"12 QUOTES"

To honour the entrepreneurial spirit in us all, Shopify put together a list of great quotes from a number of accomplished business owners that will make you want to stop thinking, stop talking, and start doing.

"Chase the vision, not the money, the money will end up following you."-Tony Hsieh, Zappos CEO

"If something is important enough, even if the odds are against you, you should still do it."-Elon Musk, Tesla Motors & SpaceX Founder

"I try not to make any decisions that I'm not excited about."-Jack Nickell, Threadless founder and CEO

"Embrace what you don't know, especially in the beginning, because what you don't know can become your greatest asset."-Sara Blakely, SPANX Founder

"Some 80% of your life is spent working. You want to have fun at home; why shouldn’t you have fun at work?"-Richard Branson, Virgin Group Founder

"Find your one thing and do that one thing better than anyone else."-Jason Goldberg, Fab Founder

Six more quotes at Shopify.

Connecting your vision to a cause that is larger than yourself can energize your fan base with people who are interested in the same.WhenWhale Tails Tortilla Chip company decided to use art for their environmentally conscious product and packaging they wanted to align with someone who was as passionate about the ocean as they were. Connecting the iconic marine artist,Wyland to their organic product was a match made in heaven.

Wyland ©

When your art is aligned with a strong purpose a vibration is set in motion that will connect with others who are in tune with it. I have seen this principle happen over and over again in my thirty year art career. It is a profound testament to the potential power of your vision.

Just presented another AAB Workshop for the third year in a row at  Kendall College of Art and Design. This school has one of the strongest entrepreneurial art programs in the country. Jon McDonald, and Nancy Hart are preparing and empowering their students to make decisions about their art businesses before they graduate and it shows.Participants of past workshops have returned to share with the new students what they are doing with their entrepreneurial knowledge. It is a fascinating mix of art events, personal projects, and freelancing. Most of these students (some have graduated) are working toward their goals of artistic freedom and financial independence.Madyson Blair for instance has not even graduated but already is selling her self published book, The Weather Inside.It is encouraging for me to see after only three years what is possible when students are infused with the potential to create a living their way. I love it when they get it! Go Kendall!

Artists with a store front?Yes, artists can embrace the brick and mortar store as well as a digital shop. Check out Three Fish Studios who do it all in one space, with classes too. This is an option for a group of artists who want to make a splash in their local community as well as online.Annie Galvin and Eric Rewitzer, painters and printmakers, husband and wife, create original and affordable art in their home/studio/store near San Francisco. Go here to see how they do it.

 This is a great post by Gregory Ciotti and Help Scout.Building an ecommerce site that customers love largely comes down to two things: sweating (and testing) the small stuff, and understanding human psychology.How do people view, browse, and use your site? While testing will be the final judgement for what works on your site, conversion studies can be a great place to begin when designing your site. Check out this awesome post on some of the fine points of making more sales from your site- here.

I feel that Sir Ken Robinson is a kindred spirit in the context of empowering human potential and creating new educational models. He is an internationally recognized leader in education, innovation, creativity and human resources. There are many informative and inspiring videos of his talks on education reform and the creative life. This is one of my favorites.His latest book is entitled The Element. As Robinson states: “The element is the point at which natural talent meets personal passion. When people arrive at the element, they feel most themselves and most inspired and achieve at their highest levels.”He could teach my Artist As Brand Workshops! If you have been a part of the educational system this is a must see.

The well known street artist, Bansky set up a booth in central park and sold pieces of art for $60.00 each. People did not know it was the famous artist's work, but some bought the art anyway, and now own art investments worth thousands of dollars. Ultimately this was great promotion for Bansky (which he a master of), and it made a fun comment on the art world, but more importantly he also made $420 in one day, with a stripped down booth and an elderly man who sat out front doing absolutely nothing.What I love most about this piece of theater is that it affirms what artists in SOHO, NYC have told me before– you can make a living selling your art on the street. The artists I spoke with made between $250-$500 a day with a booth on the street. That is pretty good money folks. Add it up. If you make an average $400 a day and sell five days a week that is $2000, or $8000 a month. Not bad.Thank you, Bansky for reminding all artists that street art can make for a very profitable business.Go here for more-Three older AAB posts about selling art on the street- Taking it to the streets. Artist As Brand Grassroots. Artist As Brand Grassroots Part 2. 

Art by Edel Rodriguez

Knowing your rights as an artist is important to your survival. Tattoo artists are increasingly claiming that they own the copyright to the images they create. And when those images, attached to living people, appear on the silver screen — or a computer monitor — the artists want to get paid.This Los Angeles Times article gets into it here.Check out more Edel Rodriguez art here.

I have talked about the benefits of licensing your art for a while now. If you have a style that can translate into products beyond what you produce for yourself then other companies can essentially rent your images.Here is one take on licensing by Ashley Goldberg.She is an eclectic artist whose pattern designs have found a market .Check out her story on Etsy here.

I have not jumped on the Pinterest band wagon yet, but will soon. You cannot ignore the power of this social media giant. Roxana Illuminated Perfume does it right. She shares her esthetic through Pinterest garnering many like minded followers which drives traffic to her websites. Look at her boards here.Here is a great post on Designing an MBA, called "HOW I GREW MY PINTEREST FOLLOWING FROM 1000 TO 4000+ IN 3 MONTHS"- Here.Also check out the Pinterest web analytics and see what people are pinning from your websitehere

Launching any project can take a lot of time and effort, and that is not including the promotion. There are many factors that go into advertising the premier of a product that may have taken a year or more to birth. Business strategist Tara Gentile has some great advice about preparing for a launch and the psychology of your patrons.She says, "Many of my clients come calling because they’ve had the scare of a launch that didn’t preform to their expectations. It’s not because their plans were bad. Nor was it that the product design was subpar. It might not even be that the messaging or positioning was off.Often, it’s because the wham-bam-thank-ya-ma’am style launch that everyone from that super successful life coach to the latest iPhone wonder app developers make look highly effective is actually the wrong choice for most new products or programs.That blitzkrieg-style launch is actually the final iteration of careful planning, testing, and incremental sales cycles.Why is this important?Sure, planning and testing is always a good idea. But really, the reason the initial stages of introducing a new product, program, or service to the public is that there are 3 kinds of good customers and you need to sell to each differently.Moreover, you must sell to each in their own way in the right order. More...

I have mentioned Kickstarter before but it is nice to see it can be consistent for artists and even their fans. It appears a fan of Amanda Palmer (Palmer's last Kickstarter garnered over $1,000,000.00) has decided to create a tarot deck around her and has pulled in as of this post $45,000. There is still two weeks left in this campaign. That is a nice chunk of change to start any project. Here.If you are complaining that you do not have enough cash to start anything then crowd funding is one way to infuse your business with capital without going to the banking industry or using credit cards. Even if the first attempt does not live up to its expectations you have started the momentum and can do another one with more knowledge about what to do better next time. So rev up those crowd funding engines and let the world know you have something worth investing in.By the way, if you have not seen the TED talk Palmer gave a little while ago, it is a MUST SEE. Here.

If you are using the Artist As Brand® principles to promote your products then you know that High Touch Marketing is key to your success. That means finding the right venues to meet your people. If you are selling a book then schools that are appropriate to your market are great places to meet your fans.Kevin Gerard is a children's book author who has visited hundreds of schools presenting his stories and selling lots of books too. Check out this post on the Publicity Hound and learn how he does it.

We all know about the importance of Newsletters. I call a newsletter PUSH MARKETING, because you are sending information directly to someone.A smart and informative newsletter will help drive sales, increase awareness, and build loyalty. MailChimp is my favorite email service provider for sending out newsletters. A good service should allow you to build and manage your email lists, provide a variety of templates, send your email, and track analytics to help you refine your messaging.Signing up people to receive your package of updates and goodies can be done through social networks, your website and blog and now with MailChimp’s Chimpadeedoo, people can add themselves to your list via an iPad or Android.Check out this short post on Newsletters.

The tagline for publicity expert Joan Stewart's website, The Publicity Hound is Tips, Tricks & Tools for Free Publicity. Personally I would use the tagline, The Science of Free Publicity because much of the promotional research and knowledge that Joan garners and shares is time tested and always pushing the envelope of possibility.http://publicityhound.com/Joan is a master at online visibility and print and broadcast publicity.She has written more than 1,000 blog posts and articles, offers hundreds of learning tools, and lots of free advice on how to tell your story to the world. Her popular ezine, "The Publicity Hound's Tips of the Week," is a treasure trove of tips for free publicity. I highly recommend signing up for this free advice at the end of the article.Joan was gracious enough in her busy schedule to answer some questions about publicity for the artist entrepreneur. Greg: What is the best social media for artists right now?Joan: Google+ is the best social site for ANYONE. That's because it is now part of Google's algorithm that determines where Google ranks your website when someone types keyword phrases into the search engines. As soon as I started using Google+, I started ranking high on Google for my keyword phrases. It can be confusing, but stick with it. The payoff is huge!

Get onto Google+ today and start sharing information that includes the keywords and keyword phrases you want to rank high for.

Pinterest is second best, because it is visual. Also, I see so many artists who are paranoid about having their works appear online for fear that another artist will steal the idea. This is nonsense. I'm betting that most of your competitors are online, displaying their works and linking back to their websites.G: Google + will energize your search engine rankings but artists must get their work online for that to happen. I'm always stressing the importance of of getting the artwork in the public eye. What makes a great personal website and blog?J: Explaining who you are, what you do and why visitors should stay---all within about 10 seconds. If your site doesn't communicate that, visitors will leave. I see so few artists capturing email addresses at their websites. This is a mistake. There's gold in those email lists! To get an email addresses, promise something of value to the visitor.Easy navigation.Calls to action on every page so people do exactly what you want them to do.Also, artists, do NOT use white type on a black background. This is too hard on the eyes.G: Getting people to talk about you is the best promotion ever. Any thoughts?J: Say something that's either helpful or interesting. If you have a contrarian viewpoint on a controversial topic, say so. Offer tips advice and helpful information---yours and others---that will help visitors.G: What would be some online and offline strategies to finding a target audience?

First, identify the target market.

Too few people bother to do this. Once you have defined the target market, look for them in LinkedIn Groups, in Google+ circles, on Twitter lists, in Facebook Groups, and on Pinterest.G: You are the queen when it comes to the art of the press release. Is promoting through traditional median outlets like newspapers and magazines still a vital form of marketing?Yes, of course, if your target market reads those newspapers and magazines. Since the question deals with press releases, it important to add that you don't get major publicity through press releases. You get them through a customized pitch to each media outlet on your targeted list. I have an entire category at my blog on the topic of pitching at http://publicityhound.com/blog/keyword/pitching. I also offer a free email course on how to write and distribute press releases. More than 6,000 people have taken it. Find it at http://publicityhound.com/prwriting

Most people use press releases incorrectly.

That is, they use them to get major media publicity. Truth is, the media hate press releases. You need a customized pitch so that each blogger or reporter who you pitch think, "This is PERFECT for my audience!" You can't do that with a one-size-fits-all press release.You can, however, reach consumers directly via online press releases. That's the real value. Make sure they include keywords in the headline, first paragraph and throughout the release. Also make sure you use a few links and a call to action, telling readers exactly what you want them to do. My press release writing course explains all this.G: Plus you have great suggestions on how to follow up on those pitches. I was so impressed with the work you are doing  I decided to become one of your affiliates. Tell us a little bit about affiliate programs and how it may benefit artists.J: Affiliate programs pay an artist for promoting someone else's products and services. For example, let's say the artist paints animal portraits. The artist should look for affiliate programs for companies that sell thinks like dog beds and dog strollers. You join their affiliate program and they will give you a link that your unique ID code within it. The best way to promote their products and services is through enthusiastic first-person endorsements. Or even reviews. When someone clicks on that link and buys, you earn a commission. When sharing an affiliate link, let your readers know that you are a compensated affiliate.G: What about creating an affiliate program around our own products?J: If you have a lot of products, to do it right, you need a program that has an affiliate module and automatically calculates sales, commissions and payouts. I have a lot of products and I use-1Shoppingart.com which has an affiliate module. I am their affiliate, by the way, and if you want to take a free test drive and watch their tutorials, you can use this affiliate link: Marketers Choice. If you buy, I get a commission.That's a high-quality shopping cart but most artists probably don't need that.There are many other option. E-Junkie performs very well. By the way, I am also an affiliate for them. Click on this link to take a look: e-junkie.comG: That was great! An affiliate model is one that artists could really benefit from. Any last pearls of wisdom?J: Yes. If you like these tips, you can get more of them, for free, every Tuesday and Saturday by subscribing to my ezine, "The Publicity Hound's Tips of the Week." It focuses on free for very inexpensive tools you can use to self-promote. Subscribe in the box at The Publicity HoundConnect with me on Google+ HEREFollow me on Twitter at TwitterRead my weekly tips on my Facebook page HEREExcellent! Thank you so much for sharing your wisdom with us, Joan! You are an inspiration.

Pablo Picasso 1962 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Someone visited Picasso's studio, stood in front of a painting for several minutes and asked, “What does it represent?” Picasso replied without hesitation, “Two hundred thousand dollars.”Do artists sell their artistic souls when they consider not just the aesthetic value of their work, but its monetary value? Of course not, but read an interesting conversation with Sue Hostetler, Editor in Chief of Art Basel Miami Beach Magazine. The interviewer, Allen Adamson still focuses on the old paradigm of branding from the outside- in, but some of the commentary is surprising considering it has some Artist As Brand overlaps. Here...

Brave is the academy award winning cg animated movie about a young lass who dares to look societies conventions in the eye and changes a tradition that no longer serves her generation. It is a powerful and moving masterpiece of a film and I highly recommend everyone see it.The film confirms that following your own road can be full of adventure, and hazards, but at the end of the day it is the visionary courageous art spirits that show the way.We are all brought up believing you must get a JOB working for someone else to make a living. It is simply not true in this day and age no matter what your school or college may teach you. All artists can take heart that creating a business around your art and making a living YOUR way can be profitable in more ways than one.What other films have you seen that focus on the creative individual making their own way in spite of opposition from their family, friends, and society in general?

Spectrum Fantastic Art Live was a beautiful and inspiring venue. Arnie and Cathy Fenner along with their talented and devoted crew pulled together another stellar event that celebrates fantasy artists. My Artist As Brand Workshop was held at TAD (The Art Department). Here you see part of my booth setup with Roxana. More pics to come.

 See an Artist As Brand master in action at the ARTISAN FRAGRANCE SALON and Chocolate show this Sunday, May 5th in Seattle!Roxana Villa of Roxana Illuminated Perfume will be showcasing her botanical essences and speaking at the event too. She sells her products to all fifty states and over seventy countries. See how beautiful a traveling booth can look. I will be there too. Stop on by!You must purchase tickets online before the event at the ARTISAN FRAGRANCE SALON website. There are no onsite sales of tickets.

FOR DEVIANT ART MEMBERS, ETSY SELLERS, AND STUDENTS

NORMAL REGISTRATION $495

Spectrum Fantastic Art Live 2 and I are bringing the workshop that has been called "phenomenal, and life transforming" back to Kansas City. Learn the secrets of connecting the power of your art to your collectors, and see how these principles can be applied at an event like Spectrum Fantastic Art Live 2. It is an amazing opportunity.

All participants will receive a free pass to all three days of Spectrum Fantastic Art Live. The workshop is held at the Historic Aladdin Holiday Inn Hotel, just blocks from the convention center.Learn more about the workshop on the ABOUT page. Read the FAQs page before signing up. See what art professors, professionals, and college students are saying on the RESULTS page.Want to take the workshop but need more time to pay for it? Take up to six months to pay (no payments, no fees, no interest for up to six months) with PayPal’s, Bill Me Later financing option. Details on the PayPal site when you purchase.

$395 for Etsy Sellers, Deviant Art Members, and students

$495 for all others“The Artist As Brand workshop has revolutionized the way I look at everything about my work and its relationship to my overall level of fulfillment. I am certain that the Artist As Brand experience will mark a pivotal point in my career. Thank you Greg, for your hard work, innovation, and inspiration in the creation of something so significant."-Ben Soward, Illustrator, Professor at Southern Utah University, "Your workshop was amazing! Every hour was packed with useful information--I feel like I learned a year's worth of material in only three days. You'd think that having that much info crammed into my head in such a short period of time would be exhausting, but instead I feel re-energized. I've been so focused on trying to find an art job that I'd almost forgotten what it was like to paint something that I felt passionate about. Your workshop showed me that making a living and living my dream could co-exist after all. Thank you, a million times!"-Alyssa Parsons, Student at Kendall College of Art and Design“We received a map and tools—where to go and what to do when we got there. And confidence, that we CAN be entrepreneurs with our own art and not have to rely on other people giving us work. If you are an artist and feel a pull to be making a living doing what you love by your art, TAKE THIS CLASS. No, seriously sign up, and TAKE THIS CLASS. NOW."-Gina Terzino, Artist“Truly life changing and inspirational.”-Chad “Hero” Hardin, Illustrator, Comic Artist“I want to thank you for your dedication and hard work. You are amazing. I believe that small business ventures are essential to the health and wealth of our country. You have found a path through the forest of corporate trees and soon it will be a well traveled road.” -Shelley Masters, Artist, Muralist, Teacher"I really enjoyed my experience at Greg Spalenka’s Artist As Brand workshop last May (Spectrum Live). It gave me a lot of insight and really helped me to clarify where I come from as an artist and as a person. This is helping me more authentically shape my current choices and know that what I’m choosing is in alignment with my very essence! Nothing is more important to me.  Big thanks to Greg for guiding and supporting me in this process."-Tara Larson Chang, Artist, Founder TLC Workshops

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