mel jacobson on wed 2 aug 06
i have had a website for almost 10 years.
many look at it. i have good numbers.
i have great google exposure.
but, i know for a fact, that pottery sales still
come from real customers...the ones that
come to my studio. people i know in this
fifty mile circle.
if i had to make a living selling pots from my website
i would be broke.
i have heard the brag from folks at nceca...
`i sell a thousand bucks a month on ebay`. or,
my website generates a lot of money.`
i think a great deal of it is blabber. just puffing up.
i know that web work in this time of life is important.
it is instant communication world wide. i am so pleased
that i am involved and working to improve that communication.
but, sales...i am not sure.
i know we sell a great deal of `rid-a-tick` on the net.
we use the www.ridatick as a sales technique.
but, that is a five dollar product. and we run magazine
ads to stimulate business. without the ads, no sales.
folks could not find it. and, how many ads do you read/or hear
each day to remind you to go to: www.blahblah.com?
to find pottery customers out of the blue, just passing
through would be difficult to impossible.
i have held fast and true to the concept of the
web being free for me, i do it myself, i never spend
a penny on it...makes it well worth the time and effort.
i know that if i spent thousands of dollars having someone
design a complex site, paying for space with my isp, would
be a disaster financially. and, many artists are being
talked into it, or think that if they are not spending big
bucks on their site, they are going to lose out.
i don't think so.
i am totally with david on this one. the main purpose of the
website is to get folks to be able to find me, have a phone number,
and address and way for them to get to my door. i had two former
students stop this week, both found my website/google. they did not
buy pots. it was nice to see them, but it was out of the blue.
the only link i have is to my book, and ridatick.
they both work for me.
i have a good friend that has a small business selling
stuff on ebay do a six month test for me. he set up an
account, tried to sell high end teabowls. you know,
to collectors, i sold one in six months...and, i have a bit
of a reputation...shows in japan etc. it did not work.
i would have had more hits selling used bent over cone packs.
i sold twelve teabowls, four to collectors, out of my studio.
the bottom line for me...or the truth....i do not gain much
money from the website. it is not a good selling tool.
it has been helpful in moving information to folks that
intend on using my teaching services. it allows committees
and others to read about me, and see my work. that is instant,
and easy for them. it allows clayart and other friends to follow
my studies and projects. and that is good...and fun. but, that
is not about selling pots....that is just about information.
mel
from: mel/minnetonka.mn.usa
website: http://www.visi.com/~melpots/
Clayart page link: http://www.visi.com/~melpots/clayart.html
John Rodgers on wed 2 aug 06
Mr. Mayor, you have hit the nail on the head. A website is one heck of a
marketing tool, but it ain't gon'na make you rich. It best serves as a
supplement to a well planned marketing strategy that incorporates many
other elements into it.
I found over time that what works best - at least for me - was to
advertise in a lot of places, put out lots of business cards and include
my web address as a point of referral. Once a small display add is
spotted in a magazine, newspaper, or whereever, or your business card is
seen, potential customers will look up your website to learn more, and
there, with a well done website, you can really entice them into your
parlor where they will purchase. I make no bones about my webpage.
Pretty simple, somewhat sloppy, out of date, old works on display, but
it gives people a point of reference. And that is critical to working up
a sale. If they are truly interested in what you have, they will ferret
you out.
Regards,
John Rodgers
Chelsea, AL
mel jacobson wrote:
> i have had a website for almost 10 years.
> many look at it. i have good numbers.
> i have great google exposure.
>
> but, i know for a fact, that pottery sales still
> come from real customers...the ones that
> come to my studio. people i know in this
> fifty mile circle.
>
> if i had to make a living selling pots from my website
> i would be broke.
>
> i have heard the brag from folks at nceca...
> `i sell a thousand bucks a month on ebay`. or,
> my website generates a lot of money.`
>
> i think a great deal of it is blabber. just puffing up.
>
> i know that web work in this time of life is important.
> it is instant communication world wide. i am so pleased
> that i am involved and working to improve that communication.
> but, sales...i am not sure.
>
> i know we sell a great deal of `rid-a-tick` on the net.
> we use the www.ridatick as a sales technique.
> but, that is a five dollar product. and we run magazine
> ads to stimulate business. without the ads, no sales.
> folks could not find it. and, how many ads do you read/or hear
> each day to remind you to go to: www.blahblah.com?
>
> to find pottery customers out of the blue, just passing
> through would be difficult to impossible.
>
> i have held fast and true to the concept of the
> web being free for me, i do it myself, i never spend
> a penny on it...makes it well worth the time and effort.
> i know that if i spent thousands of dollars having someone
> design a complex site, paying for space with my isp, would
> be a disaster financially. and, many artists are being
> talked into it, or think that if they are not spending big
> bucks on their site, they are going to lose out.
> i don't think so.
>
> i am totally with david on this one. the main purpose of the
> website is to get folks to be able to find me, have a phone number,
> and address and way for them to get to my door. i had two former
> students stop this week, both found my website/google. they did not
> buy pots. it was nice to see them, but it was out of the blue.
>
> the only link i have is to my book, and ridatick.
> they both work for me.
>
> i have a good friend that has a small business selling
> stuff on ebay do a six month test for me. he set up an
> account, tried to sell high end teabowls. you know,
> to collectors, i sold one in six months...and, i have a bit
> of a reputation...shows in japan etc. it did not work.
> i would have had more hits selling used bent over cone packs.
> i sold twelve teabowls, four to collectors, out of my studio.
>
> the bottom line for me...or the truth....i do not gain much
> money from the website. it is not a good selling tool.
> it has been helpful in moving information to folks that
> intend on using my teaching services. it allows committees
> and others to read about me, and see my work. that is instant,
> and easy for them. it allows clayart and other friends to follow
> my studies and projects. and that is good...and fun. but, that
> is not about selling pots....that is just about information.
> mel
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> from: mel/minnetonka.mn.usa
> website: http://www.visi.com/~melpots/
>
> Clayart page link: http://www.visi.com/~melpots/clayart.html
>
> ______________________________________________________________________________
>
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>
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>
>
Kim Overall on wed 2 aug 06
Mel,
I would wager that if you set up your own separate website gallery where you
sold your pots; you would sing a different tune.
I don't know what to bet as I don't make homemade jam or pizza in a homemade
pizza oven. I don't sing or play musical instruments. And my pots are not
to your caliber even for the same number of equal years so I wouldn't dare
barter bet on that one. I also know you have better sense than to come down
in this heat to visit for me to pay up an ante.
I still bet on words alone though I'd be right. Why test market in some
obscure .com even if it is well known like e-bay? That's like going to the
Army's PX warehouse to shop for a toothpick. You've got a well established
customer base that would readily shop from you, have it shipped anywhere in
the world and you still work from home without leaving your driveway. UPS
would come to you and pick up your deliveries.
If you decide to try it, let us know so I can smirk and say ...
no, on second thought, I know better than to get smarty pants with Mel.
I wouldn't win. I will on this bet though.
Kim in Houston
http://www.houstonpotters.com
Paul Lewing on wed 2 aug 06
On Aug 2, 2006, at 3:18 AM, mel jacobson wrote:
but, i know for a fact, that pottery sales still
come from real customers...the ones that
come to my studio. people i know in this
fifty mile circle.
This is one place where my business differs markedly from Mel's and
David's. I'm selling one of a kind custom painted tile murals, rather
than pots. I don't get repeat customers. Occasionally someone will
have me do a kitchen and then later a bathroom, or people move and I
get them again years later, but for the most part, I need a steady
stream of new customers.
In my area, I do the shows that are most likely to get me this work,
I have samples and brochures in the best tile showrooms in the area,
and I've (I think) been in every tile store within 20 miles of me and
lots of others outside that area. There are very few people in my
area doing what I'm doing, and none of them are as good as I am.
Still it's not enough. I could be doing half again as many
commissions a year as I am.
The web has been very good for me, but it needs to be better. Last
year I got more business from the web than from any other source
except my one mainstay amazing show. This year it's not been nearly
as good. But just today I got an enquiry about a fireplace front
from New Orleans.
There's a big difference between selling even high end pottery and
selling one-off commissioned work. And there's a big difference
between selling work you've already made or similar to work you've
already made, and selling stuff that doesn't exist yet. Mel's 50-
mile rule is a good model for what he does, but not for me.
It would be nice if people were looking for me by name, and sometimes
they are. But mostly they''re searching for a style that they like.
Most of my customers are not shopping by price. If they want what I
do, they've got money. For me it's a matter of getting more eyes on
my work. I know that when it comes to artistic ability and the
ability to create what people want, I'm as good as anybody in the
world. If I can get people who are searching for what I do to see my
work, I will get my share of business.
Paul Lewing
www.paullewingtile.com
Eric Oswald on wed 2 aug 06
Hi,
I think you make a lot of good points. I am a full time graphic and web
designer and I love clay! I think the strongest point that you raise is that
without advertising or some other sort of supplement people will never find
your website...this is completely true!
In order for potters to use the web to their advantage you need to develope
a *GASP* marketing strategy. This is often costly. In order for anyones
website to stand out amongst all of the crap on the web you really need a
solid multi-tiered plan on how you are going to drive people to that site.
The advantage to good marketing is that you now have a national
market-place...possibly global if youd like. Without the marketing, you
could have the best site in the world and no one will know it. Is this
investment in a site, ads, etc, going to be worth it...its a gamble. The
ebay thing falls into the same category...whos looking for high-end
woodfired tea bowls...no one! except for possibly collectors...the same
people that will go to great lengths to seek out your websites. I tried this
once and was disappointed but then I realized that no body knew I was
selling them...so why be disappointed when they dont sell.
I always take notice of the potters sites that I find in my searches. I hope
that some of these comments can help!!!
No one will buy a product off of a site that doesnt look secure! I think
more often than not potters DIY their site in order to save some
money...which is totally fine if youre looking to simply show off your work.
Selling on the other hand is a completely different game. If it looks
homemade dont expect too many people to be purchasing...not because youre
not a great clay artist but because theyre affraid of Identity theft etc.
Dick Lehman has an outstanding e-commerce site!
Image optimization is neccesary. Scans, pictures, slides, dont always work
well with the web. the colors change...if you start playing with sizes you
may distort the work or pixelate it. I have seen so many great pieces that
looked blah...and I know if I had seen them in person theyd have had so much
more impact.
Have a simple navigation. Dont have buttons that dont work or go to places
that people cant return to if they want it. Our attention spans are shorter
and people are lazier...keep this in mind.
I could talk about this for hours but basically I feel that creating a
national/global clientelle is possible but it needs to be an
investment...the same as a wheel or clay mixer...its not something to
overlook and will take money and effort. It also will take time too. With
that being said if you dont want to sell your work online, great, no
problem, but still have a simple (homemade if you want to) site that simply
showcases your work for your regular customers. keep the navigation simple,
optimize the images, nix the e-commerce...just a nice showcase. Photoshop
even has a feature that basically creates an entire web gallery for you that
you can click through and view the images etc...it optimizes automatically.
hope some of my gibberish helps a bit
eric
Graham Mercer on thu 3 aug 06
In line with many comments that have been bouncing around on Clayart over
the last few days let me add my 'two bobs worth'.
Last month I gave a presentation titled 'Web Opportunities and New
Technologies for Ceramicists' at the 11th National Ceramics Conference here
in Australia and I would like to provide a few excerpts from that
presentation to further this discussion if I may:
BEGIN QUOTE
To many people having a website is synonymous with selling their work on the
internet. However this is far from accurate. You are marketing yourself
and your work. Selling over the internet is a totally different issue.
Promoting your work on the internet allows people to find you, see the type
of work you do and then contact you.
Websites
- present you and your work to a wide and diverse audience. If anyone
enquires about viewing your work you can refer them to the site.
- help to establish and raise your profile as an artist and widen your
recognition, opening more opportunities
- provides a number of sales methods, IF you decide to sell your work over
the internet
- perceived as more committed and professional, increasingly a requirement
rather than an indulgence
- available 24 hrs and 365 days so always accessible when it suits your
visitors
- this all amounts to easy 'hands free' promotion and marketing.
Once set up your website is working for you constantly with minimal effort
on your part.
Think of the internet as one of the tools in your toolkit. Each tool has a
specific role to perform, and when a suitable range of tools are put
together then you have a well rounded toolkit that will enable you to
efficiently complete your desired tasks.
You have developed your toolkit to suit the type of work that you produce.
If you decide to introduce a new range of work then you may need additional
tools. This is exactly the same with your promotion and a website is one of
the tools that you should consider.
In today's world it's no longer a luxury to have a website, it is becoming a
necessity.
More often one of the questions put to artists by a prospective gallery or
interested customer is "what is your website address".
Directories
Directories are a form of online galleries, there are many on the net, both
here in Australia and overseas that specialise to various degrees - from
purely ceramic arts through to general arts listings.
Being listed in directories also helps searchers to find you more easily.
If a potential customer enters a general search term such as 'australian
pottery' into a search engine your site may not be listed directly, put the
search list will probably include directories that contain links to
'australian pottery'. If your site is listed in that directory then your
website is more likely to be found.
Sales
If you are anything like me then the idea of approaching galleries and
retailers is fairly daunting. It seems to me that potters and sales are
diametrically opposed. The web offers some great opportunities to display
and sell your work.
- I suspect that everyone here has heard of eBay, you may not know much
about it but you probably know the name. eBay is an online sales and auction
site where you can list, sell and buy just about anything. I often see
pieces by potters that I know being sold second hand for far more than the
artist currently charges for a new piece. eBay has quite low fees, and is
pretty easy to use.
- PayPal is a secure payment option that you can use to send and receive
payments for purchases, subscriptions etc. You can use it to receive
payments from any sales that you may make through your marketing and
promotional efforts.
- It is not necessary to have a high tech site to sell via the internet.
With a basic website displaying samples of your work for visitors to view,
you can invite interested customers to contact you via email or telephone to
discuss sales or orders.
- an e-commerce site makes it easier for customers to securely purchase over
the net there and then. It also tends to present you in a more professional
manner, giving your website visitors a higher confidence that their
purchases will be smooth and trouble free.
Website Design
For those of you who may want to create your own website things are much
easier due to new technologies.
- Many internet providers and businesses offer self-managed websites based
on a design template which allows you to simply add your images and text
into a pre-designed layout.
- There are an inexhaustible supply of free, online tutorials to teach the
finer points of website design and maintenance.
- Resources such as link exchanges help to elevate your website's placement
in search engines.
- By far the most popular search engine is Google, so much so that the word
google is now a recognised verb. Google provides much guidance and
assistance in helping website owners to get maximum exposure for their
sites. Google Analytics, Google Sitemaps and Google forums are some of the
tools and resources freely provided by Google that I would recommend for
those choosing this path.
- The buzz words in the internet community over recent times have been
search engine optimisation, which means getting your website to appear as
soon as possible in the search results. There are many online tools and
resources to help website owners with this, but it does require a degree of
familiarity and experience to apply optimisation effectively to a website.
Designing and managing your own effective website is achievable with a bit
of time and study, but there are traps to be aware of - some examples are:
- Templates can be quite limiting
- Avoid using frames and javascript navigation
- Site must be properly designed and optimised for search engines and
visitors
END QUOTE
By no means do I claim to be an expert, but I am a potter that has done a
fair amount of research into designing and maintaining websites.
We cannot simply say that all artists should have a website, nor can we
claim the opposite. This is a complex issue with many variables to be
considered depending upon the individual in question.
I can only suggest that we consider the following
- what we each want to do with our art
- where we want our art to take us
- strive to achieve a balance between our ambitions and our abilities
- a website is only part of your overall promotional toolkit, but a powerful
and effective tool if it suits your situation
- never dismiss something out-of-hand.
Cheers,
Graham Mercer
Potters Online
www.pottersonline.com.au
Skype ID graham.mercer
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