Do What Works – 5 Essentials For Successful Print On Demand Artists

1. Make what you love
So your art does not fit exactly into the current trend. You have a choice to make, create something that you think will fit in, or showcase your unique voice. Please, dear artists, remember that people love your uniqueness and recognize a truth within the representation of your vision, that you created. A well-designed piece of art can become more popular than the one fitting into the masses

2. Pay attention to details
Of course, you pay attention to details when it comes to creating your unique piece of art, but are you also paying attention to how each individual application fits with your art? Some art pieces are just not made for cell phone cases while others will showcase their entire beauty on any application. Choose where you put your creative piece as thoroughly as you do during your creative process.

3. Connect with other artists
When I first started out on RedBubble, I thought of it as a lonely place, until I began connecting with other artists, by commenting on each others projects, or participating in the forums. The exchange of energy with like-minded individuals is very inspiring, as well as a learning experience. Take also advantage of the groups and forums out there outside of your platform, with Facebook groups being one example.

4. Connect with your audience
Reach out to your potential audience by learning how to maneuver throughout the various social media outlets. Learn proper etiquette, by not spamming your followers, and really engage. With the right techniques, you can gather a substantial amount of attention if you learn the tricks of the individual platforms. Marketing your products is just as important as creating them.

5. Be specific in your listings and product description
Write the description as if the customer would have no picture available and you would have to describe your creation to them. Use keywords that are related to your products (watch out for spamming keywords – only use those actually related to what you have done. Platforms like Zazzle frown upon the overuse of misguided keywords), and be specific about mentioning your targeted audience.

Please share your favorite tips and tricks in the comment section. We can all learn from each other!

Blessings

Claudia

P.S. Check out the free Aloha Snack Box Trial – who does not love free!

The Wrong And The Right Way To Advertise Your Book On Twitter

I get it, you want us to read your book. I want people to read my stuff too. That is the reason we write, in order for someone to find our work and enjoy it, and hopefully share it with the world. Twitter is a great place to share your creations, and get people’s attention.

But there is a right way and a wrong way to advertise your book on Twitter.

Constant badgering your followers or those who follow a particular hashtag with requests and “read me!” advertising is a turn-off. I will, and I know quite a few people who will do so as well, ignore all of these requests. You heard me right ALL of them, and I am constantly on the lookout for books to review.

Do you want to change that? Then try this:

Instead, give your followers and fellow hashtag readers/writers something of value. Share tips, connect, have some meaningful conversation, and encourage – then, but only then, and only a few times in between, ask us to read your book.
Now, that I know you, now that I am interested in what you have to say, are the chances that I will buy your book or at least follow the link to check out the blurb you are offering a much larger one.
Simple, isn’t it?

Blogging, Tips And Principles

Are you an Author with a social media strategy? In order to get heard, read, seen, noticed and paid attention to, you HAVE to create your own social media presence.

Did you know that publishing houses (and some agents) are more likely to work with someone who already established a presence on the internet? The best time to find out more on how to get noticed is not after you finished or published a book, rather before or during the writing process.

I have been experimenting a little with some of the blogging and social media tips that I have come across of as of late.The following questions (and more) arose from that content:

• Does social media feed scheduling work?
• Is there a system to get more followers, comments and acknowledgment?
• Does sticking to certain principles limit ones potential market and therefore success?

Some tips from so-called social media experts are nothing but vehicles to sell their products. Don’t bother. There are many companies build around making a buck off your unknowing, or unwillingness to do yourself. The key is to find out what works for you, and your specific audience.

From time to time, I will use this platform to write about the fails and wins of those tips that have come my way. It will serve not only as a reminder to myself to be active in a time where knowing how to navigate the jungle of social media is essential, but maybe I can help you find something that works for you. Remember, not everything works with every audience, and for every person, so I might find something the best thing since coffee, while it does not do anything for you. But maybe it will.

Really quick about principles:

Success achieved by denying an essential part of yourself is not success. Embrace all the facets of yourself. Stay authentic no matter what!

If, in the midst of your social media experience, you feel the need to share about something your passionate about, whatever the subject may be (feminism, animal rescue, the economy, your faith, gun rights, whatever gets you going), then do so – to an extend. While it is easy for your passion about these subject to overtake your posting, it is also easy to not post about them at all, and with that deny a part of who you are. Your passion, whatever it is , it makes you unique, and believe it or not, there are people just waiting to agree with you, looking for someone who has the guts to say something, that might be a little different. Just be polite about it. Learn from those who have fallen on their noses for posting outrages things without the care of others feelings. So keep it small, keep it polite, but post away!