Years ago, I was a coffee shop manager who dreamed of a successful art career. I was surrounded by my own artwork, but I didn’t know how I’d ever reach potential buyers. I knew that successful artists had to reach a wider audience than I had, but I didn’t have the information I needed to make it happen.
Over time, I learned how to find potential clients all on my own. Now, my mission is to help fellow artists skip the process I had to go through to figure it out on my own, and help them realize that their dream full-time art businesses are well within their reach!
So, if you’re looking to reach a broader audience, you’re in the right place. The main thing I recommend is sharing your art across various platforms. The goal is to maximize your online presence and help opportunities find you. Let’s talk best practices for sharing your original artwork with your target audience online.
1. Social Media: The art world has been completely changed by the introduction of the internet. In 2024, having a professional social media presence is essential. Make sure to share your work on platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and Pinterest using trending hashtags in your niche.
While you may worry that social media could devalue your work as a professional artist, that isn’t the case these days! Your work can still be pitched to companies and taken seriously. Keep in mind that high engagement is more important than a high follower count. The key to gaining this bought-in audience is making frequent posts that are true to yourself and your work.
2. Art Directories: These provide a great way to create a profile, browse other artists, and find job opportunities. Platforms like Dribbble and Behance are a great place to start! You might be surprised how much creating a portfolio on a site like these can connect you to the online art community and create opportunities for you.
3. Newsletters: Setting up a newsletter is crucial for all types of visual artists. Regular emails allow you to maintain a direct line of communication with your audience. You can use them to flesh out your brand, build a relationship with your readers, share important news, and create a sense of community.
4. Etsy: While you can’t add Etsy buyers directly to your newsletter, it’s still a valuable platform for selling and gaining visibility. This is a great place to use search engine optimization. Doing some research on relevant keywords and incorporating them into your product titles and descriptions can make a huge difference in your online sales!
5. Spoonflower: Have you ever heard of print-on-demand (POD) sites? They’re a really effective way to sell your art, because all you have to do is upload your designs and the site will print and deliver your products to anyone who purchases them. Spoonflower is my favorite online platform that I highly recommend for digital artists. Just make sure to order swatches first to test your designs before selling them!
6. Online Platforms of Your Choice: The main goal in successfully sharing your art is to showcase it in as many places as you can. This includes any platform where you think your work will make the most sense and reach the right audience.
Whether this means starting your own website, uploading your recent works to other POD platforms, or even starting a YouTube channel, there is so much out there to explore. Don’t hesitate to share your art in whatever creative ways you can think of!
Diversifying where you share your art is the best way to connect with as many people as possible who appreciate your work and want to financially support it. Whether you’re trying to take the first step or simply trying to expand your reach, my advice is to consistently share your creative process across as many of these sites as you can.
All of this work can get lonely if you’re doing it by yourself, but if you connect with the right people, you can really make some progress and enjoy yourself while you’re at it! Check out my course, Leverage Your Art, for the support you need to take your art career to the next level.
LISTEN
Have you checked out the Art + Audience Podcast yet? Twice month, I talk about all things art business. Sometimes I have special guests sharing about their unique journeys in building their dream art careers, and sometimes, I go solo! Subscribe now, so you don’t miss an episode.
