How do I build an audience of buyers?
When I started Rebecca Jane Woolbright, I sold to my friends and family.
There was no audience. I was creative. I was passionate. I had hope!
Sound familiar? Creating art is the fun part, finding ways to sell it can be a challenge. Over the past seven years, I have a come across some hard truths to building an audience of repeat buyers that I want to share with you, so let's dive in!
AUDIENCE: Know who you are selling to. What problem does your product solve? Getting to know your audience will help you SO much.
ENGAGE: This is a two way relationship, we have to show and share. Be authentic. Share your story. We each have our own story and when we show and are authentic to ourselves, people see that. Ask questions and encourage conversations in your emails or on social media.
TELL YOUR STORY: “Today you are You, that is truer than true. There is no one alive who is Youer than You.” Dr. Suess… This is so true. Tell your story, your hopes, your wins, your losses…. these are all sharable and relatable and make your journey yours!
DELIVER VALUE: Your products will speak for themselves, but we can always go above and beyond. From time to time, I offer discounts to my newsletter subscribers or offer a Black Friday sale. I also include a personal note in all my packages. Small touches add up. They don't need to break the bank!
USE SOCIAL MEDIA: One day I sat down and made a list of relevant hash tags. I now have those saved so that when I am making a post, I can quickly grab a handful to tag my post with. Social media will brew a love-hate relationship, however, it can build a ton of organic traffic to your business.
BE CONSISTENT: It's key, right? Keep showing up, share your stories and products, and send those emails. Create a schedule and stick to it. The more your name is in a buyer's mind, when they are ready to make a purchase, they will remember you!
LISTEN: Speaking of social media, what an amazing platform to learn about your audience and what they want to see from you. It is easy to set up a poll in your stories and ask about your artwork or products that you are thinking about offering. Being ready to adapt and adjust will also help you create a loyal audience.