Strategy discovery: use Apple’s Siri to help patrons find your arts organization via mobile voice search
I recently got the new iPhone 4S. One of the most interesting features of the new iPhone 4S is “Siri,” the phone’s digital assistant. Siri is pretty amazing, and I feel that she represents the “next big thing” in how people soon will find information about your arts and cultural organization. If you’re not familiar with .. read more
Arts discount-ticketing strategies: what to avoid and why — part 2
In my last post, I spent some time talking about advance sales and discount ticketing strategies, as well as how it’s too easy to train the patron to wait for a better deal if you offer large discounts late in the game. I mentioned that “the right thing to do here is create a marketing .. read more
Greater Philadelphia Cultural Alliance releases Groupofminds mobile app vendor selection research
In the summer of 2010, The Greater Philadelphia Cultural Alliance commissioned Groupofminds to research mobile app development firms in an effort to identify mobile app vendors making significant strides in apps for arts and culture. Now that the research is complete, GPCA has generously released the report to the arts and cultural community, so that .. read more
Your arts message: Some examples of great marketing messages by for-profit companies
Thanking their patrons I’ve been keeping my eye out to the way some of my favorite brands have been changing their messaging recently. Things of course are getting more filtered and specific to me, which is great, but a few companies are really standing out with messaging that is designed to make me feel good .. read more
Mobile vs. Arts in France — How technology helps keep patrons quiet
The French are known for many things… their appreciation of great food and wine, their love of art and culture, and now, by me, for their valiant belief that concert halls, movie theaters, and other public performance spaces should be free of that person next to you jabbering into his/her cell phone. Thanks to mobile .. read more
Arts & financial security: How unsecure ticket sales expose your patrons to identity theft
I’d be hard pressed to find a member of an arts organization who doesn’t believe in the power of providing the option to sell tickets online. It gives many people a way to serve themselves (thus reducing your manpower needed at the box office to answer the phone), offers the patron the peace of mind .. read more
Internet marketing for the arts 101: 9 technologies all arts groups should be using
There are many ways to spend your time marketing or developing your arts organization. But which are the most effective? We’ve narrowed it down to 9. A recent survey of arts organizations compiled by the Wallace Foundation tells us that most groups feel that the use of next-generation technology is vital to audience development. On .. read more
Why your arts marketing technology plan should include a CMS-based (Content Management System) website
As arts marketers, we know that having an up-to-date website is one of the primary ways our patrons find out about our activities. But after serving on the board of a small community theatre group, I know the pain that cultural groups feel when they have to wait for that one board member to update .. read more
5 ways to lose arts patrons with email marketing (a great way to clear out the theater!)
The invention of email was a gift to arts marketers. Zero cost and instant up-to-the-minute communication with plain text. Nice. Then came email marketing with graphic newsletters. Even better! Your copy and your brand’s “look and feel.” When used correctly, graphic email marketing is one of the most effective ways to keep up a conversation .. read more
