I am still looking for new guest bloggers.  In the meantime, I wanted to consider the “when to start audience development.”  This is a big issue for me.  To continue my transparency previously originated, my phone is not ringing as much as I hoped it would.  I see an industry that can benefit from audience development, but perhaps many artists and organizations do not know if they need it or when to start.

In my days of full time marketer, I knew that it is always a good time to do your marketing.  There is a practice of placing “top of mind” marketing to keep your art and organization fresh in people’s minds despite not having a current event.

Like marketing, the time for audience development is now and always.  It is always a good time to incorporate audience development programs so you can build relationships with your audience members.  The time to start is now (or actually, yesterday).

I have already asserted that audience development is for all types of artists and arts organizations.  I want to now encourage that it is for all levels too.  No matter if you are a start-up business, a business that is in trouble, a business that is doing well, or a business that is in the middle of the extremes, audience development is for you!

Building relationships using audience development is going to produce increases no matter where you are on your business journey.  The only realistic reason audience development may not be needed is if you have seriously tapped out all of your possibilities and you have reached your ultimate potential.  I have yet to find an organization that is in this position, but feel free to correct me by posting a comment.

I will continue to shout out about audience development to educate (and with hopes that my phone will ring more).  Right now I am considering my options for ADS.  I am so grateful to everyone that has supported me up to this point in my business journey.  I will be posting my decisions soon, but while I am in my re-evaluation stages yet again, I hope my consistent shout outs and posts about audience development will motivate you to start your audience development planning now if you haven’t already.

Cheers to happy and loyal audiences,
Shoshana

Shoshana Fanizza

Audience Development Specialists

https://www.buildmyaudience.com

“Never treat your audience as customers, always as partners.”
~James Stewart

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New eBook!  The How of  Audience Development for the Arts: Learn the Basics, Create Your Plan