EAB eMarketing, Website Design, Internet solutions for artists in St. Albans, Hertfordshire UK.

The newsletter for artists – February 2008

Do you really need a website?

No point talking to a web design company if you haven't properly thought through the reasons for having a website. Are you prepared to live with a website? Are you going to be able to keep it up-to-date when all you want to do is to be creative and spend any spare time dealing with other life, work and family activities? Just think of this: what if your site is not looking too good because you have not invested enough?

It's a crowded place out there on the web. Are you sure you'll have the time, energy, skills and finance to stand out from the crowd? Otherwise what's the point? Much like any other activities in business life, you can't be an expert in every domain! Working closely in conjunction with EAB you can leave it to us to hold your hand and can carry focusing on creativity.

Below is a list of reasons why you may need a website: -

1. To promote your artwork to potential buyers
2. To help create a "brand"
3. To generate commission work
4. To keep your customers and prospects informed
5. To sell your artwork

Well, let's explore briefly some of these reasons:

This is usually the top reason for setting up your own website. Probably the majority of artists have an Internet presence, so if you are starting up as an artist you owe it to yourself to "be there", as if you were not, you would be missing out on all these people looking for just the kind or artwork you produce. The real value of the web is that you can show your artwork to the whole world for far cheaper than a gallery in the high street which only attracts passing trade! People who happen to like your style of artwork are likely to use words that should appear on your site and this is why it is critical for you to have a site. The website is a visual medium which lends itself to promote artworks well.

However, for your website to work, it needs to be used along with traditional ways of advertising.

And with so many websites out there and thousands more being created everyday it becomes harder and harder to promote yourself on the Internet.

The best way to promote your artworks is to use traditional advertising and let potential customers know they can find out more information about your art form and style through your website. Even better if people can buy directly from your website.

One way to attract potential customers into your website by offering a freebee. By opening up the site via a forum or a blog you give the visitors an opportunity to engage with you, get to know you. Developing an online relationship like this is more likely to lead to a sale. It does mean you have to invest time replying to posts in your blog or forum.

To really succeed as a "business" you need to have a "brand" people know and recognise. The "bigger" the brand on the web, the easiest it will be for people to find you and buy from you. No brand, no sales. Type into Google the name of an artist you know well. What information can you find as a result? This will give you some ideas of what people will find about you once you get onto the web. This also shows you, hopefully, how important it is to have a web presence and create as many links to your site as possible: it enables your brand to be spread around!

One sure way of generating income from your creative skills is to be available for commission work. The web is an ideal medium to advertise this. The information on your site will give the companies or individuals who require such work an idea of your style, prices and the all to important references. If you have been lucky enough to have done a piece of work for someone famous and advertise it on your website you'll receive a lot of visits as a result and it will be much easier for people who don't know you to commission you. This is the web working for you!!

A website can be an excellent way to keep your customers informed about you, exhibitions, commissions and how your art form evolves. Your website can let them know about new creations, news of exhibitions where they can see the real artworks, perhaps even share with others who your customers are. This is especially useful if your artwork is related to seasons or important events (festivals, religious events, local events). If your site has a calendar of events it will give visitors to your site ample opportunities to plan ahead. Having a list of past events, commissions, exhibitions will enable visitors to gage your popularity. And don't worry if you are just starting up: console yourself, even Damien Hurst once was in your position! All these mentions on your website will also increase your visibility on the Search Engine result pages. The longer the list the better and greater the chances of someone finding your site.

It is now easy and cheap to enable your site with e-commerce functionality so you can sell your artwork online! This way you'll satisfy most impulse buyers: they find what they like on your site and... buy it! The reality is that when you have launched your website people will find it difficult to find you and you may therefore wonder if it's worth investing in this. However it's a very handy service to potential clients you meet at exhibitions, parties, etc. Just give them your business card with the website address and say to them: go and buy my artwork online!!

The case for a website is pretty obvious. The main concern you should have isn't whether you should have a website. It should be more to do with whether you are able to maintain it as for it to work it will have to be maintained and promoted: a tall order! Are you up to it?

If you are on your way to stardom and feel that the ideas mentioned above mean anything to you, please get in touch with EAB on +44 (0)1727 751445 or email us. It'll probably be a useful conversation which could easily change your attitude to the web and your fortunes.