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SOG artists don't necessarily get commissions from their association with SOG
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Many artists do, some do not. And, there doesn't seem to be any particular reason to it in some cases.
However, I also encourage the artists to see their web site as an online portfolio that is part of a whole marketing package. The thrust of each individual item contributes to the power of the whole.
This may be "out there" for some, but when I worked for Robert Schoeller, whenever incoming work started to drop off, we would send out mailings of his new work to people in our prospect file. Over the six years I worked with him, not one single commission ever directly resulted from those mailings. But, without fail, incoming work would increase. I kept statistics and graphs on key activities in the business and made business decisions based on those decisions. So, it was there, clearly able to be seen.
Additionally, there are benefits to having a web site beyond getting work directly from it. Most of the following is from the artists themselves:
1. Wm Chambers was ready to start a photo shoot at a new client. The client suddenly wanted to see his work again, but he had not brought a portfolio. Happily, they had Internet access and that solved the problem.
2. Gordon Wetmore was at a party and a guest wanted to see his work, but he had not brought a portfolio. The host had Internet access and the guest was able to view Gordon's portraits right at the party. Gordon got the commission.
3. Many, many artists have reported that having a web site brings them extra credibility with clients and prospects. The comment I get is that clients and prospects say delightedly "oh! you have a web site."
4. An artist's web site can be used as a PR and marketing tool. Putting up new portraits on a web site and letting the client be involved means that most likely they will tell family and friends and that's just that many more people who know about your work - you never know, one of those might commission a portrait later.
There are many benefits that have happened from magazine articles (Gwenneth Barth in International Artist, the artists included in New Yorker Family Guide) to workshops. Often a web site is simply a great tool to use in closing an existing prospect. But, I have found that the artists who are excited about their site and really use it (refer people to it, put it on business cards, send out announcements of their web site, etc.) are the ones who seem to have the most success. Those who sit back and forget about it, not as much.
Most of these are general benefits of a web site. However, re being Stroke of Genius, because of it's very high visibility, artists do get more traffic than if they are on a site by themselves. More traffic always means more possibilties. The name of the game on the Internet is traffic and more traffic. As well as family commissions, artists here have been contacted by the White House, the US Senate and the US Supreme Court and many corporations and other entities. I think it's pretty wonderful that these government places know about Stroke of Genius as a place for portrait painters. I've also been contacted by Tiffany & Co.
No, I would never say being on SOG would make or break an artist, but I believe there is a certain prestige in being associated with it that is recognized, otherwise we wouldn't be getting contacted by the likes of the White House.