How To Sell Your Art Online – The Complete Guide

For an artist, having their own website can be a great way to sell their work and reach a wider audience.

An online store allows artists to showcase their work to a global audience, and customers can purchase their work from the comfort of their own homes. In addition, an online art store gives you more control over the prices of your work, and you can offer discounts or special promotions to customers.

An online art store can also help you build a community of supporters and fans who will spread the word about your work.

Ultimately, an online art store can be a valuable tool for any artist looking to sell art online.

Places To Sell Art Online

Have you been thinking about selling your art and crafts online or selling pre-owned art but do not know where to start? 

The options available are limitless and, at times, overwhelming for emerging artists who are interested in selling their creations.

Artists can own a WordPress website for about the cost of one cup of coffee a day.

There are third-party online art galleries available to allow artists and crafters to sell original art, fine art prints, and handmade crafts. Auction sites like eBay allow artists to reach a broader audience.

Artists can sell their art on social media sites like Instagram. Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and YouTube, or they can generate income selling reproductions of your work with POD sites (print-on-demand sites) like Fine Art America and Printful.

As you can see, the options are limitless.

Every year more and more artists and galleries are selling more art online.

High-priced original fine art, limited edition giclee prints, art prints on merchandise, and handmade crafts are being purchased by people worldwide.

Artists dreaming of showcasing their artwork in a local gallery is a thing of the past. Today young artists are dreaming of building a thriving online art business. Whether you are catering to the abstract or contemporary art world, their art buyers search for art like yours daily.

The question is, “Where do you start?“

We have come up with a list of the best e-commerce solutions for artists and crafters who want to sell artwork online and a brief overview of how to market your products to people worldwide so your art and crafts are not just collecting dust. 

So if you want to do more than just sell art prints at local art fairs, keep reading.

What Are You Selling

Before discussing online marketing strategies, you need to clearly define what types of products you will sell and what platforms will best suit your unique goals.

Below is a list of the most popular products sold by artists and crafters and the best online tools.

Original Artwork, Limited Edition Prints, Canvas Prints, And Framed Prints You Package And Ship

Any tangible items you create and ship from home will fall into this category.

Who is this for?

• Fine artists
• Mixed media artists
• Photographers
• Crafters
• Sculptors and more

Where to Sell These Products Online:

• Website
• Social media
• Online art marketplaces

Wikipedia Defines online art marketplaces as:

An online marketplace (or e-commerce marketplace) is a type of e-commerce site where product or service information is provided by multiple third parties, whereas the marketplace operator processes transactions. Online marketplaces are the primary type of multichannel e-commerce and can be a way to streamline the production process.

Commission Or Custom Artwork You Package And Ship:

Commission work is a service an artist or crafter offers to a buyer, which allows the buyer to have a custom painting, drawing, or craft made for them. 

Who is this for?

• Commission artists
• Commission illustrators
• Commission photographers
• Handmade crafters and more

Where to sell this service online:

• Website you own
• Social media sites
• Online art marketplaces
• Large seller marketplaces

Photographers And Digital Artists Selling Digital Downloads:

These products are for artists creating digital items, including downloads like ebooks, graphic designs, and downloadable art.

Who is this for?

• Photographers
• Digital artists
• Artists selling prints of their original artwork
• Graphic designers

Where To Sell Digital Products:

• Website you own
• Social media sites
• Print-on-demand sites

Where Can Artists Sell Art Online

Now that you have a clear vision of what you will sell let’s discuss the basic ways you can sell your artwork online.

What do you think the best platforms are for selling art online?

Some common answers you might hear are:

• Facebook
• Twitter
• Website
• Blog
• YouTube
• Email
• Pinterest
• Instagram
• Online Portfolio

Marketing your products on the platforms above will help you build brand awareness, name recognition, and grow your audience, but there is one thing you must have if you intend to sell your artwork online. You need a website or an online art gallery where people can visit and purchase your products and services.

It does not matter if you want to sell paintings online or if you’re going to sell art prints online, digital items, or even hand-made candles. You need a platform that showcases your products and a money gateway to collect money from the buyers like PayPal or Stripe.

Here is a list of artists and crafters’ most popular platforms for building an online business.

Online Art Galleries

An artist’s website is an online store that will showcase your artwork and provide a way for your audience to purchase products.

Owning a website will give you total control of your site’s look and feel. Creating a unique brand that separates you from other artists selling wall art is possible with website-building platforms like WordPress.

The best news is that anyone can design and launch a professional website with just a few clicks.

If you build a Facebook page, you have the skills needed to build an online store with most top web providers.

Below are four popular platforms artists are using to sell art online:

• WordPress
• FASO
• Shopify
• Square

To see how other artists are building their websites visit 7 Amazing Artist Websites – Inspiration For Artists

WordPress

Before you can start selling your art on WordPress, you will need to purchase a domain name and hosting.

A domain name is a network address that will direct people to your site.

For example, this site’s domain name is www.nevuefineartmarketing.com

Web hosting is the place where all the files of your website live. It is like the home of your website where it lives. (Source: wpbeginner)

Hosting is relatively inexpensive and starts at $3.45/mo. Including free domain names from BlueHost. (Most third-party website builders have a monthly fee of 29.99 and up) 

BlueHost makes it easy to launch your WordPress website with their 1-click WordPress installation.

Other popular hosting services used by bloggers and artists are SiteGround and HostGator.

WordPress has become one of the leading online selling and blogging tools available. There are over 455,000,000 websites built on WordPress in 2020.

Besides the cost of hosting, themes and plugins are free to help you build a brand for your art business.

There are also options to purchase premium themes and plugins that offer more features.

WordPress is the right solution for artists and crafters interested in showcasing their work to people worldwide. 

You will be able to build a site that sells tangible and digital goods, incorporate a POD service and install payment gateways on your own online store.

WordPress Tutorials:

• WordPress Dashboard Guide – eBook
• WordPress SEO Basics – eBook
• WordPress Basics Course – Online video course
• WordPress Basics SEO Course – Online video course

WooCommerce is a free WordPress plugin that allows you to create an art gallery that will showcase your products and provide a way for customers to purchase.

Related Posts:

• How To Install WooCommerce On A WordPress Artist Website
• How To Add And Manage Products In WooCommerce
• How To Add WooCommerce WordPress Categories

FASO

FASO is a third-party service that makes it easy for artists to start selling their artwork on a professional-looking online art gallery.

7 Features That Make FASO Stand Out

• Promote Your Exhibits to Over 27,500 Collectors in Informed Collector
• Promote Your Workshops to Over 55,000 Artists in Fine Art Views
• Promote Your Art to Over 27,500 Collectors Just for Joining FASO
• Get Automated Newsletters Marketing Through Their Get New Alert Feature
• Promote Your Art to Over 70,000 Art Enthusiasts Whenever You Upload Your Artwork
• Get Valuable Exposure with Free Entries in Their BoldBrush Painting Competition
• Get Listed in Their FASO Member Directory, Which Gets Over 40,000 Pages Views a Month

There are four different plans available, and each of them offers a free 30-day trial.

FASO is a platform for artists who have art for sale but do not have time in their day to build a website.

In the long run, a WordPress site will be a better choice if you plan to sell your artwork long-term.

WordPress will be more cost-efficient, and you will not have any theme, widget, or plugin limitations.

If you have art to sell and want to get it online quickly, FASO will be a good solution. While you have your items listed for sale on FASO take some time out of your day to learn how to build a WordPress site.

You can always switch over at a different time if you choose to do so.

Shopify

Shopify is a popular e-commerce platform for small businesses.

Shopify Features:

• Professional display
• Marketing tools
• Online Selling tools
• Social media selling tools
• Order management
• Customer follow-up tools
• Responsive and customizable themes
• Pricing starts at $9/month

Shopify makes selling on Pinterest, Facebook, and Amazon easy with a button click.

Squarespace

Squarespace is a free online store that focuses on processing online, mobile, and on-site credit card Payments. There are no monthly fees. You only pay credit card processing fees and $0.30 per sale.

Even though Square focuses on processing credit card transactions,, they offer a free online store with every Square payments account.

Square also offers mobile credit card swipers if you plan on selling your art at local craft shows.

Weebly

Weebly is a website builder that offers free and premium plans.

You will have access to useful tools and customizable webpage designs to help you build a unique website.

Monthly plans range from free to $26 per/month.

Features * Check to see what plans offer the features you are interested in.

Check all plans for available features.

Online Marketplaces

Besides building an artist website, you can also sell your art on various online marketplaces.

Online marketplaces are sites that allow independent sellers to sell their products on the site.

One positive of selling your artwork in an online marketplace is that they will bring in buyers for you. The downside is that you will compete with a large group of artists trying to sell their artwork.

In most cases, you will see a pricing war between artists, which lowers the value of the artist’s work.

Popular Online Marketplaces For Creative People

eBay

eBay is an online marketplace for buyers and sellers to come together and trade almost anything

eBay started in 1995 and has played an important role in how people shop and conduct business.

In the late 1990s, many people did not feel safe purchasing products online. eBay proved that selling and buying products online is safe, and today, online sales have never been higher.

Many artists found success with eBay without restrictions on the medium they sell.

eBay and Etsy’s main difference is that eBay is an auction platform, and Etsy is a selling platform.

Etsy

Etsy started in 2005 for crafters and artists to have a place to sell their unique handmade creations.

Etsy’s motto, “Shop for anything from creative people anywhere,” has built a large following of art and craft collectors searching for one-of-a-kind handmade goods.

Its mission is to reimagine commerce in ways that build a more fulfilling and lasting world. We build a human, authentic, and community-centric global and local marketplace.

Artisans sell original paintings, handmade jewelry, pottery, sculptures, furniture, wall decor, etc.

Etsy allows you to build an Etsy shop for free and listing fees are affordable at $0.20 per listing, not including selling fees.

You might want to look at Etsy first if you are just starting. They have been around for some time and have built a solid reputation for artists and buyers.

Related Post:

How to Open an Etsy Store Tutorial

22 Creative Things To Sell On Etsy

Most Profitable Crafts To Sell

Amazon

Amazon now allows artists to sell art on amazon. They started selling used books online in 1994 and has built an empire selling almost everything under the sun and offering premium plans for free shipping and 2-day delivery.

In 2013 Amazon decided to enter the fine art business. There are a pre-approval process artists will have to apply for, and only certain types of art are excepted.

SAATCHI ART

Saatchi was founded in London by brothers Maurice and Charles in 1970. Saatchi is a well-known name for artists and art collectors. Even though the company was sold in 2014, the mission and values have stayed the same throughout the years. 

Price ranges for original art on Saatchi are between $500 – $10,000 and up. 

It is free to launch a storefront on Sactchi, but they take a 35% commission for each sale.

Artfinder

Artfinder launched in 2010 and is based in Miami and London. Artists must submit their best artwork and be accepted to sell on Artfinder.

After acceptance, an artist can start working on a free storefront and uploading digital images of their artwork. There are no listing fees on Artfinder, but they take up to 40% commission per sale. Only original art is allowed on Artfinder, including paintings, digital art, sculpture, drawings, printmaking, and photography.

Print-on-Demand Dropship Vendors

POD (print-on-demand) drop ship vendors are online marketplaces that offer prints on merchandise.

One benefit of using a POD service is processing the orders, printing the product, and shipping it to the customer. The downside is that you cannot gather the customer’s information for your email list, and you will be competing with a large group of artists selling prints of their artwork.

Print-on-demand services make selling art prints online easy.

Many print-on-demand services offer prints on:

• Fine art paper
• Canvas
• Greeting cards
• T-shirts
• Sweatshirts
• Calendars
• iPhone cases
• Android phone cases
• Computer sleeves
• Canvas bags
• Face masks 
• Mugs
• Wood 
• Metal 

Go through the top print-on-demand services below to see what merchandise they offer and the best platform for your business goals.

Related post – How To Print Your Artwork On Products

Popular Print on Demand Sites

Fine Art America – has been around since 2006 and has become a well-known name for artists and photographers selling prints of their originals online.

To read how easy it is to sell prints, visit How To Get Started Selling On Fine Art America.

Zazzle is a platform where artists sell prints on various products, earn a commission marketing, and sell other artists’ creations.

Red Bubble – allows you to sell your art prints on over 70 unique products to people worldwide. They offer 24/7 support and watermark features to protect your designs.  

CowCow – offers prints on over 400 products, including clothing, accessories, bags, etc. There is no restriction on design space, and you get to set how much profit you will earn per sale.  

Society6 – allows photographers, illustrators, artists, and digital artists to sell reproductions of their original work. Uploading digital images is easy on Society6, and you retain all rights to your artwork as the artist.

Related Posts:

• POD Websites How to Increase Art Sales
• Print on Demand Sites For Artists – What You Should Know

Where Is The Best Place To Sell Art Online

Your business goals will determine the best place for you to sell your art.

Key things to think about before picking an e-commerce platform like the ones mentioned above are:

• Can you change and modify the look and design of the site?
• Can you change the menu and categories to make it easier for your guests to find what they are searching for?
• Is there a blogging platform?
• Are there social media share buttons?
• Does the platform have a way to collect money for sale?
• Does the platform allow you to sell both tangible and digital products?
• Does the platform have a way for you to collect email addresses?
• Is there a contact page so a customer can contact you?
• How fast is the platform?
• Does the platform offer a custom domain?
• How much does the platform cost each month?

Online Art Marketing

Now that you have a platform to showcase your artwork and collect money online, you will want to focus on how you can get your artwork seen by the buying public.

The first step is to start thinking like a business person.

Once you start selling art, you are in business.

Many artists frown on or are intimidated by the business side of selling art.

Being in business is neither bad nor difficult.

You do not need a college education in marketing to successfully sell your artwork.

Here is everything you need to do to sell your original art online and reproductions. 

How To Sell Your Art Online Overview

• Creating Artwork and Photographing Art
• Having a Place Where People Cans View and Purchase Your Art
• Writing Goals
• Writing an Artist Statement
• Building a Brand
• Write Well Written Art Descriptions
• Developing a Content Marketing Strategy
• Developing a Social Media Marketing Strategy
• Building Your Email List
• Enhancing Your Time Management Skills

Photographing Artwork

If you are considering selling your art, you probably already have a collection of art you would like to sell.

Keep working on enhancing your artist skills and build a large collection so your buyers will have a wide variety to choose from.

Photographing and editing your artwork is an important skill many artists overlook.

The image you are showcasing on your artist website and art blog will determine if you land a sale or not.

You will also have to invest in a quality camera to sell online.

Your smartphone will take good enough photos for marketing on social media, but you will want to use a quality camera for your art listings. The quality of your images will affect your online art sales because people can not see your products in person.

Below is a list of cameras artists and professional photographers are using today.

• Nikon D800 Digital SLR Camera Body (36.3 M/P)
• Panasonic Lumix DMC-G85
• Canon EOS Rebel SL2 DSLR Camera
• Sony Cyber-Shot DSC-RX100 V Digital Camera (20.1 M/P)

Also, take a look at these camera kits and camera bundles.

If you are planning on printing reproductions at home, visit Best Printers For Art Prints

If you are going to scan your art, you will need a good scanner.

Having A Place Where People Can View And Purchase Your Art

You probably have a good idea of what platform you will be using to showcase and sell your art.

Review what we discussed and decide the best solution for your goals and business.

Writing Business Goals

Know what your objectives are before deciding what platform you will work on.

• Will you be selling original artwork?
• Will you be selling limited edition prints?
• Will you be selling unlimited prints?
• Will you be selling greeting cards or other merchandise?
• Will you be teaching classes?
• Will you be selling eBooks or courses?
• How much money would you like to earn every month?
• How much will you have to sell to reach that goal?

Setting goals is crucial for the growth of your art business.

The goals you set will be the blueprint of your marketing strategy and allow you to make better marketing decisions, and you will be able to analyze what is working for you and what is not working for you.

Related Resources:

• How to Write Goals You Can Achieve Workbook
• How to Write Goals Online Video Course

Writing An Artist Statement

Selling art is all about building relationships with your target audience.

Your artist statement will be easy for your audience to know who you are as an artist.

This Artist Statement Workbook will help you to write a perfect artist statement.

If you do not have an artist statement yet, put it on your to-do list.

Building Your Brand

What do you think of when you hear, “Just do it?”

Nike.

What do you think of seeing the golden arches on a trip?

Over one billion hamburgers are sold at McDonald’s.

Branding is important for every business, no matter how large or small the business is.

To separate yourself from other artists online, you must create a brand that reflects your art style.

Defining your brand is like a journey of business self-discovery. It can be difficult, time-consuming and uncomfortable. It requires, at the very least, that you answer the questions below:

• What is your company’s mission?
• What are the benefits and features of your products or services?
• What do your customers and prospects already think of your company?
• What qualities do you want them to associate with your company?

(Source: John Williams, Entrepreneur)

You can read more by visiting The Basics Of Branding.

Related Resources:

Create an Artist Brand Workbook

Developing A Content Marketing Strategy

You might have heard this before, “Your artist blog is the fuel that will drive traffic to your art listings.”

Blogging is more important today than ever.

With all the competition out there, you have to hustle and create a lot of content to attract your target audience.

Have you noticed that reaching an audience on social media is becoming more difficult?

Read more on how Facebook was changing in 2018, How Facebook’s New Goals Affect Artists.

This is the beginning of the end for free advertising on social media platforms.

You must pay to play if you want to market your art on social media.

According to Shane McGeorge, Below are five benefits of blogging for small businesses:

• Exceptional Boost To Search Engine Optimization (SEO)
• Develop And Strengthen Relationships With Existing And New Customers
• Establish Your Business As An Industry Leader
• Connect People To Your Brand
• Create Opportunities For Sharing

You can read more by visiting 5 Powerful Benefits Of Blogging For Your Small Business.

Related Resource: 28 Day Blogging Challenge for Visual Artists

Developing A Social Media Marketing Strategy

Social media is becoming more difficult for businesses to market.

However, social media is still a great way for you to connect with your audience and build brand awareness.

You must constantly change your marketing strategies because social media is constantly changing.

Take some time every week to see what is working for other businesses and see if you can start to implement some of their strategies.

The people who do well on social media are the ones who spend a lot of time testing new ideas. If a strategy is not working for you, discard it and try something new.

Related Posts:

• 5 Easy Social Media Strategies That Drive Traffic To Artist Websites
• Optimize Your Facebook Page For Art Sales
• How I Sell My Art Online With Tailwind
• Increase Website Traffic With Twitter
• 5 Ways Artists Can Make A Presence On Instagram

Building Your Email List

As mentioned, your artist blog and email list are the only two things you will have control of.

Besides focusing on your artist blog, spend quality time building your email list.

Your email list will be the only guarantee you have of reaching your audience.

Related Resources:

• Sell More Art Online by Growing Your Email List
• Ultimate Email Marketing Guide for Selling Art Online

Learn SEO

SEO (search engine optimization) allows search engines to understand your site’s offers and recommend them to the right people.

You will want to learn about:

• On-page SEO
• Off-Page SEO
• Keyword Strategy

Keyword Research Tools:

• SEMRush

Enhancing Your Time Management Skills

Lastly, we would like to talk about enhancing your time management skills.

So many people struggle with time management, but the good news is that you can learn how to be more productive with your time.

Every year I strive to be more productive. You should do the same.

Here is an eBook I wrote that will help you be more productive and get more done.

The Productive Artist – How to Live Your Dreams

FAQ

Can you make money selling art online?

It is possible to make a living as an artist by selling your work online. However, it takes more than simply setting up a website and putting your art up for sale. You must create a comprehensive marketing strategy and build a strong online presence. Additionally, you need to be able to reach potential customers through social media and other channels. But selling art online can be a viable career option if you are dedicated to your craft and willing to work. The key is to treat it like a business, not a hobby. That means consistently promoting your work, maintaining regular contact with customers, and continuously improving your skills. You can turn your passion for art into a successful online business with commitment and hard work.

How to sell more art with low shipping costs?

One important factor is shipping costs if you’re an artist looking to sell more of your work. By keeping your shipping costs low, you can make your artwork more affordable and appealing to potential buyers. Here are a few tips for selling more art with low shipping costs:

1. Ship items in flat rate envelopes or boxes whenever possible. This will help decrease your shipping costs, as you can take advantage of the USPS flat rate shipping options.

2. Use recycled materials whenever possible. This includes packing peanuts, bubble wrap, and even old newspapers. Not only will this help keep your shipping costs down, but it’s also good for the environment.

3. Offer free shipping on orders over a certain amount. This can be an effective way to encourage people to buy multiple pieces of your art. Plus, it helps offset shipping costs for those larger orders.

By following these tips, you can sell more art while keeping your shipping costs low. This will make your artwork more affordable and accessible to potential buyers, helping you grow your business and reach new audiences.

Final Thoughts On Selling Your Artwork

Selling your art on an online gallery is exhilarating, but it does take a lot of learning and effort.

Spend weekly time learning how to become an expert at marketing your artwork online.

Write down your goals, decide what platform you will use to showcase your work, and start learning everything about digital marketing.

Dedicate time every week to observe how other artists sell their art online.

More Art Business Related Articles

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• Selling Art Startup
• Selling Digital Art On Etsy – Complete Guide
• What SIze Art Prints Sell Best
• Square Printing For Artists