Read on Twitter
How to get commissions on Twitter: A thread by yours truly Disclaimer: This is directly related to my 10 years experience on Twitter and what works for me might not work for someone else, but it's a nice starting point!
First of all: don’t get discouraged if you don’t receive many commissions at first. Twitter is a wild place and it takes a while to be notice. Meanwhile, use your time to your own advantage: draw a lot. Let people know you exist. Build a portfolio to show your best works.
There are several services that offer you a free subdomain to do whatever you want: I personally use portfoliobox: https://mofumanju.portfoliobox.net/ . During this time you can as well make some art raffles which are a great way to gain some followers that might be interested in your art!
But let’s dive into getting commissions:
1.Types: I used to offer several types of commissions, and looking back that was genuinely confusing. So my first suggestion is: pick a few types of commissions, depending on what you’re good at. I offer 5 types of commissions,
1.Types: I used to offer several types of commissions, and looking back that was genuinely confusing. So my first suggestion is: pick a few types of commissions, depending on what you’re good at. I offer 5 types of commissions,
I think it’s a fair number. You can offer variations if you want, but that’s at your commissioner’s discretion. See picture for example.
2. Slots: Decide a fixed number of slot to take every set period of time. I have started doing this recently and so far it’s been the best
2. Slots: Decide a fixed number of slot to take every set period of time. I have started doing this recently and so far it’s been the best
decision *ever*. Setting a number of slot will help you with time management, and will be a reassurance for the person who’s going to commission to as well! IRL can get in the way very fast, so keep that in mind when you decide how many commission you can take. Make sure to tell
them which slot they are in or use something like Trello to keep track of your work (ex: https://trello.com/b/Obzt2kKH/commissions-schedule-2020)
3. Price: I won’t stress this enough. Set a fair price basing on the time you spend on a piece. Undepricing yourself is a natural reflex, especially when you’re
3. Price: I won’t stress this enough. Set a fair price basing on the time you spend on a piece. Undepricing yourself is a natural reflex, especially when you’re
starting, but please don’t do it. Google the hourly minimum wage for your country, multiply that for the hours you take for every piece you make, and then adjust the result to the price you want to offer. But never go under hourly minimum wage.
Do it for yourself. Also set a price for extra editing, as some people might take advantage of your patience for editing.
4. Info: pictures are great but Twitter isn’t really the best when it’s about space (and you can see it from this thread). Instead of packing everything in
4. Info: pictures are great but Twitter isn’t really the best when it’s about space (and you can see it from this thread). Instead of packing everything in
a thread, it’s more convenient to put any useful information on a small website or a google doc. This will make things sooo much easier for everyone, and you might as well share it on other platforms! Put any useful information: contacts, terms of services, your prices again.
If you want an example, this is mine: http://mofumanju.weebly.com/ 5. Spam: Yes, this is a part of the deal. You *have* to remind people you are taking commissions. Make a pin post with the links to your portfolio and doc/website, write it on your twitter handle, and bump the post
every few days. Don’t feel annoying. It’s part of it. People cannot know you are taking commission if you don’t let them know.
6. Timing and communication: Be honest with your commissioner. If you say you’re going to take three weeks, make sure to finish by that time.
6. Timing and communication: Be honest with your commissioner. If you say you’re going to take three weeks, make sure to finish by that time.
If you can, contact them as soon as possible and let them know. There is nothing worse than someone hanging to know when they will get what they are paying for.
AND THAT'S ALL!! Good luck, sharing is caring, and if you want link your comm posts under this thread please do!
AND THAT'S ALL!! Good luck, sharing is caring, and if you want link your comm posts under this thread please do!
