Branding is one of those things within the art business that many artists are not sure whether it is important. Some artists may feel like their artwork should speak for itself without putting too much effort into branding their art business.
Branding your art business is defined as a name, term, design, symbol, or other feature that can identify your art business from other art businesses. Proper branding can help you stand out from the crowd and can make the difference between your art business success and failure. Starting an art business is the same as any other business; therefore, branding is as important with your art business as it is with any other business.
What is Branding?
Branding is defined as a name, term, design, symbol, or any other feature that can identify your art business from anyone else’s art business. Brands can help defined your selling, marketing, and advertising so that the consumer or buyer can recognize your product or art.
A successful brand will help your customers to know what to expect from your art business. It is a way of helping to distinguish you from your competitors and also at the same time helping to clarify what it is you offer. In other words, a brand can help people know why your art may be a better choice than someone else’s.
Here are some things which are considered to be part of branding:
- Logo – Your brand logo should help distinguish you from your competitors; it should also show a bit of your personality and who you are. For example, if you look at a brand like McDonald’s, everyone recognizes the golden arches and the yellow color. This is because a company like McDonald’s is very successful in both their logo and their branding.
- Colors – The colors you choose should reflect the colors you feel best to describe you and your artwork.
- Tagline – Your art business tagline is also an important part of your brand. This is why we suggest that artists should have a logo and also have an artist tagline. A tagline will help your brand be more recognizable.
- Consistency – One of your art business branding goals is to have a logo, name, and tagline that can be easily recognized and distinguished from your competitors. Any type of branding you use should be consistent.
When you look at a company like McDonald’s, you can learn a lot about branding. First of all, they have a symbol and logo that is recognized around the world. Second, they use the arches symbol and its brand name and colors consistently anywhere in the world.
I am not saying that you need to be as big as McDonald’s to be successful with your art brand. But some of the things we can learn from McDonald’s are 1) they have a symbol that is recognized, 2) they are consistent in their colors, 3) they consistently use the same tag line 4) their brand helps them be recognized anywhere in the world. Your goal with your art branding and marketing is for you to have the same kind of consistency.
Why Is Branding Important In Your Art Business?
Many artists do not see the point of spending a lot of time on their marketing or branding as they feel like their art should speak for itself. While there is a lot of truth that if your art is not any good or, no one wants to buy it, you do not have an art business; no good branding will compensate for bad art. But assuming that your art is excellent and people want to buy it, the right branding can help you stand out from your competitor and make the difference between your success and failure.
Here are some reasons why branding is important for your art business:
Gives You Recognition
The correct branding can help give you and your art recognition. In other words, when people see your branding, including your logo, they will recognize it is your art. Good branding helps people to recognize your art immediately.
Increases The Value of Your Art Business
Branding will help build value for your art business. It helps people see that you are really serious about your business and that your artwork is not just a hobby but a business. Branding helps make your business look and feel professional.
Generates New Clients
A good brand should help get some good referral business. This is because others who like your artwork will know and understand that you are an actual business. Once you have become established as an art business, word of mouth will become one of your most effective advertising techniques.
Helps Establish Your Business
A brand helps establish you in the marketplace. People are more likely to do business with an art brand that they feel is professional. Proper branding can give the impression of being an industry expert or can make the public or your clients feel that you are a company that can be trusted.
Gives Direction to Your Marketing and Advertising
Branding will help support your marketing and advertising. Everything you do in your marketing, including any of your social media, should use your brand. This will help you to establish yourself as an expert within your own market place.
Branding is an important part of any business but especially an art business. A proper brand can help you stand out from the competition and increase your artwork’s sales and exposure.
Related Questions
How Do Artists Deal With Rejection?
To learn to deal with artistic rejection, you need to ensure you believe in yourself as an artist and not let the rejection define your art and who you are. When you are rejected, try to acknowledge the rejection’s pain and then learn to let that pain go. If the rejection is extremely painful, you may need to take a short break from your art. It important that you realize that not everyone will love your art, but that is OK. So be kind to yourself.
You can learn more by reading our blog How Do Artists Deal With Rejection? 8 Ways to Handle Artistic Rejection by clicking here.
What Are Some Business Strategies to Help You Sell Your Artwork?
Some basic business strategies you can use to help you sell your artwork are to 1) make buying your art easy 2) find ways to make your art attractive to potential buyers. 3) show your customers how satisfied they will be when they purchase your art, and 4) show your customers how you are the clear and obvious choice for them when they want to purchase artwork. Becoming a professional artist is a lot, like being an entrepreneur; you have to learn basic business principles to survive.
To discover more you can read our blog 4 Proven Business Strategies to Help You Sell Your Artwork by clicking here.