Let’s talk about collaboration. Collaborating can be an excellent way to grow your audience and get your work in front of fresh eyes. It is an excellent marketing tool and an excellent way to make some great friends too.
Collaboration can look like a unique one-of-a-kind piece that you create with a fellow pyrographer, or a mixed media piece with artists from other fields, or a collaborative effort with companies. I have found success with all three. Click here to check out my collaboration pieces I have completed with other artists as well as companies I have partnered with.
When you get other people and other accounts talking about your work, it will grow your feed much faster than if you are the only one talking about it, and this is why I believe that collaboration is so fantastic, and why I attribute my past collaborations to a lot of my successes.
Collaborations can be scary and difficult to navigate, but I have some suggestions for you.
It needs to be a win-win-win situation. Be sure to set it up that way so that it is worth it for the person you are collaborating with for them and for their audience. It needs to make sense for all parties involved. If you are approaching someone with an idea, make sure you are clear on what it is you are asking of them and what it is you will be doing/providing.
Lay out all the details and agree to them before you continue forward. How are you dividing up expenses and profits? Where are you posting it? For how long? This should all be discussed before anything is made.
Communication is key. Have a backup form of communication if possible. If you are: running behind, have questions or concerns, don’t like something, or have an idea, I encourage you to speak up. Communicate your concerns and ideas with your collaboration partner. It will allow everything to run smoother.
Keep their aesthetic in mind when you are deciding if they are a right fit, and when you are coming up with your design/idea.
Workout your marketing strategy ahead of time. How many times will you post? How will you talk about it? Will you do a joint LIVE?
Follow through. Nothing is more frustrating than working on a group project with someone who is not pulling their weight.
But HOW?
Series/Collection Sale: Sell a collaborative collection on one person’s site, while the both of you promote it. Collaborative collections are fantastic, because you put in all the work for a collaboration and only have to ship one time, but create several pieces.
Use whoever’s platform is larger to hold the sale whenever possible.
Giveaways: These are fantastic. This is a great way to motivate followers to follow the other members of the collaboration. Make sure the item(s), the rules, the photo, and the text are all very clear.
Have people entering interact beyond tagging friends. Ask them a question, connect with them. It will feel more genuine for everyone, because it will be. Ask them to share about it too, to spread the word.
Auctions/bidding: Doing a blind/silent auction is also a great way to have a successful collaboration. You can also raise money for charity/cause. This raises awareness of the charity, but also of you, your art, and your values as a small business.
A piece of mine that sold for the highest amount was from a blind auction sale. Don’t discount them, but do know that you need to promote them a lot; well before, and during the auction.
Promoting Products: Collaborating with companies can be a great way to make some extra money, get some great products, and extra exposure.
Know what is expected of you. Read any contracts, and be carful of exclusivity. Only choose brands that make sense for your brand. Do your research.
I hope you consider bringing collaborations into your business as a regular practice. I think you will find the many benefits that that can come from them.
Let’s work together!
Are you a business or an artist that would like to collaborate with Wood Burn Corner or with the wood burning community? We would love to hear from you!
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