You decided to take your art seriously and turn it into a business. For days, you worked on your pieces until you had enough to share with the world. You posted them on Instagram and shared them in your different online groups. But there’s one problem. You’re not making as many sales as you hoped. Welcome to entrepreneurship.
Every person in business will tell you that it takes a lot of marketing to increase sales and get your business to the level you want. It’s harder with art because not everyone appreciates it. But it’s not impossible. With the right marketing strategies, you should be making killer profits within no time. We’ve shared our top tips to market your art online. Let’s get this show on the road.
1. Create an Incredible Portfolio
A crucial first step in art marketing is creating a fantastic portfolio. Sharing some of your pieces online and waiting until they sell to share more won’t work. It would help if you showed people who you are as an artist, and the only way you can do this successfully is to give them a peek into what you can do. Besides, a portfolio helps you establish your brand.
So, think about all the art you’ve created over the years. Where is it? Do you have some in the corner of your garage or attic? Are some pieces in your previous home? Wherever you’ve stored your pieces, you need to gather them before you think of selling any of them.
Once you have your collection in one place, the next thing you need to do is to create an online portfolio. Wordpess and Wix are perfect platforms for this. To create an effective portfolio:
- Write a brief introduction telling your target audience who you are.
- Showcase your work.
- List your services.
- Provide contact information.
2. Create Your Own Website
Creating an online portfolio isn’t enough. You also need to connect with your followers and visitors on a more conversational basis. A website allows you to do this. With a blog, you can share your thought process for different pieces. Furthermore, you can share tips and advice that will be useful to art enthusiasts and beginner artists.
This ongoing connection allows your target audience to know you more and connect with you. However, to make the most of your website, you need to ensure you’re doing it in a way that makes you visible to new people who may be interested in your work. The best way to do this is through search engine optimization (SEO). SEO helps you rank higher on search engine result pages (SERPs), thereby making you visible and more accessible to your target audience.
Use keywords that are relevant to your work and what people are searching for. To maximize SEO, you’ll need to be consistent with your content and stay updated with Google updates to compete with your competitors effectively. If you’re not sure on what particular site builder you will use, feel free to check these specific best website builder reviews to help you decide the perfect one based on your wants.
3. Take Advantage of Social Media
The majority of people spend a lot of time on different social platforms. One of the most popular social media platforms is Instagram, and it’s perfect for showcasing art. Because the platform is visual, you don’t have to say much about the work. All you need to do is share your work.
You can also add a link to your website so that your followers can get more information about you. Don’t forget to engage with your followers in the comments section and reply to their messages about your pieces. It also helps to open a business Instagram account because you can easily advertise your page using Instagram business features.
Pinterest is another excellent social platform to use. Like Instagram, it’s a visual platform, which makes it perfect for displaying art. You’ll also learn a lot about blogging, promoting your art, and other interesting business tips from the plethora of pins on the platform.
4. Partner With Other Brands
When you’re new to the art business, it can be challenging to build traffic and brand awareness. Don’t feel like you have to do it on your own. Partnering with already established brands can help you get your foot in the door and gain followers from their audience. How do you do this?
It’s simple. If you know an artist you’d like to collaborate with, get in touch with them and share your idea. However, before you do, make sure there’s a way the artist benefits. For instance, if you’re going to create art and sell it, you can agree that they’ll get the bigger share of the profits because they’re contributing most in terms of audience reach.
When you do this often, people start noticing you, and they become more interested in what you can do as an artist.
5. Share Your Work on Online Galleries
Online galleries also provide a great platform to get your work out there. There are numerous options to choose from. Take some time to go through the options available and choose galleries you believe align with your business goals.
However, if you’re new to the industry, it’s best to avoid big online galleries because it may be difficult for you to get noticed in the large pool of artists. Smaller galleries are better. They give you the exposure you need, and you can interact easily with other artists.
Also, compare prices because some online galleries charge artists to display their work on the platforms. It’s advisable to join several galleries to expand your reach.
Wrapping Up
Marketing art isn’t a walk in the park, especially if you don’t know where to start. However, starting is the hard part. Once you get your foot in the door, what’s left is learning the ropes and building your brand. So, don’t let the fear of failing to keep you from sharing your work. The simple act of uploading a picture of your art on Instagram is enough to get your foot in the door.
Use the other tips on this to market your art and reach as many people as you can. It may not happen overnight, but with time, you’ll start noticing an increase in sales.
