Name of your website?Sketching in Tuscany
Your name?
Mike Wiesmeier
Your Location (city, etc)
Florence, Italy
Please give us a short summary of your website?
My website gives a detailed description of the sketching tours I offer, including a detailed day-to-day itinerary, accommodations info, instructor info, a question-and-answer page, contact page, and registration page. It also includes many beautiful photos of Florence and Tuscany, and images of some of my sketches.
What inspired you to launch your own website?
I wanted to reach a large audience, to let people know about what I'm offering. I've taught drawing at many museums in Los Angeles (Getty Museum, Getty Villa, Norton Simon Museum), and for me, offering these sketching tours is an extension of that experience. To teach drawing right in the presence of beautiful art and architecture is very rewarding.
When did you launch your first website, and what was it?
My first website was a portfolio site, to show my artwork. It was not a beautiful site, but not bad for a first effort.
How did you decide on a name for your website?
It came from the name of my sketching tours, 'Sketching in Tuscany'. I wanted the name of the tours to be descriptive of where and what I am offering, which is why my name is not in the title.
What makes your website different from other, similar offerings?
Well, honestly, I think my site is very visually appealing, and well-organized. It's direct and to the point. I wanted to keep it simple. As for the sketching tours I offer, I think mine are unique because of the breadth of experience that I bring to them (having taught for twelve years, and worked for sixteen years in the animation industry). Also, I limit my group size to 12 people, which is unusual.
What is your eventual goal? (To sell it, keep it for income, secure a book or other mainstream media deal?)
Hmmm, good question. I would like to grow this into something that is well-known for being a quality, enjoyable experience. I would like to continue offering sketching tours in Tuscany indefinitely, as long as there are interested people willing to participate. I would like to combine it someday with owning and operating a B&B with my wife, who is a Florentine architect.
How does your investment of time and money balance against your success?
So far, the balance has been in favor of spending money, but that's normal I think for beginning any business. You always have to invest up-front, and then hope that it pays off. There are many factors that contribute to success; I think over the next two or three years (this is the first year I'm offering the sketching tours) it will accumulate momentum. I already have several students enrolled for this summer!
If you had an unlimited development budget for development, how would you change your site?
I wouldn't change anything. I would invest in advertising on some sites that right now are prohibitively expensive. I don't know if the expensive sites will be any more effective than advertising on free or low-cost sites. Someday I'll try out one of the expensive ones and let you know :^ )
If your site got really big, really quickly, would you be able to keep up with the demand?
Sure. I limit the group size for my sketching groups to 12 people. I can start a waiting list for the coming years.
What unexpected costs and headaches have you had to deal with?
Making updates to my website has been expensive, as I employ a web-designer. Worth every cent, but expensive. Most of the headaches involve spending endless hours on the computer--which literally leads to headaches, and eye strain!
What has been your biggest challenge?
Waiting for response to the website...patience is not my strongest virtue.
What method has been most successful for promoting your website?
Linking from my own blogsite, getting linked from sites relating to my former profession of animation.
How has running your website differed from your expectations?
I didn't really have any expectations about it--I knew it would be fun, which it is, and I knew it would be frustrating at times (see two questions up), which it certainly is also.
How long have you run the site already, and how long will you continue to keep it up if you don't enjoy big gains in traffic, income or popularity?
I believe persistence pays off. My childhood dream was to work for Walt Disney animation. I applied to their studio four times before I was hired. If I had given up after the third time, I never would have worked there, and probably wouldn't be doing this today. So, I and my site will be around for a while...
What would you like to be doing five years from now?
Using the B&B that my wife and I own as a home-base for conducting my sketching tours every summer, with waiting lists for the coming year. Getting up every morning and feeling lucky to be living in beautiful Tuscany (okay, I already do that one).
What is your website address?
Sketching in Tuscany
