Now is the time for artists to get ready for the New Year.  There may be things which an artist might do differently, at a higher level or more frequently to improve their art marketing and ultimately the sales of their artwork this year.

Following are some actions an artist can take to improve their chances of success.   Many of these ideas are elementary, but consistently implementing them is not.  They are critical if an artist is to execute and present their art properly.

1.   Check all Links and Pages on Your Website

Check all links and pages of your website to ensure they are working properly and loading quickly.  Any time you can speed up the loading of your Home Page, do it.  Slow loading speeds annoy your viewers and can negatively impact your website’s page rank.  Make sure your website links (internal and external) are working and the format of each page appears in the way it was intended to be viewed.  Through time pages and links may move, stop working or disappear.  Correct or remove anything that is not working properly.

2.   Resize, Replace and Describe Your Images

Make sure all of the images on your website are sized properly and have a low resolution (a resolution of 72 helps your site load more quickly).  The images should also be color corrected.  (There are many free programs on the internet for this.)

Do you have better images or graphics to replace what now exists on your website?  Do it.  While checking your images, make sure that they are labeled and tagged properly with good image descriptions. 

Search engines will only index your images if they have descriptions.  By doing this, your images will show up in the image search results. When the images are viewed, viewers will be directed to your art website.

3.   Review Your Art Portfolio

Review all text and all the images contained in your art portfolio.  Identify any parts of the portfolio that can be improved upon.  Are there any new images that you can display?  Are there better images that can replace the ones presently in your portfolio?  Upgrade and update content wherever possible.  Make sure all images have titles, sizes and pricing information.

4.   Rewrite/ Update your Artists Bio and Statement

Review and rewrite your Artist Statement and Artist Biography.  Also, update your CV by adding any exhibitions, new publications or other pertinent information that has taken place since the last time they were updated.

5.   Review and Update Your Social Media Account Info

Review your social media accounts and update or complete your profiles.  If your social media profile images can be improved or upgraded, then this should be done.  Also, add any new information to those social media profiles.  Make sure all spelling and sentence structure is correct.

Remember, a social media profile is like having an online resume’ visible to the world.   The goal of a Social Media Profile is to make people want more information so they will visit your art website.  This is done with a complete, well-written and attractive Social Media Profile.

6.   Start Writing an Art Blog

An art blog is another way an artist can attract more social media followers and create more viewers to their website.  Over time, an art blog helps to brand you as an expert, expands your target audience and improves traffic to your website. 

The art blog should be timely in its content, well written and consistently presented online in order to gain a readership and followers.

7.   Market with Registries, Directories and Portfolio Websites

Artists should join and set up profiles with as many Artist Registries and Art Directory Websites as possible.  Doing this will direct additional viewers and traffic to your art website.  Many of these sites also allow you to market your art events.

In addition to the above, there are many free Art Portfolio Websites an artist can join to expose their art to more viewers. Whether it is an Artistry Registry, Art Directory or an Art Portfolio website, these platforms help to direct traffic back to the artist’s website and should be freely employed.

8.   Start Marketing Your Art with Press Releases

An artist should start an ongoing online public relations campaign for all important art-related occasions, events, and functions the artist is involved in throughout the year. There are public relations distribution companies that will post your public relations article to 50 to 70 news outlets for $10.00 to $20.00.

9.   Become a Guest Blogger

When you write blog articles for other artists or for art related sites, you automatically tap into larger and/or different markets.  In addition to exposing your art to a new audience, guest blogging also helps brand you as an expert in your art niche.

10.   Have Your Art Portfolio Reviewed Professionally

A professional Portfolio Review provides an artist with an evaluation of their art and a critique of how the art is being presented to others.   Usually, during a portfolio review, the reviewers provide the artist with additional ideas on how they can effectively market their art.

Much like art competitions, a Portfolio Review is an additional way in which artists can have their artwork evaluated and measured against other artists. 

By implementing these suggestions, we believe artists will experience an improvement in traffic to their websites, find more people interested in their art and ultimately, sell more of their work.