Self Promotion strategies

All the different kinds of Self Promotion out there...

Self Promotions Pros and Cons

Blogs/Twitter etc

• Quick and easy, anyone can set one up
• Can put up a new post in seconds
• Can be viewed by most people [with an internet connection]
• Mobile devices ever more compatible with such services to make it even easier to view/post
• Blogs can be easily modified to show off creativity and personality
• Twitter can be used for instant broadcasting to a wide audience
• Its FREE!

• Blogs can only be commented upon/followed if you are a member [Same for Facebook and DeviantART]
• Can be hard to get noticed
• Its hard to find the real person [many copy cats out there, particularly on twitter]
• Not accessible to people with no internet, successfulness of the blog etc depends on target audience
• Self censorship, have to be careful what you say/post sometimes
• Susceptible to 'Trolls', people who just post random rubbish and spam

Business Cards

• Small and formal 
• Can come in many different forms
• Fairly Cheap to buy in bulk
• Can make them however you like
• Something tangible that the client can keep hold of for future offers
• Can be easily distributed

• If you've got no money at all, then its not easy to print them
• Can easily be thrown away
• Depends on client/audience whether its a successful way to promote [young kids aren't likely to hold on to them for long]

Sticker Bombing

• Depending on audience, It can be a quick and fairly cheap way to promote
• Instant inpact, will get message across quickly

• Generally frowned upon, if not illegal
• Stickers size limits information
• Susceptible to weather conditions... eg. Rain
• Wont work for everyone

Postcards

• Much like business cards, easily distributed
• Bigger then said cards, so more information can be communicated
• Allot of people collect postcards 
• People may be more likely to spend a little money on a postcard beachwear they could be seen as small prints
• Fairly Cheap, depends on paper quality which may affect its successfulness
• Could be found everywhere, shop windows, art fairs etc.

• Not everyone's cup of tea
• Easily thrown away
• Still not much space to put information, have to be sensible what image to use as it may be all the potential client will see of your work
• Free postcards are great, but charge for them and it may not be as successful
• Can be expensive, depends on paper etc.

Competitions

• Big competitions can give great coverage and promotion, but do have to be prepared to put in the work
• There is always a competition running somewhere
• Cash prizes are always great
• Other prizes can really boost career and aid production of art [eg, art materials]
• National recognition, depending on competition

• You don't always win [obviously]
• Some competitions can put an extra workload ontop of current uni work/illustration work
• Have to be very self motivated