Web site value

[Leslie Ficcaglia]

Originally Posted by Mike McCarty

Aside from the obvious value of being able to show your portfolio, I think the biggest value is the ability of your web site to communicate and negotiate your fee in a detached and matter of fact way. This to me is a huge benefit, it's professional, and it takes the pressure off of both parties.

Mike, how could I have forgotten about that benefit? That's a major use I make of my site. I often refer people there to look at my procedures and price ranges, with the suggestion that they get back to me after reviewing them. That way they don't have to be presented with a fee that they're embarrassed to admit is more than they expected to spend, in a face-to-face situation. So many people think a portrait is going to run them a couple of hundred. The sticker shock can be severe! Thanks for bringing that up.

[Tom Edgerton]

It's great too for separating serious shoppers from browsers. I refer all cold calls to my website first, and send the portfolio only to those who indicate they want a serious discussion. It's kept me from schlepping the book to the post office for nothing so much, like in the old days. Some have made the decision straight off the site, with no hard copy portfolio at all.

I've not gotten a lot of actual commissions from the site, but they've been juicy. The most recent, a commission to paint the past president of the Naval War College in Newport, RI--a quite distinguished admiral.

Plus, imagewise, it's just a must-have now.

Best--TE

[Cynthia Daniel]

Originally Posted by Tom Edgerton

The most recent, a commission to paint the past president of the Naval War College in Newport, RI--a quite distinguished admiral.

You've been holding out on me! I love to hear about things like this, Tom. Though I only rarely do a newsletter, I collect things like this and include them whenever I do the next one.