Starting your art business is no different than starting any other business. You need to begin by researching your market and promoting yourself to the word out there. Having a robust online presence, attending events, developing a robust professional network, investing a portion of what you earn, and having patience are some tips you can implement to start and grow your art business successfully.
Are you passionate about starting your own art business? Be it photography, painting, music, digital art, illustrations, or any other form of art, there are people out there who are actually making a living doing what they love.
However, let’s be honest, the competition out there is stiff. Though the internet has made it easy to access information and knows the latest trends in your industry, it has also made the competition global.
And when you are a newbie artist, navigating the waters can be difficult. To help you out in your journey of building your own art business from scratch, here are six helpful tips that you can follow:
1. Conduct market research
Like any other businesses out there, the art business needs the right market. Thus, try to find out who will be willing to buy your art, be it locally, nationally, or internationally. And for that, you need to stay up-to-date about new developments in the art industry. For starters, knowing how the economy in different places is affecting art buyers will be of great help.
Ask yourself questions like:
-
- How big is your target market?
- Who is purchasing art?
- Who is selling art?
- Who is your competition, and at what price are they selling their art?
- Where does your art fit in the more comprehensive art marketplace?
- What type of platforms do you want your art to be seen?
Now, coming to the art marketplace, you can break them into three separate groups:
-
- Public exhibition spaces
- Commercial gallery spaces
- Direct access spaces
The better you know about your market and your marketplace, the better decisions you can make about creating and showcasing your art.
2. Showcase your portfolio online
The way you promote your artwork is a part of being a creative entrepreneur and running your own business. And today, the internet has made it easier for people interested in your work to find you.
Your online portfolio is the first place where your audience will look to ascertain if they want to buy your work. It is thus crucial to invest the time to get it right.
Start with the basics of your digital portfolio. If you don’t take care of your bases, you could end up looking like an amateur even if you are a veteran.
Here is a checklist to ensure your online portfolio is not turning away your prospects:
-
- A mobile-friendly and SEO-friendly website
- High-quality images of your artwork.
- Working links to outlets that tell a story about you as an artist and helps sell your art.
- Update it with your most recent work, awards, and interviews to gather proof and build connections.
- User-friendly, clean, and professional portfolio design.
- An “About section” that displays who you are as a person and as an artist as it is one of the most frequently visited pages on an artist’s portfolio.
- Posts that bring light to your process, story, and services. It tells your audience that you are passionate, committed, and engaged while building common ground with your audience.
- Your best work to send the message that you are good at what you do.
- A clear direction to your visitors and a reason to act. Do you have an event or sales coming up? Tell your audience about it and gently push them to take action.
- Contact details.
Here’s an excellent example of an artist’s portfolio asking visitors to join her exhibition.
3. Attend events and talk with peers
As an artist, attending events and talking with peers is not only a great way to learn from new minds, but it offers opportunities for growth. Attending events can become a rewarding form of marketing if you do it right.
You can grow your audience, increase your brand awareness as you will be getting in front of your target audience, gain more knowledge of your industry, benefit from cost-effective marketing, and close deals.
4. Develop a strong professional network
Businesses with a strong professional network have an added advantage over those who don’t. Places like local workshops are great for developing professional networks in a fun and relaxed environment.
You can also consider joining an artist association to connect with peers. You will get plenty of opportunities to learn from speakers, judges, and tours. All of these benefits will assist you in building your resume and earn credit as an artist.
Also, don’t overlook social channels when you are trying to develop your professional network. Connect with Facebook groups. There are plenty of artist groups where you can mingle with artists around the world to share your art and knowledge. From discovering about events to gathering tips and calls for entry, Facebook groups are a speedy way to connect and see what your peers are up to.
LinkedIn groups are aimed at aiding artists professionally. You will find several groups to join under the LinkedIn “Interests” tab, or you can search for anything you are interested in.
For instance, the Art Marketing LinkedIn group has more than 35,000 members.
Similarly, you can create your company page and on professional networks, engage in discussion, and promote events, workshops, and more.
5. Consider financing options
Once you start marketing your business, you will begin to earn a decent income. Consider investing in P2P loans. They are among the investments that offer the highest returns. By investing a small amount monthly consistently for several years, you can multiply your wealth to even millions.
P2P loans are also extremely easy to set up. They have an Auto-Invest feature to simplify the process. You just need to deposit money, set up your portfolio, and wait while your money earns a 14% to 16% ROI.
6. Be patient
Setting up and running an art business is not going to happen overnight. You will encounter bumps, but if you have the passion, you will see through it. Hang on there and keep striving. At the same time, it’s equally imperative to keep yourself updated with the new trends in your industry.
Wrapping-Up
Many artists dream of earning a steady income from doing what they love. But not all make it. You may be a good artist, but if you don’t know how to market yourself, people are not going to find you and buy your work. Follow the tips in this article when setting up your own art business. And be patient while waiting for the results.
