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Artist Be found - How To Promote Your Art Gallery Online


  1. RevenueNow
  2. Jo Murphy
  3. RevenueNow
  4. yarayara
  5. yarayara

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For the corresponding "live" discussions, post in the active topic forum here.



Top 1.   Sep 19, 2004 8:07 PM

» RevenueNow - Art Gallery Promotion Online

Several years ago I had a brainstorm. The Internet would be an excellent place to expose the public to my art. Turned out my idea was far from original as by the time I had completed the online gallery I noticed that many galleries had been online for quite some time yet these were in the experimental stages while others were folding.

Shortly there-after I left off plugging my art site and began focusing on Internet business products and services with an enphasis on small business loans as well as residential lending.

The reason, online art galleries were among the least sought after in the late 1990's. I chose to go where the dou would flow. By the early 2000's I learned a good deal about web promotion and managed to generate a six figure income. Needless to say I was quite pleased.

As time moved on I noticed that many art galleries, art dealers and auction houses came and went. Having done research on the demise of galleries I learned that one of the prime reasons art galleries don't do well is method of marketing. The Internet does not work on the same princples of brick and mortar shops. The key to being successful is being willing to alter the way one does business online.

First off understand that folks go online for bargains. Second they don't want to spend a long time waiting for fancy flash pages to load as frankly they don't have all day. Most folks don't want to be impressed by the sign in the front door. They want the stuff they spent several minutes searching the Internet for and they want it now! so when desiging your site use as few bells and whistles as possible and focus on your primary content - the art work.

In addition Internet users are interested in making a smart purchase and so will reward you with a sale in return for helpful information tips, tips tools and news.That said you want your site to be rich in content - not sales pitches.

Art Gallery Web Promotion
Once your site is up and running it's time to think in terms of optimizing it to be search engine friendly. Why optimize? Remember that most folks will be finding you using two basic resources. Ebay and search engines.

Lets talk about search engine optimization. Optimzing your site involves incorporating content that icludes keywords and phrases that describes to market, industry, products and services features on the site itself. If you sell African american art or asian vases or abtract art these are the keywords you want to use onsite. A good example of a site that uses descriptive keywords in its content is http://lhh.fimark.net Notice the keywords "african american artist", "contemporary art", ...etc.

Next you want to market your site by getting yourself in the public eye. There are many ways to do this on the web. Message boards, email groups, newsletters, daily blogs, chats and press releases. When using the above mentioned venues remember to offer helpful advise not ads or obvious plug to your site. Impress the board member with your expertise and then point them to a page on your site that will be even more informative.

Understanding The Search Engine Doorway To The Art World
Search engines seek out information or content. Sites that provide useful content to the user are ranked higher than sites that don't. That said consider writing articles about yourself, your work, medium and helpful tips regarding buying art. The more in-depth you get the better. The idea is to become a search engine magnet. Informative content creates the magnetism.

Joining Art Associations
Do not underestimate the valuable resources and exposure offered by a strong active art association. When joining an art association you are better able to get rock solid direction and recommendations to find buyers for your kind of unique talents. You'll save yourself months, even years finding a niche audience simply by exposing your work to well established art association.

Having learned how to establish a strong presence on the Internet I successfully launched The Legendary Heritage Studios Art Gallery and Showcase and have loved every moment spent selling fine art online.

Mark Askew
Legendary Heritage Studios
lhh@fimark.net

-- posted by RevenueNow



Top 2.   Sep 19, 2004 9:58 PM

» Jo Murphy - Re: Art Gallery Promotion Online

In response to message posted by RevenueNow:

The reason, online art galleries were among the least sought after in the late 1990's. I chose to go where the dou would flow. By the early 2000's I learned a good deal about web promotion and managed to generate a six figure income. Needless to say I was quite pleased.

I can relate to the idea that you were probably ecstatic?
Having done research on the demise of galleries I learned that one of the prime reasons art galleries don't do well is method of marketing. The Internet does not work on the same princples of brick and mortar shops. The key to being successful is being willing to alter the way one does business online.
So far I am still with you - so far this is the thought process I went through too!
First off understand that folks go online for bargains.

I can stay with you there.
Second they don't want to spend a long time waiting for fancy flash pages to load as frankly they don't have all day. Most folks don't want to be impressed by the sign in the front door. They want the stuff they spent several minutes searching the Internet for and they want it now!
Yes I worked that out.
so when desiging your site use as few bells and whistles as possible and focus on your primary content - the art work.

Absolutely
In addition Internet users are interested in making a smart purchase and so will reward you with a sale in return for helpful information tips, tips tools and news.That said you want your site to be rich in content - not sales pitches.
Yes that is why we write articles about Art here and why we devise and teach courses.

Art Gallery Web Promotion
Once your site is up and running it's time to think in terms of optimizing it to be search engine friendly. Why optimize? Remember that most folks will be finding you using two basic resources. Ebay and search engines.

Yes. Suite101 has a good ranking in Google and we are working on eBay right now.
Lets talk about search engine optimization.
Okie dokie - I will if you will!
Optimzing your site involves incorporating content that includes keywords and phrases that describes to market, industry, products and services features on the site itself. If you sell African american art or asian vases or abtract art these are the keywords you want to use onsite.
Sounds reasonable I am still with you.
A good example of a site that uses descriptive keywords in its content is Legend Heritage Heirlooms Notice the keywords "african american artist", "contemporary art", ...etc.
Yup I can notice!
Next you want to market your site by getting yourself in the public eye.
You don't know that I might by shy?
There are many ways to do this on the web. Message boards, email groups, newsletters, daily blogs, chats and press releases. When using the above mentioned venues remember to offer helpful advise not ads or obvious plug to your site.
Like you just did?
Impress the board member with your expertise and then point them to a page on your site that will be even more informative.
Is that me you are trying to impress? (I like your art by the way!)

Understanding The Search Engine Doorway To The Art World
Search engines seek out information or content. Sites that provide useful content to the user are ranked higher than sites that don't. That said consider writing articles about yourself, your work, medium and helpful tips regarding buying art. The more in-depth you get the better. The idea is to become a search engine magnet. Informative content creates the magnetism.
Goodoh! Are you going to publish a topic here or write a course for us?
Joining Art Associations
Do not underestimate the valuable resources and exposure offered by a strong active art association. When joining an art association you are better able to get rock solid direction and recommendations to find buyers for your kind of unique talents. You'll save yourself months, even years finding a niche audience simply by exposing your work to well established art association.
Yes this is quite true folks I am in Artworkers Alliance here is Aussieland and QCan (among others I am a bit of a joiner!) they are both fantastic and I highly recommend them.
Having learned how to establish a strong presence on the Internet I successfully launched The Legendary Heritage Studios Art Gallery and Showcase and have loved every moment spent selling fine art online.
Goodoh!
  • Do you offer and affiliation so that we can enjoy selling them too.
  • Would you like a topic?
  • Could you write a course about marketing art?

I look forward to your next visit,
Jo

-- posted by Jo Murphy



Top 3.   May 9, 2005 8:55 PM

» RevenueNow - Re: Art Gallery Promotion Online

In response to Art Gallery Promotion Online posted by RevenueNow:

Hello Jo

Been a while since I posted to you all. Many thanks for your comments on my last contribution to "Art Gallery PromotOnlineline".

Much has transpired since that time. I now offer an affiliate program so others can sell my art on their site or purchase a Legendary Heritage Heirloom Kit complete with matted fine art prints for home shows and such. Go to http://lhh.fimark.net for more information.

I will also be offering an affiliate program for my greetings cards business soon. This has proved to be my niche. I love designing producing and selling our specialty greeting cards. They are a hit at hospitals, home shows, for fund raisers, and community fair auctions and Arts and Crafts shows. Here's a link to take a peek at some of the greeting cards and packages we offer. http://www.greetingcards.fimark.net

Our sewing box of greeting cards has proved a big hit. We will be introducing a line of business thank you cards in the near future.
Yes these have proved excellent marketing vehicles to expose art while offering a practical useful and valuable product to the public at large.

-- posted by RevenueNow




Top 5.   Mar 11, 2006 8:14 AM

» yarayara - Art Gallery Promotion Online

In response to Art Gallery Promotion Online posted by RevenueNow:

Hi, I found your article very interesting.

To promote art I created a website I invite you all to take a look at.

http://www.77artsites.com/promotion.htm

I hope you find it useful.

kind regards,
-yarayara
www.77artsites.com
admin@77artsites.com
77artsites@gmail.com

ps.
if you find it useful, dont by shy and share it with other others!

-- posted by yarayara



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