18 Ways to Grow your Email List as an Artist

As an artist and creative, it is essential for us to cultivate and foster a connection with those who have shown interest in our work.

While doing so on social media can be beneficial, your account on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, etc are all 'rented'. You have created a log in on their platform, opted into their community, created an account with Followers and are bound to playing by their rules.

Meaning that if something happens to the platform, you are at their mercy should something happen to their servers, or they suddenly decide to change their terms of service and you are now in violation. 😨 (crossing my fingers that never happens to you)

Because of this, building an email list is crucial for artists and creatives.

It provides a direct line of communication with your audience (no more dancing around to figure out some everchanging algorithm)

It allows you to build relationships in your own way presenting and designed exactly how you want,

and ultimately helps you sell your work.

And no overarching internet god can take your community (your list) away from you.

Great, so having an engaged email list that you send regular value to can be the defining factor of a successful art career!

But now how do you get people to sign up?

Here are 18 creative ways to encourage people to sign up for your email list:

1. Exclusive Wallpapers: Offer a free downloadable computer or phone wallpaper featuring a detailed shot of your artwork, texture on your art, or paint palettes. This could be done as a one off or they get a new one every month or season.

2. Early Access to Art Drops: Give subscribers the benefit of exclusive early access to your new art collections before they are released to the public. Something like 24 hours to shop before your work goes live to the public. This helps to establish exclusivity and your subscribers feel as though they have special access.

3. Monthly Art Giveaways: Host a monthly giveaway of a small print offering a different piece each month. Only those on your email list can enter. This could even be as simple as printing the art at home on photopaper and sent using standard mail so you wont have to pay for expensive shipping. Add in a personal congratulatory note. These can act like collectables too!

4. Behind-the-Scenes Content: Share exclusive behind-the-scenes photos and videos of your creative process, studio setup, or work in progress. Or create newsletters that share personal stories, inspiration, and updates that aren't available anywhere else.

5. Discount Codes: Provide special discount codes for your prints available only to your email subscribers. This could be free shipping, a dollar amount or percentage off their next purchase. I only recommend allowing the discounts on reproductions and NOT your original artwork. 

6. Exclusive Tutorials: Offer detailed tutorials or walkthroughs of your art process, which are only available to email subscribers.

7. Weekly Art Inspiration Emails: Send out weekly emails with art inspiration, including your latest work, stories about your creative journey, or interesting art-related news.

8. Exclusive Access to Online Events: Invite your subscribers to exclusive live Q&A sessions, studio tours, or virtual art exhibitions.

9. Downloadable Coloring Pages: Create and offer downloadable coloring pages in pdf format based on your artwork for a fun and interactive way to engage your audience.

10. Limited Edition Prints: Offer limited edition prints that are only available for purchase by email subscribers.

11. First Dibs on Commissions: Let your email subscribers be the first to know when you open your schedule for new commissions before you open them up to the public.

12. Interactive Quizzes: Develop fun quizzes related to your art style or subjects, and provide personalized results via email.

13. Member-Only Sales: Conduct special sales or auctions of your artwork that are exclusive to your email subscribers.

14. Curated Art Recommendations: Offer curated recommendations of other artists, galleries, or exhibitions that align with your subscribers' interests.

15. Monthly Q&A Sessions: Host monthly Q&A sessions where subscribers can ask you questions about your work, process, or any other art-related topics.

16. Exclusive Prints of Best-Selling Work: Offer prints of your best-selling work exclusively to email subscribers as a limited-time offer.

17. Let them Choose your Next Piece: Get them involved and have them guide your art. Hold a poll to have them vote on what colors you should use, title your piece, the next subject, or collection you should create.
18. Give Value: If you are finding that you are being asked the same things by multiple collectors, create a free guide, checklist, workbook, ebook, or quiz that can help them by answering these common issues or questions they have. 

The list could go on and can be as creative as you and your art!

This entire purpose is to help them feel as though giving over their personal email address was worth it. That what you are giving them, is valuable because they feel special and seen while you nurture them as a potential collector of your art. 💌