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Have a great collection of art but are struggling to get it seen? In 2023, online art sales hit $12 billion more than double what they were in 2019.
If you’re an artist, it’s super clear that you need to have a solid online presence—if you don’t, you’ll basically be doing your art injustice.
You need a reliable website that can scale with your success, or else you’d be depriving your art of the attention it deserves and losing out on a lot of potential sales.
But here’s the thing: building a scalable website isn’t easy. You’ve probably already fiddled with your site instead of creating art, or maybe your site buckled just as traffic started to take off. It’s a proper pain.
A slow, clunky website seriously bottlenecks your growth it costs you sales and leaves potential buyers frustrated and ready to move to your competitors’ business.
So, what’s the fix?
A platform that scales with your success and allows you to focus on your art, dealing with potential clients, etc the things you’re great at.
Read on to learn how to build a site that grows with you and keeps your business running smoothly as your audience and sales grow.
The Importance of Solid Online Presence for Artists
As an artist, your work doesn’t just involve the brushstrokes or the beats. You also need to get your work seen. Without a solid online presence, your talent is buried under a lot of artists who have nailed their marketing. It’s tough to stand out.
Most of your potential buyers are online, and that’s where they would find and connect with your art.
Presenting Your Work
Your artist website is the best way of showing off your portfolio. It’s where you can lay out everything your most personal works, performances, creative projects, etc.
And you can do it in your own unique style.
Plus, the text sections give clients, gallery owners, and fans a clearer insight into your artistic vision.
Your Brand
A website is a piece of your personal brand. It’s part of your artistic identity and cements your place in the art community.
A killer design shows people you’re serious about what you do, which gets them reaching out to you.
Engaging Audience
You can reach out directly to your audience using a website. You can keep them updated about new projects, exhibitions, or even sales through newsletters, blogs, or linking up with social media.
That’s how you build a loyal fan base that sticks with you. That way, you’ll be creating the foundation for a scalable business.
Revenue Generation
Of course, a solid website will be your money-maker, too. You can sell your art, merch, or even tickets to events straight from your site.
When done right, it’ll handle transactions seamlessly and make it super easy for your fans to support you financially without any issues.
Key Elements of a Scalable Artist’s Website
A few key elements are the backbone of a solid artist website, and they can make all the difference in showing off your work and giving visitors a great experience.
With a user-friendly design, high-quality content, and an e-commerce setup, your fans can easily browse your site while your unique creative vision takes centre stage.
User Experience
User experience boils down to simple, intuitive design. People need to be able to navigate your site with ease. That means clean menus, well-organised content, and the ability to work on mobile devices.
Here are a few user-friendly design tips:
- Keep your color palette simple and brighten up your brand.
- Select fonts that are legible and consistent.
- Manage your whitespace to avoid cluttering.
Quality Content
Your website should reflect your artistic value. Include high-resolution images and compelling descriptions that give the world a glimpse into your creative vision. Regularly update your content to remain fresh and of interest.
Content Ideas:
- Blog posts related to your creative process.
- Videos of your work in progress.
- Behind-the-scenes glimpses of your studio or exhibitions.
Strong e-Commerce Competency
If you sell your work directly from your site, you will need an e-commerce platform. That should at least include secure payment processing, inventory management, and customer support.
E-commerce Tips:
- Credit cards, PayPal, or other payment options.
- Transparency on shipping and return policies
- Add quality images of the art you’re selling so people know what they’re getting.
Optimise for Search Engines
68% of online experiences start off with a search engine. A well-optimised site gives you a better shot at ranking higher in search results and makes it a lot easier for potential fans or customers to find you.
SEO Best Practices:
- Use relevant keywords inside content and metadata (but avoid keyword stuffing).
- Optimise images with alt tags and the correct names of files.
- Develop a blog and share your insights to increase organic traffic.
Connecting Social Media
Embedding your social media feeds on your website lets visitors check out all your latest updates without leaving the site. It’s an easy way for them to stay engaged with your posts and interact with your pages (all in one spot).
Integration Tips:
- Add social media buttons for easy sharing
- Add your latest Instagram or Twitter posts.
- Invite visitors to follow you for real-time updates.
Analytics and Tracking
Know your audience and what makes them tick. Analytics tools track who’s visiting your site, what content is getting attention, and where your traffic’s coming from.
Use this information to fine-tune your marketing strategies or website as needed. With the right insights, you’ll grow your website efficiently and get better results in no time.
Analytics Tools to Use:
- Google Analytics for detailed insights.
- Social media analytics to understand engagement.
- Heatmaps to see how users are interacting with your website.
Steps to Creating Your Scalable Website
Plan ahead and choose the right tools for building a scalable website because your site needs to grow with you.
Pick the right platform and solid hosting, and think about future features to have a website that can keep up with your success as an evolving artist and meet your changing needs.
Choose the Right Platform
Choose the best website builder for artists that gives you the freedom to grow. Platforms like Wix, Hostinger, or Shopify are top picks because they have customisable templates and plugins that make expanding your site really easy.
Adding a shop for your merch, setting up ticket sales for your next exhibition, or showing off your latest work—these tools give you the flexibility to keep up with your growing needs.
There won’t be any need to start from scratch every time your business takes a step up.
Quality Hosting
There is no way around good hosting when you consider performance. Always opt for a solution that scales in line with your traffic without giving up speed or reliability.
Plan for Future Features
As you build your site, consider future needs. Will you want to add a blog, integrate video content, or include an online course section?
Choosing a platform that supports these features from the start can save you time and effort later.
Regular Maintenance
Like your art, your website also needs constant attention. Schedule a routine check to ensure that content is updated, broken links are fixed, and performance is optimised. Ongoing maintenance ensures that your site runs smoothly and securely.
Ask for Feedback
Ask for feedback from visitors, friends, or fellow artists. Understand how people interact with your site to spot areas for improvement. Knowing what works and what doesn’t helps you make the right changes.
And knowing what to change ensures the user experience stays smooth and your site keeps evolving with your art.
Know about Trends
Know what’s current—a style of artwork, new tech, or how artists showcase their work online. Ensure your site stays updated by adopting the latest web design trends, SEO strategies, and e-commerce technologies.
Wrapping Up
A scalable website is the only way for you to survive and thrive. Investing in an attractive, properly designed site, you display your unique art pieces while interacting with fans and earning revenue.
It will open up new doors of opportunities and turn the voices of loyal supporters into testimonials.