Think social media is just a waste of time? Don't have time to learn about it or use it? For anyone who thinks it is a fad, watch this 4-minute video at the end of this article.
Technology is changing the stationery industry and art licensing business. For artists & writers, this means we can get world wide exposure practically for free but it also requires we welcome learning new skills. Here are a list of interviews with designers, greeting card manufacturers, trend forecasters, and card sales reps who use new tech skills in their businesses.
High Tech ArtistsSee Article: Artist Goes High-Tech in Surtex Booth (ipads)
See Article: Licensing Art on Electronic Devices (skins)
See Article: Art Licensing on Tech Products (cameras)
See Article: 120 Resources for Artists to to Build an Online Presence
Stationery & Publishing Industry
See Article: Mike Rhoda, Leanin' Tree, talks about linkedin & the digital shift
See Article: Kathy Krassner talks about stationery retailers who use social media
See Article: What is The Future for Trade Shows?
See Article: Card Rep Meryl Hooker talks about how she uses social media in her job
See Article: Barney Davey talks about how social media shapes trends in the art market
See Article: The Future of Children's Books
Artists who use social media & blogs to sell their art
See Article: Deb Trotter talks about how blogging led her to art licensing
See Article: Children's Illustrator Wisdom: Why Artists Need Blogs
See Article: How I Sell My Designs Online
See Article: Use a Blog to Attract Art Buyers
See Article: Social Media for Artists
See Article: Selling my Art Through Social Media
See Article: Fabric Designer Wisdom: Why Artists Need Blogs
See Article: No time for Social Media? Read this story by an Interior Designer
See Article: How I use Email to Sell Art and Get Leads
See Article: Discovering Social Media Through Art
See Article: How Artists Can Use Twitter in Their Business
See Article: Rock Your Online Art Sales
See Article: Why a Sculptor should have a blog
See Article: Artist Protects Copyright Through Twitter
See Article: Watercolor Artists talks about she has a blog
See Article: Laura Barbosa tells how she sells art on facebook
See Article: Katie Atkinson talks about how her blog article brought 2 more assignments.
Online Card and Gift Industry Groups
Linkedin Greeting Card, Stationery & Gift Industry Gurus
Networking links of sales, marketing, product development and sourcing people from these related industries and to help entrepreneurs gain access to industry knowledge and 'how to's."
Linkedin Greeting Card Professionals
The worldwide default network for publishers, distributors, designers, buyers, developers, (online) retailers and anyone else relevant in the business. Feel free to join and don't forget to invite your colleagues and business relations.
Yahoo Greeting Card Professionals
The Independent Greeting Card Professionals Association is composed of working professionals--and beginning professionals--who create and sell greeting cards retail or wholesale, at craft fairs or trade shows, or via the Internet. Members produce work in a variety of greeting card genres.
Linkedin Art of Licensing
A LinkedIn networking group dedicated to Artists, Illustrators, Designers, Product Manufacturers, and Licensing Agents in the ART LICENSING industry.
Yahoo Group Art of Licensing
A SPECIAL FORUM dedicated to Artists, Illustrators, Designers, Product Manufacturers, and Licensing Agents in the ART LICENSING industry.
Facebook Stationery Trends
Facebook group for the magazine focused on the products, designers and inspiration that make up the stationery, greeting card and gift industry.
Stationery Show on Twitter
Leading trade show for the social stationery industry.
Surtex on Twitter
Selling and licensing art and design for every product, every industry.
Greeting Card Designer on Twitter
Tips and resources for Card Designer and Writers .
Did You know:
-95% of companies who use social media use LinkedIn to find employees?
-1 out of 8 couples married in the U.S. last year met via social media?
-If Facebook were a country it would be the world’s 3rd largest?
-Kindle books outsold paperbacks on Christmas?
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Greeting Card Business ebooks.
You can support this blog by ordering Kate's eBooks starting at only .99 cents!
They can be read on your kindle, ipad, ipod, cellphone, or your computer.
Unusual Ways to Market Your Greeting Cards and 22 Places to Get Your Designs Featured A booklet on how to get your cards noticed in non-traditional ways. Everything from why you should send cards to your dentist, to how to get special features in national publications. Great tips for designers who are starting out and want to get their cards into the hands of people beyond friends and family. Special Section: Submissions guidelines and contacts for 22 Gift Industry publications and professional gift industry blogs that seek out new greeting card designs to feature for free.
7 Mistakes Greeting Card Writers Make Booklet on common mistakes greeting card writers make and what to avoid when submitting greeting card verse to publishers. Today, greeting card publishers are shying away from traditional stereotypes, and may even include pets as family members. This article talks about how to create a trendy card that reflects the contemporary world we live in, and how to use our own personal experiences to create great card verse. Topics include: how to avoid limiting the market of who could buy your card, when to use adjectives, how not to creating card for enemies, how to write like people talk and a list of why card sentiment submissions are often rejected. The good news is you can increase your odds of success by 60% by doing a few simple things.
20 Steps to Art Licensing: How to Sell Your Designs to Card and Gift Companies A booklet on how to license your art to companies that publish greeting cards, and manufacture coffee mugs, magnets, wall hangings, kitchen items, and dozens of other gift items. This booklet covers 20 basic steps from how to prepare your art, to what companies to contact. It includes topics on: How to find agents, classes and what trade shows to attend. There are extensive resources on social media, licensing community groups, copyrights, and lists of interviews with professional designers.
Get Your Greeting Cards Into Stores: How to Find and Work With Sales Reps If you already make your own greeting cards, this book explains how to get your cards into stores and sell them sell nationwide. Included are guidelines on: how to price your cards for a profit, how to get professional feedback, where to find a sales representative and and what industry standards you should follow. All the information is also applicable to gift items, such as magnets, journals, calendars, collectibles, etc. Chapter topics: Getting Professional Feedback, Getting Your First Account, Pricing and Profits, Sales Reps 101, Where to Find Reps, Rep Readiness Checklist, Pitching Your Line to a Rep and Working With Reps.
Greeting Card Class
You can also sign up for the class called Getting into the Greeting Card Business. The content is based on my experience of working in the industry for over 20 years, and from publishing over 1,000 cards.
Register here.
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