I’ve Learned So Much!
It’s amazing how much I know about running a successful art business these days, but it wasn’t always this way!
I started running my first small business in 2009. I became a life coach and quickly realized I had NO CLUE how to get clients or how to market myself, and didn’t feel confident in myself or my skills. That, my friends, is not a recipe for success. Since then, though, I’ve taken tons of classes on running an online business, and eventually classes specific to running an online art business. I now feel confident in all the ins and outs of online marketing, Instagram, email marketing, lead generation, running a website and, well, I won’t bore you with all of it just yet, but let’s say my know-how has increased a zillion percent since 2009.
Now that I’ve learned so much, it feels like the right time to share some of it with you!
Watch the video below or read about what you need under the video.
The First Thing You Need For A Successful Art Business
Attractive, well lit photos of your artwork
I guess the first thing you truly need is artwork, but I’ll assume if you’re here, you already have some of that.
I really, really struggled to take nice photographs of my work for a long time. When I started making art again it was late 2015/early 2016, and I had an iPhone from that era. The camera was fine, but not like what’s available today. Lucky for you, if you own a smartphone, you already have a decent camera in your possession!
Lighting was also a big issue for me. Back then we rented a log cabin at the top of a mountain, and it had humongous windows taking up almost one entire side of the house. This was great for living but bad for art photography. The back of the house was dark, the front of it was SO BRIGHT that all photos of art looked harsh and oversaturated. Luckily, when we bought our house in 2017, it came with a sunroom that got just the right amount of natural light for taking decent photos.
But what if you don’t have that situation? What if you’re in a dark basement or overly bright room? Well, there are a few solutions. If your work is small enough, you can try lighting a small area with a natural daylight bulb. Another option is to take your artwork outside on a cloudy day. Not cloudy like it’s about to storm, but cloudy enough that the sun is covered, therefore softening the intense harsh light you get on a bright day. I lay down a white board and photograph my work on top of it for a clean background.
Also, photo editing software will help adjust most lighting issues! I use Adobe Photoshop, which is around $11 a month, but I know other people edit photos in free software or apps. Look for online tutorials if you have no experience, and keep playing around until you’re happy.
A way to sell your artwork online, preferably your own website
Yes, you need a website. If you absolutely must, you can use Etsy, but I highly, highly recommend against that. Why? You don’t own your customer’s information, Etsy can change their fees at any time (and they do!!), and it’s not a platform dedicated to just you and your work, meaning potential customers can get easily distracted and taken away from your beautiful art.
If this feels overwhelming to you, I can help. I have experience making and maintaining websites, and can help set up a shop for you. However, if you’re more of a DIY person, I’d suggest:
- WordPress if you’re strong technically (this is also probably the cheapest option
- Squarespace
- Shopify
The basic things you’ll need on your website are a home page that gives a quick overview of what you offer, a shop page, and an about page so people can learn more about the person behind the art. You can do it!
For a successful art business, you need an email list!
This is another thing that may, at first seem overwhelming, but it’s the best way to keep in direct touch with your customers and potential customers.
If you use a service like Squarespace, you can easily add a “sign up for updates” box right on your site. To really gain traction, though, you’ll want to offer some sort of tantalizing offer, like a discount code or free guide. You’ll have to think about what your offers are and what you feel comfortable with, and once you decide, you’ll create the offer, then sign up for an email marketing service like Mailchimp or Mailerlite (I believe both are free for your first 1000 subscribers).
Let me crystal clear: The people who sign up for your email list like you and want to hear from you! When someone signs up for your list, it’s a much bigger commitment than pressing the follow button on Pinterest or Instagram. Social channels are important to your business, too, but you can’t control how many people see your posts or hear about your upcoming shop update. When people are on your email list, you have direct access to their inbox!
Final Thoughts on Running a Successful Art Business
There is SO MUCH that goes into running an art biz, and it takes time to get all the pieces running smoothly. That’s why I started offering VA and consulting services, because I want to share my knowledge and know-how. If you’re called to do this, then do this you must, but take it one step at a time, okay?
The form you have selected does not exist.