Using Tags to Attract Targeted Art Buyers
In the journal post titled Relationships Sell Art I reasoned that each artist is their best salesperson; that establishing a relationship with shoppers and buyers through context – a story about the artwork – can aid sales. Most buyers want details that can be shared when they’re asked about the print, t-shirt, calendar, etc. that they’ve proudly displayed in their home or office, on their body, etc.
Now let’s step back and look at the factors that the typical consumer considers when buying art – aside from the ever-important context noted above. In a survey of 2,000-plus art buyers ages of 18 to 65 (qualified based on their previous purchase of art), the factors that influenced their purchase of “things to hang and display on walls” included:
60% just liked it
43% said that it matched the style or design of their home
39% said that color was a factor
30% said favorite theme/subject
29% said it fit their collection
25% said size influence them
19% were simply filling a space
13% said investment was a factor
9% purchased on impulse
8% factored a designer/decorator recommendation
How can you use this information on your RedBubble pages in order to sell your work?
Although we artists can’t control subconscious attraction or a designer/decorator recommendation (unless we know the designer), we can tag our work with 5-7 very targeted terms that will drive visibility via RedBubble search and organic (non-paid) search results. Style, color, theme, and subject keywords are all in our control. In combination with context, smart tagging can help drive and make the sale.
What won’t work?
Tag cramming or spamming won’t do anything for your sales. It’s the equivalent of marketing a horse when you’re trying to sell a cow. Deception will drive viewers, but not sales.
It’s important to note that the above information applies to shoppers and buyers that don’t know you personally. As we’ve discussed before, the easiest sales come from your personal network of family, friends, existing clients, and their extended network of contacts.
In the next post we’ll look at genres and the keyword terms that are searched for most often by those looking to buy art.
Regards,
Jason
Marion Chapman
such interesting statistics!
FlowersEtc
60% just liked it. That shows they by on their original impression’s. We really do need to make sure our art is very attractive. I’m going audit my bubble. I have things I don’t need here.
Thanks for the statistic’s.
Ann
selling replied
Two points: 1. RedBubble is a space for your best work. Sometimes I’ll upload a few questionable pieces, solicit comments from peers, and prune based on that feedback and my gut feel. 2. Survey participants were allowed to check mutliple responses, so “just liked it” is important to consider, but it works in combination with the other factors too. Don’t discount those that shop by subject matter, color, etc.
A wonderful aspect of RedBubble is that discovery is at play in most parts of the consumer-facing marketplace. You never know that you’ll find … what you might fall in love with next.
Elucidate
Wow, this info is brilliantly useful. The statistics are fresh and thought-provoking. Thank you so much for this post!
FlowersEtc
PS- Some things I enter for challenges and the challenge s are a bit goofy. I’m going to be more selective in groups I join. in order to have a better looking bubble.
athex
Interesting article – thank you
Donna Ridgway
This very interesting. Thank you for posting this. I’ll try to remember to add a color tag to my photos. I usually forget to think about what the main colors in the work are.
selling replied
Yes. I would list the overarching/dominant color.
FlowersEtc
Thank you for the added info.
armadillozenith
Very useful, thanks! I look forward to your further info. This is appreciated.. I do hope to begin selling here.
Roz McQuillan
Thanks so much for the info – these posts are really useful!
itsallgoodamanda
yes useful indeed thanks
nancy salamouny
thanks for the info, it all helps and gives us view not only on our art but how others see it
Beve Brown-Clark
Wonderful stat info…lol…had already been cleaning up my sale bubble side…. “^)
riverotter
Thank you for the information on tagging, I often forget to tag the color. Any information about boosting sales is quite helpful!
bubblehex08
great information here! So I shall tag with color, style and subject (theme) now. A lot of work to do, but at the same time I can remove some uploads of minor interest. “Less is more”, I know it :)