11 Ways to Promote Artwork and Increase Sales

Artists can promote their artwork to reach a broader audience in many ways.

One way is to market fine art online, allowing artists to have their work seen by people worldwide.

Another great way to promote artwork is by learning how to sell art locally. Selling art at local craft shows will help build name recognition in your local community.

Additionally, other traditional art marketing strategies can effectively increase art sales, like creating a sense of art discount. We’ll explore all these strategies and more in this blog post.

Are you struggling to sell your artwork?

If so, don’t worry. There are many ways artists can promote their artwork to reach a broader audience.

Back in the early 2000s, when I first started selling my art, the internet was still a relatively new thing.

Most people didn’t even have websites, let alone know how to use them. But I was smart, and I knew that if I wanted my art to be seen by as many people as possible, I needed to put my work online. 

So that’s what I did. And it worked; over the years, my art has been viewed by millions of people from all over the world.

But even more importantly, it’s allowed me to connect with other artists and build relationships with them that would have never been possible otherwise. 

But that’s just one way of promoting your art.

There are lots of ways artists can promote their artwork to reach a broader audience. Let’s take a look at some of them now!

11 Ways To Promote An Artist

Art Websites

Create a website for your artwork and include clear images of your work, as well as information about yourself and your artistic vision. Websites allow you to create your own virtual gallery, which can be seen by art lovers with an internet connection, at any time of day or night.

Include ways for art collectors to contact you through the website; some artists include a form that people fill out in order to request pricing information and availability on specific works. This can help you to start building a database of interested buyers.

Make sure your website is easy to navigate, and that the images are large and high-resolution so that viewers can get a good sense of your work. Be sure to update your website regularly with new artwork, as well as news about upcoming art exhibitions, community art projects, or art fairs where you will be showing your work.

You can also post updates on social media using an app that allows you to schedule posts in advance, so you won’t need to worry about updating your website every time you create a new piece of art or have news about upcoming events.

Most importantly, make sure the URL for your website is easy to remember and is prominently displayed on your business cards and promotional materials. Creating art is one piece of your art business, an art website is another essential tool that will help you to get your art noticed by art galleries, artist organizations, and potential art buyers.

Best Website Builders for Artists

Website builders are an excellent resource for artists seeking a professional online presence. Here are some of the most recommended options tailored to artists’ needs:

1. Squarespace: Known for its sleek design templates, Squarespace is an excellent option for artists who want their artwork to take center stage. It allows you to create stunning portfolio-style websites and includes e-commerce functionality.
2. Weebly: Weebly is a great choice for artists looking for a budget-friendly yet robust website builder. It offers an easy-to-use interface, along with several artistic themes to choose from.
3. Shopify: For artists focused on selling their works, Shopify offers robust e-commerce tools with a visually appealing interface. It allows you to manage inventory, process payments, and track shipping all from one platform.

Before choosing a website builder, consider its ease of use, pricing, customer service, and the specific needs of your art business. Having an online presence is vital in the digital age, and a well-designed website can help showcase your art to a global audience.

Business Cards And Brochures

A business card and brochure can be a great artist promotion strategy tool for an artist. The cards and brochures should include the work of the artist, contact information, website address, social media links, as well as any other ways to reach out to them.

Business cards are ideal ways for artists to hand out their business cards at exhibits, art competitions, or galleries where they have their work displayed.

Artists may also want to create a personalized email signature that includes their name and artwork so that people who enjoy seeing art but don’t know how to find it again will be able to find your personal website or blog more easily than if you just provided your contact information on the back of a card.

A brochure has all this information in one place and is perfect for people who are interested in a particular art piece and want more information about it.

Best Places To Purchase Business Cards And Brochures

– Vistaprint.com

– Moo.com

– PsPrint.com

Start A Blog And Social Media Accounts

Artists who sell their work online have a number of ways to promote themselves and increase sales.

One way is by starting a blog, which can be used as an artist’s website or as a marketing tool for your artwork.

Blogging allows you to promote your art and share information about yourself with the world, including what inspires you, how you create your artworks, and what materials are used in various ways.

You’ll also want to start social media accounts like Facebook or Twitter where people can follow you and find out more about your creations.

The most important thing artists selling art online need to do is make sure they provide content that appeals to specific audiences they may not know to exist yet.

The best time spent on blogging for artists is actually researching blogs related to their art form, following other artists, and engaging with them on social media.

Hang Flyers In Local Businesses

Hanging flyers in local businesses is a great way for artists to build name recognition.

If you’re an artist that wants people to know about your work, this strategy will help you reach more potential customers.

The first thing you’ll want to do is find the business owners and ask them if they would be willing to hang up your flyer. You can either leave it with them or give it directly over the counter so they have time to think about it before deciding.

The second step is going around and hanging up the flyers yourself at different times of day and on different days of the week: some during lunch hours, others after work, other places too like near grocery stores or malls. This helps make sure that as many people as possible see them.

The third step is to make sure your flyer has the contact information like an email address or phone number so that anyone who sees it will know how they can reach out and get in touch with you about any questions or concerns they might have related to the artwork on display.

You’ll want this info clearly visible but also not too prominent so people don’t feel pressured into contacting you.

Finally, make sure your flyer has a photo of the artwork on display and not just text about it – this gives viewers an immediate sense of what they’re looking at before reading more details below like how much each piece costs or how big/small some pieces might be relative to others around them.

Participate In Local Art Festivals And Exhibitions

The best way to promote artwork and increase sales is by participating in art festivals. Art festival attendance provides the artist with an opportunity to meet new people, network, and interact with other artists and art enthusiasts.

It also provides a chance for the artist’s work to be seen by more people than they would normally see at their studio or gallery exhibitions. Participating in local art fairs can help build name recognition locally which will lead to increased sales.

Many artists have built a successful art career selling art locally before they started to sell their artwork online.

Sell Prints Or Originals Through Websites Like Etsy Or eBay

There are many ways artists can promote their artwork to reach a broader audience.

Marketing fine art online allows artists to have their work seen by people worldwide.

Learning how to sell art locally will help to build name recognition locally.

Other traditional marketing strategies like creating a sense of art discount will increase art sales.

In order for an artist’s work to be sold, they must first make it available through the internet and local markets alike.

Selling prints or originals on Etsy or eBay is one way that helps an artist increase revenue with ease as these sites offer easy ways for buyers and sellers alike to connect in ways that would not have been possible just a few years ago. Artists can set up shop on these websites with little more than a few clicks of the mouse.

Give Art Demonstrations

Give art demonstrations or workshops in local schools, libraries, or community centers. This is a great way to get exposure and promote your artwork. Be sure to leave behind business cards and flyers so people can contact you should they have any questions or wish to purchase your art.

An artist can give art demonstrations in a variety of places, depending on their target audience. If they are targeting a local audience, they may give demonstrations in schools, libraries, or community centers.

If they are targeting a global audience, they may give demonstrations online.

Offer Limited-Time Discounts

Create a sense of urgency by offering limited-time discounts on your artwork. This marketing strategy encourages customers to buy your artwork while they can get a better price.

Offer Quantity Discounts

Discounting the prices of multiple items that are purchased together will entice art buyers to purchase more than one piece at a time. For example, offer free shipping if someone purchases three or more pieces of artwork at once.

Offer Coupon Codes

Coupon codes are a great way to get people to buy your artwork. They allow customers to receive a discount on their purchase when they enter the code at checkout.

Write Articles For print Publications

Writing for print publications is a great way to reach new customers. Print magazines have a large audience and articles can be written about you, your artwork, and ways to purchase it.

Conduct an Interview with Local Media

Local media outlets are always looking for interesting stories that they can feature in their publication or on their radio station. Authors, artists, and small businesses are popular interviewees. If you can get interviewed by a local media outlet, your artwork will be seen by many new people.

Send Postcards

Mail postcards advertising your artwork and upcoming exhibitions to friends and family. This is a great way to get the word out about your work without spending too much money on marketing.

Open Studio

Host an open studio where people can come see your art in person while they talk with you about it. This is a great way to get feedback from potential customers and make connections with people who may be interested in purchasing your artwork.

Promoting Artwork FAQs

How do local artists promote themselves?

Local artists can promote themselves by hosting an open studio, sending out postcards to friends and family, being interviewed on the radio or in a newspaper article. These are great ways for local artists to get their name out there without spending too much money on marketing.

Where should I post my art online?

There are a number of great places to post your art online, including Etsy, eBay, and Saatchi Art. These websites offer easy-to-use platforms for artists to sell their work and reach a global audience.

What is the best way to discount my artwork?

The best way to discount your artwork is by offering quantity discounts or by using coupon codes. This will entice customers to buy more than one piece of your art at a time.

How can I get my artwork in front of more people?

There are a number of ways you can get your artwork in front of more people, including giving demonstrations, writing articles for print publications, and conducting interviews with local media outlets. These are great ways to reach new customers and promote your artwork.

How can I promote my art on social media?

There are a number of ways you can promote your art on social media, including creating an artist profile, posting pictures of your work, and using hashtags. These are great ways to reach new customers and build a following for your artwork.

Is selling art online profitable?

Selling art online is a great way to reach a global audience and make a profit. There are many platforms artists can use to sell their work, and these websites offer easy-to-use interfaces for customers to buy your artwork.

Is there a market for art prints?

Yes, there is a market for art prints. Many buyers prefer to purchase prints because they are more affordable than original pieces of artwork. Offering both originals and prints will allow you to reach a wider audience that includes people who may not have the budget for an original piece of art but would still like one in their home or office space.

Conclusion

So, there you have it! Eleven tried and true methods for marketing your artwork and driving sales. Some of these techniques may work better for you than others but don’t be afraid to mix and match until you find the right combination that gets your art seen by as many potential buyers as possible.

Successful artists try multiple ways to get their art in front of as many people as possible including entering art competitions, social media marketing, creating an online portfolio, and more.

Are you ready to start an art career in the art world?

What are you waiting for?

Start promoting your artwork today!

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