Business Card Tips for the Artist

Not enough artists take advantage of using business cards, which is a shame because they are very inexpensive and can help clients see the artist as a professional. Business cards are an easy, polite way to promote yourself and get your art in the hands of the public. Below are some simple ideas for using business cards to promote your work.

If you use plain white business cards that include just your name and contact information, people will forget who you are -- even if they really liked your work. Make the best use of business cards by putting a full color picture of one of your pieces of art. A set of 250 full color business cards only costs about twenty dollars, so there is really no reason not to. Then when people look at your business cards, they will remember exactly who you are and know how to get ahold of you.

You can even choose several works of art to feature on your cards. Then you can let people choose their favorite to take home. Having a selection is also a great conversation starter when you are introducing yourself to someone new. You just fan out a bunch of cards and ask the other person to pick; they will undoubtedly be intrigued and remark on your work. You can look at it as a mini portfolio that makes people want to see more. Some printers also have the option of printing cards in unusual shapes and sizes. Anything you can do to stand out will make your work that much more memorable.

At every exhibit, you should have a stack of cards out for people to take. If you have an interesting conversation with someone, add a personal touch by handwriting your cell phone number on the back; this will make the person feel special and increase the likelihood they will keep your card. You should also give out cards to anyone who buys your artwork. That way when their friends see it, the purchaser will have a card handy to give to them.

Put cards in with your bill payments. Hand them out to receptionists, doctors, dentists, and cashiers. Handing out cards is a way to promote yourself without being pushy, so do not feel embarrassed to share them with people. And those who like what they see on the card will likely check out your online portfolio and maybe even buy something. Just make sure you include your web address and phone number so people can easily contact you.