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How To Start Posting Art On Tumblr
Are you thinking about starting an art blog, but you are not sure how to start?
Tumblr is a great platform to use to show your art to art enthusiasts worldwide.
For you to sell your artwork online, you will have to make people aware you are an artist and have artwork for sale.
Building name recognition can be accomplished by blogging and creating content your target audience is interested in reading.
In today’s post, you will discover how easy it is to start a Tumblr blog for free show people worldwide can enjoy viewing your creations.
Pros And Cons Of Tumblr
Before I jump into how to start a Tumblr blog for artists, I would like to go over the pros and cons of starting a Tumblr blog.
Tumblr is becoming more and more popular because they have made it very easy to start and operate a blog.
You can have a free blog up and running in just minutes by visiting Tumblr and following the steps they provide.
The negative side is that you will be building your art business on rented land.
You will not have total control of your site, and you will have limited options available to you.
One more thing I would like to mention is that Tumblr has the right to close your account down at any given time.
However, Tumblr is an excellent way to become familiar with blogging and promoting your artwork.
You will learn a lot about blogging in just a few months.
At that point, you will feel confident enough to take the next step and start a website of your own.
The question you might be asking yourself is, “Should I start a Tumblr Blog?”
If you are unfamiliar with blogging and would like to know more about it so you can build an online art business, I would say it would be a good idea.
If you already own a blog and have been blogging for some time, I recommend focusing on the blog you already own.
How To Start A Tumblr Blog For Artists
To start your Tumblr blog, you will first have to set up an account similar to Facebook or Pinterest.
Click Tumblr to get started.
Click Get Started link.
Here you will add an email address, username, and password.
Note: your username will be your URL.
You also have the option of purchasing a custom domain if you wish to.
Next, you will have to provide your age and accept the terms and conditions.
After you have accepted the terms and conditions, you will have to verify your account.
Now you are ready to start your first Tumblr blog post.
The first step is to add an image.
Click the Photo Icon.
You can upload an image file or point to an image you have stored on the web.
After you have uploaded your image, add a caption and click the Create Post link.
Customize Tumblr Blog
The next step is to customize your Tumblr blog. You will have a variety of Themes to choose from by clicking the Theme link on the top left.
Pick the theme that comes closest to your brand.
The limited options Tumblr offers is where owning a WordPress site has the upper hand.
You will have limited options in what you will be able to customize, but it will work just fine for just starting.
At this point, you want to become familiar with blogging and expanding your online presence.
You can always build a WordPress site in the future.
When you have found a Theme, you are happy with click Save Changes.
Follow Some People On Tumblr
At this point, Tumblr will suggest that you follow some people. You have the option of finding people now or you can do this at a later time.
If you choose to do this later just click the Blue X on the top right.
Following people are another difference between owning your art blog or using Tumblr.
Tumblr has a social media feel to Facebook or Twitter.
This is a good way to build an audience in the beginning. Most people will follow you if you do decide on building your own artist blog.
Tumblr Dashboard
You are now on the Tumblr dashboard.
This is not what your site will look like to other people.
This is the place where you create your blog posts.
If you would like to see what your site looks like to others click the actual URL for your Tumblr blog.
Your Tumblr dashboard will have similar features that most hosted blogs and WordPress platforms offer.
Once you become familiar here you will have an easy time working on any platform.
Tumblr Dashboard Features:
- Text – Add text to posts. You will have the option to insert links and images.
- Photo – Upload images from your PC or the web.
- Quote – Highlights a quote and the source.
- Link – Link name, URL, and the option of a rich-text description.
- Chat – Allows you to record a discussion.
- Audio – Upload audio. Be cautious of copyright laws.
- Video – Upload videos to your post.
More Tumblr Features
At this point, you have your Tumblr blog live and you have an understanding of how to create a blog post.
Now I would like to go over some other features Tumblr offers.
Tumblr Privacy Settings
When you create a free Tumblr blog, the privacy settings are automatically set to public.
You do not have the option to turn your Tumblr blog to private however, you can set individual posts to private.
To make a post private, change the Publish Now setting to Private when you are creating a post you would like to be private.
Tumblr Pages
You can create static pages on Tumblr to make it look and feel like a traditional website. Some examples would be, About Me Page, Contact, Shipping Policies, etc.
The Tumblr Themes are set up so you can easily add pages to your Tumblr blog.
Tumblr Comments
Tumblr allows you to display comments on a post just like regular WordPress blogs.
If you would like to allow readers to comment on your posts, click the Appearance link on your Tumblr dashboard and add the Disqus comments platform.
Allowing comments will help to connect you with your readers.
Check The Timezone
Click Settings on the top navigation bar and choose the time zone you are residing to make sure your posts and comments are time-stamped correctly.
Custom Domain
Most artists use Tumblr because it is a free blogging platform.
You do have the option to purchase a custom domain but I recommend using WordPress if you are ready to have a custom domain name.
WordPress has many more features that will allow you to create a website just the way you envision it to be.
How To Get Your Art Noticed On Tumblr
Building a following on Tumblr is similar to building an audience on social media platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.
You will see better results if you publish daily if you can.
Update your Tumblr blog regularly with:
- Work in progress images
- Finished artwork
- Your studio
- Write about the art you are creating
- Write about your artistic journey
Final Thoughts On How To Start A Tumblr Blog For Artists
Developing a content marketing strategy is important for any business to build an online presence.
If you want your audience to find you, you will have to create content that will attract them.
Here are some blogging benefits you should know:
According to Kelly Thomas Mango
Most important benefits of having a blog for your business:
- Boost Search Engine Optimization
- Develop Relationships with Potential and Existing Customers
- Establish Your Business as an Industry Leader
- Connect People to Your Brand
- Create Opportunities for Sharing
If you are new to blogging, Tumblr will be a great place for you to start. Now that you know how to start a Tumblr blog for artists you can start creating content that will drive traffic to your art listings.
Now that you know how to start a Tumblr blog for artists it is time to take action.
Would you like to learn how to build a blog that generated over $15,000 a month?
Debbie Gartner explains exactly how she created a blog that makes her six figures a year.
- Easy On-Page SEO (For Beginners)
- Easy Backlinks For SEO
- Google Analytics Easy As 1,2,3
- Blog Income Recovery
Check out this eBook to learn how to be more effective with your keyword research, Get Your Keywords Together: How To Do Keyword Research With Only Free Tools.
You Might Also Be Interested In:
- How to Overcome Self-Doubt for Artists (Imposter Syndrome)
- How To Seal Oil Pastel Paintings
- 10 Time-Saving Hacks Every Artist Should Know
- Unveiling the Secrets of Encaustic Painting: Unlock Your Artistic Journey
- Unleash Your Creativity on the Go: The Ultimate Guide to Traveling Art Kits
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Popular Art Marketing Courses
Are you ready to take your art business to the next level?
Investing in marketing courses and tutorials will maximize your profit and speed up the growth of your business.
Below are some of the most popular art marketing courses that will grow your online art business:
Most Popular – How to Make a Living Selling What You Make by Megan Auman
Most Popular – Build a Successful Creative Blog by April Bowles-Olin
How to Build a Business While Learning Your Craft by Megan Auman
Pinterest Marketing for Makers & Designers by Megan Auman
You might also be interested in:
- Be More Productive on Your Art Blog by Reducing Time on Social Media
- How to Generate Traffic with List Posts and Sell More Art
- 5 Reasons Artists Should Blog
- How to Sell More Art by Building your Tribe
- 5 Proven Strategies to Boost Your Artist Blog Traffic
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Now that you know how to start a Tumblr blog it is time to learn how to build an audience and sell more art online blogging.
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