SEO expert Meg Casebolt explains what it means to be legible to these tools at three levels: you, your body of work, and each image. Start with one search you can run today, then fix the sources it pulls from on your website and other profiles.
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]]>In episode 281 of The Art Biz, Meg Casebolt comes back with an update on SEO (search engine optimization). A lot has changed since Meg was on just a year and a half ago in early 2025.
If you want people to find your art online, you need to know about this rapidly changing landscape.
You’ll hear this called SEO, AEO, or GEO. Meg calls it AI discoverability.
What has changed in online search
Five years ago, you typed a phrase into Google and it matched pages that used that exact phrase. Now an AI summary sits at the top of about 70-80% of Google results pages. It pulls a sentence or two from several sources and answers the question before anyone clicks.
ChatGPT, Perplexity, and Gemini answer questions too, sometimes without any links.
That means people think they have their answer before they ever visit your site. The decision is often being made on the search page, not on your website.
There’s good news for you. People searching for art want to see art, and these tools can respond with images. Someone who describes the calm feeling they want above their taupe couch may find your work, not just a Pottery Barn listing.
People can also begin their search with a photo. Take a picture of a piece in a hotel lobby, upload it, and ask who made it or for something similar but smaller. Google Search Console now has a “multimodal” filter that shows when your pages appeared for searches like that. It doesn’t show you the photo the person uploaded. It shows which of your pages matched, so you can look for what those works have in common.
Listen
How to make sure AI tools find your name and art
Meg’s word for this is legibility: how easily these tools can understand who you are and what you make.
She sees three levels: (1) you, the artist, (2) your art, and (3) the individual images on your site. Here’s how those look.
How to make your name legible to AI tools
In the episode, Meg uses Jessica Falcone’s website as an example. For you, she suggests you start this process by searching “your name + artist” in Google, then asking ChatGPT, Perplexity, or Gemini who you are. The search results will show you where the answer comes from.
If it’s not your website — the one piece of virtual real estate you own and control — you have work to do.
You can’t argue with the results, but you can fix the sources by using the same or very similar language on your website (most important), your Instagram or other social bio, and any directory listings. When these sources agree, the tool doesn’t have to guess.
Continue your research by asking the AI tool: “In what types of searches would you recommend [your name]?” Use the answer to refine further.
Your first step —> Meg’s easy win is a updating and adding a short bio in your website footer with your name, location, the type of art you make, and when you started. One to three sentences that repeat on every page without any more work from you.
Maybe start with this format:
You can scroll to the gray box at the bottom of this page to see how I have done this for my own business.
Your art: how to describe your body of work
Portfolio and series pages need words as well as pictures.
Fancy yourself a poet? You can use pretty or esoteric words in your series title, but that doesn’t help people find you. Make sure you have descriptive language about the artwork on the main portfolio pages.
If you want extra credit, start adding it to the individual artworks’ pages themselves.
There’s never been a better time to start journaling to collect words about your art. Review my suggestions for your artist statement and consider the process for every artwork you have on your site. You read that right.
Skip the cutesy taglines and floral lingo nobody would search for.
A tool can’t feel grief or joy, but it can match your story to someone looking for a painting that honors their mother, a sculpture to go in the garden, or a ceramic platter for a special gift. Give it something to match.
Individual images: how to label each image
Every image needs a trail of names and descriptions so these AI search tools can connect it to you. Build that trail with three things:
- File name clarity: “Rocky-Malibu-Beach.jpg” beats IMG_4321.jpg every time.
- Alt text: This is not the same as the caption. Write it as if you’re explaining the image to someone using a screen reader. “Black-and-white handmade ceramic dish” is plenty.
- Caption: This is your complete credit line, as you would see from a gallery or museum. Here’s how you write that.
Do keywords still matter?
We’re well past the point of loading up your website pages with keywords and key phrases. But you still have to be clear about what you do.
If you insist that your artwork speaks for itself, expect your search results to reflect that aversion to words. The minimal text you insist on makes it harder to be found.
Aim for clarity, consistency, and repetition without forcing keywords throughout your text.
Meg Casebolt Quotes
“The decision is happening on the search page.”
“You want AI to know who you are and to be able to discover and recommend you.”
“I want you to think about how can I send a consistent understanding and explanation of who I am, what I create, and how I do it?”
“If you’re putting the same information in three different places, it’s way more likely to say what you want it to say because it doesn’t have to guess.”
“You can still have those moments of poetry, but you also have to have the moments of description and inspiration and why it matters.”
“Go ahead, send that person to Pottery Barn. We don’t want them anyway.”
And a bonus one from me:
“There is a tendency for artists to come up with cutesy taglines and clever art words that nobody would search for, that doesn’t mean anything.” – Alyson
About Meg Casebolt
Meg Casebolt helps experienced founders, consultants, and creators become findable in AI-powered search—not through keyword tactics, but through strategic authority positioning.
As founder of Love At First Search, she works with experts who don’t need more SEO advice but do need a new way to be understood by modern search systems. Her approach focuses on helping people become quotable and recommendable: teaching them to claim specific expertise territory and build the signals AI uses to evaluate credibility.
Meg co-hosts the Aggressively Human podcast and has developed frameworks including BEACON and Human-First SEO methodology to help service-based businesses transition from traditional optimization to sustainable authority building.
She lives in Rochester, NY with her husband, two boys, and an 80-pound pit bull, and maintains strong opinions about Broadway musicals, romance novels, and the structural importance of s’mores.
The post Want your art to be found online? New SEO rules with Meg Casebolt (281) appeared first on Art Biz Success.
]]>In this solo episode, I share 11 smart, doable tactics to get more eyes on your art (plus a link to download all 22). No sleazy tricks—just thoughtful ways to guide people to your digital doorstep and keep your work from staying hidden in the corners of the internet.
The post 22 Tactics to thoughtfully invite people to visit your artist website (228) appeared first on Art Biz Success.
]]>You probably already share your website in a few key places—like your Instagram bio or email signature. But there may be other, less obvious ways to encourage people to visit your site.
Sometimes we get so focused on making the work, updating the site, or sending the occasional newsletter that we forget just how many small opportunities exist to invite people to our digital home base.
This list helps you uncover those opportunities.
These 22 ideas are practical, artist-friendly ways to bring more visitors to your website. Some are quick to implement, others take a little more planning—but each one is designed to meet people where they are and lead them back to your work.
Use what fits, adapt what sparks an idea, and come back to the list whenever you’re ready for a traffic boost.
Real-World Visibility
Even in our hyper-digital world, many of the most meaningful connections to your art still begin offline—at an exhibition, in a studio, or through something you’ve printed and handed out. These real-world interactions are powerful, but only if people know where to go next.
Make it easy for them to find you online by using your website everywhere your art or name appears.
1. Add your website to the back or underside of your art.
If an attached label or certificate gets separated from the piece, your website info stays with it. This is a great way to ensure collectors (or secondary viewers) can always trace the work back to you.
IMPORTANT: If you sell through galleries, check with them first before making this a permanent part of your work.
2. Use QR codes on exhibition labels.
A QR code on a label next to your art makes it easy for viewers to scan and immediately visit a related page—like a detail view, artist statement, or video. It’s a fast, non-intrusive way to bridge the gap between in-person and online engagement.
Pro tip: Link to a page that’s welcoming and helps them better understand what they’re seeing—customize the experience as much as possible. Don’t just send them to your homepage.
3. Mention your website on your voicemail.
It may sound old-school, but if someone calls you—especially after seeing your work—they may want more information. A quick line like, “You can also view my art at [yourwebsite.com]” turns your voicemail into a micro-promo opportunity.
4. Use your website on printed materials.
Your site should appear on everything from postcards and business cards to show invitations, T-shirts, or tote bags. If someone sees your art or your name out in the world, your site gives them a place to go next.
Think about:
- Event handouts
- Studio signage
- Branded stickers
- Artist brochures or price lists
If it travels, it should carry your website with it.
Optimize for Search
Search engines are one of the most overlooked sources of traffic for artists’ websites. You don’t have to become an SEO expert, but you should understand how to make your content more findable. These ideas will help ensure your work shows up when people are looking for art like yours.
5. Use searchable text throughout your website.
Search engines rely on words to understand your content. Make sure your artwork titles, descriptions, and blog posts include relevant terms—like materials, themes, colors, or subject matter. This helps the right people find you.
6. Add descriptive alt tags to your images.
Alt tags are text descriptions attached to your images that help with accessibility and search rankings. Be specific—what’s in the image, what medium is it, what’s the title? It’s one more place for search engines to index your work.
[ Listen to What Artists Need to Know About SEO with Meg Casebolt ]
7. Take up—or recommit to—blogging.
Blogging adds fresh content to your site and gives visitors a reason to return. It can also improve your visibility in search results. Blog posts don’t have to be long—share behind-the-scenes process notes, recent inspiration, or upcoming show details.
[ Check out The Benefits of Blogging About Your Art with Lisa Call ]
8. Write guest posts for blogs in your niche.
If you admire a blogger or website in your field, pitch a guest post. Share your story, your insights, or your process. In your author bio or within the article, include a link to your website to send new readers your way.
9. Create a helpful or bookmarkable resources page.
This could be a list of your favorite tools, a reading list, or an artist FAQ. Anything that’s useful to your audience and likely to be shared or revisited can boost repeat traffic and signal value to search engines.
Your email list is one of the most valuable tools you have for driving consistent, meaningful traffic to your website. Unlike social media, where algorithms decide who sees what, your emails go directly to your subscribers. Use that power wisely.
10. Link from your newsletter to something specific on your site.
Don’t just announce your news—invite action. Point readers to a new piece, a blog post, or an event page.
Make it easy for them to click and explore further. Your email shouldn’t be just a bunch of text and images. It has the potential to be a door. Open it—and invite them in.
11. Use your email signature strategically.
Instead of linking only to your homepage, update your email signature every so often to feature something timely—a new collection, a recent article, or your next event. Every email you send is a chance to guide someone to your website.
12. Offer a freebie in exchange for an email address.
People are more likely to sign up for your list if they get something valuable in return. A free download, studio tour, behind-the-scenes PDF, or desktop wallpaper can be just enough to get them to visit your site and opt in.
13. Promote a waitlist or pre-launch page.
If you’re working toward a new release, class, or show, let people sign up early for access. This not only builds anticipation, but gives you a specific page to link to in your emails—one that’s focused and high-converting.
14. Share collector stories or testimonials with a link.
When someone collects your work, tell the story (with permission) in your newsletter and link to the piece they purchased—or to similar work. Social proof builds trust and gives your audience a reason to keep clicking.
Social Media
Your social media accounts are often the first place someone sees your art—but they shouldn’t be the last. Every post, story, or profile is a chance to guide followers to your website, where they can go deeper, join your list, or make a purchase.
15. Make sure your website link is visible on all social profiles.
It sounds obvious, but many artists forget to include their website on personal or business pages. Check your Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, and LinkedIn profiles to be sure your site is clearly listed and easy to click.
16. Link your business page to your Facebook personal profile.
When someone visits your personal profile, they should be able to see your art business. In your Facebook bio, add your business page as your “employer” and be sure your website URL is included on that page as well.
17. Use a multi-link tool like Linktree—or create your own.
Your Instagram bio only gives you one clickable link, so make it count. Services like Linktree, Campsite, or Later’s Link in Bio let you feature multiple pages at once—like your newest work, event info, or newsletter signup.
Prefer more control? You can create your own links page directly on your website (see ours) and update it as needed. However you do it, make it easy for people to find what they’re looking for when they click.
18. Use the Link sticker in Instagram Stories.
You can’t put live links in captions or comments, but Instagram Stories allow you to add a clickable link. Use the sticker feature to direct people to your shop, blog, or newest work. This is a great way to drive traffic from your day-to-day content.
19. Optimize your Pinterest pins.
Make sure each pin has a strong title, a compelling description or story, and a direct link to the specific page on your website. For lower-priced items, include the price to encourage quick decisions. For higher-priced work, lead with the story and invite a conversation.
Online Community & Collaboration
Sometimes the best way to get people to your website isn’t by posting more—it’s by showing up in meaningful ways elsewhere.
When you engage in communities or collaborate with others, you expand your reach and build curiosity. That curiosity often leads to clicks.
20. Participate in online communities.
Whether it’s a Facebook group, a forum, or an artist membership site like our own Essentials, showing up regularly and offering encouragement or insight builds trust. When people see you contributing in a thoughtful way, they’re more likely to click your name and visit your website to learn more.
21. Leave thoughtful comments on blogs or websites.
If you enjoy a blog post or article, leave a comment that adds something valuable to the conversation. When possible, use an avatar that includes your art and make sure your name links to your site. This simple act can lead to surprising traffic over time. (And this, combined with #20, is how we find most of the artists that we feature here and on The Art Biz.)
22. Collaborate with another artist or small brand.
Team up with someone whose audience overlaps with yours to run a giveaway or promote something together—like a new collection or event. You both share it with your followers and link to a page on your website where people can learn more or sign up. It’s a fun way to expand your reach, build energy, and connect with new potential collectors.
Why 22?
There’s nothing magical about the number 22. It’s simply how many strong, practical ideas I could stand behind to help you bring more people to your art website. Use what works, leave what doesn’t, and keep showing up.
You don’t need to try all 22 ideas at once (or ever!). Start with just one or two that feel doable, and build from there. The key is to be intentional and consistent—because people won’t just stumble across your website. You have to guide them there.
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]]>You’ll learn how search engines work, the simple steps you can take to help people discover your art, and which metrics to track to know if your efforts are paying off. Stop relying on algorithms and start showing up with intention.
The post What artists need to know about SEO with Meg Casebolt (222) appeared first on Art Biz Success.
]]>You work hard on your art. You want people to discover it. But if you’re relying entirely on social media to be found, you’re building on shaky ground.
Search engines like Google, YouTube, and even Pinterest are still powerful tools for helping people find your work—but only if you’re strategic about how your art shows up there.
That’s where SEO comes in.
Watch the Interview
I know… SEO might not light your creative fire. But you know what is sure to do that? Getting more eyes on your art. If you want your art to be found online, you need this.
You’ll learn simple SEO strategies to help more people discover your art online, boost your visibility, and increase traffic and credibility.
My go-to SEO coach, Meg Casebolt, breaks it down for us—without the jargon, without the overwhelm, and in a way that actually makes sense for artists.
Meg helped me make sense of more than 20 years of blog and podcast content. She gave me the tools and confidence to move forward with more clarity and intention. And now I want the same for you.
In this episode of The Art Biz, we discuss:
- The two things you must own online (Instagram doesn’t count)
- How search engines really work
- Simple SEO strategies for your website and images
- Whether blogging is still relevant in 2025
- How to start improving your visibility—today
This episode is for you if you’re ready to show up online with more intention and make it easier for people to find you and your art.
Quick heads up that, because of AI, SEO has changed quite a bit since we did this interview.
Listen
Take just one small step to improve your online presence.
Update alt text on 5 images, rewrite a product description, or add relevant keywords to a page.
Meg Casebolt Quotes
“The only things you really own online are your website and your email list.”
“Social media is the rented house. Your website is your home.”
“SEO is about helping people who are already looking for what you offer—you’re just showing up at the right moment.”
“Think about the words someone might use to describe your art if they didn’t know anything about art.”
“If you can describe your artwork out loud to a friend, you can write alt text.”
“You don’t have to do everything—just take one step at a time and make your site a little more helpful each month.”
“Blogging still works—but not if you’re writing into the void. It needs to be intentional and useful to the reader.”
Don’t miss new articles, podcasts, programs, and some of my favorite discoveries.
Sign up for my weekly newsletter.
Mentioned and Resources
Content Love Lab (SEO membership community)
Social Slowdown: Market Your Business Without Sacrificing Your Mental Health (Meg’s Book)
Aggressively Human Podcast on Substack
First Dates and Soulmates Podcast (Meg’s romance novel podcast on Substack)
About Meg Casebolt
Meg Casebolt is founder of Love At First Search, an agency singularly devoted to helping online businesses get found in search results (like Google, YouTube & iTunes) & turn those new readers into leads, subscribers and sales.
Meg’s clients are entrepreneurs who are too busy changing the world to worry about things like website conversion rates and search traffic … but still want their websites to get found on Google for their brilliance and turn readers.
Meg lives in Rochester, NY with her husband, 2 boys and 80lb pit bull. She has an insatiable appetite for s’mores, Broadway musicals and romance novels.
Related Episodes
These episodes feature stories about artists’ success online:
Don’t miss new articles, podcasts, programs, and some of my favorite discoveries.
Sign up for my weekly newsletter.
The post What artists need to know about SEO with Meg Casebolt (222) appeared first on Art Biz Success.
]]>Your website is the 1 piece of virtual real estate that you have 100% control over. You select what people see and define how they will navigate the experience. Are you ready for them?
This is a focused conversation with Jessica Burko about artist websites.
The post Presenting yourself professionally on your artist website with Jessica Burko (174) appeared first on Art Biz Success.
]]>Your artist website is your portfolio these days. It’s usually the first place people go to get a full picture of you and your art.
They might initially find you on Instagram and scroll through the images there, but when their interest is piqued and they want to know more, they’ll click that almighty link in your bio.
Your website is the 1 piece of virtual real estate that you have 100% control over. You select what people see and define how they will navigate the experience.
Are you ready for them?
In this episode of The Art Biz, I have a very focused conversation with Jessica Burko about artist websites.
Jessica and I discuss:
- Her philosophy about artist websites.
- What artist websites should and should not include.
- How artist websites can be organized for a better viewer experience.
- How you can use Instagram and Pinterest to organize portfolios of work.
- Why one of your jobs is to educate people.
She says, “What gets people to be very interested in your work, to buy your work or hire you or show your work, and to really tell them the breadth of what you do and to show them all the different aspects of your arts career, your arts business, yourself as an artist” is your website. It’s a much more appropriate place to do that than Instagram.
My bonus tip before you listen is to check the footer on your website to see that it has the current copyright date in it. Some websites adjust automatically to a new year, but others do not. Make sure yours is current.
Listen
Mentioned
- The Art Biz ep. 95: What Your Failures Are Teaching You with Laura Petrovich-Cheney
- Carole Calo Gallery, Stonehill College
- Assets for Artists, MASS MoCA
- Analog Forever online photography magazine
- Photographic Resource Center (PRC), Cambridge, MA
Jessica Burko Quotes
“I once had a proposal arrive and it was handwritten in an orange marker. Unbelievable.”
“There is so much overlap [in the variety of work I do]. It all interrelates and feeds me creatively.”
“I think a lot of artists now more than ever think their Instagram feed is their website.”
“You control the narrative [on your website].”
“It’s so much about how you present yourself. People who you are approaching for any kind of opportunity need to know they’re working with someone they can work with. They want to work with someone professional.”
“[Website visitors] get to know the artist, they get to know the context for the work, and they get to know the techniques that the artists are using, which also all those things put together adds value and adds interest.”
“You have to get more bold in talking about your work and being really positive and excited about it because that’s how the person you’re talking to will get positive and excited about it.”
About My Guest
Jessica Burko has been an exhibiting artist since 1985. She is originally from Philadelphia and currently lives in Boston, Massachusetts. Burko holds a BFA in Photography from Rhode Island School of Design, and an MFA in Imaging Arts from Rochester Institute of Technology.
In addition to being a practicing artist, Burko is the Creative Director at the Photographic Resource Center in Cambridge, MA. Her work in the arts community supports artists through lectures, workshops, and partnerships with organizations such as ArtsWorcester, MA, Mass MoCA’s Assets for Artists Program, North Adams, MA, and the South Shore Arts Center, Cohasset, MA.
Follow her on Instagram @jessicaburko
Watch
Prefer video to audio? Check out our conversation here.
The post Presenting yourself professionally on your artist website with Jessica Burko (174) appeared first on Art Biz Success.
]]>In short, you need for it to be up and functioning at its best. All. The. Time.
What would happen if it crashed?
And … Who would you turn to if you needed a quick update to your site because you found out you were being featured in an article? Is that person always available for you?
You may have a great relationship with your web designer and hosting service right now, but you can’t predict what might happen in the future.
I’ve witnessed so many artists get stuck because they were abandoned by their webmasters and have no idea how to access their sites.
Don’t let this happen to you!
Maybe you have a DIY site, but it’s been awhile since you have worked on the backend of it. How do you get there?
You are a savvy artist-entrepreneur, so make sure you have complete control over your Internet presence--even if you are lucky enough to have someone helping you.
You don’t want to leave this to chance. You don’t want to learn later that your life could have been so much easier if only you had a few answers at your fingertips.
What follows is a list with all of the information you need from the people who maintain your sites, even if “the people” is only you.
The post Must-Have Website Info That Should Be at Your Fingertips appeared first on Art Biz Success.
]]>In short, you need for it to be up and functioning at its best. All. The. Time.
What would happen if it crashed?
And … Who would you turn to if you needed a quick update to your site because you found out you were being featured in an article? Is that person always available for you?
You may have a great relationship with your web designer and hosting service right now, but you can’t predict what might happen in the future.
I’ve witnessed so many artists get stuck because they were abandoned by their webmasters and have no idea how to access their sites.
Don’t let this happen to you!
Maybe you have a DIY site, but it’s been awhile since you have worked on the backend of it. How do you get there?
You are a savvy artist-entrepreneur, so make sure you have complete control over your internet presence–even if you are lucky enough to have someone helping you.
You don’t want to leave this to chance. You don’t want to learn later that your life could have been so much easier if only you had a few answers at your fingertips.
What follows is a list with all of the information you need from the people who maintain your artist website, even if “the people” is only you.
Domain Registrar
Usually the domain registrar is hosted by the place where you purchased it, but it might have been moved to another domain host.
I prefer that my domain is hosted separately from the company that hosts my website. It makes breaking up with a hosting company much easier. I’ve had to break up with a website hosting company twice and found this out the hard way.
URL of domain registry:
Accessing Your Domain Registration Account
URL to login:
Username:
Password:
PIN if applicable:
Security questions/answers:
Best way to get help:
Domain name renewal date:
You don’t want to miss this! It could cause big trouble if your web designer is incapacitated for any reason and misses your renewal date. Mine are set to auto renewal and notices come directly to me, which places the control in my hands.
Website Hosting Company
Name of website host:
Date of renewal for hosting account:
Accessing Your Web Hosting Account
Login URL for hosting site:
Username:
Password:
PIN if applicable:
Security questions/answers:
Limitations
How much hard drive space is available?
How much bandwidth is available?
How many sites can I host under this account?
Email Addresses
Addresses hosted on this server:
Passwords:
SMTP settings:
POP settings:
Advanced SMTP port setting:
This is a number like 25, 80, 587, 465, 2222, or 3535.
How many email addresses are available to me?
Where/how are they configured?
How do I log in to webmail? This is something you want to have handy in case your email isn’t downloading to your computer.
FTP (File Transfer Protocol)
Host address or name:
Username:
Password:
Port:
Best way to get help from hosting company:
Blog
If your blog is separate from your website, you need login information for your blog as well.
Login URL:
Username:
Password:
PIN if applicable:
Email used to create your log in access:
This is needed to reset your password in case you forget it.
Security questions/answers:
Theme name and version #, if using WordPress:
Got it?
You don’t need to understand what all of this means. You just need to trust me that this is must-have information for your records.
Don’t be afraid to ask for these details. Whether or not you have someone helping you, you paid for the site.
If you have this information, you will be able to control your home base online.
Your Turn
If you have a story about being caught without access to the above information, please share it in a comment below. Your examples will help artists learn.
This post was originally published on February 18, 2016 and has been updated with the original comments intact.
The post Must-Have Website Info That Should Be at Your Fingertips appeared first on Art Biz Success.
]]>When something isn't working, you have to test, make adjustments, and test more. Here are four places to begin your diagnosis into why your art isn't selling on your website.
The post Why your website isn’t generating sales appeared first on Art Biz Success.
]]>Your website is for generating sales and opportunities – even if you don’t sell directly from your site. You’re using your site as a digital portfolio to sell galleries and other venues on the idea of your art.
There are numerous factors as to why some art sells better online than others. Perhaps the work is more “popular” or more affordable. Or maybe the artists use their lists and social media more effectively.
Without taking those things into account, there are four errors you should correct immediately if you would like more sales and opportunities. Each is a step toward making it easier for people to buy.
1. You make people click too many times to see the art.
If your website hasn’t been updated in years, you might have an old template that makes people click numerous links to see your art. It’s time for a major overhaul.
Can you imagine walking into a gallery and not knowing what they sell? If you’re sending people to your site to see, appreciate and, perhaps, purchase your art, you’d better show it to them on every page.
That’s right: every page. Your website has acres of virtual real estate that needs your art to make it attractive to visitors. Use it!
You never know where people will land on your site, so see that the art is the main feature.
2. You don’t make it clear what you’re selling.
Would you install your art in a space without a label next to it? No!
Would you want anyone else to install your art without acknowledging you as the maker? Absolutely not! You’d probably get miffed (and rightly so) if someone did.
And, yet, many artists are showing their art online without giving themselves proper credit. A credit line looks like this.
©Your Name, Title of Artwork. Medium (be specific), size (H x W x D inches/cm). Photo credit if necessary.
You can see the above format in use under the featured images on this post. Yours doesn’t have to follow this exact configuration. You can vary the sequence and punctuation as long as the credit line includes each of those elements and as long as you are consistent.
Potential buyers more easily imagine the art in their space and lives when they know specifics. You not only need to be clear about medium and size, but also about matting, framing, and anything else that would be included.
Take photos of the art in situ, or installed in an office or home environment to help people visualize the scale. Having this complete information makes someone more likely to click the purchase button.
3. You don’t include prices.
I’ve heard from numerous artists who have had people ask if their work is for sale. (Yes. Really.) If you want to sell your art, post your prices. Prices say Hey! I’m available!
I know it sounds crazy to us, but just because you have your art online doesn’t mean people know they can buy it. You have to tell them.
If you want gallery representation, visible prices help gallerists determine whether or not you’re a good fit for their venue.
If you have gallery representation, you would add a link to drive sales to the gallery: Available Through XYZ Gallery.
4. You don’t tell them HOW they can purchase the work.
If you are among the many artists who doesn’t yet have e-commerce on your site, the buying process may be a mystery.
Posting prices is one step, but if there’s not a flashy “Buy Now” button (which I don’t recommend), your site visitors might be confused and leave.
Create a page on your site that tells people exactly how to contact you and what they need to do to purchase. Or, as mentioned under #3 above, link to the gallery where they can find your work.
In your credit line, you can include your price with a link to purchasing information.
©Your Name, Title of Artwork. Medium (be specific), size (H x W x D inches/cm).
$600.
Click here for purchasing info
Don’t assume that people will jump through hoops to email or phone you and ask about purchasing a piece.
S.p.e.l.l. I.t. O.u.t.
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]]>The post 9 Artist Resources for Better Performing Websites and Blogs appeared first on Art Biz Success.
]]>I thought it might be helpful if, from time to time, I curated some topics for you.
Today’s post brings together a bunch of articles to help with the look and functionality of your website or blog.
Free Articles
31 Types of Photographs You Can Use to Promote Your Art
Just what it sounds like: a compilation of ideas that should keep you snapping pictures for years to come.
Includes 8 different ways you can photograph your art, 9 pictures to take of your office, 7 studio shots, and 8 mugs of you.
11 Fast Website or Blog Fixes
If your website or blog has been under-performing, there’s no need to take drastic measures like creating an entirely new site. Consider these 11 tweaks to give your online presence a boost.
Create a Style Sheet for Your Website or Blog
Is your online presence as consistent and professional as it could be? A style sheet could save you.
Being consistent with your colors, font styles, and font sizes will keep your site in order and save you time because you won’t have to think about what to use. You have established rules.
Remix Images of Your Art for a Fresh Look
This post is for you if you are tired of traditional art categories or if your art doesn’t make sense in those categories.
It might also be helpful for anyone who just wants a change.
Placing Older Art on Your Website
If I had to write this post again, I’d call it “Earlier Art,” which is a much more appropriate name for it. But whatever you call it, earlier art presents a dilemma for artists.
You don’t want it to overshadow your new work, but you do want to be able to share it with people who might be interested. I have some ideas for you in this article.
Strategic E-Marketing: Connecting the Components
I can’t tell you how many times I visit an artist’s site and can’t find their Twitter link. Or even a link to their blog!
Or I’ll visit their Facebook profile and wonder why it isn’t linked to their business page on Facebook.
Make it easy for people to find you – wherever they first land!
Personalize Your Error Pages
This is a little touch that can go a long way for your readers and visitors.
When they land on a page that you’ve moved or deleted, tell them you understand how frustrating it is to get a big Error on a page. Try to make it right, and then give them options for staying on your site.
Audio Program
I called on Pat Velte, my Web guru, for Website Makeover for Artists.
We talked about what artists are doing wrong on their sites and how you can fix the errors. (Most are easy and completely free!)
Click here to learn more about this audio program and transcript.
Self-Study
Writing coach Cynthia Morris tackled the stuff she’s good at (writing!) and I handled blog functionality and appearance in our Blog Triage Self-Study.
20 detailed lessons in audio and PDF files. Plenty to keep you improving your blog for weeks. Read the details here.
These two programs are no longer for sale.
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]]>The post If Your Blog And Website Are Separate appeared first on Art Biz Success.
]]>It was a last-minute decision, but a big Duh moment. . . . We used the same navigation menu for each site.
Here’s the Art Biz Coach site/menu:
And here’s the Art Biz Blog site/menu:
The only difference is the logo. Otherwise, visitors feel like they’re on the same site.
This is a game changer for me. It’s a solution for something that’s been bugging me for years.
It’s The Result Of Being an Early(ish) Blogger
The reason that Art Biz Coach and Art Biz Blog were separate in the first place is because I started the blog on a different blogging platform based on the best advice I had at that time.
If I had known better, I’d have done what I encourage all of my clients to do: build a WordPress site that integrates a blog with static pages. There is no reason to have a blog separate from a website.
I switched the blog to WordPress a few years ago, but the two sites still remained separate and I’ve always struggled with this.
Now they are both on WordPress (two different installations), but they look much more cohesive. As a bonus, I’ll get more people seeing my programs and products because of the new navigation menu on the blog.
I’m sure WordPress makes this easier to do than if you have an HTML site and a Blogger site. It’s also easier if you have an amazing Web guru like Pat Velte helping you.
Even if you can’t model this solution, I implore you to add a BLOG link to your website in your main navigation menu – even if it takes people to a new site and window. You’ll get more clicks on your blog link than on many other items in your menu because people expect to find new/fresh content there.
Make it easy for people to find your blog!
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]]>The post Whip Your Website Into Submission appeared first on Art Biz Success.
]]>If you’ve been adding new pages, images, and content over time, before you know it, your site has turned into one hot mess.
I need to get ArtBizCoach.com back into racing shape, and I imagine your site could also use a tune-up. This is important!
Our websites are often the first place that people experience our work. We don’t want to be apologizing for them! And we want to make sure that people have a meaningful experience when they drop in.
Below is my timeline for whipping Art Biz Coach back into shape, with suggestions for doing it for your site.
Inventory Content
By October 31
Conduct a detailed inventory of everything that is on the ArtBizCoach.com server, including:
-
- Primary links
- Sublinks
- Hidden download pages
- Password-protected pages
You will have, at the minimum, primary links (your main menu) and sublinks (content pages and art pages). Also note any old pages that aren’t linked to anything, which can be deleted in the next steps.
Outline Site Framework
By November 15
Decide what will be on the new Art Biz Coach site in each of these main categories:
-
- Products: Books, Audio
- Services: Coaching, Seminars
- Info: About, Media Room
- Outgoing links: Partners
For you, main categories might be: Art, Reproductions, Classes, Info.
Tip: Don’t use too many main categories! Visitors will be confused if there are too many options in a menu, and a confused visitor never sticks around.
Write the individual content areas on Post-It notes and move them around on your wall in logical order. You might even include the graphic images (your art!) you will add to each page, which will make the process very visual.
Prepare Site
By November 30
Install new WordPress theme and begin rebuilding ArtBizCoach.com with help from Pat, my Web guru.
I resisted using WordPress for my last Art Biz Coach update – opting for straight HTML instead – but it’s time to make the switch to a WordPress site.
What kind of structure do you need to add or change in order to rebuild and refresh your site?
Launch
By January 2, 2013
Launch the new ArtBizCoach.com site.
What work do you have to do in order to whip your website back into submission? Leave a comment and hold yourself accountable.
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]]>The post Coordinating Your Marketing Efforts appeared first on Art Biz Success.
]]>Website, blog, newsletter, email, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube, TikTok, Pinterest. The list just keeps exploding.
How do you keep up with it all?
The answer is: You can’t!
Don’t even try.
The trick is to admit defeat. To let go of the platforms that aren’t serving you or that just feel like no fun.
Here’s a rundown of 3 basic platforms you should be using to promote your art and how they work with one another. Facebook is optional, but recommended. The other two are mandatory.
Blog or Website
Your artist website is your home base, your brand, your everything. You can’t neglect your site!
Use might use your site to brand yourself as an expert. You might be an expert on your subject matter, an expert on your media, or an expert on local artists. In those instances, you probably need a blog.
Or you might just be an expert on you.
It’s critical that you do this on your site and not on a social media site owned by a big company. It’s the only way you can control your message and ensure that it endures.
Tips for coordinating your site with other marketing platforms:
- Use your site to collect email addresses through a sign-up form.
- Make sure your social media links are easy to find.
- Install “Share” buttons to blog posts so that visitors can share your content quickly on social media sites.
- Create Pinterest boards for your top blog posts and thematic groupings of your art.
Some people will connect with you through your blog or social media, but you can’t count on that. You can’t control those algorithms.
Email, whether in the form of short reminders or newsletters, is vital for keeping your name in front of people. Send email messages to announce exhibitions and classes, send invitations, and broadcast reminders.
Tips for coordinating your email with other marketing platforms:
- Revise content from your blog or social media updates for email newsletters.
- Use email to drive people to your website or blog, but don’t send them to your home page. Home pages are boring! Send them to the page with your hot-out-of-the-studio art or your most-commented-on blog post.
- Provide links to your social profiles in your email newsletters and encourage people to follow you.
Facebook or Instagram
Remember that most people will see your updates as they appear in news feeds—not from your timeline or profile page. It’s rare that people (unless they’re spending way too much time on the computer) who saw an update of yours at 8 a.m. would see another one at 4 p.m.
Tips for coordinating your social profiles with other marketing platforms:
- Make sure the link to your website or blog appears in your profiles. People should be able to quickly find the link and visit your site.
- See that your Facebook business page shows up as your employer on your personal profile. (IOW, that your business page is your employer.)
- Consider making custom posts in the native apps rather than cross-posting the same message across diverse platforms.
- Every now and then, post an invitation to subscribe to your email newsletter.
That’s it! website/blog, email, and social media, although this is by no means a comprehensive list of how you can coordinate these marketing tools.
I know what you’re asking now: Where’s Twitter? Why not Pinterest? What about YouTube?
We could go on and on. If you like these additional platforms, use them! They’re all good. They can all be worthwhile if used consistently and with respect for their unique qualities.
But . . . Coordinate your marketing efforts. Your various profiles, sites, and platforms do not stand by themselves. You must use them in harmony in order to be effective with your message.
How are you coordinating your marketing?
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