Wrestle Insults into Opportunity

JF AmprimozSmall Web Strategies

When Trolling Goes Too Far and Becomes Positive

• Friend who runs Kaunis Jewllery (and new shop!) shares this:

10 THINGS NOT TO SAY TO AN ARTIST OR CRAFTER: 10. “I’ll just get my friend to make me one of those.”9. “You know what you should make . . . ”8. “Do I get a price break if I buy two?”7. “I can make that myself.”6. “Why does it cost so much?”5. “How do you make this?”4. “Will you donate your artwork to our event? We can’t pay you, but it will be great exposure.”3. “My nine-year-old makes this kind of stuff too.”2. “Kids, this is what happens if you don’t go to college.”1. “I can buy that at Walmart for $3.99.”

When Trolling Goes Too Far and Becomes Positive

• These are frustrations shared by consultants.

• But for marketing consultants, these frustrations double as buyer objections.

• Part of the gig is how you turn people saying those things into buyers.

• So I post some flippant advice.

And Go Very Slightly Viral… Like a small cold.

Paper Artist Col Mitchell Makes a Blog Post from It Which Was Curated by Michelle Andres

michelleandresart.com Darth Vader Glass Mosaic

colmitchell.com Windrider

A Word of Warning

• Are you an asshole?• Or just fucking ignorant?• The following will only work on the

ignorant, not assholes.• Hard to tell a lot of the time. • AND NOW, HOW TO ANSWER THE 10

THINGS YOU SHOULD NEVER TELL AN ARTIST

You know what you should make

• Sure there’s a lot of stupid to filter out…

You know what you should make

• But…• if three people suggest the same

thing maybe that’s worth thinking about?

Do I get a price break if I buy two?

Tell people how this isn’t a batch production where you are doing them twelve at a time. Each one takes you the same amount of time and attention to create so unfortunately you can’t really do volume discounts.

I can make that myself.• “Oh that’s great, here’s a starter kit with all

the tools and equipment you need to make a xyz. You even get a coupon on my course/book!”

• Depending on how much you enjoy getting other people into your mediums, this is either a legit offer, or…

• Secretly means “Go ahead asshole, you wanna buy everything you need to make this and then figure out how to do it yourself? Then buy all this other stuff from me and do it. Or just buy the one I already made.”

I’ll just get my friend to make me one of those.How do you make this?My nine-year-old makes this kind of stuff too.

• I’d love to show them/you! Sign them up for my class/buy my book!

• We always have a great time in the kids classes!

Kids, this is what happens if you don’t go to college.

• Remember when I said these things don’t work on assholes? Yup, this guy’s an asshole.

I can buy that at Walmart for $3.99.

• Tough call, probably an asshole, or just really ignorant.

• If pretty sure they are an asshole:• “I’d be happy to give you directions

to the walmart. Here’s my card if you ever want something special.”

• Maybe just ignorant…. See the next, and most important slide.

Why does it cost so much?• Almost always ignorant, usually not asshole.• This is a chance to tell people about how incredible

and unique your creations are as well as the skill and the quality of the materials that go into them.

• Take a deep breath, remember how much you love creating your work, and give your prepared explanation not of why your work costs so much, but why it’s worth significantly more than that. It’s unique and priceless.

• If you are selling something people can get a cheap knock off of or mass produced version of, you have to explain why it makes sense to invest in the real thing.

They Might Not Be Ready to Learn That Yet

• Nobody said being an artist or having a business was easy.

• But you aren’t alone. • Questions?

• jf@smallwebstrategies.com• Twitter @SmallWebStrat