Marketing, the Great Adventure!

Today, my topic of discussion and thought has been marketing.  Yes, marketing; the constant battle between promoting one's business/endeavor in an interesting and engaging manner and NOT annoying the crap out of those people who are already interested and engaged in the success or failure of one's business/endeavor.  On its own, marketing is tricky, and in today's digital and viral age, it  can be a downright difficult tightrope to walk.  For although balance is obviously the key, balance can be a pretty complicated thing to judge, especially when one is using something as fickle as a Facebook page as a guideline. 

But I digress, because as much as I have concerns about the consistent stream of  marketing related posts that flow over my small section of the Facebook community, I am certainly not the only entrepreneur to attempt to flood the social media network with hints of my existence, nor, I would like to think, am I the most obnoxious.  So, what I'm really thinking about today, is not the quantity of my marketing posts, but their content. 

Today marks the end of Blueverve Studio's first Monthly Gift Certificate Giveaway promotion.  Though it was fairly small, with only 5 entries, I think it was successful, and definitely a step in the right direction.  The giveaway itself featured a Gift Certificate redeemable exclusively at Blueverve Studio (http://www.etsy.com/shop/blueverve3) in the amount of $25.  The winner already knew what he was interested in purchasing, so I'm guessing he'll be a happy camper, and it has been a good way to involve followers of the Facebook page (Blueverve Studio on Facebook) and hopefully draw new fans to the page and to Blueverve Studio.  I've also had an opportunity too come up with plans for the next Gift Certificate Giveaway, which will feature a bit more incentive for people to enter and to promote Blueverve Studio to their friends on Facebook.  The biggest part of all of this seems to be searching out the best ways to make social media work for me, instead of making me bear the burden of over-posting in an attempt to promote the studio.

Another cool happening on the marketing front today is that I now have a tab on the Blueverve Studio Facebook page to let people ad their email to my mailing list.  Not rocket science, but still fun.  :)  If you're interested, check it out here.

The battle continues, and I'm happy to be a part of it.  Next is adding more and better items to the studio for sale.  I'd like to create some custom calendars (better than the existing ones up there), and soon post my wood and oil paintings.  Right now I am debating the merits of posting these large panels with or without a frame.  I would like to include a frame for the sake of having a 100% complete painting, ready to hang once it arrives after purchase, but I am also wary of this, as it will up the final price both in terms of labor and shipping, and it will limit how well the final piece might match a buyers personal decor.  I'd love feedback if anyone has any thoughts in this area!

As always, thanks for listening!
Jen