Whether you’re a professional photographer, a graphic designer by trade, or an experimental artist, there are more chances to share and sell your art online than ever before. There are numerous internet outlets for selling your work as an independent artist, ranging from Etsy and Zazzle to Creative Market and Instagram, not to mention your web store. Follow along to learn how to make money selling art online in 2023.
Table of Contents
Determine the type of art to sell and how to sell it.
To begin, you must pick what to sell and how to offer it. This is because there are numerous ways to sell art online, and determining what you’re going to sell and how you’re going to sell it is a vital stage in the process.Not only can you sell your original artwork, which is uncommon and hence usually has a higher price tag, but you can also sell digital files or reproductions of your work to further leverage your time and make money many times with one piece. Furthermore, if you develop a network of artists and a website, you can make money selling other people’s artwork and a website to sell their art.
Original Art for Sale
You might sell original artwork if you are a painter or work with charcoal or other specialist materials. This would be an amazing item for anyone to purchase because people enjoy having unique artwork to decorate their homes. Because these goods are handcrafted, you may want to charge a higher price.
Offer copies, prints, or digital files for sale.If you work with digital art or want to make the most of your time by selling copies of your original photography or art, you may sell prints in a variety of sizes. Prints and digital files often sell for less than originals, but they do provide artists with a viable option to make money again with a single piece of artwork.People may also desire T-shirts, mugs, or even notebooks with your artwork on them. Print-on-demand providers such as Printful and Printify can make this procedure quick and simple. The beautiful thing about print-on-demand is that there is no cost, so you don’t need to invest in ordering a large number of shirts or hoodies to sell. Items are only created when an order is placed. Furthermore, you can set up print-on-demand services so that orders are automatically printed and dispatched whenever you make a sale.Learn more about how to start a t-shirt business if you want to sell your work online via a print-on-demand service.
Sell the Work of Other Artists
If selling your art proves successful, you can begin hosting other artists in your store. This would give your clients more options and allow you to promote other emerging artists. This is perfect for people who have big networks of fellow artists as well as those who are very adept at marketing, as both will be critical in driving visitors to your site and selling paintings.Consider your brand, or the type of brand you want to establish, with this in mind. This will help you keep on track and create the correct types of art that reinforce your brand and propels you forward.
Register Your Company
Before you begin selling and earning money from your artwork, you must have all of your paperwork in order. You can register as a sole proprietorship for free, but submitting paperwork and registering as an LLC may be a better choice. As an LLC, you may keep track of your business spending more simply and begin hiring personnel as needed.
Remember that you must be registered as a business to obtain an employer identification number (EIN), which is normally required to open a business bank account.
Depending on where you reside, you may also need a business license to sell your art, so double-check with your state.In most cases, you can do so by contacting your state’s Secretary of State or Business Division.
Select Your Sales Channels
Then, determine where you wish to sell your artwork. From Amazon to Getty Images, numerous e-commerce sites make selling relatively simple. However, the best sales channels for you will be determined by the type of art you are selling. A photographer, for example, might sell through Fineartamerica and Getty Images. A graphic artist, on the other hand, may sell through Creative Market, Zazzle, and Fiverr.
Here are some of the most prominent online art-selling platforms:
Direct: It is recommended that all merchants develop their website to offer their products directly. Learn more about starting an online store.
Fineartamerica: An online marketplace for listing and selling fine art.
Society6 is a website that connects buyers and sellers of one-of-a-kind artwork.
Etsy: Sell all kinds of custom art, including original and digital pieces.
Amazon: You can sell wall art prints through Amazon or Amazon FBA.
Amazon Handcrafted: Sell originals on the world’s largest e-commerce platform to Amazon shoppers who value handmade goods.
Zazzle: Sell your artwork and graphic designs on t-shirts, caps, and mugs.
Redbubble is similar to Zazzle.
Sell graphic design work at scale on the Creative Market.
Social media: Use Facebook Marketplace and Instagram Shoppable posts to sell your products.
Fiverr: A marketplace for graphic designers and skilled writers to sell custom artwork.
Upwork: For graphic designers, web designers, and professional writers, it is similar to Fiverr.
Photographers, videographers, and graphic designers can sell photographs online and earn a monthly income through Getty Images.
Pricing must be determined.
Pricing your artwork is challenging, but it is necessary, and there are various aspects to consider. If you’re making original pieces of art to sell, you should consider pricing them higher because so much of your time and effort went into them.Because delivery can be excessively expensive for customers, price your products more to keep shipping costs low for customers. Although it is a complex calculation, higher delivery prices tend to turn off potential customers. Even if the product is priced higher, keeping transportation costs low may result in more sales. If you sell digital prints and copies printed on goods, you may want to keep your expenses low to reach more clients. After you’ve established a consumer base, you can begin to boost prices and consider special offers and shorter runs to incentivize your products as collectibles.
Promote Your Online Art Store
After you’ve established an online presence, whether through your online store or seller profiles on marketplaces like Etsy, it’s essential to start promoting your art to people who are looking for the types of artwork you sell. For example, if you sell on Amazon or Etsy, you may advertise your listings using adverts. Alternatively, connect with people who are interested in your sort of work using social media, such as Facebook Groups, Facebook Marketplace, or Instagram.
Leave a Reply