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Sell Artists Art

Selling artwork online can be a highly rewarding endeavor for artists, whether you’re selling original paintings, prints, or digital art. The digital marketplace gives you access to a global audience, and with the right strategy, you can build a sustainable online art business. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you effectively sell your artwork online:

1. Choose Your Artwork Type

You’ll need to decide on the type of artwork you want to sell. This will impact your pricing, target audience, and marketing efforts.

Types of Artwork You Can Sell:

  • Original Art: These are one-of-a-kind works, which typically have higher price points and appeal to collectors.
  • Art Prints: Reproductions of your original work, which allow you to reach a wider audience at a lower price point. You can sell prints in various sizes and materials, such as canvas or paper.
  • Digital Art: Original artwork created digitally, which can be sold as downloadable files or printed on demand.
  • Commissions: Offering commissioned artwork, where customers request personalized pieces, can also be a profitable way to sell art online.
  • Merchandise with Your Art: Printed products like t-shirts, mugs, or posters featuring your designs.

2. Set Up an Online Sales Platform

There are several ways to sell your art online, depending on your goals and the level of control you want over your branding.

1. Build Your Own Website

Having a personalized website gives you full control over your brand and customer experience.

  • Platforms to Use:
    • Shopify: A popular eCommerce platform with easy-to-use tools for setting up your art shop, processing payments, and shipping.
    • Wix or Squarespace: User-friendly website builders that allow you to create a professional-looking online store with customizable templates.
    • BigCommerce: Great for scaling if you plan to grow your art business quickly, with additional features for managing inventory and sales.

Key Features:

  • High-Quality Images: Display your artwork in the best possible light with clear, well-lit, and detailed images.
  • Product Pages: Each piece of art should have a dedicated product page with a description of the work, its inspiration, dimensions, and any other relevant details.
  • SEO: Use SEO (Search Engine Optimization) to ensure that your artwork ranks on search engines. For example, keywords like “affordable landscape paintings,” “modern abstract art,” or “original acrylic painting” can help people find your site.
  • Easy Checkout: Integrate a secure, seamless payment gateway like PayPal, Stripe, or credit card payments.
  • Shipping Integration: Make shipping easy by integrating a reliable shipping platform that can automatically calculate costs and tracking.

2. Use Established Art Marketplace Ordefy

Selling your artwork on a curated platform can give you access to an existing audience of art buyers.

  • Perfect for selling handmade, original art or prints. It’s a popular marketplace for independent artists and buyers who appreciate unique, one-of-a-kind works.
  • A dedicated online gallery for contemporary art. Saatchi Art offers print-on-demand services and helps artists connect with collectors worldwide.
  • A marketplace focused on original artwork, offering a platform for independent artists to sell their creations directly to collectors.
  • An auction-based platform for fine art. Artnet provides an opportunity to sell high-value art to serious collectors.
  • Platforms that allow artists to upload designs and sell them on a variety of products (t-shirts, mugs, posters, etc.).

3. Utilize Social Media

Social media platforms are essential tools for promoting your artwork and driving traffic to your online store. You can build a community around your art and connect directly with potential buyers.

  • Instagram: The visual nature of Instagram makes it a perfect platform for artists. Share your artwork, behind-the-scenes content, and process videos. Use hashtags like #artistsoninstagram, #originalartwork, or #artforsale to increase visibility.
  • Facebook: Set up a Facebook business page to showcase your artwork and promote sales. Facebook’s marketplace is also an option for local sales.
  • TikTok: Create short videos showcasing your creative process or explaining the story behind each piece. TikTok’s algorithm can help you reach a broad audience quickly.
  • Pinterest: Share images of your artwork with links to your website or eCommerce platform. Pinterest is often used for inspiration, so your artwork could be shared and repinned by others.

4. Art Auctions

If you’re an established artist, you can consider selling your artwork through online art auctions. Websites like Sotheby’s, Christie’s, and Paddle8 offer auction platforms for art collectors. You can also look into smaller, niche auction sites that cater to contemporary or emerging artists.

3. Pricing Your Artwork

Pricing your artwork is one of the most important aspects of selling art online. Finding the right balance between your costs, your audience, and the perceived value of your work is key.

Factors to Consider When Pricing Your Art:

  • Size and Medium: Larger pieces or works done with expensive materials (like oil paints or gold leaf) generally command higher prices.
  • Your Reputation: If you’re an established artist, you can price your work higher based on demand and previous sales.
  • Time Spent on Creation: Factor in the time you spent creating the piece and any additional costs like supplies, framing, or packaging.
  • Market Research: Look at similar artists’ work in the same medium and style to gauge competitive pricing.

A good rule of thumb is to have a tiered pricing structure:

  • Original Artwork: $100 – $10,000+ depending on the size, complexity, and your reputation.
  • Prints: $20 – $300 (based on size and quality).
  • Digital Downloads: $10 – $50 (for downloadable art).

Discounts & Offers:

  • Offer limited-time promotions, seasonal sales, or bundle deals to encourage potential buyers to purchase.
  • Consider providing free shipping or discounts for first-time buyers or returning customers.

4. Market Your Artwork Online

Once your online store is set up, you’ll need to market your artwork effectively to reach your target audience.

1. Content Marketing

Create content that tells the story behind your artwork, your creative process, and the emotions behind each piece. This helps potential buyers connect with your art on a deeper level.

  • Blogging: Share articles about the inspiration for your artwork, art techniques, or tips on decorating with art.
  • Email Marketing: Build an email list of interested buyers and keep them updated on new artworks, sales, or exhibitions. Offer a discount code for signing up.

2. Influencer & Artist Collaborations

Collaborating with influencers or other artists can help expose your artwork to a wider audience.

  • Influencers: Reach out to art influencers on platforms like Instagram and TikTok to feature your artwork in their posts or stories. Offer them a commission or free prints in exchange for promotion.
  • Guest Artist Posts: Team up with other artists for cross-promotion. You can feature each other’s work on your respective platforms.

3. Paid Advertising

Paid ads can help you reach more people and increase sales, especially if you have a specific niche.

  • Facebook/Instagram Ads: Run targeted ads to promote your art to users who have shown interest in art, home decor, or your specific genre of work.
  • Google Ads: Use paid search ads to target people searching for specific art types (e.g., “buy abstract painting” or “landscape art for sale”).

4. Engaging with Your Audience

Social media is all about community. Engage with your followers by:

  • Responding to comments or messages.
  • Hosting live sessions where you create art in real time.
  • Running polls or asking for feedback on your latest works.

5. Handling Orders and Shipping

Once your artwork starts selling, you’ll need a plan for processing orders and shipping.

  • Packaging: Ensure your art is well-packed to avoid damage during transit. Use protective materials such as bubble wrap, foam boards, and sturdy boxes.
  • Shipping: Offer reliable shipping methods. For original artwork, use insured shipping services to protect your investment and the buyer’s purchase. For prints, you may want to use a print-on-demand service or ship them yourself.
  • Returns & Exchanges: Have a clear and fair return policy in place to increase buyer confidence.

6. Offer Excellent Customer Service

To build long-term relationships with your buyers, it’s crucial to provide excellent customer service.

  • Quick Response: Respond to inquiries promptly, whether it’s about custom commissions, pricing, or shipping questions.
  • Personalization: Include handwritten thank-you notes or certificates of authenticity with original art to make customers feel valued.
  • Follow-Up: After a sale, reach out to customers asking for feedback, reviews, and if they’re satisfied with the product.

Example Sales Pitch for Selling Artwork:

Subject: Transform Your Space with Stunning Original Art

Hi [Customer’s Name],

Are you ready to add a personal touch to your home or office? Our exclusive collection of original paintings and prints is designed to bring beauty, inspiration, and a sense of serenity into your space.

Each piece is crafted with passion and attention to detail, capturing the emotions of nature

, life, and everything in between. Whether you’re looking for a landscape, abstract art, or a modern design, there’s something here for every taste and budget.

Why Choose Our Art?

  • Unique Creations: Each piece is one-of-a-kind, created by passionate artists who pour their hearts into every brushstroke.
  • Affordable Prints: Not ready to invest in an original? We offer beautiful, high-quality prints that will make your space pop without breaking the bank.
  • Worldwide Shipping: No matter where you are, we’ll carefully pack and ship your artwork to you.

Browse our collection today and find the perfect piece for your space.

Best regards,
[Your Name]
[Your Brand]

Conclusion:

Selling art online is an exciting opportunity to reach a global audience and grow your art business. Whether you choose to sell on your own website, use marketplaces, or leverage social media, the key to success is effective marketing, beautiful presentation, and excellent customer service. By creating compelling artwork and following the right strategies, you can build a successful online art business and share your creativity with the world.

Let me know if you’d like more details or assistance with any of the steps!