read “Artists Gain Many Benefits From Writing Comments on Art Blogs”.

Add A Reminder With Your Art Delivery
Whenever you deliver or mail your artwork to a buyer include a request on a card inside the package that directs them to your website’s opt-in form. After they join, redirect them to a page where they’ll receive their first promotional offer.

Network to Increase Your List
Grow your connections by joining arts organizations both physical and online groups. Also join your local Chamber of Commerce or another business networking group. If permissible, email the member list about your art and/or services and include a link to sign up for your emails and email newsletter. Reach out to fellow members.

For leads to art organizations read Valuable Art Organizations For Artists

Offer A Free Download with Sign-Up
Offer your new email subscribers something only they will get. It could be access to a short video, a mini e-book (digital download or PDF file) or a digital screen saver that features your art, or other valuable information.

Give A Talk or Demonstration
Public speaking engagements or art demonstrations/workshops are great ways to establish yourself professionally, promote sales and also announce that more information can be found on your website.

Create a YouTube Video
Start your own YouTube channel. It’s simple and free. Simple: Do a slide show through a free platform like Lumen5.com. If you’re ambitious, have someone do a video interview with you or cover your exhibition and load it to YouTube.com. Either way, you can invite your viewers to be new subscribers. Visit The Artrepreneur Coach YouTube channel.