Marketing is Fun!

I'm making  alright head way on my to-do list for the month.  I've started work on my fall mailer,  have made a list of items to bring to the workshop, organizing the office/studio has begun, and changes to my site are underway.  Yay!  Anyhow one of the items on my list for September was to list reasons "why marketing is fun."  --Because more than half the time I forget that.  So here's my list.  Any additions would be most appreciated!

1.  An excuse to do some drawings just for me.  Well, for a mailer.  But the client is basically me.

2. Holding my work in postcard form is pretty fun.

3.  Adding to my list of prospective clients can be exciting.  Just imagine all the cool potential projects possibly now headed my way.

4.  Even weeding through my mailing list can be rewarding if I think about it in terms of getting clearer about what kind of people/companies I want to work for.  Aim high.

5.  As the holidays are fast approaching, it will be nice to send out a little something extra to the people you really really want to impress.  I have a few idea rolling around, and this is a good excuse to actually make them happen.

6.  Making a list of blogs to contact is fun-- hello you get to look through blogs and feel like you're actually doing something, as opposed to frittering away time.

7.  Contacting, or really, hearing back from bloggers is wonderful.  Making new friends...

8.  Every new sale, blog write-up, and new client is a cause for a celebration.  Which probably means a yummy dinner in my case.

Basically it seems like marketing is fun if you think of it in terms of goals.  It's an opportunity to continually be checking in and honing both your long and short term goals.  If you can do it with your eyes open, instead of squeezed shut just trying to get through it, ahem, it's a process that can keep you on track.

Any thoughts on this?  How do you make it fun or rewarding?

PS. The above photo is how I spent my weekend: rowing in the Head of the Charles Regatta!  That's me, fourth from the back.  Click on the photo if you'd like to see more.

October Goals

Alrighty, just a little late, ahem.

1. Fall mailer. Probably Thanksgiving themed, as I pretty much missed Halloween. Darn. 2. Make list of items to bring to the book workshop. 3. Three new kid illustrations for site. 4. Update site-- add in new work, do new homepage. 5. Make list of children's publishers to contact. 6. Get a wholesale account for Magnetic Kids. 7. Work on organizing my office/studio.

That should keep me busy!

The sketch above is from some more work I did for Time Out NY Kids.   They wanted the birds to almost look Disney-esque...

PS. Canine family member update: We are meeting a pup this weekend. I think. Very exciting!

Sept Goal Wrap Up

So at first glance my goals for September didn't go so well.  But I think it was more of a matter of changing priorities and focus, as opposed to slacking off. I'm ok with that.

1.  Make a list of all the reasons marketing is fun. I made a list.  I should post it here so you guys can add to it.

2. Finish drawing Fall Mailer and send it off to get printed. Ergh.  This one did fall by the wayside and now I'm seriously behind.  Not good.

3.  Get a wholesale account for Magnetic Kids. Still working on it.

4.  Make a list of blogs, and then contact 3 each week for both Magnetic Kids, and Other Such Things shop. This felt like to much to bite off in the end.  I did make a list, but contacting three a week is too much for me right now.

5. Be brave and buy an expensive printer.  It will be worth it. Nope.

6.  Use said printer and put some prints in Other Such Things!  Nope.

7.  Make a letter mobile.  Or two. List in Other Such Things shop.  Nope.

8.  Research holiday guides. I did a bit of research.

9.  Go. to. the. beach. Yes and it was lovely!

10.  Get a dog.  yup, I dare me. We are working on it!

10. Think about updating portfolio site. Have some more changes to make, but did make some serious headway on this one.

Anyhow I've decided to really focus on pursuing children's illustration.  So I'm going to work on my networking skills to get some advice.  I want to start contacting book publishers as well as magazines.  I'm hoping the book workshop will be helpful will all of this.

I think this means not selling prints for right now.  Maybe I'll change my mind, but it seems like too much at the moment.  So that fancy new printer will have to wait.  Sad.

But it does mean updating my site with new kid's work. I've been working on a few new pieces, and I just finished up an illustration for Time Out NY Kids.  Exciting!  And perfect timing.

Btw, the photo above is a plaque on a historic house in Wickford, RI.   I love the colors and the little icon above the name.  Providence doesn't have any icons on it's historic plaques...

Falling Leaves 09: Picture Books Master Class

picture book illustration mock I was accepted into a picture book workshop! --the Falling Leaves 2009 Picture Books Master Class, run by the Eastern New York chapter of the Society for Children's Book Writers and Illustrators.  Gosh, that's a mouthful.

It's a November weekend in the Adirondacks filled with group critiques and lectures and individual meetings with children's editors.   I'm pretty excited about it.  I've been working on this book proposal for what feels like forever now, and hopefully I'll get some useful feedback.

Now I just have to make it to November.

If you've attended previously, or have any insights regarding attending such workshops, I'd love hear about it.

Sept Goals + August Goals Recap

I did really well on my August goals-- see below.  I think reading and then posting that bit about " 'quick implementation' being the key to success" was a bit of dare for me.  Like, I dare you to finish this list.  And it worked.  So I double-dog-dare me this month:

1.  Make a list of all the reasons marketing is fun. Because sometimes it is fun!  And it seems to very, very easy for me to forget that.

2. Finish drawing Fall Mailer and send it off to get printed.

3.  Get a wholesale account for Magnetic Kids.

4.  Make a list of blogs, and then contact 3 each week for both Magnetic Kids, and Other Such Things shop.  Ask if you can do a give-away for Other Such Things.

5. Be brave and buy an expensive printer.  It will be worth it.

6.  Use said printer and put some prints in Other Such Things!

7.  Make a letter mobile.  Or two. List in Other Such Things shop.

8.  Research holiday guides.  Ideas anyone?

9.  Go. to. the. beach. Contrary to popular belief, September at the beach is lovely.

10.  Get a dog.  yup, I dare me.  (The gorgeous pup modeling in the above photo is Miss Dottie, who lives in New York with her lovely parents and kitty sisters.  We miss them all the time.)

10 For real.  (c'mon we're not gonna get a dog just cause its on my September Goals list.  We are waiting patiently for the right one to find us.  So patiently.) Think about updating portfolio site: new homepage?  add pencil drawings? new spot for them?  Add "as seen in" section?

•••••••

Here's how I did on my August Goals:

1.  Send out new Mailers at the end of the month.

Happening tonight! In front of guilty pleasure tv brought to me by hulu!

2.  Start sketches for a fall mailer.

yup.  Though emphasis on "start"

3.  Contact 3 more agents about possibly representing me.

Just contacted one as I've been reading it's rude to contact more than one at the same time...

4.  Go to the beach. Its August and I haven’t been yet.  Not even once.  And now I live in the “Ocean State.”

I cannot believe this didn't happen.  Seriously.  Pathetic.  The hurricane really put a damper on my plans.  Well, I'm going to Martha's Vineyard in a few weeks...

5.  Add a newsletter sign up page to my site and blog.

6. Contact Thumbtack Press to see if they’re interested in carrying any of my work as prints.

7.  Send out a newsletter announcing opening of my online shop.

Sign up for my newsletter by clicking here!  And get a little goodie!

8. Make a list of possible wholesale stores for Magnetic Kids. (what’s Magnetic Kids? My new{ish} project in the works!)

9. Finish Magnetic Kids wholesale line sheet.

10. Contact two blogs about my online shop.

Mid-Month Goal Check In

Jena from Modish Biz Tips has kindly posted a reminder that it is indeed half-way through August.  Here's what's up with my goals:

1.  Send out new Mailers at the end of the month. 

I have the cards, but I need to   

    •buy more stamps,

    •print out labels

   •spend an hour watching something fun and slapping it all together.

2.  Start sketches for a fall mailer. 

Um, nope. I have some ideas, but nothing on paper yet.

3.  Contact 3 more agents about possibly representing me.  

I have a couple in mind and have the materials to send.  Just gotta schedule it in.

4.  Go to the beach. Its August and I haven’t been yet.  Not even once.  And now I live in the “Ocean State.”

Sort of.  We went to one of the many beautiful state parks, and while this one was gorgeous, it definitely wasn't indicative of your typical RI beach experience, complete with waves and soft sand and clam cakes.  I've got such a trip planned for this weekend though. 

5.  Add a newsletter sign up page to my site and blog.  

6. Contact Thumbtack Press to see if they’re interested in carrying any of my work as prints.

7.  Send out a newsletter announcing opening of my online shop.

Sign up for my newsletter by clicking here!

8. Make a list of possible wholesale stores for Magnetic Kids. (what’s Magnetic Kids? My new{ish} project in the works!)

9. Finish Magnetic Kids wholesale line sheet.

So close!

10. Contact two blogs about my online shop. 

I really just need to bite the bullet on this.  I hate to admit it but I think I'm just a little scared.  

But I feel good at where I'm at so far.  How is everyone else doing?

Anyhow, I'm supposed to be concentrating on a pretty fun illustration project, but I've got friends coming for dinner tonight, and I keep getting distracted by the cooking possibilities.  Chocolate mousse...?  Watermelon Basil Salad...?  Agggh!  Gotta get my head back in the game!

August Goals

June{!} Goals:

1. Send out Newsletter announcing Other Such Things online shop!  

2.  Research specifics for new kid product.   If it seems doable, plan out and work on the drawings for it. 

3.  Contact Thumbtack Press and possibly others to see if they’re interested in carrying any of my work as prints.     I didn't end up contacting Thumbtack specifically, but I did contact a few others.

4. Get my two promo postcards printed and mailed out.   

5.  Contact two blogs about my online shop. 

6.  Add new work to site and HAI!

Yikes.

July seemed to creep up on me and as I clearly didn't finish my June Goals, ahem, I didn't make any new July Goals. And then July flew by.  But its the summer right?  Here are new some goals for August.  

1.  Send out new Mailers at the end of the month. 

2.  Start sketches for a fall mailer. 

3.  Contact 3 more agents about possibly representing me.  

4.  Go to the beach. Its August and I haven't been yet.  Not even once.  And now I live in the "Ocean State."

5.  Add a newsletter sign up page to my site and blog.  

6. Contact Thumbtack Press to see if they’re interested in carrying any of my work as prints.

7.  Send out a newsletter announcing opening of my online shop.

8. Make a list of possible wholesale stores for Magnetic Kids. (what's Magnetic Kids? My new{ish} project in the works!)

9. Finish Magnetic Kids wholesale line sheet.

10. Contact two blogs about my online shop. 

 

Yes, its a lot.  But I've been inspired recently by an article that mentioned "quick implementation" being the key to success.   I don't know about that, but I do know that going from having an idea, to actually implementing it can be a lengthy process for me.  Sometimes unnecessarily.  So I'm going to work on that this month.

Interview with Lolalina!

Before I dash out the door to finish up some wedding preparations for a good friend (more on the goodies we made later!) I wanted to let you know there's an interview of me on Lolalina, Find Your Sweet Life blog!  

As Laura mentions, we met through the networking site HerFuture – I contacted her after I realized, not only did she just move to Providence, but she has a gorgeous design blog as well.   It's just wonderful and has become a daily read for me.   So of course I was thrilled to talk with her!

Thanks so much Laura. It was really fun.

Mailers and such

This is what my desk looks like these days.  Do other people feel like time moves differently  in the warm(er) weather?  I'm on summertime hours apparently.  But, however slowly, its all getting done.

Goal Check In

So how have I been doing on this month's goals?  Well...pretty ok, actually.  Yes, I have a bunch of loose ends to tie up before I can go crossing everything off my list, but that's alright.  That's what this last week is for right?  

In case you need a little pick me up, my Hello flat card (above) is available in the shop, and would love to go home with you.  I'll also be adding a few other cards as soon as I get them.  And hopefully I'll have a few exciting announcements by the end of the month as well!

June Goals

Time for June Goals with Modish Biz Tips.  

1. Send out Newsletter announcing Other Such Things online shop!  

2.  Research specifics for new kid product.   If it seems doable, plan out and work on the drawings for it. 

3.  Contact Thumbtack Press and possibly others to see if they’re interested in carrying any of my work as prints.    

4. Get my two promo postcards printed and mailed out.  I decided to go with my "Balloon" image and "Garden" image after all.    

5.  Contact two blogs about my online shop. 

6.  Add new work to site and HAI!

 

May Goals Wrap Up

Oh dear.  Goals for Modish Biz Tips did not go so well this month.  Here's what I had:

1.  Add images of what I have in my etsy shop to my Goodies page on my site.  The images will link to Etsy.  Geez.  I should just do this today.     (Edit: Done!)

2.  Research specifics for new kid product.   I did a bit of research.  But not nearly enough. 

3.  Contact Thumbtack Press and possibly others to see if they’re interested in carrying any of my work as prints.   I did a bit of research into it, but then really just dropped the ball. 

4.  Make bear drawing into a poster. I looked into this and really hated all the affordable poster places.  I really like the image, but I don't think I'm ready for posters yet.  Though I am going to talk to some friends who are printers and see if they have any ideas.

5.  Get Garden promo postcard printed.  I decided against the Garden image for my next promo.  I realized when mailing out my last promo that it was really oriented towards children's markets exclusively.  Which is great, but this month I want to have two postcards-- one geared for children and another for the trendier fashion/ teens/ beauty market.  The new image for the Children's Market one is above.  I'm still working on the other one.

6.  List Hello postcard in the shop.

7.  List two new items on Etsy.  (from April Goal List.)

8.  Email contact list announcing new site and new work, asking if they’d like to be on my mailing list.  (from April Goal List.)

Ah well.  Next up: June Goals!

May Goals

Here's how I did on my April Goals for Modish Biz Tips: 1.  Contact 3 illustration agents in regards to repping me.

2. Go over and update contact list.

3. Finish designing postcard mailer, get it printed and mailed.

4. Email contact list announcing new site and new work, asking if they’d like to be on my mailing list.

5. Get “Hello” postcard printed.

6. List two new items on Etsy. 

7. Outline a 6 month marketing plan for myself.

8. Update my site and Hire an Illustrator with new work.

ehh 6 out of 8 isn't so bad.  Right?

I did start on an email  newsletter, #4, and went back and forth for a while on whether or not to use an "email marketing service."  Pro being that this way I could have pretty html formatted emails that would actually show up in people's inboxes.  Con being that my email list seemed kind of small to actually pay for this sort of thing.  Then the other day I found Mail Chimp!  It has a bunch of different price options, and it seems like I can use the free version until I grow into one of their other plans. So I'm working on setting up a newsletter with them.  

I guess I'll have to add those two to my new list: May Goals:

1.  Add images of what I have in my etsy shop to my Goodies page on my site.  The images will link to Etsy.  Some day I'd love to Other Such Things to be its own entity, separate from my illustration work really.  But for now I think that will serve as a nice enough "home page" for my etsy shop.  I'm just not up for building a whole new site for it, until its really going.  

2.  Research specifics for new kid product.  Every winter when all the magazines roll out their gift guides, I'm torn between oohing and ahhing, and screaming because I didn't get it together to have something of my own in there.  SO. This year I've come up with a cute gift idea that I should get done by the summer so I can send it out to magazines.  No more screaming in the snow. That's the goal. 

3.  Contact Thumbtack Press and possibly others to see if they're interested in carrying any of my work as prints. 

4.  Make bear drawing into a poster. 

5.  Get Garden promo postcard printed. 

6.  List Hello postcard in the shop.

Marketing Plan

One of my goals for Modish Biz Tip's Monthly Goal Meetup was to develop a 6 month marketing plan for myself.  Here's the basic outline of what I decided I should be doing marketing-wise every month:

•Newletter. Email to friends/family, clients, agents, "co-workers"

•Postcards. I'm going to mail at least 5 postcards a year.  So each month I'll be either designing, printing, or mailing a promotional postcard.  (I like Overnight Prints, but recently used Got Print after it was recommended on a blog by another illustrator  Lauren Minco.  I was really happy with the results. See, that's the front of my new postcard up there!)

•Etsy.  Produce and list one new item for the shop

•I'll keep HAI! (Hire An Illustrator) up to date with postcards and any news I have regarding illustration work.

•Blog weekly.

•Networking. Find a local event and attend it.  When my etsy shop is up to par I'd like to join the local R.I. "street team."  

I laid out May through September with more specific items pertaining to the individual month.  And that's it.

I think this is a good beginning.  I'm hoping after a few months, I can up the ante by contacting blogs and magazines about my work, but I think this basic outline is pretty good for now.

Seedlings

Still working on my goals for the Monthly Goal Meetup at Modish Biz Tips.  Now that I'm actually getting them done, I'm realizing some of them need to be amended a bit.  Isn't that always the way?  For example:

Goal 2. Go over and update contact list.  

I should really differentiate my email from my mailing contact lists.  They're two different animals, at least right now.  I (should) have several email lists, clients and business contacts, friends and family, and then the businesses/art directors I'd like to contact individually.  My (new) mailing list will include a few of my existing clients, but mostly will be reaching out to new clients.  Hopefully in the future these will meld a bit, but since my work is a little different, I'm trying to reach new and different clients. 

So

Goal 2 A.  Go over and update email contact lists.

Goal 2 B. Go over and update mailing list. 

 And then there are the goals that take more than one step to accomplish.  Because I'm basically five years old, crossing out steps is really motivating for me, so I should add those in.  

Goal3. Finish designing postcard mailer, get it printed and mailed.  

Its on its way to the printers but let me add :

•Buy stamps and labels. 

•Print out labels and stick them on.

And Goal 6. List two new items on Etsy.  Let's add

• Pick two items that would be A fun to produce, B. cost effective, C. Relatively easy.  

•Come up with price points for them.  

• Make, or have them made. 

• Photos.

• Figure out shipping materials. 

See? It will be way more fun to cross off  seven things, than just two.  And it will help me stay on track.

Anyways... I'm crossing things off slowly but surely.  

On another note, the image above is one of my new ones.  I'm hoping my backyard will look like that in a few months!

 

Goals with Modish


The wonderful blog Modish Biz Tips is having a Monthly Goal Meetup  the first Friday of every month.  She's asking people to list 5 business-related goals to meet within a month.  

So here are mine:

1.  Contact 3 illustration agents in regards to repping me.

2. Go over and update contact list.

3. Finish designing postcard mailer, get it printed and mailed.

4. Email contact list announcing new site and new work, asking if they'd like to be on my mailing list.

5. Get "Hello" postcard printed. (That's it at the top.)

6. List two new items on Etsy. 

7. Outline a 6 month marketing plan for myself.

8. Update my site and Hire an Illustrator with new work.

These are all little(ish) naggling things that I kind of dread doing.  Mostly.  I hope they're the kind of things that are not so bad, or even fun, once I get going.  

I think putting your goals out there  is a great thing to be doing.  My friend Jane and I have been having regular meetings to talk and keep ourselves on track.  Last year in Brooklyn I was in a similar group who met every two or three weeks to discuss progress on our individual projects.  I'm excited to have one more outlet to keep myself moving in the right direction!

Header change...

While I'm doing a portfolio update, I thought a bit of tweaking to my actual site might be nice as well.  Unfortunately, I'm not up for a total overhaul, but happily, I think the general design holds up still.  I would like to change the header a bit though.   This is what the portfolio page looks like now:

picture-14

 

And I'm thinking something like this?

headermock1

So basically replacing the bird.  And I guess changing the font color(s?).

Is that too crazy? Cluttered? It sure isn't subtle.  I tried this design with more muted versions of the colors and it seemed... lacking.  

Like the colors were muted.

Part of me kind of likes it and I feel like I could make it work with some tweaking-- so you didn't lose my name etc.  But I think I'll try some other color variations, but also work up some new designs as well.

Business-y Books

My copy of The Boss of You  just came in from the library.  I've only read the first couple chapters, but so far its great.  Everything seems right up my alley.  I've been thinking a lot about my life and defining success and having goals etc etc.  Just trying to figure things out.  Right now my problem is focusing on one thing and going for it.  Actually, that's usually my problem.  I guess I'm in the process of figuring out how all these different interests fit together.  Anyhow.  I've been doing a lot of reading.   On the recommendation of RiffeRaff I read The Martha Rules.  

Its fun (and comforting) to read about how a mogul like Martha started out.  Not that I want to run a media empire, but obviously she has a lot of gems to pass along.  Incidentally, RiffeRaff's blog Make It, all about her starting and running her craft business of screen-printed goods, is one of my favorite and constant reads.  Loads of information about starting your own business.  Gobs.  Plus her work is just lovely.  So go check it out if you haven't.  

Has anyone read The Anti 9-to-5 Guide?  Its next on my list...

Birthday Falafel

So it was my birthday a couple weeks ago. And you know, it was just lovely. Yummy brunch, farmer's market, picnic in the park of falafel with margaritas-to-go and uh, sangria, and I believe there were a few drinks after. Fun fun fun.

For a while now, I've used birthdays as a time to take stock of my life. New Years resolutions have always felt a bit forced and a little arbitrary. Maybe its the winter thing. But reflecting on my birthday, which happily falls in the spring, makes much more sense to me. And for the first time in a while, I'm pretty happy with the way things are going. There has been some real growth, personally and professionally. There are some big projects under my belt, a couple wrapping up and a few to look forward to. I'm really excited for this new year.