Kind Words for How to Profit from the Art Print Market - Using Google Alerts Effectively

I suppose it is possible one can read my blog and not realize I am also the author of the book, How to Profit from the Art Print Market. If you are interested, you can click on the cover image on the top right of the page to get more information. The text link below the image will take you to a free download of Chapter One. I'm proud it has remained a top seller on the Amazon.com "Business of Art" list since it was first published. It's also been excerpted in The Artist's Magazine and been a selection in its sister operation, the North Light Book Club.

Here is a tip. If you are not using Google Alerts, consider doing so. The following reasons to use the service are directly taken from the Google Alert home page:

• monitoring a developing news story
• keeping current on a competitor or industry
• getting the latest on a celebrity or event
• keeping tabs on your favorite sports teams

Use keywords to keep up

I use a variety of keywords to help me stay up on industry developments. Warning: If you pile on a bunch of terms, you can quickly fill up your inbox and find yourself feeling overwhelmed trying to keep up. I suggest starting with a few terms and seeing how they return, then modify or add accordingly.

Apply the power of Six Degrees of You to promote your work

While I don't have time to read stories about local events, it is a good suggestion for any artist with a desire to build a local/regional following to keep tabs on the art scene haps in your area. For example, the search term "art shows Phoenix" brought up useful items. Over time, you will be pleased at the ideas you garner for promoting your art, or for finding contact names worth pursuing in your ongoing Six Degrees of You marketing practice.

Track your own name, or company name

You should not be surprised I use my name for a search term. It is to help me find blog posts or news items about me or my book. I track my name to be able comment on posts with it or thank the author for the digital nod, etc. Admittedly, I get back more results not related to me. I unfortunately find more stories about Barney Frank, Barneys retail operation, and Barney the Purple Dinosaur than me. My name is somewhat unique, so I can only imagine the results if it were more common.

Show sincere gratitude

The most recent result was from a relatively new blogger named Assanti. He kindly reviewed my book, How to Profit from the Art Print Market. It's obvious reading the review it was translated from another language into English. The reviewer went so far to provide some very good suggestions for any follow up I might produce. To a large degree, that is the point of this blog -- to carry on the original thoughts in the book and apply and update contemporary circumstances to them.

Some of the prose in the translation creates a unique slightly amusing interpretation of the review. Here is an example:

Visual artists will find this pursue to be an cherished quotation. It provide insight, notice, example and materials; all designed to aid demystify the arcane world of art print marketing. By erudition to accurately appraise their resources, which grades in making sagacious choice, artists can cut copious frustration with avoid futile method and front themselves to glory in the print souk.

I have already commented on the blog to thank the poster for the kind words with assurance I will take the suggestions seriously. However put, I do have as my mission helping artists use the print market to advance their careers and smooth out the cash flow in the process.