As an artist, you might wonder if you really need a website to showcase your work and connect with your audience. After all, there are so many social media platforms and online galleries that you can use to share your art and get feedback. Why bother with the hassle of creating and maintaining a website?
The answer is simple: a website is your own personal space on the internet, where you can control how your art is presented and who can access it. It gives you more credibility, more visibility, and more opportunities than any other online platform. Here are some of the main reasons why artists need a website and how to make the most of it.
Artists Brand
As an artist, you have a unique style and vision that sets you apart from others, your brand. It allows you to showcase your personality and your artistic voice through the design, layout, colors, fonts, and content of your site. You can also create a logo, a tagline, a bio, and a mission statement that reflect who you are and what you do as an artist. A website helps you establish a consistent and professional image that will attract and retain your audience.
Showcase Your Artwork
A website helps you showcase your artwork portfolio. It is the best way to display your art in a high-quality and organised manner. You can create galleries, categories, tags, and filters to sort your work by medium, genre, theme, or project. You can also add descriptions, captions, stories, or testimonials to each piece of art to provide more context and value. A website allows you to show your best work and your range of skills and abilities.
Sell Your Art
A website helps you sell your art. It is not only a place to show your art but also a place to sell it. You can create an online store or integrate with third-party platforms like Shopify, Wix or Etsy to sell your original pieces, prints, merchandise, or digital downloads. You can also accept commissions, donations, or subscriptions from your fans and supporters. A website gives you more control over the pricing, shipping, payment methods, and customer service of your art business.
Grow Your Audience
It is a great tool to reach new people who might be interested in your art and to keep in touch with your existing fans and followers. You can use SEO (search engine optimisation) techniques to rank higher on Google and other search engines and drive more traffic to your site. You can also use social media buttons, email newsletters, blog posts, podcasts, videos, or webinars to share your content and engage with your audience. It also helps you build a loyal community around your art.
Network
It is a way to connect with other artists who share your interests, passions, or goals. You can join online forums, groups, directories, or networks where you can exchange ideas, feedback, advice, or collaborations. You can also use your website to showcase your resume, awards, publications, exhibitions, or press mentions that demonstrate your achievements and credibility as an artist. It will help you find new opportunities for learning, exposure, or income.
As you can see, a website is essential for any artist who wants to succeed in the digital age. It is not just a nice-to-have but a must-have for your artistic career. If you don’t have a website yet or if you want to improve your existing one, here are some tips to help you get started:
- Choose a domain name that is easy to remember and spell.
- Choose a web hosting service that is reliable and affordable.
- Choose a website builder or platform that suits your needs and skills.
- Choose a template or theme that matches your style and brand identity.
- Choose the content and features that best showcase your art and value proposition.
- Update your website regularly with fresh and relevant content.
- Promote your website on social media and other channels.
- Analyse your website performance and feedback.
A website is one of the most powerful tools that an artist can have in their arsenal. It can help you achieve your artistic goals and dreams faster and easier than ever before. So, what are you waiting for? Start creating your own website today or contact us to discuss your requirement and or the next step in achieving your goals!
Use our checklist here on What a Good Artists Website Should Include