Whether you’re a painter, photographer, or digital designer, your art is your passion, and it can be a great source of additional income too! That being said, creating the perfect piece of art is only half the equation. Once your art is finished, you need to get in front of as many customers as possible to best position yourself for a quick sale. Here at Frame It Easy, we believe you should pursue your passion and be successful, which is why we’ve created this nifty guide to help you take your art marketing to the next level!
Join us as we explore different art marketing methods, keys to success, and how to differentiate your art to boost sales today!
What Is Art Marketing
In its simplest form, art marketing is the act of advertising art to consumers. Essentially you’re communicating a message to a targeted audience that wants what you’re selling! It may sound easy, but there are plenty of challenges that come along with it! You want to stand out amongst the competition, which isn’t always easy depending on the medium. Additionally, factors such as pricing, the economy, trends, or material availability can all play a role in how successful you are in your marketing endeavors.
💡 Confused about pricing your art? Don’t miss 5 Tips For Artists: How To Price Your Art
1. Market On Social Media
One of the easiest and cheapest ways to market your art is to start on social media! Why? For a few reasons: First, it’s cost-effective in that you don’t have to pay to open an account; Second, almost everyone is on social media so there’s a built-in audience; Lastly, it’s relatively easy and quick to get your message out! Now that we’ve established social media as one of our go-to mediums for advertising art, let’s take a closer a closer look at exactly how to achieve the best results.
In case you haven’t noticed, there are tons of social media platforms from which you can choose to market your art. We suggest you stick to a few that you’re most familiar with and with which you have the most followers or friends. If you’re only on one or two sites, it’s a good idea to diversify as much as possible to get the farthest reach with at least 3 platforms.
Try an image-based platform like Instagram (focus on snappy headlines and eye-catching art photos), a video-based platform like YouTube (focus on video content of you creating your art, your creative process), and a multipurpose site like Facebook or LinkedIn (focus on a mix of content and interesting stories about your art or process). Each has a slightly different audience, so your chances of finding a buyer are that much higher.
You’ll want clear, concise details included with your posts explaining how customers can get in touch with you, prices, and links to your personal website or sales page. And keep in mind that the more you interact with others, the more folks will see your art, so get social on social media! Comment on other artists’ pieces or offer advice to struggling newbies! The more you get your profile out there, the better!
2. Find An Art Selling Platform
In addition to using social media to your advertising advantage, you’ll want to find an art-selling platform (or two) as an additional form of art marketing. There are plenty of customers that use art-selling platforms to find and purchase from up-and-coming new artists, so you definitely don’t want to miss out on your chance to connect with buyers!
As with social media, you have tons of options to find a selling platform that meets your needs. It’s important to keep in mind that most of these platforms charge a fee or take a percentage of each sale, so make sure you research thoroughly before you make a decision. Keep in mind, the competition can be tough! You’ll want expert-level product photos, well-crafted product descriptions, and a very competitive price to stay relevant and make a sale.
To help you get started, here are a selection of our favorite selling platforms:
- Etsy
- Saatchi Art
- Shopify
- UGallery
- eBay
- Fine Art America
- Society 6
💡 Want to learn more about the best art-selling platforms? Don’t miss Art As A Side Gig: 7 Best Sites To Sell Your Art Online
3. Participate In Art Fairs
While blanketing the internet with your fabulous art is bound to get a few sales, it’s important to not forget about local customers. That’s right, your neighbors and friends want art too! Although tricky, you don’t want to miss out on this critical audience! The best way by far to get in front of tons of local buyers is to participate in art fairs!
To find local and regional art fairs near you, your best bet is to search online. Sites like ARTnews or Fairs & Festivals should steer you in the right direction as a starting point. Additionally, state fairs sometimes have art galleries that you can look into. Keep in mind you may need to pay an entrance fee or submit artwork to a board for approval before entering. Each show is slightly different, but the result is more buyers in front of your art!
4. Learn How To Differentiate Your Product
Even if you’re incredibly talented and produce amazing art, you still need a way to stand out from the crowd! If no one sees or considers your art, no one will buy it. So, increasing visibility through social media and art-selling platforms is a great step, however, you need to push your art marketing muscles a bit harder to really boost your sales.
The easiest way to do this is to differentiate your art. What does that mean exactly? Well, you need to offer something that everyone else isn’t. Whether that means free shipping, a free mini print, or a framed version, there are so many ways to give that extra perk that sways buyers to purchase your product over a competitor’s art.
One of the easiest ways to differentiate your art is to offer a framed version of your art or photos! It’s one less thing your customer has to worry about dealing with, plus it increases the perceived value of your work, meaning you can charge more and get more profit! Plus, with our professional printing and complimentary dropshipping services, it’s easier than ever to sell your art without leaving the comfort of your home!
💡 Want to learn more about framing for your art business? Don’t miss How (And Why) To Add Framing To Your Art Business!
…And Don’t Forget
If you’re looking for an easy way to a passive income with full printing, framing, and dropshipping support, our free Shopify app offers artists the ability to sell fully framed, ready-to-hang art and premium unframed prints from the comfort of your own home, with no inventory costs and no minimums! It’s designed to save you time so you can focus on what’s most important – your art, while we take care of everything else! Plus, with our responsive customer service team and eco-friendly materials, your customers are guaranteed to be impressed with the quality of our U.S.A.-made frames and the vibrancy of our printed art and photos!
Final Thoughts
Whether you’re a seasoned artist or just starting out, art marketing can be tricky! But, with a few tips and tricks, you could be well on your way to advertising art like a pro! Using social media, art-selling platforms, art fairs, and points of differentiation can have a huge impact on boosting your sales and your profits! We hope this has been helpful and given you useful strategies to market your art successfully for years to come!
