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Sometimes, you need to have a cup of coffee and read something different.

That’s what we have for you at ART + marketing. We want to help people who make. That means publishing stories about the art world ecosystem, why your office chair may be slowing your rate of production, random shit to appreciate, podcasting about growth marketing, making the world’s best gas station, and of course, what no one tells you about writing a blog post.

Read on! 📖📖📖

ART

Understanding the art world ecosystem by

. “An art world ecosystem that is driven purely by the private market is not sustainable or sensible. Art needs cultural and community validation before commercial exposure because its value is inherently realised through emotion, purpose and meaning.”

Life Lessons From a Home Office Chair by

. “It struck me that I have had this chair for about 25 years (insert your own joke here…). I got it for free when a company my dad worked for was upgrading office furniture. It’s a “normal” chair. Black cushions. Wheels. Sturdy. Nothing is broken. It’s made several moves with me through various homes, and even in and out of storage. So, what’s the problem? The discomfort grabbed my attention. I noticed my forearms had indentations from where I was leaning on my desk due to how my chair was positioning me. Apparently, this chair was too low to the ground for my current office set up.”

PLUS

Random Shit I Appreciate by

. No, I guess I’m not “impressed” by “great” coffee. But it’s me, not the coffee. I’m not “above” it — I just don’t need it in my life. It’s not “pretentious,” which is the big, presumptuous word most people use, perhaps sympathizing and/or beating me to the punch. “Yeah, I know…” They interject, “it is pretentious.” But I didn’t say that. That’s not my “issue.” I have this little life motto that goes something like “don’t over-drink your palate” — i.e., don’t consume beyond what you can appreciate — and it applies to everything, coffee included. I have a terribly undefined palate, and to make matters worse: I don’t care. I want simple coffee in the same way I want simple housing, simple clothing, a simple bike. I don’t want my coffee to be “experiential.” I don’t want to ruminate on the flora or fauna or whatever else. I just want a cup of coffee. Which means I will happily drink day-old gas station coffee, or shit I badly measured and then left to burn. It also means that, on the upside: what I most appreciate is just having a cup of coffee. Any cup will do. My bar for being “impressed” by coffee is exceedingly low.”

Podcast on How to Grow a Media Network [12 Minutes]. 1. Can we start off by telling us how did you founded AMI? 2. How did you go from 1m to 7m page views a month in less than a year? 3. How important is storytelling when producing content and do you feel it’s an art that many lack?

MARKETING

How to run the best gas station in the world. by

. “1. Have a worker outside to pump your customer’s gas (especially when it is cold). 2. Instruct the worker to clean your customer’s windows, armor all their tires and and shine their rims — thoroughly. 3. In the winter, offer your customers complimentary coffee delivered right to their car window… Notice that nowhere in this list of points did I mention “offer cheaper gas than your competitors.” Why? Because creating something special, like the best gas station in the world, doesn’t happen by making something cheaper. It happens by providing more value.”

What No One Tells You About Writing a Blog Post by

, “Cut the preamble. The first couple sentences need to grab readers by the throat. No time to dilly-dally. Pull them in. I immediately stick readers in the middle of a dramatic situation… The next sentence or two needs to add context and define what’s at stake… The last sentence of the first paragraph is almost as important as the first sentence. Below are lines I’ve written for three different posts. Each comes at the end of the first paragraph. They pull readers through the story with mystery and tension.”

• Want to publish with us? Email us your story and author info.
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• Want to look forward? Consider this quote by Mister Rodgers while commuting to your next meeting: “Often when you think you’re at the end of something, you’re at the beginning of something else.”

Take care. — David

P.S. Support our sponsor, Bombas. Their dress socks are cushioned but not too thick, padded at your achilles and on the footbed, and they stay up all day long. 20% off with promo ARTMARKETING.