How do you approach artists?

**GeorgeB** · 10:18 AM

I have a new website dedicated to high definition wallpapers.

There are TONS of HDR photographers on flickr. Stunning stuff there.

So how would you approach them about using their content on your site in exchange for leaving their watermark on there to gain them or their business free publicity as well.

My sales pitch is basically that I will send a lot of traffic to my new site and it will in turn get their watermarked (bottom left corner) images out there.

Question is they will not likely understand things like the fact that I have an exact match domain so I'll probably rank high in google. Or internet branding. Or some of my own colorful terms like "bookoo traffic!".

How would you approach this?

**vangogh** · 04-18-2008, 06:35 PM

Good question. I would guess most aren't going to understand what an exact match domain means like you say, but you still have to offer them a reason for the images.

You might want to frame it more about the branding aspects and getting their name out there. Artists do understand the need for people seeing their work and they understand getting traffic to a website. They're perhaps less likely to know seo speak.

I think you can basically tell them the truth, but focus less on the technical things and more in terms they'll know.

I bet if you search around a bit you can find some basic articles online about marketing for artists written by artists. The concepts are likely the same, but you can pick up on their language about it.

**NaughtyGirl** · 04-19-2008, 01:47 PM

Sometimes just asking works.

I've had a lot of luck with artists just by asking, but they do want to know exactly how you'll use it. A link back is pretty standard.

**seocd** · 04-22-2008, 07:45 PM

most artists want to get their name and their work out there so just offer to give them credit and provide a link to their site next to the image and i imagine most artists/photographers would be more than happy to do that.

**highanddry** · 02:15 PM

^^ "most" is too strong a word.

A lot of times you send dozens and dozens of e-mails and get only a few responses. It took me so much time and energy to get enough content from trusting artists. The trick is to be personable. I tried sending standard e-mails to a lot of people without much luck and I got a better response by sending personalized e-mails.

**jimmychen** · 05-22-2008, 08:15 AM

I would suggest give them an incentive for getting their work. But if you want to save money, just ask them with a personal mail, i see lots of great artists on deviantart, do you ask artists there too?