A quick Google search for ‘how to sell art online’ throws up a plethora of resources promising to help artists quit their day jobs and make a living from their art, however many of these resources that claim to have all the answers are behind an often costly paywall.
Paid resources can be valuable but they aren’t always best placed to offer the groundwork information that will help you to get started. So, we’ve put together this free resource to put you on the right path towards building a strategy that allows you to connect with your future buyers.
There are a range of online marketplaces that allow artists to list their creations and connect with an established customer base. Some of the top online marketplaces include:
One of the world’s most popular selling sites, Etsy allows consumers to shop a wide range of products from makers around the world. Etsy charges a 6.5% transaction fee on sale prices and a 17p listing fee, which you’ll need to account for in your pricing structures. Etsy also offers advertising tools, which you can choose to utilise for additional fees.
It’s important to note that there are more than six million sellers on Etsy, so new sellers are up against a lot of competition from the outset.
While anyone can sign up to sell on Etsy, Not On The High Street is slightly more exclusive, as all sellers are required to submit an application for review. If your application is successful you won’t need to pay any listing fees, however, you will be charged a one-off £199 joining fee and be required to pay a 25% commission fee on every item you sell.
Numonday is another platform that allows consumers to shop directly from designers, makers and artists in the UK. In order to be accepted as a Numonday seller, you must be a self-representing artist based in the UK. Interestingly, there is a ‘pay what you can’ membership model in place here, so you will be asked to select your own monthly membership fee when you sign up for an account.
If you don’t want to rely on a third-party service and would prefer to use search engine optimisation techniques to boost the online visibility of your own website, there are a number of options available to you.
Squarespace is an easy-to-use tool that can help you to create a website in a matter of minutes. There are a number of templates to choose from to showcase your artwork in the best light, as well as a number of extra tools including the ability to integrate your own shop to sell your work directly.
There are several different pricing options, with prices starting at £12 per month after a 14-day free trial.
Shopify is a platform that can help you to build a successful online store and grow your creative business. Shopify has a range of customisable tools, allowing you to create a strong brand that will resonate with your ideal target audience.
Like Squarespace, there are several different pricing structures available which start at £19 per month.
Maintaining an online presence through social media platforms like Instagram and Facebook can help you to build an engaged audience who want to keep up with your creative endeavours.
There is a strong community of artists on social media platforms, which is highlighted by the existence of the Artist Support Pledge. Creators of the Artist Support Pledge believe that it’s possible to have a sustainable economic model for all artists, which is a vision shared by its strong community of artists and creatives.
At a time when social media algorithms change frequently and without warning, it is important to build an email list that will allow you to consistently market directly to your audience outside of the whims of social media platform owners.
If you enjoy sharing long-form content, such as in-depth guides to your processes or your collections, Substack is an excellent tool that allows you to communicate with your audience in a variety of different ways. Many creatives using Substack also choose to share some of their content just with paid subscribers, which can provide another valuable revenue stream that will allow you to fulfil your creative ambitions.
If you’re looking to take your first steps as a professional creative, a space in which you can immerse yourself in your craft and business is essential. Here at Meanwhile Creative, we’re proud to foster a creative community, providing affordable office and studio spaces for artists and like-minded individuals in Bristol, Cardiff and Manchester.
Whether you’re starting out or moving on, get in touch to begin the next chapter of your creative journey.
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