Tired of having your unique and beautiful art stored away in a box in your basement? It’s time to go online and make some money off of the pieces you’ve created. The online art marketplace is full of potential, with the global art industry estimated to reach up to US$71 billion in 2024 according to the Global Art Market Report. Here is a fabulous guide to help you sell your own art and maximize your sales.

How Do I Sell My Own Art?

The beauty of digital platforms is that you can create an endless store visual storefront – a virtual copy of an art gallery in the palm of your hand. You can access these platforms everywhere, making it so much easier for customers to browse and purchase your art.

Plus, you don’t have to rely so much on word of mouth to market your art because you can easily set up social media accounts and develop a following that can potentially turn into more art sales.

Some great online platforms to showcase your art and extend your reach include:

  1. Shopify – An ecommerce platform that allows you to customize your store and maintain total control over the content.
  2. Saqqara – An online marketplace for digital art that makes it easy to process payments and manage your art inventory.
  3. Society6 – A simple way for artists to monetize their artwork from print on demand products.
  4. DeviantArt – A global art community where you can upload original artwork, connect with other artists and get immediate feedback.
  5. Big Cartel – An online platform that simplifies the setup process and offers various promotional tools.

How Do I Sell My Art For the First Time?

The best way to start selling your work is to create a portfolio of your art pieces and join online galleries, just like the ones listed above. But, the key to really selling your artwork is to build a brand and promote your brand in the art world. You need to come up with an eye-catching name and present your art in the best light possible.

Building your audience is another key factor – create content that interests your followers and keep them hooked to your page. For instance, if your art is based on nature, share some educational pieces about nature or do a Q&A with a scientist who works with nature. This helps to establish your brand’s identity and helps potential customers recognize and trust your work.

In this day and age, there are many digital marketing tools available for you to use to reach a larger audience and maximize sales. Use techniques such as email marketing, social media campaigns, pay-per-click advertising, and search engine optimization to increase your reach. With these tools, you can increase visibility, expand your customer base, and drive more sales.

“One of the best ways to stand out and get noticed is to showcase your work in a professional and consistent way. Quality photography and eye-catching presentation is key.” – Rachael Grad, Art Director, Saqqara.

Where Can I Easily Sell My Art?

Now that you’ve learned how to create a professional portfolio that attracts a bigger audience, it’s time to consider your options when it comes to the right place to actually sell your art. Although there are many online platforms, you should look into the ones that best suit your needs.

Popular online art marketplaces to consider include:

  • Saatchi Art
  • Etsy
  • Redbubble
  • Fine Art America
  • Artfinder
  • Zatista

What is the Most Profitable Way to Sell Art?

The key to becoming profitable when selling art is to build trust with customers. You need to develop your brand, create a vibrant website, and use a variety of promotional tools to make sure your artwork gets in front of the right people.

One of the best ways to increase your sales is to host an exclusive event with potential buyers. These events typically focus on a subject, idea, or theme, to draw attention and get people engaged. This kind of event is also a great way to establish relationships with buyers.

Another way to increase profits is to upsell. Sell additional pieces of art or prints that are related to the piece they are potentially interested in buying. Promote discounted prices when they buy two similar pieces or if they buy bulk, such as a set of prints. Offering variations such as different sizes or media can increase profits as well.

“In the online arena, customer satisfaction comes first. It’s important to build trust and make sure customers have the best buying experience possible when they purchase your art.” – Bill Deruiter, CEO, Artfinder.

Conclusion

Selling art can be an intimidating experience, however, with the right strategy, you can make the most out of your creative ability. You can use the art marketplace to your advantage and take advantage of the booming online art industry. Get started by creating a portfolio, joining online galleries, and putting in the work to build a strong brand. Once you have a strong foundation, you can use digital marketing tools to reach a larger audience and start making art sales.

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