5 Benefits of Selling Your Art Online

There are many reasons why artists should start selling their art online.

For one, online art sales reached almost 7.9 billion U.S. dollars in 2020, which will only grow in the future.

There are numerous benefits to selling your art online, including reaching a larger audience, getting more exposure, and making more money.

Setting up an online store is easy and can be done in just a few minutes with online art galleries like Etsy and Squarespace.

Promoting your store by sharing it on social media makes it possible to connect with art collectors worldwide.

You can see why so many artists sell art online. Here are some more reasons you might want to sell your art online.

1. The art industry is changing

One of the main reasons artists should start selling their artwork online is because the art industry is changing.

• More and more artists are selling their work online instead of through galleries.
• Online art sales are rising among independent artists. Several advantages to selling artwork online include connecting art buyers worldwide, increased exposure through multiple platforms, and higher profit margins.
• Artists earn more money selling art online because they do not have to pay commission to an art gallery or art consultant.
• Established and emerging artists build their websites and promote their artwork to art lovers worldwide completely free via social media and blogging.

The art industry is changing in several ways, including:

The rise of online art sales

According to a study by Statista, online art sales reached almost 7.9 billion U.S. dollars in 2020, which is projected to grow more every year. Galleries are closing down at an increasing rate due to several factors, including rising rent prices and more artists selling independently online.

Artists and galleries are starting to use new forms of media to connect with their audiences, such as social media, video profiles, and blogs.

Artists can showcase their work globally on an online gallery with just a few clicks instead of having their art seen by limited people in a local gallery.

The increase in independent artists

Artists would have to rely on art consultants and galleries to represent their paintings in the past.

Today, hundreds of thousands of independent artists are selling their work on sites like Etsy, Fine Art America, and ArtFire, to name a few.

Artists are also discovering ways to earn passive income, like selling limited-edition prints with a print-on-demand partner, selling online tutorials, writing eBooks, and so much more.

Another reason so many people are starting an art business is because it is affordable, and most online marketing tools are free.

The popularity of pop-up galleries

Another reason art galleries are closing is that pop-up galleries (galleries that only exist temporarily) are becoming more popular. These galleries bring artists, curators, and audiences together for an event to share new work, ideas, and techniques.

2. Independent Artists Can Reach A Broader Audience

For many artists, releasing their work online is a way to get more exposure and reach a larger audience.

The internet allows independent artists to sell their artwork to anyone in the world instead of just local clients. Independent artists who release their work online have the potential to reach millions of people all around the world instead of just a handful or a few hundred.

There are many ways for artists to sell their art online and see more people.

Here are a few methods:

1. Create an online store. This is probably the most common way for artists to sell their work. Many platforms, such as Squarespace and Etsy, make it easy to set up a store and sell your art immediately.

2. Share your artwork on social media. Platforms like Instagram and Facebook offer an excellent way for artists to share their work with a large audience. Make sure to post photos of your artwork that showcase its beauty and detail.

3. Showcase your art on a gallery site. Sites like Fine Art America and Saatchi Online offer a high-quality online gallery that artists can use as a central hub to share their work with the world.

4. Sell your art on your website. If you have an audience, it is great to have your website to visit whenever they want to see your latest work. Creating an online gallery on your site is easy, and you can share it through email, social media, blogs, etc. The key to selling art on your own website is to upload high-quality images of your work and write well-written art descriptions.

5. Another advantage of selling art online is that artists avoid paying commissions when selling their own work.

An artist will give up a portion of the sale price to a gallery for selling their art. Most galleries take between 20 percent and 50 percent of the sale price as a commission, so if you sold artwork for $1,000, the gallery would get $200 to $500. Selling your own artwork online means that artists can keep 100 percent of their profits and sell at any price they choose.

6. Promoting Art Fairs online is another way to drive traffic to local events, increasing sales of original art and art prints.

3. Building An Online Website Is Affordable

Creating an online website to sell your artwork is a great way to reach a larger audience and make more money. Online galleries allow independent artists to build name recognition on the online marketplace, which will help to increase online sales.

Building a website is easy and can be done in just a few minutes. Many platforms, such as WordPress with BlueHost, Squarespace, Shopify, and Wix, make it easy to create a website.

Below are some tips on building an affordable website:– Choose an easy-to-use and affordable platform, such as WordPress with BlueHost or Squarespace.

• Use PayPal, Amazon Payments, or Stripe to process payments.
• Choose a theme that is easy to navigate and aesthetically pleasing.
• Add good-quality photos of your work on display in your gallery.
• Ensure you communicate effectively with your customers by adding social media links and contact information.
• Use high-quality images to showcase your artwork.

There are many reasons why an artist should have a website.

First and foremost, a website is a great way to showcase your artwork to the world. It is also great for sharing your biography, statement, and press releases with potential buyers. A website allows artists to sell their work directly to their audience, eliminating paying commissions to a gallery.

Additionally, a website is an affordable way to reach a larger audience. By creating a website, artists can communicate with their customers more effectively and drive traffic to local events.

4. E-Commerce Platforms For Artists

There are many platforms available for selling art online, such as Etsy, Fine Art America, Saatchi, and ArtFire, to name a few. If you do not have time to build your own site, you can start an online business with these platforms.

Etsy

Etsy is one of the most popular sites for selling artwork online.

It’s a growing website among artists and craftspeople who use it to sell handcrafted items, artistic goods, and vintage objects that are difficult to come by in typical eCommerce shops.

Saatchi Art

Saatchi Art is the world’s leading online art gallery, connecting people with artwork from all over. It offers an unparalleled selection of paintings and drawings at a range of prices for collectors to buy or artists who want their work showcased online in front of millions every month.

Saatchi creates this welcoming environment by providing expert curation so you can find exactly what you’re looking for. They have everything, including photography, painting, and drawing, no matter how obscure it may be.

Artfinder

Artfinder is a platform for artists of all levels and mediums to connect. It’s perfect for reaching out to a specific demographic.

They take around 33% of your revenue, and the sooner you apply to them, the better.

You must identify your creative inspiration and provide them with a portfolio of high-quality samples of your work to be accepted onto the platform.

Fine Art America

Fine Art America is the world’s most prominent art marketplace and print-on-demand technology firm.

Since 2006, they’ve been offering web space to artists who want to sell wall art, house décor, apparel, and other goods. They have hundreds of thousands of painters, photographers, graphic designers, illustrators, and well-known names among their members.

5. Promote Your Online Store

Social media is a great way to promote your online store and reach a larger audience. Make sure to create a Facebook page, Twitter account, and Instagram account for your store and post regular updates. You can also share links to your store on other websites and social media platforms. The more people know about your store, the more sales you’ll make.

There are many ways to market your online store on social media.

Here are a few tips:

1. Create a Facebook page for your store and post regular updates.

2. Create a Twitter account and post regular tweets about your store.

3. Share links to your store on other websites and social media platforms.

4. Post pictures of your art on Instagram and use hashtags to reach a larger audience.

5. Make videos about your art and post them on YouTube.

How Often To Post On Social Media Platforms

• Facebook: 1-2 times a day
• Twitter: 2-3 times a day
• Instagram: 1 time a day

Remember to keep your social media posts interesting and engaging so that people will want to share them with their friends.

If you post frequently but aren’t getting many shares, try changing the type of image that you use.

The worst thing you can do is only post original art and art prints you are selling. Providing other content relating to your art business is essential so people can feel connected with your business.

Here are a few types of images that tend to get shared the most:

1. Images with bright colors and large text

2. Quotes and sayings

3. Invite people to like your Facebook page by rewarding them with prizes such as free art or discounts on services

4. Give away small, inexpensive prints for contests and competitions as prizes.

5. Organize a flash sale or product launch with a steep discount to get people excited about your store.

6. Share images that relate to your products, such as the packaging these earrings came in or a photo of you wearing this bracelet.

7. Ask questions about your products, such as what people would use this print for or think is the best way to frame these paintings.

8. Create a Product Launch Plan Product launches are a great way to sell art online and generate buzz about your online store. Many businesses have a product launch plan that outlines when products will be launched, how much they will cost, and what type of promotions will be available to customers.

Here is an example of a product launch plan:

• Product launches every other month from the 15th until December 2012.
• The following product launch will be on October 15th at 11 am CST.
• All prints are $25 off for one week following each launch.
• New product discounts will also be available for all newsletter subscribers.

Your product launch plan doesn’t have to be this complicated, but you should outline how often you will launch new products and what types of promotions might be offered.

You can use your social media accounts to promote each launch so your followers know when to expect new products.

If you don’t launch any new products for a few months, consider using that time to create an anniversary sale. This will encourage people to stop by and check out your store while also reminding them of how long you’ve been in business and all the great work you’ve done for your customers.

Conclusion

Selling paintings online is a great way to reach many people, get more exposure, and make more money. Setting up an online store can be done in just minutes with Shopify or Etsy.

Make sure you promote it on social media by sharing the link across various platforms. You can not sell your artwork online if people do not know you have art for sale. Selling art online is a business, and you have to think like a business owner if you want to succeed at selling your art online.

From posting pictures of your artwork to asking questions about products- there are plenty of ways to market yourself through social media channels without spending too much time or effort.

Remember that when launching new products- try not to launch them all at once because this may overwhelm customers.

Consider making a product launch plan outlining how often you will release new items and what promotions will be offered during each launch.

To earn more money, increase your revenue streams, like selling prints of your original artwork, monetizing your online stores with ads, offering commission work, etc. Professional artists are discovering new ways to generate income, like selling canvas prints, framed prints, and prints on merchandise. If you want to sell artwork online and generate a decent income, think outside of the box. You do not have to only rely on original art sales.

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