Illustrator's Corner

Take Advantage of Free Listings

by Shawn McCann

In a field that is so dependent on marketing one’s artwork, it can be a little overwhelming to consider all of the areas where you can spend your marketing budget. However, there are a number of places that you can get your name and images listed that don’t require you to blow the budget. Best of all, some of those listing are FREE. While it may be hard to believe, do your homework and look around — there are tons of directories and websites that allow you to list your contact info and artwork at no cost.

A perfect example of this is www.mnartists.org. It is an online database of Minnesota artists and organizations for all disciplines. Not only are you listed on their site, but you can upload and edit as many samples of your work as well. Another “local” website that offers free listing is Minnesota Creative Source (www.mncreative.com). This is a type of site that you will most usually find when looking for places to advertise online, one that has a variety of options to fit the way you want to advertise. You can either have a simple directory listing of your name and profile for free or for varied packaged prices, you can have your artwork listed on their site as well.

Other great illustration websites that offer similar listing structures include Portfolios.com (www.portfolios.com), The I-Spot (www.theispot.com), and Workbook (www.workbook.com). These are very popular websites that many professionals use, but be mindful of their fees.

Last but certainly not least, make sure that you get yourself listed on MNSCBWI’s website. As a member you are allowed to be listed for free and they even link your image to your website. It is definitely something of which every Minnesotan SCBWI member should take advantage, so contact the volunteer webmaster immediately!

As you begin to get your name and information out into cyberspace, your chances of getting noticed and potentially garnering more work will increase. As always, before you open your wallet, know what amount your marketing budget allows and how many different websites you want to advertise with. Start by getting yourself listed in all of the free directories, then assess what works best for the style and type of artwork you do. From there you can start taking advantage of the accessibility and ample opportunities of online marketing.

Shawn McCann is an illustrator and fine artist whose expressive work covers a broad range of topics and media. From children's books (Why the Owl Has Big Ears), to gallery shows, concept art, editorial work, and chalk murals in the street, Shawn finds that the link within all of this is the process of creating art itself. This love of process was solidified after attending and graduating from the Minneapolis College of Art and Design where he received a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Illustration.

Like most artists, Shawn has been exploring and creating art since he was a child growing up in the small town of Wahpeton, North Dakota. He is currently a member of the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators, the Children's Book Illustrators Guild, the Northside Arts Collective, and is also a member of the Alumni Board of Directors at the Minneapolis College of Art and Design.