Original Artwork eBay Auctions
A client contacted me about setting auctions for little paintings - 4x6" and 5x7" original oils. So we put together a marketing program that allows her to quickly (under one hour per painting) set up an eBay auction, promote it on a blog and announce it to an email list.
If you're an artist, and would like to give this a try, the mechanics of it work as follows. It will be most effective if you have a decent email list of perhaps 300 or more clients, patrons, friends and family.
If you're an artist, and would like to give this a try, the mechanics of it work as follows. It will be most effective if you have a decent email list of perhaps 300 or more clients, patrons, friends and family.
Account Setup
1) Set up an eBay account for free.
2) Set up a free blog at Wordpress or Blogger
3) Set up a ConstantContact account, starting at $15 a month (up to 500 emails in the database)
Campaign Prep
1) Choose an artwork to sell. Think about how much time went into it, and what the minimum amount you would accept for it. Depending on how your artwork values, you might receive $200-$400 or more per item.
2) Format a picture/scan of your image - 600 pixels wide should work well
3) Write a short description of your image - think keywords! If you painted a picture of a white oak tree, use the words "oak tree painting" and other descriptive text that someone might use to find you.
4) On your blog, choose a template and write an introductory paragraph. Get familiar with how to post a new entry.
5) Upload your email list into ConstantContact. Choose a template for your first email newsletter.
Auction Your Art!
1) On eBay, "Sell An Item." Walk through the process, putting in all relevant information, including uploading a photo, writing a description, selecting a category and choosing shipping information. Definitely include a photo in search results - it should cost you a couple extra quarters. Once your auction is live, you have a URL so that you can link to it from your blog and ConstantContact.
2) On your blog, create a new post. Upload the photo, paste in the description and include the text "Click to Bid". Link the Click to Bid text and the photo to the eBay auction.
3) Create an Email to your list in ConstantContact, using the template you liked. Keep it simple - include the photo, and the description, and perhaps a paragraph explaining that this small painting is at auction, and that the recipient will be directly supporting the arts (you!) with their bid. Include links to the eBay auction page and to your blog. Send with love.
That's it! A rough timeline for the not-so-computer-literate...
Account Setup - 2 hours
Campaign Prep - 2 hours
Auction Your Art - 2+ hours the first time, about 1 hour every time you do it.
My client did the account sign-ups and got most of the way through the prep herself. We then spent three hours together, putting together and launching her very first campaign. She has it nailed now, and has sold two paintings in the last two weeks.
1) Set up an eBay account for free.
2) Set up a free blog at Wordpress or Blogger
3) Set up a ConstantContact account, starting at $15 a month (up to 500 emails in the database)
Campaign Prep
1) Choose an artwork to sell. Think about how much time went into it, and what the minimum amount you would accept for it. Depending on how your artwork values, you might receive $200-$400 or more per item.
2) Format a picture/scan of your image - 600 pixels wide should work well
3) Write a short description of your image - think keywords! If you painted a picture of a white oak tree, use the words "oak tree painting" and other descriptive text that someone might use to find you.
4) On your blog, choose a template and write an introductory paragraph. Get familiar with how to post a new entry.
5) Upload your email list into ConstantContact. Choose a template for your first email newsletter.
Auction Your Art!
1) On eBay, "Sell An Item." Walk through the process, putting in all relevant information, including uploading a photo, writing a description, selecting a category and choosing shipping information. Definitely include a photo in search results - it should cost you a couple extra quarters. Once your auction is live, you have a URL so that you can link to it from your blog and ConstantContact.
2) On your blog, create a new post. Upload the photo, paste in the description and include the text "Click to Bid". Link the Click to Bid text and the photo to the eBay auction.
3) Create an Email to your list in ConstantContact, using the template you liked. Keep it simple - include the photo, and the description, and perhaps a paragraph explaining that this small painting is at auction, and that the recipient will be directly supporting the arts (you!) with their bid. Include links to the eBay auction page and to your blog. Send with love.
That's it! A rough timeline for the not-so-computer-literate...
Account Setup - 2 hours
Campaign Prep - 2 hours
Auction Your Art - 2+ hours the first time, about 1 hour every time you do it.
My client did the account sign-ups and got most of the way through the prep herself. We then spent three hours together, putting together and launching her very first campaign. She has it nailed now, and has sold two paintings in the last two weeks.
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