Simple Tips on How To Sell Your Artwork and Become a Paid Artist
by: GayleEtcheverry |
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Becoming a successful, paid artist used to be just a fantasy for many, but now with the access of the Internet, many artists are finding customers all over the world to buy their art. There are several different methods artists use to showcase and sell their art, and over extensive research, I've tried many of them. I thought it would be nice to share some of my discoveries with other artists looking for a little bit of help in this department.
I would like to preface that this article is intended for those who like the idea of representing themselves as an artist and do not feel the need for gallery representation. If this sounds like something that interests you then keep on reading!
One way to show the world your artwork is by making a custom portfolio website. You can easily make it yourself through services like Go Daddy.com or Names Direct.com, or you could pay someone else to do it for you. Before you go off and hire someone, you might want to consider the cost advantages of doing it yourself. After all, each time you'll need to add new information it could become costly with a web designer.
if you haven't already purchased a domain name, then you'll need to do this before you can build your site. There are literally thousands of companies available and you can find one by google searching 'domain name check'. For my portfolio site, I use two different domain names that both forward to the same place (GayleEtcheverry.com and GaylesPaintings.com). Since my last name is hard for people to pronounce, I figured it would be safe to create something simple too. it's proved to be quite successful for me.
Another great way to display your artwork is to set up a blog (sites such as Blogger.com or Wordpress.com are a few examples). Blogs are very easy to manage and upload content and most importantly - usually free! One cool feature blogs have is called an RSS feed. This allows your fans (even if it just starts out as friends and family) to be notified immediately after you upload new additions on your latest artwork.
Now before I continue, I think it is fair to mention you should consider to invest in purchasing a digital camera if you haven't already. This is the easiest tool out there to get images of your artwork onto your computer. My camera cost less than $300 and that was 2 years ago. This camera continues to be a great asset to my art sales.
A couple of options for places to sell your artwork on the web are EBay and Etsy. These are favorites for many because of the massive number of hits they receive from buyers each day. Buyers from all over the globe search for & purchase artwork for a range of prices and styles of art. This gives them the ability to buy original artwork no matter where they live. To use these services you will be charged service fees, but they are much lower than the 50% commission charged by galleries. And, you can use PayPal for quick credit card transactions. To help with traffic, be sure to add links between these listings and your blog/website.
Some artists just sell their artwork directly on their website and go without sites like EBay or Etsy. I've personally tried both. Mostly, I sell paintings on my site, but sometimes I do list paintings on the other sites. But if you are new to all of this, starting out on a site like EBay or Etsy will make it very easy for you.
One of the most important elements to your success will be from networking. A strong networker connects with others and together they actively search for quality referrals for each other. (Note: These can be from completely different fields of work, such as real estate, plumbing, child care referrals.) Top sales expert, Zig Ziglar was once quoted saying, "You can get everything in life you want if you will just help enough other people get what they want."
Networking can be done all the time, whether in person or online. First of all, tell everyone you know what you are doing. When you meet new people ask them what kind of business referrals they are looking for, then tell them what kind of referrals you are looking for. (Just in case you've forgotten, you are looking for people who enjoy art and would love to own an original piece of art created by none other than you!) Also, hand out business cards with your website/blog address, email address and/or phone number so people will know how to contact you.
The Internet is filled with thousands of free social networking websites where you can meet people from all over the world. A few of the most popular sites are Myspace and Facebook. There are other sites that persuade members to promote their businesses in their networks - these are the sites for you (one great example is JasonsNetwork.com) Join these kinds of sites and spread the word on your art, post your pictures too. You'll meet thousands of possible future paying customers!
Probably the most important element in your success will be to NEVER give up. Create your masterpieces, put them online and continue to promote yourself. Request email address from people you meet asking if they'd like to stay up to date on all your new works. Then, send an email to your subscriber list with links to the new additions and always ask for your fans to forward the email to anyone they think would be interested in your artwork. It will take a little bit of time for your list to grow, but be patient, you'll begin to sell your artwork before you know it!
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About the Author
Do you want to become a paid artist? Gayle Etcheverry is pleased to share her tried and true tips so you can successfully begin to Sell Your Artwork Online. Click here to get your own unique version of this article with free reprint rights.
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