The Ultimate Guide to Selling Your Art Online: Creating the Best Webshop for Art
Advantages of selling art online
Reach a wider audience
By selling art online, you are able to reach a global audience, rather than being limited to your local area. This means that you as an artist can connect with people who would never get to see your work otherwise, which can lead to new opportunities for exposure and sales.
Build a following
Selling art online allows you to build a following of fans and collectors who appreciate your work. This can lead to repeat sales, word-of-mouth referrals, and a loyal fanbase that can support your career over the long term.
Control over sales and pricing
Selling art online gives artists more control over sales and pricing. You get to set your own prices and choose where you sell your work. This allows you to earn a fair price for your work, rather than being at the mercy of gallery owners or dealers.
Low overhead costs
Selling art online can be a cost-effective way for artists to sell work, as it eliminates the need for expensive gallery space or other overhead costs associated with traditional brick-and-mortar sales.
Opportunity to diversify income
Selling art online can provide you with an opportunity to diversify your income streams. You can sell original works, prints, or other products featuring your artwork. This can help to stabilize your income and provide more financial security.
Setting up your online store
Consider your budget
Look for an ecommerce platform that fits your budget. Some platforms offer free or low-cost plans. TinyShop offers a free basic startup plan that only takes a small fee when you make a sale. This means you don't have to spend any money until you start making money. Others, such as Shopify or Squarespace may charge a monthly fee straight away but may suit your needs if you're looking to grow a larger business.
Look for features
Consider the features that are most important to you, such as the ability to customize your store, integrate with third-party apps, and track your sales and inventory. Do you want the artwork to speak for itself or do you want a more flashy website that you can stylise?
Evaluate ease of Use
Look for an ecommerce platform that is easy to use and navigate. If you don't have technical expertise with an online store builder it can be a daunting task knowing where to start. TinyShop is a great place to begin as it allows anyone from learner to expert to easily create a webshop in minutes.
Check for security
Ensure that the platform provides a secure checkout process and has measures in place to protect your customer's data.
Upload your art
Begin by uploading high-quality images of your art to your online store. Provide detailed descriptions of each piece, including dimensions, materials used, and any other relevant information.
Set prices
Determine the prices for each piece of art. Consider your costs, such as materials and shipping, as well as the value of your time and skill.
Building your brand
Define your brand identity
Begin by defining your brand's core values, mission, vision, and target audience. This information will help you create a consistent brand identity that resonates with your audience.
Develop a brand style guide
A style guide is a set of guidelines that defines how your brand should be visually represented It should include elements such as typography, color palette, imagery, and logo usage. This guide ensures that all visual assets are consistent across all platforms. Your pieces of art may vary in appearance but perhaps you could send a thank you note with each purchase that has a logo or specific style representing you and your brand.
Create a strong visual identity
As an artist you probably have a strong visual identity already. Choose the right colors, fonts, and imagery that represent your brand's values and mission. The visual identity should be simple, memorable, and distinctive. Also be consistent when using branding across platforms, you want consumers to be able to recognise your brand instantly.
Listen to your audience
Listen to feedback from your audience and adapt your branding accordingly. This will help you ensure that your brand resonates with your target audience and evolves with their changing needs.
Marketing and promotion
Use Social Media Marketing
Social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Pinterest are excellent tools for promoting your art. You can create business pages, share your work, and engage with your followers. Use relevant hashtags to increase your visibility and reach a wider audience.
Utilize Email Marketing
Email marketing is a cost-effective way to promote your art to your existing audience. You can use email newsletters to showcase your latest works, share upcoming events, and highlight your successes.
Invest in Paid Advertising
Paid advertising can help you reach a wider audience and drive more traffic to your website. Platforms like Google AdWords and Facebook Ads offer targeted advertising options that allow you to reach your ideal audience.
Collaborate with Other Artists
Collaborating with other artists is an excellent way to expand your audience and reach new followers. You can collaborate on projects, host joint exhibitions, and promote each other's work on social media.
Participate in Online Art Communities
Participating in online art communities is a great way to connect with other artists and showcase your work. Websites such as DeviantArt, Doodle Addicts or Pinterest are great places to showcase, get feedback or find inspiration for your work while perhaps connecting with potential buyers.
Engaging with your audience
Audience engagement is a key factor in retaining a growing relationship with your target audience.
Respond to comments
Respond to comments on your social media posts, website, and other platforms where you showcase your work. This shows that you appreciate your audience's feedback and are willing to engage with them.
Use storytelling
Share the story behind your artwork, the inspiration, and the creative process. This helps your audience connect with you and your work on a deeper level.
Host Q&A sessions
Host Q&A sessions on social media, via email, or on your website. This allows your audience to ask you questions and get to know you better.
Offer behind-the-scenes glimpses
Share behind-the-scenes glimpses of your creative process, including sketches, works in progress, and behind-the-scenes photos or videos. This can help your audience feel more connected to you and your work.
Host giveaways and contests
Host giveaways and contests on social media or your website. This can encourage engagement and help you grow your audience.
Attend events and exhibitions
Attend events and exhibitions where you can showcase your work and connect with your audience in person. This can help build deeper relationships with your customers and potential buyers.
Fulfilling orders and shipping
Choose the right shipping materials
You've spent hours labouring over your art, the last thing you want to happen is for it to arrive damaged or broken. Use appropriate packaging materials, such as bubble wrap, corrugated packaging or biodegradable packing peanuts to protect your delicate items during shipping. Choose sturdy boxes that are the right size for your items.
Label the package as "fragile"
Clearly label the package as "fragile" to alert the shipping carrier and handlers to handle the package with care.
Use proper padding
Use proper padding, like mushroom packaging or greenwrap to wrap each item individually and prevent them from touching each other during shipping. Fill any empty spaces in the box to prevent movement during shipping.
Seal the package securely
Use strong packing tape to seal the box securely. Ensure that all seams and corners are covered with tape to prevent the box from opening during shipping.
Choose a reliable shipping carrier
Choose a reliable shipping carrier that has a good track record of handling delicate items with care.
Selling your art online can be a challenging but rewarding process. Creating a successful webshop for your art requires attention to detail, hard work, and a commitment to providing excellent customer service. Remember, building a successful online art business takes time, so be patient, persistent, and continually refine your approach to find what works best for you. With the right mindset and approach, you can turn your passion for art into a thriving online business.
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