Member Artist Marketing Timeline

 

July (10–12 Weeks Before the Tour)

• Announce your participation on your website and social media.

• If your town has a newspaper, community calendar, or event website, find out the submission deadlines and submit your listing early. A photo will help your listing get more attention.

• If you belong to any local or regional art organizations, submit your event to their calendar or upcoming events page. Include a photo whenever possible.

• If you use Instagram, Facebook, Nextdoor, or other social media, create an event post with photos, dates, your location, and a link to the Fall Foliage Art Studio Tour website.

• If you have postcards made for your studio, begin handing them out as Save the Date reminders. Postcards are more likely to be kept than brochures months before the Tour.

• If you have a mailing list, consider sending a postcard announcement.

 

August (6–8 Weeks Before)

• Continue posting photos of new work, work in progress, and behind-the-scenes studio activities.

• Place your postcards at your town hall, country store, restaurants, libraries, coffee shops, galleries, and other community locations where neighbors are likely to see them.

• Begin handing out Tour brochures as they become available.

• Add the Tour to your email signature.

 

Early September (4 Weeks Before)

• Increase social media posts to 2–3 times each week.

• Hang posters where permitted.

• Send a Save the Date email to your mailing list.

• Personally invite previous customers, collectors, family, and friends.

• Share official Tour posts and encourage others to share them.

 

Late September (2 Weeks Before)

• Post every few days on social media with new photos of your work and studio.

• Restock brochure locations.

• Share what visitors will experience at your studio.

• Remind people of the Tour dates, hours, and your location.

• Early October (1 Week Before)

• Send a reminder email to your mailing list.

• Post daily if possible

• Share short videos or Reels.

• Put up roadside signs where permitted.

• Make sure your studio is ready to welcome visitors.

 

Tour Weekend (Columbus/Indigenous Peoples' Day Weekend – October)

• Welcome visitors warmly.

• Keep brochures and business cards available.

• Encourage visitors to visit other Tour studios.

• Post photos and updates throughout the weekend.

• Collect email addresses for future events if you maintain a mailing list.

 

After the Tour (Mid-October)

• Thank visitors on social media.

• Follow up with customers.

• Share photos from the weekend.

• Make notes about what worked well for next year's Tour.