W23: Redbubble Ad Analysis, National Gallery Response, and LiteHaus Proposal in Berlin
Here is it! | SLART’s Weekly Art Practice Number 23.
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Author’s Note: Every Saturday, I share my art practice over the past 7 days. I’m fascinated by artistic practice – it’s not just about creating art but the entire process. From influences and ideas to materials and skills, each artist’s unique approach shapes their work, making it more than just a finished piece. Just imagine having a weekly update from your favourite living artist. How cool would that be? (I’m not saying I’m your favourite living artist, but if Jean Dubuffet had a weekly blog, I’d read it! Or if Elsa Rouy had a Substack, I’d pay to read it.)
Substack (Thanks a million to my 1 paid Subscriber, you’ve stuck with me when others left, you know who you are!).
Creeping up to 500 followers, my self-esteem is got a temporary hook to get this over the line, whilst other stats drop!
Insta stats
Qui s’en fout ?
I decided to boost a post over a week with the cost $150, but then I chicken out and pause it because I’m not seeing results.
The post I boosted.
So it makes logical sense that I boosted this post as it’s linking to Redbubble where I sell the art. I’ve just realised that the selling of this piece has been paused as they are re-verifying it with the company that owns the Hitchcock brand. Luckily I did pause it. Anyway, my point is that I would want to work out a conversion rate of how many clicks per purchase (got my work head on), and then if that’s profitable, I could keep the ad running for it to pay for itself and make me a profit.
Have a look: So I was paying 33 cents per click to the Redbubble website. Let’s say for every 100 visits, I get 1 sale. This one sale makes me $25.
100 visits x 33 cents = $33
$25 sale – $33 ad costs = an $8 loss! D’oh!
I didn’t get to work out the CVR (Conversion rate) but saying all of this out loud has made me realise that it’s simple maths. Redbubble isn’t the best example as they offer low commissions on products, so let’s say theoretically I made $50 selling my own product.
100 visits x 33 cents = $33
$50 sale – $33 ad costs = a $17 profit! Woohoo!
A little video of the dashboard and ad stats.
Phew, writing this has given me perpective. My trouble has been not working out my goal to start with, then testing it. I just ‘click and hope’ which is a merde strategy! I worry about losing money, but you have to mentally and physically put aside marketing dollars (or Great British Pounds in my case) and experiment. Well, that’s if you want to.
I’ll have a think about this in the coming week and see what I can test properly.
Food for thought.
Prospective Job Application to Art Galleries and Institutions
As you know, I have random ideas and take action almost immediately. I decided to send my work CV and Art CV to art galleries and institutions, to be employed by them to optimise their website. I figured that I had nothing to lose, and everything to gain. I might as well use my skills to support an organisation related to my art career. Makes sense right? I’ll help them, they’ll help me, I’ll make art world contacts. I’ve already got one reply from a government museum that passed on my info to the right person.
National Gallery replied…
It’s something!
Exhibizone Grand Prize – 11th Edition – 2024
I applied to this via my new favourite open calls site, Callforentry.org, it’s free to apply but if accepted there is a $50 fee. It looks pretty good overall, what do you think?
Rejection from UCLHNHSFT
I am gutted about this and frustrated that I’ve not been given a reason why. I did ask for feedback, so we’ll see. I’ll have to let go of the rejection as I don’t anticipate a reply. At my time of life, I’d at least prefer honesty, rather than a generic answer. With the generic answer, It feels like I’m left hanging.
LiteHaus Gallery Berlin
I contacted LiteHaus Gallery in Berlin to propose an exhibiton, I used GPT to propose in German. I had a group exhibit there in 2022, so the previous connection may help. Let’s see what happens…
This was my piece that was displayed:
ALL WORK AND NO PAINT MAKES SLART A SAD BOY
I’ve not been feeling my Slarty self this week. I couple of days I’ve felt like quitting art all together. I’ve certainly felt like quitting Instagram, again.
I’ve made some sassy reels to Post on Sunday, here’s one of them. It’s an artistic expression of my frustration with social media. So I decided to schedule out 1 per hour on Sunday to see what happens.
No painting this week. I feel like I need to get this frustration out, so I will paint over the weekend at some point.
Thank you for joining me in my art practice for this week.
Best wishes,
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