By Thomas Taylor
The Internet has become an affordable and efficient means of promotion through social networks and search engines, but the most personal method of self-promotion is blogging. With a blog, an artist is free to post his or her thoughts and interests on a regular basis. If the artist posts noteworthy material, they may attract a widespread following.
Technorati, a real time search engine used to index blogs, is currently tracking over 112.8 million blogs. On their list of the top 100, The Huffington Post, which has articles by Al Gore and Mandy Moore and backs up their information by reputable news sources such as ABC and CNN, sits at number one.
If a blog sees an influx of hits, they may be able to sell ad space. Advertising is the most common profit incentive for a blog, alongside selling others’ products and collecting contributions. “The Satorialist” is a popular blog that exhibits street fashion across the world. While the creator spends time researching and reporting on their passion, they are making money from American Apparel and Net-A-Porter.com.
How might the aspiring artist exploit this resource and draw attention to his or her work and life? Colleen Cameron, a third-year printmaking student, runs a blog on WordPress.com, “Copper and Wood,” which displays the details of her weekly life, as well as her work and the works of others.
In a recent post, Cameron wrote about a trip to New York and her fascination with artists such as Cy Twolmbly and Glenn Ligon. The articles are brief and easy to read, and the pictures are appropriately engaging. She keeps the readers updated on current events in the local arts community with posts on upcoming art openings and exhibitions. Cameron checks out many events in person and offers her readers an overview of the ones worth attending. Even for readers who are not printmakers, her blog comes off as well presented and alluring.
“Good blog writing is simple. It’s not overcomplicated; it’s not confusing,” Cameron said. “Most people don’t go to a blog to read a four-page article on an artist. They go for basic points. It’s easy to start rambling about something you like, but try to stick to a couple of paragraphs so the reader doesn’t lose interest.”
The most popular blogs add fresh content regularly. Cameron updates her blog two to three times a week, sometimes composing three posts at once and dishing them out as a busy week progresses. For bloggers who wonder how to make readers care about what they have to say, Cameron’s advice is to be unique and have a niche. “Pick a topic you like! The more specific, the better. Readers follow blogs because they are expecting a certain subject.”
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