9 Tips for Selling Your Art & Design Online

Selling Your Art & Design Online

Have you ever wondered how to increase your art & product sales on the internet? Both on your website, and other third party websites like some of these:

• Artwork & Prints :
• Imagekind
• RedBubble
• istock
• Designer Products:
• Bigcartel
• Hardtofind
• Etsy
• Handmade

Maybe you’ve already achieved some success and you’re hungry for more, or perhaps you haven’t sold any paintings or products yet and you’re getting frustrated...

Whatever the situation you're in right now, this blog could help you to lift you current sales to the whole new level.

Consider these nine ideas you could implement right now:

1. Create a website or an Art/Design blog to promote your art and products

It’s a long term project to build a website that brings in lots of traffic, but a website & blog is a great way to connect with your ideal customers. 

There are some things that you can do to speed up the process... write a great article and submit it to an art and design website like PhotographyVoter.com (if you’re a photographer) or artforum (if you're an Artist) and of course ArtSHINE (Close Up Interviews & your articles)

Having your articles in their websites will, over time, send a stream of traffic your way. And if your blog is interesting those visitors will keep coming back  for more too.

2. Build your own tribe of raving fans
These days social media  can play a major part in our personal and business lives.

So select the most suitable social media that compliments your business and create a tribe or a community of your own.

Speak to, and invite, your ideal customer and people to join your page.

Some of the most talked about social media sites right now are Facebook, Linkedin and Twitter.

3.Use keywords and descriptions precisely
Use interesting and relevant titles, descriptions, and keywords to help your ideal customer to find and connect with your work. Try describing the location, mood, event or concept of your artwork, design or product too.

In most cases, the more information you give the better — you can’t know exactly how a potential buyer is going to search for something, but you can describe your artwork so that the most relevant searches lead to your site.

4. Quality and consistency
Make sure your artwork is of the highest technical and aesthetic quality.

By publishing only your best work you’ll raise the overall perception of your portfolio.

Make sure the image of your art or products are clear (72 pixels for websites), and the colours are well balanced.

Take the time to discover how to do these things properly (or outsource to someone else to do it for you).

Update your website and the third party website regularly, keeping it fresh all the time will attract more ideal customers to your site. Remember to keep it active.

5. Select related products to match your art & products
Choosing the right related products and offering them along side with your artwork will not only sell your art and it will also increase your average sale per transaction too.

For example, choosing the best picture frame to pair with your artwork will sell your art and your buyer will more than likely to buy the frame as well. If you leave the framing options up to the buyer, it’s possible they won’t think of it, or simply be overwhelmed by all the framing options available. When you pair a frame with your art beforehand, your customer will more than likely to buy it too.

6. Promoting, Connecting and Networking
Promote your  website or your galleries to everybody you know, and especially to anyone who's not familiar to art and design websites.

The best way to start is with your family and friends... your support network.

Attend some networking functions and consider those networks where you'll likely to meet your ideal customers.

Get involved in online group forums and contribute your expertise.

The key is to find and build your audience in everything you do; take multiple approaches to increase your visibility.

Gallery events, mailings, building relationships with magazine editors in your niche, fundraisers... These types of activities can all help to get you additional exposure.

I know it may sound overwhelming, but don't stress yourself.

Rome was't built in a day... so your online exposure it will take great effort and time.

7. Joint venture with other art & design & companies who compliment your work
This is a most powerful way to get exposure of your art and design to a bigger audience.

Before doing this it's important to do research on the companies that you want to partner with.

8.Your WOW factor
Take your self-promotion to the next level and start thinking of your work as a product to be branded.

Design a logo for your website or blog.

Think about what makes your artwork unique. What is your quirk? Who is your ideal audience? How will you create an audience and market your work to them? What is your wow factor?

9.  Regular Art exhibition or Show events
Holding regular exhibitions or trade show events will give your art & product credibility and expose you to a great targeted audience too.

You need to be out there promoting your name and your art.

One or two exhibitions per year would be sufficient.

If you’re serious about increasing your sales online I’d encourage you to at least try some of the tips mentioned above.

They’ve worked for some of our successful clients, and they’ll work for you too.