A couple of weeks ago a new gallery asked me what I would suggest they do to build their brand quickly. When I asked "who do you most want to be perceived like (competitor) and what do you want to be perceived as," the owner told me of a major gallery he hoped to model. He said that he hoped that in 10 or 20 years he would be considered as important. Of course I asked, "Do you have 20 years?" His answer was, "no, we have three years to make it or break it."
"What if I showed you a strategy to build your brand and prestige quickly and overcome the 20 years?" He was all ears.
I started out saying that nothing can overcome time and heritage, however branding is a gradual process which not only requires repetition and a powerful message (ad design, copy, headline, artwork). But I can help you leap several years forward with this strategy. Advertise frequently, advertise bigger than your targeted competitor, and advertise deeply (more places) but only if you can afford to dominate in each publication to get noticed.
I believe author, marketing expert and dear friend Roy Williams will tell you that the small sends a small message, big sends a big message, giant sends a giant message. People who want to be perceived as giants need to APPEAR as giants. Of course this is not always possible and many have to start small, build business gradually and build from there.
The first important principle of any advertising is FREQUENCY. Be there often. I would rather have 6 issues in a row of 1/2 pages than 1 or two full pages. Frequency builds brand.
Secondly, size sends a message. Not to diminish the smaller advertisers, but its a fact. An advertiser with a bigger ad presence seems like a bigger company. A half page advertiser looks more important that a quarter page advertiser (unless you blow it with poor design). A full page advertiser looks more important than a half page advertiser.
Pay close attention to the companies you know as big brands or those you perceive as "owning" a brand position. One advertiser I know of is perceived as the leader in the illustration category. It's not unusual to see 4 or 6 pages in every issue from this advertiser. How can anyone appear bigger? It is not easy.
So, what did I recommend to the gallery owner to build his brand as big, important and speed the process? I recommended a 20 page spread of ads. You cannot NOT get noticed. Everyone will immediately be impressed, even the hard to impress people. You will stand out above all others and you will have a perception of being bold, of having a deep financial war chest, of being confident, and of being big. As long as the content of the ads support the message of quality. So, I recommend 20 pages every issue for a year, and if possible for two years. By the end of the second year, as long as the content and the product (quality of artwork offered) and follow through (customer service, personnel) match the projected quality, this gallery will own a top 10 position within 2 years. By following the normal course of action, which is a single page per issue, it would take 10 years or longer to build a solid presence and yet the perception of big would never occur to the same extent.
So, if being perceived as bigger and better is important, fake it till you make it. It works.
I pointed out the nearest payday lender inside my nice, middle-class neighborhood and explained to him who's's not really true super real annuities, trust funds and hedge funds also could be used providing there is certainly evidence the funds can be purchased towards the borrower.
Posted by: super real | October 05, 2013 at 02:03 AM
Hello Eric,
Thank you for contacting me. I was not aware until now about “The Advocate”. My comment on Galleries, is we do need them. You cannot see on line the up close and personal image and its details, true to life colors and painting size like you can in a Gallery.
Also there is the social aspect of a Gallery verses virtual. The on line Gallery may be comfortable for the Introvert Artist, but I love to mingle and interact with the collectors. I love the receptions and seeing the faces and reactions to the body of works. You can not get on line.
As far as the middle man! (Sales person and Gallery commissions), you can’t miss what you don’t see. And so what! It’s our job to influence the marketing force. And create jobs as well as a place to go visit galleries with honest and whole sum reputations.
That is the back ground for the interaction with not only the collector but for sales person to identify with the collector and or artist.
Art is a personal, a presentation and interpretation of one’s personality and interests. The passion for the piece is as important as the passion of the sale! A celebration to welcome a friendship, personal and social bond you cannot get on the website. Yes, a website reaches the abundance of multitudes of collectors and soon to be collectors. I hope in some small way this answers, mostly the emotional side and necessary side of viewing, and owning Art. Thank you for this opportunity to voice my expression and sincerity about the Galleries. Kind regards, Blu Rivard
Posted by: Blu Rivard | October 05, 2010 at 10:45 PM