Making a living by selling art has always been a dream of most artists and art students. Historically, it was never considered a regular means of livelihood due to the uncertainty of achieving success.
However, the internet and current digital marketing have made it possible to earn a livelihood as a full-time artist. Today, the demand for traditional art, as well as digital art, is rapidly increasing.
To achieve success in the competitive art industry, showcasing your craft as a portfolio is as important as marketing it. Whether you paint or make NFTs, you can use digital channels if you need an art marketing strategy.
It could be overwhelming to make sense of all the information online if you are new to marketing. That’s why we have collated 8 tips that can simplify this process and help you sell your art.
1. Make a Website
Like any other business, a website is crucial for thriving in the online world. A website is an artist’s digital art gallery, which can be customized depending on your budget. Today, many platforms offer easy-to-use, templatized, free website building services.
Most of these platforms have online tutorials to help you with the creation. So, even if you are not a web designer, you can build your website and feature your unique creations online.
Hiring a professional website designer is an alternative. If you are looking for something personalized, you can hire a professional to do it for you in exchange for money.
2. Optimize with eCommerce Link Building
Simply put, the process of linking your site to other websites through backlinks is called link building. Google translates a site with a higher number of quality backlinks as a trusted source of information. So, it leads to better search results.
eCommerce is a great way to sell your masterpieces directly to your customers. So, having an eCommerce link-building strategy is important. Here’s how you can do it:
- Provide insightful content for free – You can engage your potential customer in your site by adding an informational section to your website. For instance, add interesting tidbits about your art style. The more you can engage your site visitor, the more they are more likely to buy from you. Make sure content is SEO-friendly.
- Offer a ‘good deal’ with coupon codes and discounts – Who doesn’t love a great deal? Offering coupon codes through emailers creates a sense of exclusivity. It creates a good impression about your brand.
- Create affiliate marketing – Create an affiliate program and consider partnering with influencers. Offer special discounts for those customers, who buy through the offer code provided by the influencers. This is an effective way to tap into a vast number of audiences.
There are many ways you can develop eCommerce backlinks that will help you succeed in your art marketing endeavors.
3. White Hat Link Building for Better Reach
In simple words, white hat link building is building and receiving high-quality backlinks for SEO purposes in an ethical way. It should be done by following Google’s guidelines.
You can do it yourself. Research your competitors or other art blogs to understand their keyword and backlink strategy. You can also outsource link building services from freelance experts or agencies. Best linking building agencies usually have a lot of experience working with websites and SEO. This allows you to save time and establish your business online with lesser risks.
4. Be Consistent with Your Social Media Presence
Social media can be a great tool to showcase your art to potential buyers and build a strong personal brand. Take time to think about who you want to sell your art to and delve deeper into their profile. This will help you personalize your content while showcasing your creation.
History has proven that buyers are more attracted to know the story behind the pieces and to see the mind behind those collections. Be creative with the language to strike an emotional chord. Create your unique signature online by showing up as an authentic artist.
5. List Your Art on Online Marketplaces
Etsy, Society6, Amazon, and UGallery are some of the widely popular platforms to sell your artwork online. These platforms already have great authority on the web and boast high traffic. Including them in your marketing arsenal will help you make some sales until you build a community on social media and your website.
People recognize and trust these big names, increasing your brand’s trust. Trust is one of the key factors in converting a lead into a buying customer and preferably a raving fan.
6. Showcase Testimonials
Most purchasing decisions are powered by emotions rather than logic. Testimonials by other people, who love your art can help in building trust in your prospect’s mind. Showcasing them on your website and social media pages can increase your brand’s credibility.
So, get customer testimonials. Ask your customers to send pictures of how they are displaying your art pieces.
7. Explore Pay-Per-Click Advertising
As an artist, if you are starting to explore the digital side of business, explore pay-per-click advertisements. It can provide a great source of revenue. Google Adwords and Facebook Ads are two of the popular choices of advertising platforms.
You can upload some of your best works on display as ads. Every time a user clicks on your ad, you have to pay for the platform. Although it may seem like a financial burden, the chances of a sale are high if the client chooses to click on the ad. So, the ROI from successful ad campaigns are worth the investment.
8. Concentrate on Email Marketing
Email marketing is one of the most result-yielding digital marketing methods. Offer free samples or ebooks in exchange for their email addresses. Then send out your art as email newsletters or offer special discounts. Make sure you add personal touch to your emails. Attractive content can keep your potential customers hooked to your site.
Key Takeaways
Selling art online, like most businesses, takes time to build. The road will be challenging. But, consistency in learning and showcasing your creations strategically can help you grow.
Besides, a well-planned art marketing strategy is essential to ensure the success of your business. We hope that these tips have helped you plan a successful art campaign.
