4 Tips On How To Sell Art Online And Make Money
The only difference between you and Pablo Picasso is that you’re able to sell your art digitally.
The best part about living in the 21st century is that we have access to the world wide web. With that being said, there are so many channels available to artists in order to showcase their art. This article aims to tell you just that; how to sell art online and make money. Whether you’re a dancer, photographer, singer, poet, graphic designer, architect, or a person who does some other form of art, these tips will apply to everyone.
The list of things that the person will learn:
- Selling art online for beginners
- How much money can you make selling art online
- Free tools to help you get started selling art online
- Best websites to sell your art
Selling art online for beginners
This can’t be said enough, and you’ll see it all over the place while doing your research: just start. To know how to sell art online and make money, you need to gain experience and make mistakes. It doesn’t have to be a perfect process. Don’t waste too much time planning and gaining various certifications or credentials that may or may not have an impact in the future; focus on your art and promoting it. As we know: Content is King.
Selling art online for beginners is promoting your art on social media. A lot. Like, a lot, a lot. Get your name out there. Get involved with online art galleries, shows, and conventions. Selling art online for beginners involves being vocal and making sure your face is known among the community. While you’re at these conventions, shows, and promoting on social media, think small. Work on simply getting your first sale, and scale the process behind how you got that first sale. Expect rejection.
Overcome that rejection. You’ll hear a lot of no’s and negative feedback the more you put your art out there. The idea is to hear the critics, but know that it doesn’t matter. They say that art is in the eye of the beholder – and one thing I’ve learned about social media is that people who aren’t even in your community will be the harshest judges.
Make sure your initial channel, whether it’s a website, social media, or an online shop, is one that you can be consistent with. What will set you apart from others who want to know how to sell art online and make money is your ability to produce over and over again. If you do anything after reading this article, it should be look up the people in your niche who are selling the most and see what they’re doing over and over again.
To conclude some tips for selling art online for beginners: just start, promote yourself online, expect and overcome rejection, and be consistent.
How much money can you make selling art online?
If you want to know how to sell art online and make money, you have to first know that there are a lot of factors that play into how much money you can make selling art online. One factor is the route that you take to start doing it. You can sell your art through an online shop such as Etsy or eBay. You can become a freelancer and have others pay you for projects, big or small. Selling your art online through your own website is another option. Or you could create courses or classes to teach your specific art.
How much money can you make selling art online through online shops (Etsy, eBay, etc)?
The pricing varies when it comes to companies that provide online shops as a service. Platforms such as Facebook Marketplace, eBay, Etsy, or Craiglist all have tremendously different benefits and ways that they can help you sell art online and make money. Some of these online shops don’t have costs associated with them, which is very beneficial in selling art online for beginners. Other shops will take a portion of the profits, but make it easier for you to get in touch with people. It depends on which stage you’re at in your process of making money online as an artist.
How much money can you make selling art online through freelance?
Some of the top freelance artists make around $80,000. That could be their full-time job or side projects that they take on top of their full-time job. Freelancing doesn’t have many costs associated with it but has the opportunity for great rewards. The only caveat is that you have to develop a deep understanding of the skill in order to provide value that will make others hire you. The few costs that it does have include software licenses/subscriptions, marketing, and taxes. A main benefit of freelancing is it will continue to provide if you continue to improve.
How much money can you make selling art online through a website?
This is the channel that varies the most when it comes to knowing how much money you can make selling art online. This method depends on which route you take when creating your website. However, there are some basic expenses to account for such as fulfilling shipments yourself or with a center. Performing this step by yourself will be cost-effective, but time-consuming.
Diversifying the art is also another factor that could increase how much money you make online. Turning a painting into a t-shirt or a pin. Creating audio and visual concepts. When you ask yourself, “how much money can you make selling art online”, you have to consider the expenses from all angles.
How much money can you make selling art online through teaching art?
An art teacher’s salary isn’t much. Although the passion is there and the skills that are being taught to people are ones that will leave an impact forever, art teachers aren’t paid enough. The good news is that teaching art doesn’t have to stick to a school environment. Creating a YouTube channel to teach individuals various art skills will help supplement. Finding classes to teach at a local gallery or tutoring will also help. Either way, don’t stick with one channel if you want to grow.
Best Websites To Use When Selling Art Online
In addition to tools for getting you off the ground, the resources from these platforms will help tell you how to sell art online and make money.
Shopify
Website: https://www.shopify.com/
Cost: $29-299/mo
Features: Reporting, Inventory Locations, Shipping Discount, Online Store, Sales Channels, POS system, 24/7 support, Discount Codes, Free SSL Certificate, Gift Cards, Customer Segmentation, Ecommerce Automation, Fraud Analysis, Currency Conversion
Benefits: One of the most widely used one-stop-shop e-commerce platforms around. A large number of users and help resources are all over the place.
Description: Starting from humble beginnings as a snowboard shop, Shopify has been helping brands grow for over a decade. Their goal is to break down the silos and walls that are in business, allowing any individual to embark on the journey of entrepreneurship. The company of over 10,000 employees continues to find the best ways to enhance the experience of people who use their tools. Not only do they care about the future of people, they care about the future of the planet; creating funds and initiatives for anyone to be involved in.
Squarespace
Website: https://www.squarespace.com/
Cost: $14-49/mo
Features: Free Domain, SSL, Templates, SEO Visibility, Mobile Optimized, 24/7 Support, Site Metrics, Squarespace Extensions, Google Ads Credits, Promotional Banners/Pop-ups, Ecommerce, POS, Checkout on your site, Selling Subscriptions
Benefits: It’s everything you need to sell anything you want.
Description: The mission of Squarespace is to have people take their creative ideas and have them stand out. A person with a brand or a story can go to the company and develop their online presence. For nearly 20 years the company has grown to a size of over 1,600 employees who have helped other people create millions of their own websites. The company values: Be the customer. Design is not a luxury. Build the ideal. Learn fast, act fast. Protect creativity. Simplify.
Duda
Website: https://www.duda.co/
Costs: $14-33/mo (also includes a custom pricing option)
Features: Included Domain, AWS hosting, Support, Web Personalization, Free SSL Certificate, Free Images, Content Library, Widget Builder, Zapier tools,
Benefits: A quick and easy way to create your online brand.
Description: Duda is a web design tool that supports web designers who work with other agencies on their web design. The first point. Every site is optimized for search engines, with fast loading times and SEO structure.
The name is based off of the character from the Big Lebowski, the dude.
Etsy
Website: https://www.etsy.com/
Costs: $.20 listing fee; 6.5% transaction fee; $.25 payment processing fee; 15% Off-site ads fee
Features: Manage Orders, Edit Listings, Respond to Buyers, Discounted Shipping, Custom Website, Marketing and Advertising Tools,
Benefits: Connecting buyers with sellers in a more human way
Description: Etsy helps entrepreneurs scale their businesses. Buy and sell items on a marketplace designed like a community. The platform provides tools, support, and education for best practices, allowing you to sell to a wide range of shoppers. Etsy offers a normal package or a plus package, leaving you to decide if you want to upgrade once you become more familiar with the tools. The items that you can sell on the site are handmade items, vintage items, and craft supplies.
eBay
Website: https://www.ebay.com/
Costs: $7.95-$350/mo or $59.40-$3,600/yr; insertion fees; final value fees
Features: Shopping Cart, Advanced Search, Socials on Listings, eBay Ads, Promote Listings,
Benefits: eBay connects people and builds communities in order to create opportunities for everyone, in this economy.
Description: In over 190 markets around the globe, eBay connects buyers with sellers. The platform has amassed over 1.6 billion items in the inventory. The technology that’s used on eBay – computer vision, natural language processing, AI – highlights their desire to embrace the need for new technology while growing a business. Through multiple awards and recognitions, eBay displays on its website why they’re one of the most trusted places to turn for artists who want to sell art online and make money.
Printful
Website: https://www.printful.com/
Costs: Free setup and no monthly cost; Manufacturing and Shipping
Features: Automatic Import on Orders, Easy Payments, Local and Global Selling, Warehouse Services, White-Label Fulfillment, 24/7 Customer Support
Benefits: Helping turn an idea into a brand or a product, with no upfront costs.
Description: The platform started as a shop that made motivational posters and developed into something much larger. Printful will help with small tasks such as creating t-shirts, or big tasks such as developing an image or brand for yourself. Streamlining the selling process is what Printful employees pride themselves on. They understand that you have a reputation to build and uphold, that’s why they work to bring consistency in your delivery. Printful has on-demand printing, helping limit the number of unused materials and creating a more sustainable future.
Artpal
Website: https://www.artpal.com/
Costs: Free
Features: Instant Pay, Printing and Shipping,
Benefits: Buying and selling original art with simpler methods and for lower prices.
Description: There are no fees with Artpal. Simply sign up and start selling your artwork. Whether you’re a painter, sculptor, jeweler, photographer, or other material artists, Artpal is a great place to create your marketplace or gallery.
Facebook Marketplace
Website: https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/
Costs: Free
Features: N/A
Benefits: A personalized customer experience on a platform that is made to be simpler than competitors.
Description: Sell items one-on-one with buyers. With no role in the interaction, Facebook Marketplace simply gets you in touch with individuals who are searching for what you have to offer. As a hub for small-scale commerce, the platform has similarities to eBay, Amazon or Craigslist.
Fine Art Studios Online
Website:
Costs: $12-$40/mo
Features: Marketing Playbook and Platform, Private Webinars, Private Facebook Group, On-Demand Art Prints, Mobile-Optimized Site, Advanced Commerce, Video Hosting, Workshops, Newsletter, Free Domain, Free SSL Certificate, Support, $100 Credits, Analytics
Benefits: Inspiring consumers and producers of art, through art.
Description: For over 20 years, Fine Arts Studios Online has been able to help over 2 million pieces of art be seen. Its mission is to connect artists and collectors all over the world through the beauty and collaboration of art. Uploading art to an online platform was a pain when the founder of this company first had the idea and since then, FASO has worked to deliver an easier experience. Values Include: We Know that art transforms lives for the better; We’re here to nurture and inspire artists to make the world a better place; We support and inspire each other to be the best at what we do; We treat everyone with respect and dignity. Among others…
We hope this article was able to shed some light on how to sell art online and make money, selling art online for beginners, and tools to get you started.
Additional information for Artists and general folks in the Denver area:
