October 2010
Hi FNO Member,
Happy October! This month, we're giving you some free marketing advice from Annie Strack, an artist who has learned a thing or two about marketing her work! Check out her tips below even if you think you've got your market pegged already.

BIG NEWS: Just in case you haven't noticed, the new FNO Marketplace is open for business; now you can sell your artwork online through FNO! We are just getting started, so check back often.

Creating a Marketing Plan
by Annie Strack

Successful business marketing is achieved through a combination of public relations and advertising.  Effective marketing is planned, with goals identified and steps outlined to achieve those goals.  With out a plan to follow, marketing can be haphazard, with missed opportunities and advertising dollars spent ineffectively.

Often artists make impulsive decisions when it comes to marketing.  Some play “follow the leader” and rush off to copy other artists marketing styles, regardless of whether their product or audience will benefit.  Others make the mistake of marketing to themselves, utilizing only the resources that appeal to them, instead of to their prospective clients.  Artists may end up missing their audience, spending too much money on printed materials that either don’t connect or lack cohesiveness, or making poor choices on where to spend advertising money, or buying ads that their audience never sees.  Artists can avoid these costly and time consuming mistakes by taking the time to develop a marketing plan first.  You can get started on creating your own plan just by following these simple steps.

Determine what your marketing goals are.  Your marketing should benefit and support your business goals.  For instance, if your business goal is sell more art at festivals, then your related marketing goals might include; direct mail campaigns with coupons to clients in that area, e-newsletters with your festival schedule, printed calendar promos featuring your artwork and your festival schedule, writing and sending press releases which are tied in to the festival, or cooperative advertising with the festival.Successful business marketing is achieved through a combination of public relations and advertising.  Effective marketing is planned, with goals identified and steps outlined to achieve those goals.  With out a plan to follow, marketing can be haphazard, with missed opportunities and advertising dollars spent ineffectively.   Read more

Vote on New Member Features

Here's your chance to make suggestions on what new features or improvements you would like to see us make to the FNO site. You can rate changes in order of importance to you or make a suggestion. We're looking forward to hearing from you!

Stay Connected on the Road!

FNO has teamed up with Rovair, a leading wireless mobile broadband provider.

What does that mean for you? You can now stay connected while traveling & working at shows!

We have partnered with RovAir to bring you temporary internet access allowing you to stay in touch with customers and business contacts and even accept & process credit cards over the internet via a laptop/net book and a wireless card!

Find out more about Rovair here.

Earn Money with FNO

Did you know you can make $5 for every new member you refer to FNO? Get cash or apply it to your next renewal!

Learn about the FNO Affiliate Program. Already a paid member? Then you already have an affiliate number - To create a flyer with your FNO affiliate number click here!