In classic marketing solving a costumer´s problems is a big thing. Your product should “be the answer to your costumer´s desires, dreams and problems”. Desires and dreams in this context means what are fulfilled when their problem is solved.
As an artist I have often found it hard to solve someone´s problem. Yes, my baby hammocks definitely solves a problem, it can put a crying baby to sleep. I am sure the parents will say their pain is gone (for a little while at least). They will be able to get some sleep, which is a fulfilment of their desires and dreams, and also the answer to their problem. Well, you get the point.
But what about my carvings, my paintings, or my stories from Ranaheim, do they solve any problems? I have struggled a lot with this question. I mean, buying a painting, how can that solve any problems at all? Maybe apart from solving the “problem” of an empty wall? Have you ever found yourself struggling with this kind of marketing problem?
You see that a lot of artwork doesn´t follow the problem-solution path, because it is not really defining a problem and then solving it. Instead of solving a problem you want to tell a story! There are two main stories to be told, the story of you as an artist, and the story of the creation of your art!
So, why would people be interested in your story? Because people that are not artistically or creative think that artist live an extraordinary, exciting and romantic life, they want our story! They also want to know how we work, it´s nothing more magic that to see an artist at work. So reveal a little bit about yourself and tell the story of your creations, give them glimpses into how you work. If you do this people will start to feel an ownership and get emotionally attached to you and your work
When you start doing this people will want your art because they feel they have a bond and a connection with you!
There are a lot of artists who tell their story in a brilliant way, and show glimpses of how they work. Those artist able to do this will manage to sell products to clients they never knew they needed. I will give you one example of someone telling her story. I just love her work! Watch this video and listen to how she tells her story. I never knew I dreamed of her product before I found her by accident on Facebook, but now I do! She made me curious and I connected to her story.
So how can you tell your story in order to connect to your tribe? And how can you show your work in a way that will spark curiosity?
I hope all this made you come up with some good ideas J
Have a wonderful creative day!
All the best,
Camilla
