201 – 5-Minute Mentoring: Do I Really Need a Website?

With all the opportunities we have today to promote art and connect with buyers via social media, is a website really something you need to worry about?  

Well in my blog article and in this episode of 5-Minute Mentoring, I tackle this question while offering a fresh perspective on how to turn a casual online follower into a connected client.

Connect with Matt online at www.MattTommeyMentoring.com or on Instagram and Facebook @thethrivingchristianartist

Get encouraged and connect with other artists on the Thriving Christian Artist Facebook Page  https://www.facebook.com/thethrivingchristianartist/

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Transcript

SPEAKER_01: 0:00

In today's social media jungle, is it even a necessity to have a website anymore? Lots of people are asking that question. I'm going to tell you why your website is super important, especially if you're an emerging artist today, here on 5-Minute Mentoring.

UNKNOWN: 0:16

5-Minute Mentoring

SPEAKER_01: 0:17

Have you ever wanted to have someone in your life who you could ask real questions about your art, your business, and even your walk with the Lord? Well, that's exactly what we do every Friday here on 5-Minute Mentoring, where I answer one question from one of my awesome podcast listeners in order to help you start really thriving as the artist you know God created you to be. Well, hey there, my friend. So glad that you're with me today here on 5-Minute Mentoring. Listen, I get this question all the time from people. They're like, Matt, listen, I got a Facebook account. I'm on Instagram. I'm on Parler. I'm on Pinterest. I'm on all these different TikTok, all these different things. Why do I need a website? People don't, Matt's websites are so 90s. They're so early 2000s. Why would you even say I need a website, especially as an emerging artist? Listen, your website is a huge, huge part of your marketing. And sometimes it's for reasons that you might not always think of. Just like one of my listeners, Bo. Here's her question.

SPEAKER_00: 1:15

Hi, Matt. This is Bo Myers here in Western Pennsylvania. My question is, as an emerging artist, how important is having a website? I've just sent in entries and they asked about it. I don't have one and I'm just wondering how soon do I need to really get one?

SPEAKER_01: 1:31

Well, hey, Bo, thanks a lot for your question. Again, it just really re-emphasizes the need that all of us have for a website to especially if you're an emerging artist. Why? Because when you're applying for shows, when you're on social media, when you're getting editorial written about you in a magazine or a blog or a website, or if you're on a podcast, or if you get television coverage or whatever it might be, All roads lead back to your website. It's the central place or the hub, I like to think about it, as all roads lead to there to find out more about who you are. It's the place where your artist statement is. It's the place where all the images of you working in the studio, of the trajectory of your work and the history of your work over the years. It's where you've got all your current work that's in shows and for sale. It's where you've got your calendar. It's where you've got your blog and your talking about your journey, all of those things are happening in one place at one time on your website. So again, if you think of a wagon wheel and the center of that, the hub, that's what I think about your website as the place where all roads, all traffic lead to one central place in order for folks to be able to find out about you. Now, The whole point of having a website, though, is not just to have a website. The whole point of having a website is to actually move people through a process where they can do really four things. All right. The first thing is you want to be able to connect with people. So as you're designing your website, you want to be able to speak about what you do in a way that connects with what they're looking for. If you go to my website, matttommy.com, you can see how I speak to people that are looking for unique, nature-inspired woven sculpture. I'm speaking not only about myself, but I'm sharing what I do in terms of what they are looking for. In marketing, we call that the WIFM. What's in it for me? W-I-I-F-M. What's in it for me from the client perspective, right? You want to be able to connect with them. Number two, you want to be able to persuade them that the solution that you offer, the art you offer, the classes you offer, the book you offer, whatever that is, that's something that they need to connect with and they need to take advantage of based on their values, their desires, and what they're looking for. Then number three, you got to have a clear invitation. You want to have an opportunity to invite them to be a part of your website, to invite them to come to a show, invite them to take a class with you, invite them to purchase a piece of work. You want it to be really clear. In the marketing world, we call that your call to action, all right? It's really clear when you go to the website, you know exactly, the person knows exactly what they're being asked to do. And then lastly, you want to enable them to do that. That is, you got to make sure that there's an opt-in page, you know, where somebody can give you their email. They can purchase on your website. They can register for that class. They can, again, do the things that you're inviting them to do. Again, your website is not of any really use if it's just a brochure out there. You want to make it a vehicle to connect, persuade, invite, and enable your clients to do business with you and to build that connection so that they can not only purchase from you, but also refer you. And then, of course, for things like that Bo's asking, you know, they can vet you for things like artist residencies, additional interviews, or, you know, editorial opportunities for exhibitions and shows. All that's super important too. But again, your website is the hub. Now, one of the great places I recommend people grab a website. I give these three all the time in the mentoring program because we dive deep into how to build your website inside Creative Thrive and give you lots and lots of different resources his tools and tips for that. But just suffice it to say for this podcast, the three that I recommend that are super duper easy, Weebly, Wix, and also Squarespace. Those are three really, really great ones that are out there. We'll put links to those in the show notes here so that you can click on those and you can find out exactly what you need through watching their tutorials, how to build your website on their specific platforms, all right? And then, Bo, if you decide to become a part of the mentoring program when we reopen in January, you'll find a huge amount of resources on how to build your website as you walk with us inside the mentoring program. If not, I hope this has been a great, great encouragement to you and at least gives you the place to start as you start your journey building your website. All right. Well, hey, thanks so much for asking a question, Bo. And listen, if you've got a question for me, you can always go to matttommymentoring.com forward slash podcast. You can leave a little voicemail just like Bo did. And we go through those every week, finding questions that are the most appropriate for our listeners. And I try to answer one of those a week right here. on 5-Minute Mentoring. All right. Hey, my friends, I love you so much. Remember, until next time, you were created to thrive. All right. Bye-bye.