Art Marketing Action Podcasts from Alyson B. Stanfield and ArtBizCoach.com

It's easier than every to get a video online. Well, technically it's a video, but it consists of slides of your artwork. All you need are images of your work, access to Microsoft PowerPoint or Apple Keynote, and way to record audio if you choose to add it. These six steps will get you started using SlideShare.

Marketing is a combination of everything you do to sell or gain recognition for your art. Most artists think of marketing in terms of self-promotion, like sending postcards or writing blog posts. But effective marketing is more comprehensive. Listen to this list and see where your art marketing might be falling short.

Artists publish testimonials in brochures and on websites to share the experience clients have had with them. A powerful testimonial is particularly effective for artists who teach, accept commissions, and compete for public art projects. Let me show you the right way to ask for a testimonial and tell you why it works.

Brag better about your art by spending time reviewing your accomplishments. If you can't stand the word "brag," just think of it as truth-telling. You're not going to embellish or lie about what you've been up to. You're just going to be able to provide a more coherent response that doesn't beat around the bush. These 12 questions adapted from Peggy Klaus will help you tell a better story.

Why sit back and wait to hear from an art gallery, curator, arts writer, art center or museum when you can connect through Web 2.0? Don't lurk on Facebook and twitter. Become a valuable contributor to the dialog. Join the conversation with galleries and other art world types through social media. Remember that social media is social.

Creating an entirely new website or blog is overwhelming. Tweaking what you already have is easier! Implementing even a couple of these ideas will make a big dent in the way your website functions.

A certain level of doubt can be useful motivation for your art career. Dwelling in doubt can be debilitating. Conquer the doubt. In my experience, it doesn't matter whether others believe in you or not. What matters is that you believe in yourself.

If you want to grow a profitable art business, you can't do everything yourself. The key to finding the perfect team to help you out is identifying which tasks could be managed by someone else. Hiring an assistant will bring you peace of mind that will allow you to focus on your art.

Before you decide to have a sale, consider the ramifications it will have on your relationship with art galleries, collectors, and retailers. What is the reason for your sale? How will you notify your collectors? What language will you need to use on a special sales page on your website or blog?

It's easier than ever to meet people, but it requires effort. The results will be worth your time. Don't lament that you're not connected. Do something about it! After you've identified people you'd like to get to know, embrace the attitude that you do not want anything immediately from them. You might request their opinions and ideas, but you will not be asking for a gallery exhibition, a feature article, or sponsorship.