How to sell art online at artFido

1. TAKE THE TIME TO LIST YOUR ARTWORK LIKE A PRO
  • You only get one chance to make a first impression.And impressions are lasting. If you rush to list your items and leave fields blank or skimp on photos and descriptions, people are not only less likely to find your art, but are also less likely to fall in love with it. Doesn’t it make sense to spend a few extra minutes and get off on the right foot?
  • Half-hearted listings look half-hearted. Personalized, thought-out listings show potential buyers that you are dedicated to your craft and your collection. If you portray your item as a piece of artwork that is meaningful and valuable, viewers are more likely to find value in it.
  • Each listing is a new opportunity. Use that opportunity to reach more buyers, even if it takes more time. Cutting and Pasting portions of your description from previously listed items might take less time, but won’t be nearly as helpful. Varying your descriptions and the words you use will get your work seen in more searches. Pick up your thesaurus when you get stuck!
2. LEARN TO TAKE GREAT PHOTOS OF YOUR WORK
  • Looks are everything. Attractive photos sell artwork. In other words, well-lit photos that are neatly cropped and accurately represent your piece of art will entice shoppers.
    Selling a sculpture? Photograph it from a few angles. Selling a framed painting? Make sure there isn’t a reflection from the flash. Is the piece of work signed? Provide a photo zoomed in on the detail.
  • Think practical. Put yourself in the buyers’ shoes and anticipate their questions. How does it look up close? What’s on the backside? How is it framed? How should it be mounted?
  • Be artistic. People come to artfido.com because they are interested in art. They will appreciate a thoughtful photograph. Try a few different styles of photography to sell your artwork. If you do include a stylized photo, remember also include more practical shots of that focus on the artwork itself.
  • For example, photograph the piece in a situation. Hang it in your living room or kitchen and show how it fits in the room. This will help buyers draw the link between the artwork online and the artwork hung in their home. Other situations could include showing your artwork: against an industrial looking brick wall, in a garden, in a gallery, at a party.
  • Put your click-factor to the test. Search for your piece of art. Look at the other items on the page. Does your photo make you want to click? Which do? What can you learn from them?
3. USE THE DESCRIPTION TO BRING YOUR ART TO LIFE
  • Paint with Words.Buyers can’t see the art in person. In addition to great photos, you must tell them all about it. How big is it? What is the medium? How is it framed? What is the texture? What are the important details?
  • Tell a Story.People who connect with a piece of art are more likely to want it in their homes. Give them something to relate to, a story they might share with friends when they have the art hanging in their home or office.
  • If you created the art: What inspired it? Where were you when you made it? What does it mean to you? Who/what is featured in it? Did you have any challenges that almost prevented you from finishing it?
  • If you purchased the art: Where did you find it? Have you met the artist? What drew you to it when you bought it? What significance do you think it has?
  • Anticipate questions. Make sure potential questions are answered in the description. Be clear about the specifics of the artwork and the transaction.
  • Bite the bullet point. Short paragraphs, punchy sentences, and bullet points are the language of online selling. Make it easy for buyers to learn as much about your artwork in the least amount of time. Offer quick stats and well-chosen sound bites to make your listing clear and memorable.
  • Edit edit edit.Read through your description again. Cut out superfluous words. Shorten sentences. Run a spellcheck. Remind yourself of the difference between there, their, and they’re. Read it out loud to a friend.
4. GET YOUR ART FOUND IN SEARCH
  • Complete listing to completion. Fill out all the available forms when your list your artwork. Art is categorized on artfido.com by: Subject, Style, Medium, Size, Colour, and Price. You’ll only come up in the filter if you provide these stats. Why miss an opportunity to be found?
  • Write a good description. When a potential buyer uses the “Search” function, artfido.com will search the descriptions of all artworks for the word or phrase they searched. Therefore, it benefits you to use words and phrases in your description that buyers are likely to search for. Think like a buyer and add plenty of accurate, descriptive words (see Tip 3).
  • Increase the Odds: Most buyers start out on artfido.com by doing a search, the more pieces that you list with detailed descriptions, the more likely you are to get found and create a following. Once they find one of your pieces of work, they are likely to check out the rest of your listings.
  • Keep it Fresh: The more often your add artwork and update your listings, the more likely people will want to come back periodically to see what’s new.
  • Create a buzz. Email your friends and family with a link to your listing, asking them to check it out. Post it on Facebook or tweet about it. Link it through to your own website or blog. Friends are likely to help out if you ask them. Even if they simply view your listing or like your post, this activity will up your “view” count and get your listing out to second and third degrees of separation.
5. PUT THE RIGHT PRICE ON YOUR CREATIVE WORK
  • Be reasonable. Choose a price that you would be willing to pay for the piece of art. The goal is to sell your art, so keep it within reach of your market. Especially when first getting started, it’s better to sell more items for a slightly lower price than hold out for the elusive jackpot.
  • It’s an artform. Don’t price it too low, you want buyers to see value in it. Don’t price it too high, you’re not Renoir. If your pieces are selling quickly, you may choose to bump up the price. If nothing is moving, there’s no shame in lowering the price a bit.
  • Take out the guesswork. Consider including shipping fees in the price of your items. By offering one set price based on the average cost of shipping, you streamline the process of purchasing your art. Sometimes you may have to absorb some of the shipping costs, but those will be balanced out by times that shipping is less expensive than average.
6. SHIP YOUR ART INTERNATIONALLY
  • Spread the Love. The beauty of e-commerce is that you don’t have to be in the same place as the buyer. Give yourself more chances to sell by opening your doors to people all over the world.
  • Don’t be Intimidated. Shipping internationally is easier than you’d think. Simply go to your shipping carrier’s website, and get prices for your shipping domestically. Then look at various other countries prices to get an average rate for delivery outside your country. Record the shipping details accurately when you list your art. When you ship internationally, mark the package as a good for sale, not a gift, and include a customs form (available at the post office or printed with your postage).
7. PRACTICE GOOD CUSTOMER SERVICE
  • The Golden Rule. Be kind and courteous. Be honest. Be punctual. Be flexible. Mind your manners. You get it, treat others the way you’d like to be treated.
  • There are no stupid questions when it comes to customer service. If someone wants to know more about your artwork or sales process, it means they are interested in buying. Answer them! Take it as an opportunity to tell them more about the artwork. After responding to a question, consider whether your listing could be clearer, and edit your description if required.
  • Punctuality is for artists, too. Not only is it good practice, but it also encourages sales and repeat buyers. When someone contacts you, respond as soon as possible. When someone purchases an item, ship it as soon as possible. Basically, pretend that every question, request, or purchase comes with an implied ASAP.
  • Be the middle-man (or woman). Art doesn’t make sales, people do. Artfido.com gives you direct access to buyers. Even if you have never worked at an art gallery or art shop, pretend you have. Put your business cap on and be a good customer service rep.
  • Follow up. You’ve made a sale, sent the shipment, then what? You don’t have to do anything, but it sure helps if you do. Write them a friendly note, asking if they received the package and if they’re happy with it.
  • Like ripples in a pond. Doing a fantastic job the first time around increases positive feedback, repeat business, and word-of-mouth sales. Want to make the most of those ripples? Follow up with something like, “Most of my business comes from referrals. If you are happy with my artwork, please consider leaving feedback on my profile.”
8. THERE’S ONLY ONE CERTAINTY, IF YOU DON’T TRY, YOU WON’T SELL A THING
  • Stay Positive. It takes time to make sales, so don’t get discouraged if the gavel doesn’t slam on your first big sale right away. Buyers usually spend time looking around the site before they make a purchase. Keep tweaking your profile and descriptions, and see what makes a difference in views, watches, and bids.
  • Believe in Yourself. You are a good artist, a good art trader, and a good person. There are people out there who would love to bring your art work home. They just have to find you. So make it as easy as possible.