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| The 65 Rules Great Artist Websites Follow By Clint Watson |
| As we all adjust to the new normal after having been sequestered in our homes, we're all finding alternate ways to make the most of our time.So let's ask ourselves: How can we use this time to get better? How can we be of service and use?
I know, without a doubt that great art is being created around the world at this very moment. Perhaps by you! Our entire team is focused 100% on whatever we can do to help you market and sell more art.
With that in mind, we're focusing FineArtViews on sales and marketing ideas more than ever before. The following article was selected from our archives as it seems quite timely in the current situation and provides ideas we think you can use to improve your own art marketing.
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The 65 Rules that Great Artist Websites Follow
Section A: OVERALL
DO Have a mobile-friendly designDO Use your own domainDO Secure your site with an SSL certificateDO Keep your site classy and clear by focusing on your art and only your artDO Utilize a simple, well organized menu structureDO Have a reason for each page and have content on each pageDO Make your text readable (big enough and not too small)DO Make your website's interface consistent from page to pageDO Make sure your website's visited links change colorDO Make big blocks of text scanable by utilizing short sections with headlinesDO Make sure all hyperlinks are activeDO Make sure your site loads quicklyDO Keep all event/exhibit/timely information current and up to dateDO Have an easy to update site so you can post new works, ready to sell in a few easy stepsDO Add images and information about all items that you sellDO Use a neutral color scheme so the art stands outDO NOT Use a "splash page" - Let visitors get right to the art on your siteDO NOT Build your site with non-standard technologies like flashDO NOT HAVE too many navigation menu itemsDO NOT Have more than one website (for your art)
SECTION B: ART PORTFOLIO
DO Link each artwork on your portfolio page to an artwork detail page with a bigger image, size, price purchasing infoDO Price all your artworks clearly on the site (unless you sell only through a gallery)DO Have further detailed information about each artwork and a call to action on each artwork detail pageDO Make purchasing easy with a purchase button on each artwork detail pageDO Have an "inquire" button on each artwork detail page so people with further questions may contact you about that specific artworkDO Link each artwork detail page to the gallery/venue where it can be purchased (if not available on your site)DO On each artwork, if sold by a gallery, provide the gallery's contact info on it's detail pageDO Have previous and next links on artwork detail pagesDO Ensure that your artwork detail pages have unique, shareable URLs so they can be shared on social mediaDO Organize your portfolio into logical collections (if needed)DO Keep your collection names clear, short and simpleDO NOT Separate your site into separate "Portfolio" and "Store" areas. Let people purchase right from the portfolio.
SECTION C: MARKETING
DO Have a quotes & testimonials from collectors, respected artists and your galleries as social proofDO Have an email newsletter signup, preferably on every pageDO Have a way for collectors to sign up to be alerted when you have new artworksDO Host your blog (if you blog) on the same domain as your websiteDO Use an SEO-friendly URL structureDO Use Facebook open graph protocol on your pages so they can be shared & liked properlyDO NOT shove pop up ads for your newsletter into the user's faceDO Have a page that lists all your art galleries (if you sell through galleries)DO List the art associations of which you are a memberDO List and highlight any signature memberships you earned
SECTION D: SALES
DO Make purchasing EASYDO Offer full-ecommerce purchasing of your art & products
SECTION E: IMAGES
DO Use high quality imagesDO Have a nice photo of your artwork on your home pageDO Have photos of YOURSELF on your home page or your about pageDO NOT use "stock photography"
SECTION F: CONTACTING YOU
DO Make it super-easy to contact youDO Have contact information at the bottom of every page
SECTION G: SOCIAL MEDIA
DO Have social media icon links that link to your social media profileDO Make sure your linked social media profiles are PUBLICDO Make sure your linked social media profile is activeDO keep your linked social media profiles focused on your artDO NOT Discuss politics on your linked social media profiles
SECTION H: BLOG
DO NOT Blog unless you want to and have something to sayDO Have your blog on your main website and not separate (if you do blog)
SECTION I: OTHER
DO Keep your site light-weight and quick to loadDO Have a Copyright line in your site footerDO Use your logo to personalize the site if you have oneDO NOT Auto-play music on your siteDO NOT Disable the right-click buttonDO NOT Resize the user's browser windowDO NOT "scrolljack" user's scrollbar functionalityDO NOT Use Google Ads (or other ads) on your site
Utilize the 65 our rules as a checklist to ensure that your artist website is professional, beautiful and helps you sell your art.
Until next time, please remember that Fortune Favors the Bold Brush.
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| Sincerely,
Clint Watson BoldBrush/ FASO Founder, Software Craftsman & Art Fanatic
PS - If you have questions or would like a reply from me, I generally limit my online discussion time to Twitter. Follow me on Twitter and ask questions there if you'd like to be sure I see your question. Here's the link: https://twitter.com/clintavo
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| Clint Watson is a former art gallery owner and founder of BoldBrush, known for FASO Artist Websites, the leading provider of professional artist websites, the $38,000 BoldBrush Painting Competition and the free daily art marketing newsletter, FineArtViews. As a self-proclaimed "art fanatic", Clint delights that BoldBrush's downtown San Antonio, Texas office is full of original art, as is his home office. You can connect with Clint on Twitter, Facebook or his personal blog at clintavo.com. |
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