The 2nd Anniversary Art Licensing Info Ask Call is Over – were you on the line?
I still remember – quite vividly! – just how nervous I was in December of 2008. Would anyone show up? Would I be talking to myself? Was this a good thing to do or a recipe for stress? I was jumping outside of my comfort level to be sure and you know what? It has paid off in spades! Look at all the information we’ve shared, experts in the industry we have been able to hear from – all because of this Ask Call process I learned by taking the Teleseminar Secrets Class. (It starts again in January so if you want to learn more about it, go to www.TaraRecommendsAlex.com for details.)
Here is what we covered on the call:
- Should my art licensing business be named as just my name?
- Can I have a book agent AND a licensing agent at the same time?
- Is there a general rule about color, across the industry? RGB or CMYK?
- I currently create art by hand, do you recommend I work digitally in the future?
- Someone has shown interest in my designs thru LinkedIn! Is the next step is to ask for a contract?
- How do you avoid getting ripped off, especially overseas?
- Making sure you stay in line with exclusive contracts that have non-compete clauses.
- Are there many fine artists in licensing or is it more pattern design?
- Should I exhibit at a show or market directly to manufacturers to get started?
- How do you show your work at a trade show?
- How important is moral support and where does one find it?
- Do you have tips for coding or creating systems for your images so you can find them when a licensee wants to discuss them?
The audio replay is $15 through December 26th and $30 thereafter so grab your copy today! These audios are a great way to listen and learn while you are creating in your studio, driving in your car, walking your dog, whatever!
Things to Note….
NEW experts – January 19, 2011!
I’m so excited to let you know we will have the dynamic duo in January – surf lifestyle artist Drew Brophy and his marketing maven wife Maria will be our newest Ask Call guests. Talk about an artist taking a niche and running with it! Head to www.AskDrewBrophy.com to learn more about Drew’s art and submit your questions at any time.
NEW expert – February 16, 2011 – DEBBIE MUMM!
I just got the thumbs up yesterday so there is no website ready yet but stay tuned for this art licensing icon to share her wisdom with the group. 
To learn more about her now, visit her website at www.DebbieMumm.com
Ask Call Bundle Deal from Paul Brent | on sale thru 12/30
Paul has done 5 calls – the first audio is always free and the other 4 are for purchase. Normally, this would cost $100 if purchased individually.
But what if we made it super easy to get it all – and at a discount?
We’ve decided to offer, for a limited time, what I’m calling the Paul Brent Five-Pack. All five audios (FIVE HOURS of great info!) delivered to you for $75 – that’s a $25 (or 25%) savings! Get all the details and place your order here: http://artlicensingblog.com/2010/12/05/ask-paul-brent-replay-bundle/
The WishList WordPress plugin I use for my online portfolio is on sale - 2 for 1 single user licenses. FAB! But only through Sunday 12/19… http://ht.ly/3pIxY (affil link)
Top 5 Things I Love About the WishList Plugin for My Password Protected Portfolio
Last weekend I spent some time really digging in and learning the WishList Membership Plugin for WordPress. Don’t be fooled (like I was) by the name “Membership”… It doesn’t mean you have to use the plugin for a membership based program, product or website…. but you can.
We talked about the plugin on the Ask About WordPress for Artists call in June. (If you didn’t get your free mp3 replay of the call – head to www.AskAboutWordPressForArtists.com) Many artists in art licensing choose to have password protected sections of their websites that they allow manufacturers to see but might not want the entire worldwide web looking at. (Wonder why? Read the blog post: Four Reasons to Consider a Password Protected Portfolio on Your Art Licensing Website)
I’ve been redesigning my art website, TaraReedDesigns.com, over the past few months with the help of Kim Beasley, from the Ask About WordPress for Artists call. We installed the WishList plugin to handle the password protected section of the website. As I got to really dig in and see how it works, I become more and more of a fan.
So here the Top Five Things I Love About the WishList Plugin
- Control. I have decided that all Members (manufacturers) will be added by hand, by me. Since I want to make sure I have control to who is accessing my portfolio, I have created an email form on my website that requires not only the person wishing access to give me their name and email, but also their company and company website, so I can confirm that they do license art.
- Visibility. I can see who has logged in and when. How many times they have logged in. This will let me know if I should be picking up the phone to follow-up – “I see you’ve been looking at art in my online portfolio, did you find what you were looking for? Is there anything I can help you with?” etc.
- Automation. Before, if a manufacturer lost their password, they had to email me. I had to look it up and email them back. If I was out of the office, we were both out of luck. With WishList, they can click on “Forgot your password?” and instantly get an email with a link to reset it. Any time of the day or night! There are automated emails, I can send an email broadcast to all manufacturers who have access to my portfolio and more.
- Customization. When I sign up a new manufacturer, an email automatically goes out with their registration information. I can leave it in the generic format that they have it set, or customize it to meet my needs. (Of course, I customized the message – that’s what good marketing and customer service is about!) Ditto the email that manufacturers receive when they lose their password – it’s in my voice, refers to my online portfolio and is signed by me. It’s automated but doesn’t seem like it comes from a robot.
- Choice. There are features in the plugin that I don’t need. So guess what? I don’t use them! I don’t feel like I have to fit a round peg in a square hole – this plugin is giving me all the options I need and more. To quote McDonald’s, I’m lovin’ in!
SO… if you want to have a password protected portfolio, hosted on a WordPress site, I can whole-heartedly recommend the WishList Plugin*.
If you want Kim Beasley to help you install and implement, I highly recommend her services as well. www.ProMembershipServices.com*
Now I can get back to creating lots of art to put in my online portfolio!
Here’s to your creative success!
– Tara Reed
Four Reasons to Consider a Password Protected Portfolio on Your Art Licensing Website
How much art should you show on your website? Should you protect some of it online, or email images upon request? These are questions that are swirling around the minds of many artists in or considering art licensing… (Yes @cindyannganaden and @sparkyfirepants – I’m finally doing the blog post you’ve been waiting for! Sorry for the delay.)
Let me begin by saying that having a Password Protected Portfolio isn’t a requirement when you are starting out.
Personally, I don’t think I had one until I’d been licensing my art for 3-4 years. However, I believe there is great value in having it now – so once you are committed to licensing, I would put it on your definite to-do list.
Artists who sell their work online, need to show everything they have to offer. It will be hard for someone to buy your amazing, original oil painting if they have no idea it exists. Art licensing is a little different. Manufacturers don’t expect unlimited access to every santa, candle or scarecrow you’ve ever painted… and there is a risk in putting huge volumes of available art online for all the world to see. Here are four reasons to consider a password protected portfolio on your art licensing website.
- Safety. While an artist who sells originals can put art online then take it down when it sells, artists who license their work can license it to multiple manufacturers. So instead of art that rotates in and out based on availability, our portfolios grow and grow. There is a risk of being copied – either by manufacturers who blatantly use your work without compensating you or other artists who might be a little too inspired by your work. It is safer to show enough of your art on the open pages of your website to give manufacturers an idea of what you have, and then password protect the vast majority of work so only those who need to see it, do.
- Speed. There are times when a manufacturer needs art in a hurry. They may call and tell you what they are looking for. When that happens, I always send them things I think might work, but also invite them to log-on and look through my online portfolio as well. Very often they stumble across something they are interested in, that doesn’t fit what they requested. Without the work being online, they wouldn’t have known it was available.
- Expectation. Art licensing is a fast-paced business and more and more manufacturers expect to be able to go online and see what art is available. When I asked some manufacturers if they saw an up or downside to working with agents, (for the eBook, How to Find an Art Licensing Agent ) one responded by saying: For us, some agencies are more likely to have easily accessible portfolios – either online or printed, that allows us to see what art is available quickly. So if they are expecting easily accessible portfolios from agents, why not be the artist who delivers as well and exceeds expectations?
- Ease. The easier you are to work with, the more likely you are to get licensing deals. There is a lot of great art out there. Competition is tough. So what makes you quick and easy to work with? Maybe it’s the way your clients can keep up with what you have any time, day or night. That can be done with an online portfolio.
Here’s to your creative – and secure – success!
– Tara Reed
P.S. If you use WordPress for your website, the WishList Membership Plugin* is a great way to create a password protected area. You can learn more about it if you get the free audio with Kim Beasley from the “Ask About WordPress for Artists” call in June 2010. Go to www.AskAboutWordPressForArtists.com to get your copy today.
* FTC disclosure: The WishList Membership Plugin links are affiliate links and I will earn a commission if you make a purchase. This helps me keep blogging and sharing and paying my bi
The June Ask Call covered great information about using WordPress for your online needs – get the free audio replay!
I had the pleasure of interviewing Kim Beasley, aka The WordPress Lady, about how artists can use this powerful platform (on which all Ask Call websites are housed as well as this blog!) for their online needs.
I made the shift from self-created Ask Call websites and moved them all to WordPress platforms back in April.
The change has helped me standardize the system of creating the sites (we have quite a few these days!) and better update and manage everything. Kim has shown me that WordPress is as flexible as a self-designed site (I’ve used Dreamweaver since 2000) with so many plugin options that it simply makes life easier.
My next plan is to move my art website, www.TaraReedDesigns.com, to a WordPress platform. With that in mind, and since that would also change how my password protected area works, I was very excited to get more nitty-gritty information!
Here is what we covered on the call:
- What is the difference between WordPress (WP), Blogger and Typepad?
- Why should an artist consider WP instead of setting up their own website?
- What is the diff. between WP .com and .org?
- If I am new to blogging & websites, where should I begin?
- Can I transfer an existing bloodspot or blogger blog to WP without losing information?
- There are so many WP plugins, are there any you feel are essential?
- What is the diff. between WP & the many online portfolio sites?
- Are online portfolio sites meaning to drive people to your website?
- What is the best way to have a password protected gallery with WP?
- Can WP look more like a website than a blog?
- Will I be able to see who logs into a password protected area?
- If people forget their password, can it be sent automatically so I don’t have to look them up and email them?
- If I want to sell products on my blog, how do I set that up in WP?
Just to warn you – if websites and options are new to you, your head might spin a bit. But you don’t have to understand it all, just get that this is a powerful and flexible way to build a website that will allow you to grow and add things without recreating the wheel!
Since this was the first call from Kim, we are making the audio replay available for free!
If you already receive the emails before and after each monthly call, you will get a link to the audio in your inbox. If you don’t, simply give us your name and email address and you will be added to the Ask Call series email list and receive an email with the link.
To learn more about Kim and the services she can offer to get you up and running (once you are up and running WordPress is a dream) visit her website.*
We talked a bit about a the WishList Membership Plugin as a great way to have a password protected area on your WordPress website. Don’t be confused by the “Membership Website” references everywhere on their site (I was at first!) you can use it for an online portfolio without ever charging a dime. Again, it’s flexible and gives you lots of options. There is a one-time fee for this plug-in but no monthly cost after that. I’ll be investing in it soon – see what WishList is all about.*
Here’s to your creative success!
– Tara Reed
P.S. Next month I’ll be answering your questions so head to www.AskTaraReed.com whenever you decide what you want to hear next!
P.P.S. Since we’re talking websites and online strategies, don’t forget about the SEO for Artists call I did with Daniel Tardent in February. His replay, discussing how to optimize your website for search engines so people will find you, it full of great tips! If you missed it, head to www.AskAboutSEOforArtists.com to sign up for your free copy today.
* FTC disclosure: Links with an * are affiliate links. I never promote products or services I don’t believe in but I do let you know when I will potentially earn a commission – which I do on affiliate links. They help me offset the time and costs involved in all the free information we love to provide and I appreciate you clicking them!
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