Using Twitter to Promote Your Art

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Using Twitter to Promote and Sell Your Art

Daryle Dickens
Artist
Publisher ArtPalaver.com
Writer/Content Creator
Marketing/Business coach
Artist website set up
1 on 1 art marketing consulting available at artpalaver.com/services

What exactly is Twitter?

What exactly is Twitter? A people connector.

Twitter Speak Tweet : The term for updates on Twitter. They must be 140 characters or less. And though the text above the box prompts you with the question “What’s happening?” a tweet can be anything you want it to be. The number in the upper right side lets you know how many characters you have left in your tweet. And Twitter keeps track of how many times you have tweeted in the upper right side of your Twitter page.

Twitter Speak Reply : A way to respond to someone on Twitter. When you move your cursor over other people’s tweets in your tweet stream you will notice a little gray arrow with the words “reply”. Clicking on that arrow will automatically put that users name in your text entry field with an @ symbol. Like so…

Twitter Speak ReTweet or RT : Tweeting someone else’s tweet. This is done when you want to share something you read and liked with your network. And it is also one of the highest forms of compliments on Twitter. To retweet someone you simple start your tweet with capital RT followed by a cut and paste of the person’s tweet. Most 3rd party Twitter sites and software make RTing very simple. Direct Message or DM : A private message sent to another user that only they can see. But you can only DM someone who is already following you. Twitter also sends you an email when you receive a DM. (You can opt-out of the emails under Settings >> Notices.)

Twitter Speak Following : The Twitter users whose tweets show up in your Twitter stream. The number of people you are following is noted in the upper right area of your Twitter page. Followers : Twitter users who are following your tweets. Every time you send an update they see it in their Twitter stream. Your number of followers is also noted in the upper right area of your Twitter page. Mentions : Anytime someone on Twitter includes a Twitter username in their update. Clicking on your username on the right side menu will show you every time your name has been mentioned on Twitter by anyone whether you are following them or not.

Twitter Speak Favorites : A bookmark of any tweet you’d like to save. Moving your cursor over a tweet will reveal a small gray star, clicking that will add it to your favorites. Your list of favorites can be found on the menu to the right side of your Twitter stream. It should be noted that your favorites are available to be viewed by anyone. Click on someone else’s Twitter name to be taken to their page and find the “favorites” link on the right menu to know what your friends are bookmarking.

Twitter Speak Trending Topics : A constantly updated list of what is being talked about the most on Twitter. Clicking on one of the topics on the right side menu bar will show you the most current tweets about that topic. Block : Removes a user from your Twitter stream and also removes your updates from their Twitter stream. (If you just don’t want to see someone else’s stream you can also unfollow, which is less drastic.) Private Account : This setting hides your updates from everyone except those who you approve to follow you. By default Twitter accounts are set to public and anyone can read your updates, the privacy setting allows you protect your content. Hashtags or # : A simple way to categorize your update so that it can be found by other users interested in that topic. Add the hashtag to the word you want to be a category (#art). Also a good way to search for topics you are interested in.

Setting Up Twitter One Line Bio : Here you get the pleasure of writing about yourself in 160 characters or less. Twitter was kind enough to allow 20 more characters here than in your updates. Put some thought into this as well because these 160 characters are also a deciding factor for someone when they are thinking about following you or not. As an artist you could put a few words about your medium, your style, your common subjects, and than just a dash about you. Oil painter of surreal landscapes and buildings of the Southwest US. Mother of two who can’t say no to chocolate. Black and white portrait photographer that travels the world in pursuit of the perfect image. Canon guy through and through.

Setting Up Twitter

Now What? Remember that at its heart Twitter is a people connector . Your goal is to join the conversation, be yourself, meet people, make connections, and then create fans of your work. Twitter can best be thought of as a cocktail party with millions of people in attendance and when you are starting out you only know a few of them. And just like a cocktail party you meet new people either through the friends you already have or you simply walk up and introduce yourself. But when you walk up to that person you have not met the first words out of your mouth would not be “Look at my art and buy it.” Which is a tempting tactic on Twitter and one I see many people trying.

Now What? A better strategy is to naturally bring up the topic of your work as you go about your tweeting. Just as you would do at that cocktail party. And mention it in ways that do not have to do with sales. “ Another morning spent working on this portrait’s tricky eyes. Commissions like this are always a bit more stressful.” “ There is magic in watching a photo I’ve been Photoshopping for hours slowly exit the Epson.” “ 1st draft of the 1st chapter done. Time for that latte I promised myself.”

Keep it simple, be yourself, have fun, seek friends and not sales. That is the best way for an artist to be on Twitter.

Questions?

[email_address]

THANK YOU!

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Using Twitter to Promote Your Art

by Daryle Dickens on May 27, 2010

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Using Twitter to Promote Your Art — Presentation Transcript