This post is by guest author, Howard Cooperman.  This article has been edited and published with the author's permission. You should submit an article and share your views as a guest author by clicking here. We've promoted this post to feature status because it provides great value to the FineArtViews community.  If you want your blog posts listed in the FineArtViews newsletter with the possibility of being republished to our 18,000+ subscribers, consider blogging with FASO Artist Websites.  This author's views are entirely his own and may not always reflect the views of BoldBrush, Inc.

So, you want to sell more art.

As an gallery owner with more than three decades experience, I'm always amazed when I reach out to an artist that I think would be a good match for my gallery - send them an email, leave a voice mail, or sometimes both, to no avail. There are all too many times when, after a few weeks, I'll hear back. Most of the time, I've already contacted someone else who IS eager to sell more art.

Frequently, when I finally receive a return call or email I'll hear "oh - thanks for contacting me, that's an old email address I don't use any more." My response - and you didn't find it necessary to change where your email's are forwarded or directed?

People, what the heck? I can only imagine if I were a collector inquiring about a piece of art I wanted to purchase. Place yourself in their position. You want to purchase some art, and you don't hear back from the artist?!? Out of common courtesy, when someone sends or leaves a message, get back to them ASAP whether you're interested or not. Whether the artwork they're interested in is available or not. FIND OUT IF YOU CAN BE OF HELP TO THEM now, or in the future.

Collect THEIR contact information, add them to your mailing list, whether email or snail mail. Collect their phone number and ask when the best time is to contact them. Find out what their interests are and stay in touch with them. If you don't make the sale today, maybe you'll captivate them with another artwork later.

For those of you that have a web site with contact information, here is a short check list that could help you sell more art - if that's what your goal is:

1) Make sure you list your CURRENT email address.

2) If your contact page is set so your email address is hidden, make sure the submit button forwards to your current email address.

3) List your physical studio address. (unless your studio is your home and don't want unexpected guests coming)

4) Include your phone number.

5) If you have a blog, twitter account or Facebook page, include it on your site. Invite people to join or follow you.

6) Are you listed with Linkedin? You never know who's looking for you, or finds you by accident. Include your web site to make it easy for people to locate you.

7) Make sure to include all appropriate contact information on social networking sites too. Any way you can make it easy to be found could score a sale for you.

8) Last but not least - if someone makes contact with you - get back to them as soon as possible, before they lose interest in you, or feel you're just not interested.

Oh, and by the way, if you've collected contact information from people interested in your work, send them a thank you letter or email with an image of your most recent artwork. Maybe it will end up on their fridge as a reminder of how nice your art really is.

It is not uncommon for clients to come into my gallery with an old post card I mailed out months or years later, looking for work that was available back then, but weren't in a position to buy when they received it. Selling and marketing is not easy. Make sure you take advantage of every opportunity when you're in front of a potential's face.

Good Luck, I hope this article increases your chances of adding another collector to your base.

Please accept my invitation to comment to this post, and offer other pertinent information I may not have touched on. The main purpose in writing this post is to open a dialogue.