Personally, I'd say to post more frequently. Maybe even just sketches and ideas and whatnot. It shows that you're not dead/dropped off the face of the planet, and are still interested in art.

As for relevance, or trying to stand out more, it's also not just how long you take with art, but how everything goes. I got a badge and sketch book piece from one of the artists you mentioned, but they finished it at con... and one of my good friends is currently after them trying to get a refund on a several page piece because they haven't heard hide nor hair about it in... a couple years IIRC.

So slow turn around is fine, as long as you keep updates on what/how you're doing, and whatnot. I don't mind waiting for a piece, but I don't like silence. There's also a VERY big name I managed to get a sketch slot for...and I won't bother again because of the lack of communication. I also had to e-mail them saying "Hey, you said in the post the pieces would be done X, it's now 5 months later, is something up?". Then they said they would post the sketch "soon". About a month later, I had to message TWICE going "Soo... is my picture in the mail? Can I get a tracking number?" No reply, then I get a priority mail 2 days later. It makes me feel the artist completely forgot about my piece and only shipped it because I reminded them, which I feel is kind of... not good. It might not be the case, but I can't say because the lack of communication.

I really like the badges Zolaerla and I have from you, they're one of our favorites, and I bring up your name to people if they're looking for new ones, but most of my other furry friends aren't, heh.

Maybe a signal boost raffle? The people make a journal post about you and the raffle, with a link back, and get entered into a random drawing for a free piece? I've entered in a couple of those myself, and decided to follow the artist because of it, and it wouldn't even need to be that much free art then, either.

Those are all good comments and suggestions, thank you. I'm glad you and Zolaerla enjoy your badges so much :) I think I walked past one or both of you at Furlania this year, but all of us were so on a mission with walking I wasn't able to stop anyone and say hi. :)

The raffle idea might be good.. I've never done one for myself before, I guess I always think that no one is actually going to do anything if I tried.. Or only 5 people are going to end up entered and that's it. I'll keep that in mind though, maybe I can figure something out to make it work.

Thank you!

My suggestion is a combination of several of the ideas you listed.

First, DO NOT do free stuff, you will set a bad precedent that is impossible to keep up.

I would suggest actually creating a new account. Get on a regular posting schedule, maybe create a character for the page. Create raffles at big milestone (too frequent and it is not possible to make money).

I would try to engage with locals on a smaller personal level. Pick a few people in the local Seattle community (there are lots of people here in Seattle/ W. Washington area. Stick with them, and grow yourself from there.

Jonouchi Mutt had the same issue, we started a new account for her, and her new account doubled the watcher count from her previous account in a year, and it now financially viable.

If you want, I can get you tied in with some good people locally, or even if you ever wanted to visit the Kitsap peninsula, we've got a nice bunch if people out here.

Unfortunately I'm not going to make a new account. Jaxis is me and my home for conbadges, that's not going to change.

And free art is actually what got my name out there in the first place with the Furlife meetups back in 2006-8. I feel like I can't offer that nearly as often anymore unless it is a raffle thing.

I would like to work on attending more meetups other than the occasional bowling. I feel like I maybe can now, having a little more free time after dropping a job I had. That was one thing keeping me back from meetups was having two jobs and no free time.

Hhmhmhmhmm..

I'm sorry i don't have any ideas to make your business bigger but i do have encouragement and that is that i found your booth at Furlandia and the first thing that caught my eye was the detail you put into you art. i passed alot of stands and it was my goal to get a few badges made of my future suit that isnt far away from being made. I learned you where a local after talking with you and thought "there is still hope for this corner of my area!" lol sorry. But your style of art does speak for itself and i like Axiluvia's idea about sketch updates on progress. it doesnt have to be an every day update or anything crazy like that but its nice to know your not under a pile of paperwork if you know what i mean. you do great work and just getting your foot in the door again will make a big difference but also be able to handle the larger workload if thats what you really want.