We recently received this note and the photo above from a client who purchased and donated a major sculpture to a hospital in his home area:
Just wanted to let you know what a sensation the sculpture has been. Please let Gary Price know that it is in constant ‘use’ in front of the Einstein Medical Center Montgomery. The hospital, recognized as the third most beautiful in America, is very hard edged and maybe a little scary to some. The relaxed and welcoming Einstein changes all of that. It has its own facebook page (go to groups then einsteinlove) besides screen savers and constant ‘selfies’. The piece has added much pleasure and excitement to the hospital staff in whose honor it is dedicated.
Please let me know if Gary ever comes east near our area.
Thank you,
Bruce M
Beyond being extremely gratifying to know that we’ve facilitated an installation that has such a positive impact, this kind of testimonial from a client is tremendously valuable. Think of the power this short testimonial will have when someone is considering a similar purchase.
Ask for Testimonials
I would urge you to ask for testimonials from clients who buy work directly from you and encourage your galleries to collect testimonials from their clients and share them with you.
Asking for a testimonial can be very simple. Be sure and get your client’s email address, and then, about a month after any sale, send a follow-up note to the effect of:
Hi!
Thank you again for your purchase of the Albert Einstein bench. Now that you’ve had it in place for a month, I would love to hear what people are saying about him. Would you mind shooting me an email with a photo of the piece in place and any reaction you’ve heard and what you’ve felt about the work? I would love to share your thoughts with the artist and with others considering adding a Gary Price bench to their collection.
Thank you!
Obviously you would have to adapt the note to fit the situation of the sale, but you can send a similar simple note about even the smallest sales.
Not everyone will respond, but you’ll be amazed at the great things your clients will say about your work.
Giving Your Work a Social Media Following
The note from our client also points to another great social media marketing idea. By creating a Facebook group and asking people to share their own photos, the hospital has given the sculpture a life of its own. For major public installations of your art you could create your own Facebook group. Then ask for permission to create a card next to the piece encouraging people to post their photos with the piece.
Here are some photos that were posted to the Einstein group page at https://www.facebook.com/groups/664512926983143/ (you have to join the group to see the photos).
Your Testimonials
What have your clients said about your art? How have you gathered testimonials in the past? What do you think of the idea of gathering comments from your buyers? Share your experiences, thoughts, and testimonials in the comments below.