Realm 6 – Selling
Take less than 60 seconds to do this now and your future-self will be forever grateful to you. Practice making an “up-front agreement.”
Why do this?
- Some artists get jittery and a bit intimidated when someone expresses interest in buying their art. This quick agreement levels the playing field so that you can frame a more collaborative and helpful approach.
- Make sure that you first build rapport. Art is very personal. So be personable and make your goal to help and satisfy, not to sell.
- Find a friend who will role play so that you are comfortable when you set an “up-front” agreement with a real prospect.
- You will be ready the next time you are speaking to an important prospect. If you don’t, chances are high that you could be trapped in them saying “maybe” instead of a “yes” or a “no.”
- But you must ask for the “up-front agreement” in the correct way.
Here’s what I say, “I really appreciate your interest in my work. What I would like to do is just ask you a few questions so make sure that I can help you and give you an opportunity to ask me whatever questions you have of me. At the end of this meeting, I would like us to agree if this is a good fit and if so what our next best step is and when we will take it. Sound good? “
Top Tips
- Make sure that they say “yes” or you do not have an upfront agreement.
- If it is not a good fit then that is actually good news. You don’t want to waste time with someone who is not interested or who you can’t help. Do you?
- Don’t ever leave it at “maybe.” Determine the next best step so that you can get to a “yes” or a “no.”
- It’s about progress, not perfection.
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“Any artist who wants to learn is welcome as my free guest at my live Saturday classes.” – Ann Rea