The biggest mistake on most artist websites is not providing a way for the visitor to sign up for a newsletter.

When artists cancel their FASO account, I send each artist a personal email asking for the address of their new web site. You see, I collect art and I want to be able to keep up with many of these artists.

Many of the artists who respond tell me they love FASO and don't have a new website. The ones who respond this way are usually simply focusing on other areas of life and have decided to forego an art website for the time being.

It humbles me they take the time to assure me that, when they put their art back online, they'll return to FASO.

Others, who are still actively showing art online, but have decided FASO is not for them, often do respond with a URL to their new website address. And when I visit those sites, the first thing I look for is a way to subscribe to a newsletter.

Why don't these artists have a newsletter signup?

Maybe a newsletter seems too daunting to set up. [1]

Maybe the new website hosting company doesn't make it simple enough. [2]

Maybe they just haven't gotten around to it yet. [3]

Whatever the reason, it's a big mistake. There are people like me who want to follow you, and if you don't give us a simple action to take on your website - we'll leave.

I often give it one last ditch try: Since unlike other collectors visiting these artists' sites, I do have their direct email address, I reply to the artists whose works I particularly enjoy and ask them if they have an email newsletter and let them know that I'd like to be on it.

And even when I go to the trouble to beg these artists to add me to a newsletter list - they don't. I have yet to receive even one newsletter from any artist in this group. [4]

Make this mistake enough times and perhaps it will even cost you your entire art career.

Please, please remember that Sharing Art Enriches Life - and one of the simplest ways to do that is with an email newsletter.

Until then, please remember, Fortune Favors the BoldBrush. Stay safe and healthy.

PS - It's easy to start your own blog and email marketing program with FASO. And, when you join you get a free trial of AMP (Art Marketing Playbook) to help guide you through the process.

PPS - By the way, for my latest thoughts on art marketing, posted daily, follow me on Twitter.

Footnotes:

[1] It's not difficult to set up an email newsletter. Sign up for MailChimp, Constant Contact, or Campaign Monitor (or our ArtfulMail - for FASO custs)

[2] FASO sites all include an email newsletter sign-up enabled by default.

[3] Seriously, don't wait to setup your email newsletter when setting up a new website. You can add a sign-up form in minutes. You can always figure out what to write about later. (Hint - if you don't have anything to write about - at least send alerts when you have new art on the site - that's mostly what we want to see anyway).

[4] I have yet to receive even one I've ASKED for. It's still spam to send a newsletter to someone who did not request it, so please don't add me to your newsletter list based on this article. I'll sign up for the ones that I want - if you'll give me a way.