313: How Sarah Built a Full-Time Income Selling Her Art Online (Without Ads)

What if you could build a full-time income selling your art online? No craft fairs, no tents in the rain, no ads? Just you, your studio, and a strategy that actually works. That's exactly what Sarah Golden has done and she's sharing it all inside. I'll meet you there. Welcome to the e-commerce roadmap, the podcast for store owners who are growing their sales without spending a fortune on ads. Each week you'll learn actionable strategies and tips that will fast track the growth and profitability of your e-commerce business. So buckle up and join your host Susan Bradley as we dive into the work that will grow your sales this year. Hey welcome back. So today I am so excited to introduce you to Sarah Golden. She is a famous artist who has been selling her work online for more than 10 years and she's built a full-time business from her studio doing just what she loves. She's painting, she's creating, and she's sharing it with the world on social media. So Sarah sells original artwork in print through her own online store and she's done it almost entirely organically through social media and email. No ads bend, just consistency, a really smart strategy and a willingness to show up. Now Sarah is an inner circle member and honestly she is one of the most interesting people I've talked to in a long time because she's not only a talented artist but she actually loves the business side too. She loves the numbers, the strategy and the data and that's kind of rare. So it makes her story really worth listening to. So whether you are an artist who wants to make this your full-time thing or a maker who wants to make this your full-time thing or you're just looking for a reminder that slow and steady really does win, this one's for you. Let's get started. Hey everybody, welcome back. So I'm sitting here on Zoom recording this podcast with the famous Sarah Golden. She's killing herself laughing. We had a really good laugh about this because she's been in the inner circle for a long time. She took a little break but she's been back for almost a year and my assistant said, "Oh my gosh, Sarah Golden's in the inner circle, you have to talk to her on the podcast." I was like, "Okay." And Sarah, you are. So thank you. Thank you for agreeing to be in the podcast. I really appreciate it. Thank you for having me. Yeah. And you're, as we know, a famous artist who literally makes a living from your art, which is a big accomplishment. I do. Famous as a, absolutely like a misnomer I feel, but yeah. I've been consistent over the years on social media. Really good. And that's how, I mean, that's a giant accomplishment in itself because you know I was telling a friend the other day. I think I've made four Instagram posts in my life. So yay you. And it shows. But let's talk, let's talk a little bit about you and your business. So you are, I mean, we have so many people that come to us in the inner circle and want to make a living selling their art. And it's hard. We know it's hard and very personal. But you are successful and I don't even know how many years you've been doing that. So I would love to have a real quick lay of the land of where you are now in business. And you don't have to give us numbers, but you know what your life looks like, what your work days look like. And then like a quick, how did you get here? Like how did you get on this path? And what are some of the big decisions you made to be where you are today? I think that would be so interesting. Oh, now I put you on the spot. I know, but we'll be fine. So let's talk about what life looks like right now. And you're art is beautiful, by the way. So cool. Thank you. Thank you. So right now, so my main focus on my day to day is my studio practice, just really putting in, if I can get three hours of painting in, it's a successful day. And that's always my goal. And I have an art agent as well. So I do some licensing in that, but it all stems from my work of like what I'm making in the day. I scan things and then I make them into prints that I sell online. And then they also go to my agent for licensing. Oh, so you're able to like sell one piece of art in a couple of different ways? Yeah. Yeah, I like that a lot. And so that's been my focus of how I've kind of restructured my business, like my hierarchy of where I put my time. Yeah. I've been selling original work online for like 10 years. Oh, wow. So you are kind of a pioneer. I would say so I even start on Etsy like 20 years ago. Wow. You know, for more like crafty stuff, then take a break. And then when my kids, I have 12 year old twins. And when my kids were a year and a half, I was like, okay, I was staying at home. And I was like, by the time they're in kindergarten, I, this is going to be my full time job. And so I had that like fire under my bum to like really, really commit. And I just got obsessed and fell in love with making and selling the work, you know, and how I just have ownership over that of what I, how I spend my time. Yeah. So validating, right? Oh, they usually have talent and people really want what you create. I, when I sell a painting, it, it's my favorite feeling in the world, really. To be honest, it's like, I mean, yeah, I was like, we have to do the, the qualifier, the discreeters, like, I let me do a bunch of things. It's just, it's just such a good feeling. It feels like freedom, you know, and just sharing your joy of, you know, and getting to do something where it's like, for me, I'm like, processing, I just love the process of making work. Oh, wow. So you're happy to wake up every day and go into this video, which is absolutely beautiful. I can see it behind you. And I'm sure when you created that, it was like the best feeling ever, because I'm sure you didn't start with a gorgeous studio like that. No, no, I started on my, you know, kitchen table. And then we turned, we turned a bedroom into my studio for a few years and then just kind of slowly grew, I out grew it and, you're not good. And so online on your website, which is gorgeous, you sell prints and originals. Yes. And I see you framing coming too. I do framing for originals right now. And I, yeah, I do want to get framing going for the prints as well. Yeah. Yeah. There's a lot used to do. Yeah. I'm sorry, go ahead. I was just going to say there was a lot of people like me that would be completely happy just to buy it done. Exactly. Yeah. I'm sourcing like the right people, you know, I used to print my prints in half. And I was like, I'm going to print my prints in half. I'm going to print my prints in half. I would make a bunch of sales. I'd be so happy. I have to do all this now. I couldn't keep up with it. I just had built myself this ceiling pretty quickly. That was like, okay. That was really hard for me to let go. I did that. and sorting that out with a finding of the good- yeah- the container and getting all that outsourced. Yeah I think it's probably better than it was five or six years ago right? Oh completely, yeah. Yeah. Yeah because I I wanted to do it back then and I was like I just couldn't find somebody that. Yeah. The standards for for me and I really saw how much this really brought out how much of a control freak I am. Or let's say attention in detail you know. Yeah that's why people buy your work. That's right. They expect it to be great. So you've been selling your art for ten years and you've been full-time for seven or eight years? Is that right? It happened pretty quickly. Yeah you know I mean just naturally since I was home with the kids anyway but it it grew quite quite quickly. So yeah I'd say eight years. What was the catalyst to make it grow? Like what did you do differently than the people who are still trying to make it work all those years ago? They were trying then too and they're still not you know they're still carting their stuff around to the craft shows and like what is the difference? Well you did and what they I think, well, I mean, I have to say social media was different in 2016 when I started. It felt different, but at the same time, I was never doing in-person events like heavily. That wasn't my focus. It was like building an online business was always my focus. So learning how to photograph well, how I, like, really crafting how I want to show up, and then also how I want my work to feel. I want people to be able to feel it through the screen. So really good. You know what I took away from that as, you know, not a creative person? It was like you narrowed your focus and put all your attention on the thing you really wanted. Rather than shifting your focus and, you know, running around and creating a lot of other things that would maybe would get you some short-term cash, but you were very clear on what you wanted for your long-term goal. Does that sound right? Yeah, definitely. Even though I still find it's a lesson I learned over and over again. Yeah, I mean, constantly. It's like, I have come to the point where I tell my team, look, it's okay for everyone to say, just stop right there. And think about what you're saying that we should all do. Yeah, like I'll have an idea for something new or a project, and I will research it too. I have it. And like I love running the numbers and everything. And then I'm like, what are you doing? The amount of work that this would take to, and the impact would be so little. Oh, okay. Can you repeat that? Because that should be on a t-shirt. Really? And most people don't think that way. You just said that the impact of this thing that I just decided that maybe we should do or I just spent like a day researching is going to be so little. And really what you said is it's not scalable. Yeah, exactly. Yeah. Most of us don't stop and think about that. That it's not scalable. That we're putting all this effort into something that is maybe going to give us a couple thousand dollars at the end of the day. Yeah. Yeah, like I keep always having this idea. I was like, I would love to like get a vintage sticker machine in my street. Sure. And it likes, because I can't go out in person so much. Maybe my sticker machine could. And I'm like, you don't even sell stickers. So good. So let's talk about what you do sell. So you sell rents and you sell originals. And did you always sell both or did you start with originals and then move into prints? Or yeah, I've pretty quickly moved into prints after a few years. Okay. And so when I was an artist starting out, what would you recommend that somebody do? If I were just starting out, what would be your best advice? Like if you're a traditional artist with, you know, work on canvas, I would say find a local photographer who specializes in capturing paintings like good, high quality scams. You want something that can make a nice print from. That's the thing where it all starts. Yeah. And if you work small, get a good scanner, you know, yourself. You can scan really a nice nine by 12 inch piece of paper really professionally yourself at home. And it's year bigger than that. You need help. Yeah, you can, you can stitch them together. I get a canvas on the little flatbed scanner and I'll stitch, stitch them together. But just getting used to that and learning how to edit those files to make a good print. Is a good start. Really good. So it's, it's more than just being a good artist. It is a lot of computer work. I have to say. Yeah. Yeah. So I would love to know, is there any, like any defining moments as you went through this journey where, okay, you knew, hey, I can be full time. This is going to be my career. Was there anything, any, any level you had to get to or any clues from the universe where you said, okay, this is going to be my thing. You know, when I, when I release some work, my collections don't typically like sell out right away. I'm not like a fast selling artist that way. That said, when a piece of work, like a sale comes through and I've sold, like a $3,000 painting, like that is, I have to trust in that. You know what I mean? And be like this, this can keep going. Yeah. It's just so hopeful. Like, you know, that, that didn't happen right away. I had, when I first started selling work, I did have a few in-person shows and I sold, like, $20,000 of art when I was like at the very towards the very beginning, which was like a huge deal for me. And it gave me such confidence to that's really what pushed me into like the full time. Really interesting. Can I ask another question about that? Yeah. And it's about pricing because I feel like a lot of artists are afraid to ask what their work is worth. Were you at like, was your pricing really low when you started and it went up or did you always ask what you felt it was worth? I, no, and honestly, I think, I think, I always, I still struggle with that. Like I still waffle back and forth. I'm like, oh, you know, does this still make sense? And so I don't think that there's, it might be a personality thing, but I, for me, I think I just had to get comfortable with that feeling. And I really have to just put the numbers, you know, I have a spreadsheet for pricing and I saved all the years so I can look back. And then I just bump it up and or see where there's gaps or it doesn't make sense, especially for big work. Like I sell in a large range. So if I make a big four by four foot painting and then have some smaller, you know, 12 inch paintings, that's like, there's going to be a huge, that's very dynamic, you know, or broad. But I think, I don't know, just really just having it on paper and having those decisions made before. So it's not emotional. Like if someone inquires like, oh, how much is that? I just go to my spreadsheet and it's already decided. Like I'm not deciding when the opportunity arises, you know? Yeah. So you're not feeling, oh, I don't want to ask. Yeah. Any of that. And do you do it just based on the size of the artwork? Is that how you decide to price or is some more involved than others that you would? Like is there are the gray areas? Like paper versus canvas. Okay. Kind of high. So like canvas is higher than paper. Yeah. Yeah. It's, it just has to like, I just, I think about like when you go on the website, I'm always trying to think like does this make sense or cause any confusion? Like I don't want someone to be like, oh, why is this, you know, different than that? So it's pretty much across the board except for like paper versus canvas. Okay. Thank you for sharing that. I just think that's a hard thing for people who make products. It's a really hard thing. And I think we get in our own way sometimes. And it's so personal too. It's kind of all ego related and difficult. Yeah. I think especially if there's like something that comes easier for you or is faster to make. Oh, it only takes a few minutes. Yeah. No. No. That's true. And remember you've got, you've got overhead, right? And you're, all you really are selling is your time. Yeah. Yeah. Oh, that's, that's really interesting. Now another question I had for you though that I thought was really valid and people might be want to know this. Have you done anything in your journey to really encourage collecting? Like talking, like I'm sure you have people that buy multiple times from you. Mm-hmm. Yeah. Do you have, have you done anything to encourage that or they are just coming back on their own? You know, that's something I really want to be more like part of my focus this year going forward. And having, using some of the strategies from like the inner circle, the reliable revenue of like how I can nurture that more, like in certain flows. Yep. And stuff. You can talk about that. Yeah. Because like that's something that when people like say get on my list, are they coming, are they more print focused or are they more originals? Like I don't want to split my focus because I do tend to overthink it and be like, oh, you know, I want it to make sense to everyone, but also I want to be speaking. I don't know. It's something I struggle with. Interesting. So I'll just tell you a little story of mine is that I have this artist that I've purchased a few prints from for two different, you know, I live in the south and the winter and up north in the summer or some two different locations and I just bought my first original. Yeah. Well, yeah. I mean, really nice. Yeah. Yeah. I mean, really nice. Yeah. Yeah. to have an original, but I was just thinking, I think it's maybe more often the same person than you think it is. I don't know that that is really true. Yeah. And you know the other thing that is, for me, as a purchaser, I hope everyone listening isn't going to sleep now, but here's my thought. Particularly if you're an artist, is that the framing has many times caused me as much as the art. Yeah. And so even when I'm not doing, yeah, well, I do, I would love to buy it done, as long as it, you know, isn't a shipping problem. Yeah, I think that, so when somebody buys a print from you for, say, $300, it's probably at the end of the day going to cost $700 total to get it on their wall. And so then a step up to an original is less of a gap maybe than as an artist, you might realize I'm thinking, but that's true. Yeah. Like it does cost a lot to get, like the print is an investment, but not a huge investment, but the actual getting it ready to be on your wall is another big investment. So yeah, I think, I think that original buyers are not that much different than unless you're a $15,000 original, you know, which yeah, you could probably try that sometime. Anyway, I was really interested in that because I think that art is like jewelry, you can collect it. Yeah, that's true. For sure, you can. When I think about the art I've bought in my, you know, many years because I'm a million years old, I've almost always bought more than one piece from someone. Yeah, really, really, really interesting. So let's talk about, um, let's talk about you and your wins and you are really so unique and so smart, but we do this post inside of the inner circle every Friday. I do it and it's my favorite because I love to hear what people are working on and see it and sometimes I'll go to their site and I'm checking it all out, but I really want also them to acknowledge that the whatever win they've had is because of something they did and that if you just keep moving forward and you are such a great example of that. Like, when I said to you, oh, you're so famous how'd you do it and you just said consistency? That's how I did it. Like it's not there's no magic bullet. It's just showing up and consistency and so consistently taking action is good, but you had a win that got got our attention and it was that you're an artist and you soft launched your new Shopify site, which was your print shop and sent your first emails in Clavio. And I don't know how long you didn't have Shopify in Clavio, but you actually switched and that is I know that's like as soon as we say to someone, oh, you should probably switch to like, oh, so tell me what brought you to that moment where you thought, what were you on before? Were you like a wig, Sarah? I was Squarespace and Space Space email. Yeah, but yeah, and I had tried with for email, I'd been on Squarespace for 10 years on email. I had done MailChimp, FlowDask. I tried them all through them. Yeah, try them all. I knew I wanted to switch to Shopify for probably three or four years to be honest and I just could not, it felt too overwhelming, you know, it felt too over or too big of a job for like, I was like, I can't set aside that time, which is totally wrong and I honestly should have just done it way sooner. That said, yes. So Shopify in Clavio, I just I had to do and I knew if I wanted to to make progress with the trainings from you, I just needed that to be what I have so that it made I could actually do it. Instead of like filtering everything to make sense for what I had. Yeah, so yeah. And so how long did it take you? Okay, I feel like it was the longest transition because so I closed down my print shop on Squarespace like last August and then it took me a few months to finally get it get it Shopify going, you know, and I basically just I just had Shopify as my print shop, but so still like on Squarespace hybrid. So I launched Black like Black Friday weekend, basically I launched the print shop. That's a good idea. Okay, and I wasn't even planning. I wasn't even ready. I was like, no, I'm going to learn through the doing. I'm not going to just like, it might be a little messy and that's okay, you know, and it was, but I've learned so much more than just like thinking in my head. And so then I had that hybrid for quite a while and I just got all my originals over last last month. So it's been, wow, it took me, I'd say, five months, but that's because I think I just waited too long and I was having to do it because I was like kind of just needed to do it frantically, you know, like this has to happen. Yeah, you know, and it's not like you could stop all your other work. Well, exactly. Yeah, I wasn't, it needed to be like part of my, I had to work it into my work day, you know, and that just, but then the longer it took, I was like, no, I should just, should just do this, you know, I just, I got it done. It's, and I'm so happy to be on the other side of that. Yeah, like so happy. Yeah. And you didn't hire someone to do it because you wanted it to be your work, right? It had to be a reflection of your work. I, you know, really, I know that I should have hired out in terms of like for time and maybe like some lost opportunity, you know, like just get it done quicker. That said, I really wanted to learn how to use it so that when I'm like ideating and coming up with strategies that I know what I can do and just by learning how to build some of that. So that was important to me. Yeah. I like that stuff. Yeah. You're a really interesting artist. You like a lot of stuff that most artists, well, most artists actually do like working on their website, but there are other things that you enjoy that I haven't heard a lot from the artists in our community. So that's interesting, like numbers. But tell me, so what was, when you moved everything over, what's happened since? Really? I, okay, so right now I feel like my analytics haven't quite settled. You know, and that's something that like I'm looking forward to, like maybe in another 90 days when it's a little bit cleaner, you know, because like my conversion rate at first, my conversion rate, like went way higher, like during the the Black Friday and stuff, I was like, oh, this is the best conversion rate I've ever had. That's exciting, you know. But then it settled back down to like kind of more what it was historically. So I'm looking forward to seeing how I can kind of nurture all that. Use the data. Yeah. Yeah. Actually make good decisions. Yeah. Exactly. Oh, that's good. And so do you find though that it feels like you're more in the same page with what everyone else is talking about so much so so much so much so much so yeah. I know, you know, I feel like I can understand how hard it is to make that switch particularly when you do it yourself. But I feel like there's a reason that all the big guys are on Shopify and it's just made for e-commerce and like for scalable e-commerce. And it's like what I love in this year is even better because of the expanded analytics we all got. You know, it's allowed us in reliable revenue to stop relying on G4, which is like, you know, the best day ever. But I just think that there are the other platforms just don't give you everything you need to create a scalable business as far as understanding what's really happening in your store and what's moving the needle. And so that combined with Clavio is really to me, it's the dream client. If they come with those two things, we know I feel even more confident that we can help them with as few barriers as possible. So I'm so glad you did it, yay. That is a big yeah. All of us. So um, so you found us on the podcast and you said you're like a podcast over consumer. You're like my studio bestie in my ear. Well, I'm painting. How did you find us? Did it just pop up in your feet? You know, I think I was trying to think back of that and I can't even remember how exactly, but I suspect it was because a few years ago, I was like, oh, I'm going to do learn how to do Facebook ads and then came up and I did one of your webinars. And then I was like, oh, wait, no, this is like, I need more all of this other stuff too. This is this This is the good stuff. I was like, "Okay, artists aren't doing this so much." I was like, "This is what I need. I need more people on my website." You need more traffic. You need to build your email list, all those things, especially if you're going to. This is going to be a full-time gig. Yeah. You don't have to lug your stuff and then stand there under your tent in the rain, hoping it doesn't get wrecked. Wherever you are. So you've been an inner circle member for actually a long time. What I think is super interesting is how you talk about marketing and the numbers. Tell me about that for you. What did you. What did it look like before? You were interested in the numbers. What does it look like now? How has it impacted what you do to market your business and your growth? That's a big question. I think for me the biggest shift is, instead of what I think a lot of people do, especially artists, is focus on the vanity metrics of social media, views, followers, and all that. But taking, noticing those numbers, but then translating it to your website and your email list, it gives you that sense of like, "Oh, I can work toward something, but it's growing something that's actually yours." I think it's like the most important shift for people to take. I lost my train of thought. Hold on. Don't worry. We can edit this. Where did it go? I don't know. It happens to me a lot of time. We'll just edit this part out. What was the question, Susan? What was the question? The question is, is it the impact what you do and the outcomes that you take? Once you're confident that you. Okay, we won't start again. Beth, we're still editing this out. It's. Once you understand that vanity metrics are great, but these are the numbers that are actually going to lead to sales. How did that impact your. What you do to get sales? I think one of the most helpful things is when I'm creating social media posts and sharing, that I can see it as. It's not about how much likes are those sort of metrics. It's like the impact it makes on my business long-term. It's just like planting seeds. So I don't have to take it so personally. You know, that, "Oh, this isn't performing well." It's like. It's a bigger picture, a different picture, a snapshot. You know, that I know that if. Like, and also not to overthink it. It's like, I just need to share. And it doesn't have to be the most crafted, beautiful, time-intensive posts. It's like, I call them boring posts, but I don't mean that in a negative way. Just like, just share. Get it out. Because I do. It's building that muscle and I do lose it when I kind of taper back. Wow, I do know, actually. It's. I think, for me, I wouldn't have said building that muscle because I didn't think of that. But I would say, it's a lot easier to keep my momentum going than it is to stop and start. Yeah. And so, I think what I heard you say is that you don't have to take it that personally. Every little post that you do, you are looking at the big picture. And you're actually being guided by the data. What you see is really happening in your store. Does that make sense? Yeah. Like, it's. You know, if I. If I'm posting every day and I've even started posting twice a day. And like, oh, because I used to post back when I started. I posted three times a day, you know. And then there became a time where that seemed like unfathomable. And. But I was like, you know what? I just share, just share more. And it really. It keeps it kind of like communication open or something. So. Keeps such a behind. That's encouraging. That said, can I. I want to bring up something. I do have a, you know, a decent social media following numbers. I want to bring those people onto my list more. I just realized the other day someone signed up. I started the. I tried out the clavio social automation. Oh, did you? Which I really like. Oh, good. Oh, I'm excited. And a couple people signed up. And I can go through in our old messages. From eight years ago, she bought a piece. And I was like, oh my gosh, this person wasn't on my mailing list. Like. So. She'd been in your audience for eight years. Yeah. So did you use the clavio Instagram messaging thing? Did you use it to get around your list? Mm-hmm. Yeah. So I've set it up where like. It can be on a post or in a DM, like the certain sugar words, you know. And that's just like an evergreen one. That's when I post something. I can be like, hey, for first access of new work. I can apply golden or access. I have those two words. Yeah. And yeah, just. It's great. It's not any more robust than that right now. Because it doesn't need. It doesn't need. No, it doesn't. Putting them in a flow. What are you doing with them? So right now it's just going to my welcome flow. That's good. That's totally fine. It's at point of contact and getting. Yeah, that's totally fine. How often do you do it? Like, I guess you don't want to do post that every day. But how often do you post that? I've been doing it maybe three times a week. Really good. Every other day. Yeah, really good. And is that something that you would do as an ad to a warm audience? You know, I haven't done any ads. Oh my god. Truly. I know. I haven't. Oh. No, I just. It's really been just organic traffic and just me. So. So we got to talk. That's in the future. Yeah, I know. No, I mean we got to talk about that for everyone who's listening. Yeah. I see this often actually. So you can either pay with time and consistency or you can pay with ads. But the people who pay with time and consistency, which means you built this big following on social media. And they feel like they know you. Right? And they consume your content, even though you might not know that they're consuming. But they do. And those people will convert at a much higher rate than the people that you build your audience with it for ads. And so you're showing up for all those years and posting. And even, you know, posting twice a day, which seems like a lot. Like it's a lift. That is saving you all the money that someone else is spending on ads. And you're getting better results with it. And what you said is you're. You call them boring posts. But they're not boring to the person who's watching them. In fact, there's some of probably. Because you do. You film yourself while you're painting, right? Mm-hmm. And so they love that stuff. They love to see that stuff. And so I would. I can't imagine what your metrics are. Like your audience size and your average time watched on your videos. I bet it's amazing. So, you know, talk about how you can double down on that. Yeah. Yeah. I think those people on your list, that's really good. That artists who want to be you. Or want to be where you are. Is there anything else you think they should know? Is there any advice you would give them? I was recently talking to another artist that hadn't been sharing her work for like a year or so. And I was just, you know, encouraging her to just share and just like, be yourself. Like, don't. I know that sounds so general, but it's so true. And it's something that I've really learned. Because sharing can feel like such a burden almost. Or like when you are. Obligation. Yeah. Or like kind of caring so much about how you're presenting it. Or like, oh, that it has to be a certain level of finished or fancy or feel. And it's like, we need. I think just making it more simple and just sharing like, this is parts of my day. And it's more like, you know, your documenting. It is so interesting from a creative like creator, you know. Yes. Like people love that. You know, I want to see more of that. I want to share more of that, you know. It does take more. Almost bravery. It's just like. Yes. Because. You're kind of showing the messy, unpolished part of yourself. It's unpolished, that's it. Yeah. And it's just the way it is. And kind of like the stuff that you don't want to do. Like that kind of stuff. Showing, you know, the stuff that's not sexy. Yeah. That's dream life. Yeah. And it's like, I'm not. my social media. I do think I spend too much time still, I get caught in it, but that said, I really don't, I don't do super in-depth, like, reels and stuff. I do try to just keep it. - It's for the moment. - One and done. Yeah. And also capture things that I can reuse. - Really, I was going to ask you that. - I've been doing it for a long time. - Yeah, for sure. - I bet you people who are listening want to know how much time you spend on marketing every week. How big a part of your time? Does it take you to market your business? Do you do any in-person shows anymore? - No. So all of your income comes from your online sales. - Yeah. Yeah. - How much time do you think that takes you? - I'd say half the time. I spend about 50% of the time right now. But then part of that is like I do YouTube. So part of that's in there. But then also that is while I'm working. So it's kind of like two layers because I'm filming while I'm working. - Yeah, while you're working. - So I don't necessarily count that time. But yeah, I'd say 50% of the time. - Really good. - Some people need to know it's something you have. If this is what you want, this is going to be part of your work day. Marketing. - Oh, for sure. - Yeah. That's the biggest. I mean, I don't paint all day. There's a lot of computer work too. What's the big benefit of YouTube for you? - For me, it was being able to really share myself. And because I'm not doing in-person, I was like, I'm going to do this on YouTube. And people can really get to know me. And I can show up in that way. And I'm very unpolished. - Yeah. - I mean, you're just doing you. - Susan. - Yeah, I'm literally like, there's times I'm like, I'm editing. I'm like, can you at least look in the mirror, Sarah, before you? I'm just like, morning hair. Just like, we're getting this paintbrush is going, you know? But that's how I, that's me. - Are you more? - Yeah. - Absolutely. I think it's charming, actually. - I said, I made the mistake of saying the other day I was just finishing a live and saying, oh, it's whatever time it was. It was before reliable revenues. And I usually have my broth by now. And then I was, what did I just say? But now it's kind of typical of the stuff I come up with. So I got it. I think your story is really kind of exciting. It's really something that you really want to make a living. You're sitting there in your beautiful studio. Everything's not perfect. But the fact that you are making a living online, selling your art is so many people's dreams. So thank you for everything you share today. - Really? Who haven't? - Is there anything else that people should know? - Oh, I know what I want to ask you. What is the best part of the inner circle for you? Because you're a lurker. - Oh, I'm the biggest lurker. Like, yes. I've decided not to feel bad about that anymore. - Yeah. That's how I feel. - I would be a lurker too. - The biggest win. I have some. It's really like the mindset shift of the traffic and the email. I mean, I just can't state that enough. You know, and just that sort of like really learning. It's been like a business course of like how I can run the business. You know? And I really wanted to separate the art making. And just be able to put on my business cap and make decisions. Not thinking about, because I always, I'm led by what I want to do. And what I feel like doing over there. But then when I'm doing like, you know, looking through my numbers and making decisions based on that. And even saying possibility, realizing, hey, wait, you know, I love to pull out the conversion calculator. - Oh, yeah. - And be like, ooh, what do we have here? And then that just gives me like. - Well, because you think you see what's possible for you. Same with that revenue forecast. - That's good. - We have a reliable revenue. Again, oh, if I just focus on this, this could happen. - Yeah. - Wow. And so like that's the biggest thing. It's so creative, actually, the marketing and the strategy. - Yeah, it is, actually. You just take what, like if you do it the first time, the way we tell you to, exactly. So you don't spend in circles for three weeks. You just do what I tell you. - Exactly. - And then you start making it your own. - Yeah, it's true. Because when I was setting up even like my welcome flow, it's like, I'm like, my welcome flow is a little ham drum right now. Like, I'm gonna mix. I just have to get it down. - Yeah. And then you can go back. Because you know getting it. You know, I'll get you some results. And then you can make it more you. - Yeah, like if you don't have any numbers, you don't know what to change. - Yeah, what's working and what isn't on. Sometimes it surprises you. - That's so cool. Where can people find you? Where should we say, uh, Sarah golden art.com. And I'm on Instagram @saregoldenart. - And Sarah golden art.com is absolutely beautiful. So it was worth doing. It is, um, I feel like you will arrive on your homepage. And I know exactly what it is and who it's for. - That's perfect. - Yeah. Thank you. - Thank you for taking your time to spend with me here. That was so good to meet you. Now I can tell Amy I've met you. She'll be jealous. We'll see you soon. So everybody go. If you're an artist, I want you to really listen to the conversation today. Because I think it's a hard shift. But so worth it. Once you make this shift into realizing that you have to market your business. And you have to make your life a little bit more.