Sep 16, 2024
Let’s face it: social media can be tough, especially when it feels like you’re shouting into the void without getting any real traction. If you’ve been banging your head against the wall with Instagram or Facebook, you’re not alone. Many artists and photographers struggle to get the visibility they deserve. But social media isn’t the only way to get more eyes on your work.
So, what else can you do to reach more people and grow your income? It starts with shifting your mindset and realizing that you don’t need to have millions of followers to make a substantial income. You just need 1,000 people to spend $100 each year on your work to earn $100,000 annually. This is absolutely doable for any small business or artist if you approach it strategically.
Step 1: Define What You’re Selling
First, work backwards. Think about what you’re offering. Are you a photographer selling prints, leading workshops, offering editing presets, or perhaps teaching others the craft? It could be a combination of these things. The goal is to diversify your offerings to appeal to different types of buyers. For instance, you could offer:
- Photography Prints: High-quality prints of your best shots.
- Workshops and Photography Day Trips: In-person or virtual events where you share your favorite shooting spots and techniques.
- Editing Presets or Tutorials: Sell Lightroom or Photoshop presets along with tutorial videos on how to achieve your signature look.
- Online Courses: Teach beginner to advanced photography techniques through an online course or membership platform.
Having a range of products or services allows you to meet different needs and price points, making it easier to reach that $100 per person target.
Step 2: How to Reach Your Audience (Without Relying on Social Media)
Now that you know what you’re selling, the next step is figuring out how to get people to buy. Here are several strategies to explore beyond social media:
1. Leverage YouTube and Blogs for Education and Engagement
Start a YouTube channel or blog where you teach photography skills, share your process, and give behind-the-scenes looks at your work. Educational content can build a loyal audience over time, and platforms like YouTube offer monetization opportunities through ads, sponsorships, and affiliate links. You can also use these channels to drive traffic to your website, where you sell prints, workshops, or presets.
For example, you could post videos like “How to Photograph Colorado’s Mountains at Sunset” or “Editing Tips for Capturing Perfect Wildlife Shots.” This positions you as an expert, and your viewers are more likely to invest in your work after seeing your expertise in action.
2. Offer Photography Workshops and Day Trips
If you’re based in a scenic state like I am, why not offer photography day trips or workshops? You can lead groups of photography enthusiasts to your favorite spots, teaching them how to capture the stunning landscapes, wildlife, or even cityscapes the state has to offer.
By promoting these workshops locally—through community boards, Meetup, and partnerships with tourism companies—you can reach people who might not even be on social media but are eager for in-person experiences.
3. Create and Sell Online Courses
As an expert, you have valuable expertise that people are willing to pay for. Platforms like Udemy, Skillshare, or even your own website allow you to sell photography courses. You can teach everything from basic camera settings to advanced editing techniques, reaching a global audience without relying on Instagram’s algorithm.
Offering a free mini-course can attract potential students, and once they see the value you provide, they’ll be more likely to purchase your full courses or other products.
4. Build an Email List and Use Direct Outreach
An email list is one of the most effective ways to stay connected with your audience. Collect emails through your website or events and send regular updates about new work, upcoming workshops, and special offers.
Direct outreach, such as personalized emails to past clients or collectors, is also a powerful way to maintain relationships and generate sales. You can ask for feedback, offer exclusive deals, or give them first access to new prints or classes.
5. Participate in Local Art Fairs and Pop-Ups
Local art fairs and pop-up markets give you the opportunity to connect with buyers in person, where they can see the quality of your prints firsthand. These events allow you to engage with people in a more personal way, often leading to better sales than you’d get online. Plus, they’re a great way to network with other artists and collaborators.
6. Utilize Licensing and Digital Sales Channels
In addition to offering physical prints or workshops, you can also explore licensing opportunities for your work. Platforms like Vitruveo (which will soon be live) are designed to help artists license and sell their work across multiple marketplaces. While it’s still in the building phase and not yet suitable for those needing immediate income, within 60 to 90 days, Vitruveo will offer a centralized exchange where your work can be consigned and sold.
With Vitruveo, you can consign your work once, create the metadata, and then utilize sales channels through their technology. This system allows you to license your art for streaming, earning ongoing revenue even after the initial sale. It’s an exciting way to monetize your work, especially for those looking to build long-term, sustainable income.
Step 3: Focus on What You Love
Finally, to make this journey sustainable, focus on what you love doing. If you’re passionate about leading photography day trips or creating YouTube tutorials, lean into that. The key to success isn’t just about the sales—it’s about building a community of people who genuinely care about your work.
And remember, you don’t need millions of followers. You just need 1,000 people to spend $100 each year to generate $100,000. By diversifying your offerings, focusing on direct engagement, and exploring new platforms, this goal is within reach for any artist or photographer. So start small, build authentically, and grow from there.
Sep 16, 2024
In the world of digital art collectibles, particularly those sold as NFTs, licensing models play a crucial role in defining what the buyer can and cannot do with the artwork they purchase. These models include non-exclusive, exclusive, and royalty-based licenses, and they are evolving to fit the unique properties of NFTs.
But beyond traditional licensing models, a new mechanism called token-gating is emerging, offering enhanced control over access and usage rights through blockchain technology. Let’s explore how these licensing models work and how token-gating can further protect and manage digital art.
Types of Licensing Models:
- Non-Exclusive License:
- The buyer has the right to use the digital art but does not prevent the artist from selling the same work to other buyers or under other licenses. This is common in stock photography and open editions.
- Exclusive License:
- The buyer gains sole rights to use the digital artwork, meaning the artist typically agrees not to sell or license the same piece to anyone else for the same usage rights.
- Commercial Rights vs. Personal Use:
- The buyer may be granted personal use rights, allowing them to display or enjoy the artwork privately but not use it for profit.
- Alternatively, the buyer could receive commercial rights, allowing them to use the artwork in advertising, merchandise, or other business ventures.
Important Note: If you grant commercial rights, you can also ask for a royalty on each item or product sold using your artwork. For instance, the buyer can sell merchandise like t-shirts or mugs, but a percentage of the revenue from each sale would go back to you, the artist. This can be automated through smart contracts embedded in the NFT.
- Royalty-Based License:
- In a royalty-based license, the buyer can use or sell the artwork, but the artist retains the right to a percentage of future sales or uses. This is particularly common in the NFT space, where smart contracts automate royalties on secondary sales.
- For example, the artist might receive a 10% royalty every time the NFT is resold on a marketplace.
Can You Sell Other Licenses After an Exclusive License?
The key to whether you can sell other licenses after granting an exclusive license depends on how the NFT smart contract defines the licensing terms:
- Exclusive License: If the NFT grants the buyer full, exclusive ownership of rights such as distribution or reproduction, the artwork cannot be sold under any other license. However, exclusive licenses can be scoped. For example, you could sell an exclusive commercial use license while retaining personal or derivative licensing rights for others.
- Conditional Exclusivity: Some licenses are time-limited, allowing a buyer exclusive rights for a set period (e.g., one year). Afterward, the artist can sell the artwork under other licensing terms.
Introducing Token-Gating: A Modern Tool for NFTs and Licensing
In addition to traditional licensing models, token-gating has emerged as a powerful tool in the NFT space. Token-gating restricts access to an artwork or its rights to only those who hold a specific NFT, ensuring that licensing terms, such as exclusivity or commercial use, are enforced transparently through blockchain technology.
How Token-Gating Works:
- Mint an NFT with Licensing Terms: The artist mints an NFT, embedding or referencing specific licensing terms (e.g., exclusive commercial rights or non-commercial personal use).
- Control Access to the Artwork: Only those who hold the NFT have access to the high-resolution artwork or specific usage rights (e.g., the ability to use the artwork on merchandise or in advertising).
- Enforce the Licensing Terms: The smart contract can enforce royalty payments on resales, ensuring that the artist receives compensation every time the NFT is sold. Additionally, token-gating can be used to enforce royalties on items or merchandise sold using the artwork if commercial rights are granted.
What Does Full Commercial Rights Mean?
When you grant full commercial rights via token-gating, the buyer can use the artwork to generate revenue. This includes:
- Creating and selling merchandise (e.g., t-shirts, mugs).
- Using the artwork in marketing and branding.
- Creating derivative works and selling them, depending on the agreement.
Common Commercial Uses:
- Selling Merchandise: Buyers can print the artwork on various products and sell them for profit.
- Advertising and Branding: The artwork can be used in marketing campaigns or as part of brand identity.
- Display and Licensing: Buyers can exhibit the artwork or license it for third-party commercial use.
Limitations:
- Reselling the Artwork: Even with commercial rights, the buyer may not own the copyright unless explicitly stated in the contract.
- Derivative Works: If the contract does not allow for derivative works, the buyer cannot alter the image and sell the modified version.
Practical Example of Token-Gating:
You mint a digital art collectible as an NFT and sell an exclusive commercial license. The buyer gains full commercial rights to use the artwork in advertising, merchandise, or marketing. Through token-gating, only the holder of the NFT can access the high-resolution file or download the artwork for commercial use.
However, you could still offer non-commercial licenses (such as personal display rights) to other buyers, provided this limitation is clearly outlined in the smart contract. The smart contract can also enforce royalties, ensuring you earn a percentage from any future resales of the NFT. Additionally, you could specify a royalty on each item or product sold using the artwork, which ensures you continue to profit from commercial use.
Final Thoughts:
When selling digital art as NFTs, your ability to offer additional licenses depends on the scope of the exclusive rights outlined in the smart contract. By carefully defining these terms and utilizing token-gating, you can continue to monetize your work while assuring buyers of the rights they’re purchasing. Additionally, by implementing royalties on each item sold under a commercial license, artists can continue to profit from the success of their work over time.