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Why Artist Websites Should Be Built On WordPress
Are you trying to decide what the best solution is for you to sell your art online?
This post will cover why artist websites should be built on WordPress and a library of tutorials to help you make your dream artist website.
You might have heard me say in previous posts. It is better to build a business on a platform you own versus building on rented land.
What does build an online business on rented land mean?
Building a business on platforms, you do not own like Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest, or third-party website builders like Weebly or Squarespace is building a business on rented land.
Those companies control everything from your page’s look, what type of content you can post, and who sees your posts.
I know many artists who built a stable business on Facebook when Facebook first launched Facebook Business Pages.
Unfortunately, some artists did not have a website they owned and solely relied on Facebook for sales.
When Facebook changed its algorithm, and their posts were not shown on their followings newsfeeds as much, the artist’s sales declined drastically.
Related Post: How Many People See Your Facebook Posts?
- They lost all contact with their following.
- They did not build an email list.
- They did not have a website that was searchable on search engines.
- They didn’t have an artist blog that drove traffic to their listings.
To put it all in perspective, they had to start their business over from scratch.
You must establish a quality website and publish your content to a domain that you own. Do this consistently, and you will be ahead of most of your competitors. (Source: Mitch Schaffer)
Would you like Facebook to control your artist’s career, or would you like to control your destiny?
Artist Website Builder – WordPress
WordPress is a free website building software that is used by large and small businesses.
All you have to do to get started is purchase a domain name and hosting from a hosting provider like BlueHost and use the one-click WordPress installer BlueHost provides, and your new artist website will be live in just minutes.
If you are just starting, you might want to consider selling your art on a platform like Etsy.
But I strongly suggest that you start building a WordPress artist website while learning how to photograph and upload your artwork, write well-written art descriptions, and develop a pricing strategy that produces a profit.
Learning how to take high-quality images of your work cannot be overemphasized.
The image you showcase online will be the first reason someone will or will not be interested in purchasing your artwork.
Candice Stringham shows you how to take professional photos that sell in her online video course Craft Photography Fundamentals.
If you are finding it difficult to photograph your art, Candice will make it easy for you.
Why Build An Artist Website With WordPress
Some of the best fine art websites online today are created with WordPress.
Below, I will talk about why WordPress is the most common and, in my opinion, the best software for building websites.
WordPress Is Free – The WordPress software is free.
The only thing you will have to purchase is a domain name and hosting, which is cheaper than paying monthly fees for third-party website builders.
Most popular hosting services:
You Own It – When you build a website with WordPress, you own it. You have total control of how it looks from beginning to end.
Professional themes like StudioPress Themes for WordPress allow you to brand your online business exactly the way you envision.
Large Support Group – Learning is easy and free. You can find the answer to any WordPress problem you might encounter just by searching on Google or YouTube. I also have many blog post tutorials available (you can find links to them towards the end of this post) along with eBooks and online video courses.
User-Friendly – WordPress is straightforward to learn and maintain. Adding new posts, pages, images, and videos is as easy as posting on Facebook.
SEO Optimized – Google likes fast sites, and the code behind WordPress and Professional Themes by companies like StudioPress is clean and straightforward. This makes the website faster, and it is easier for search engines to read and index the site and content.
Each post, page, and image has a title, description, and meta tags that help optimize your content for specific keywords.
The Website is 100% Customizable – There are thousands of themes and plugins that will allow you to build your site exactly the way you want. You will also be able to revise your website as your art business grows.
Built-In Blog – Your blog posts will be the fuel that drives traffic to your site. WordPress has a blog built-in and easy to integrate. You can create categories that will make it easier for your audience to find what they are looking for to come back regularly.
Responsive Site Design
People are using their mobile devices to search for content in today’s day and age. It is easy for someone to search for something online at their convenience with their smartphone. This is excellent news for online businesses. People do not have to wait until they are at a PC to shop online; they can do it anywhere at any time. With more and more people using their mobile devices, you will want to make sure that your artist website is responsive to the impulse shoppers.
Mobile
More and more people are using mobile devices to search online, which continues to grow every month. Currently, more smartphones and tablets are being purchased than PCs. What does this tell you? If you do not have a responsive site, you will be losing sales. People do not stay on sites that are not mobile-friendly.
Shopping
Online shopping with mobile devices is increasing. More people are shopping online in the car, on lunch breaks, at their children’s sporting event, or having a few extra minutes to spare. Why the increase in mobile online sales? Because it is easy and convenient. Most people are working two jobs and do not have the time or energy to run to the store. Take advantage of this with a responsive site.
Social Media
More than 50% of social media consumption is on mobile devices. People love to share things that they like to their friends. If your site is being shared, you will want to have a responsive site, so when people visit your site, it will be a pleasant experience.
Look Great
Your site will look great no matter what device people are using. Responsive designs will make your website look great, whether it is being viewed on a PC, tablet, or smartphone of any size.
Improve Rankings
Google wants to deliver great content to its audience. Google knows that more people are consuming content on mobile devices. To ensure a great experience for the reader, Google will rank responsive sites higher than sites that are not responsive.
Responsive Themes
A beautiful, clean-looking website that is easy to navigate is essential for an online art gallery. Collectors purchase art with their eyes, and you will want your platform to represent your art accurately on any device.
If you are designing your art gallery using WordPress as your platform, you will want to use a responsive theme.
A WordPress theme will allow you to change the function and look of your site. You will have the option to alter the theme without altering the content on your website.
You have the choice to use free themes or purchase premium themes.
Here is a list of a few sites that sell premium themes for WordPress. Many websites offer excellent products, but this list will get you started.
Artist Websites WordPress Tutorials
- Social Warfare Review – The Ultimate Social Sharing WordPress Plugin
- WordPress Categories and Tags – SEO Basics
- WordPress SEO Plugins
- WordPress Visibility Settings
- WordPress Themes
- How To Manage Plugins In WordPress
- How To Manage Menus In WordPress
- How To Manage Widgets On WordPress
- How To Insert Links On WordPress Blog Posts
- How To Manage Comments On WordPress
- How To Embed YouTube Videos On WordPress
- How To Upload And Install Media On WordPress
- How To Create A WordPress Category
- WordPress Page Options
- WordPress Post Options
- WordPress Dashboard Guide
- WordPress SEO Basics
WordPress Online Video Courses:
Creating a Responsive Website with WordPress by Brian Wood
Ecommerce and Accepting Payments on WordPress by Brian Wood
Conclusion:
The best websites for artists to display their work are built on WordPress because the artist has total control of the look and feel of the site.
Popular Online Craft Marketing Classes
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
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