Creating an artist website – Why having your own homepage is so important for creative people

A personal website for artists and other creatives: Why it's so important

, great art was discovered by galleries, and written manuscripts were selected by publishers.

Nowadays, great content is discovered firsthand by ordinary people, on the World Wide Web or via social media. There is no longer a barrier between the artist and the masses.

If you have an online presence – and your work can be found, shared, "pinned" or "liked" – you can achieve a level of recognition that was previously only a dream.

A single image or blog post can receive thousands of views in a very short time; it can be seen by a large number of potential customers, admirers, and fans.

If you are an artist, photographer, writer (or any other creative entrepreneur), you need to harness the power of the internet and create your own website .

 

The internet holds enormous potential for creative people. Creating a website is the most effective way to market your work, build a brand, and sell artwork, creative products, and services. Furthermore, creating a website something even a school or university student (someone with little money and no prior web design experience) can do.

1. Why online platforms and social media profiles are not enough

Social media channels like Instagram , Facebook , Pinterest , Flickr , or online platforms for creatives like DeviantArt , Behance , Saatchi Online , Imagekind , RedBubble , Etsy , and Tumblr are all great channels to draw attention to your art. However, they are not sufficient for sustained success as an artist.

There are many social media platforms that encourage content sharing. These can be helpful for promoting your own work, meeting others with similar interests, receiving feedback, and reaching others through extended social networks. Being an active member of some of these sites can be a good idea and, in fact, a fundamental part of your online strategy.

These channels should complement your own website, not replace it . They should be used as marketing outposts to drive traffic to your own website, not as a replacement for it.

2. A warning about free website builders / free portfolio websites

Many people search Google for "best free website builder for artists" or "free artist website." Others look for more specific information and compare different website builders such as Wix vs. Weebly vs. Blogger vs. Squarespace vs. Google Sites vs. Adobe Spark , and so on.

These platforms, along with many others, offer customizable websites and are aimed at those looking for a straightforward way to showcase their work online (for example, these platforms allow you to set up simple websites for photo portfolios or graphic design portfolios, usually with higher-priced premium plans marketed in parallel).

These website builders are usually sophisticated and aesthetically pleasing, with drag-and-drop templates that are tempting for beginners. Indeed, they can be a suitable option for those who want to create a website to share with family or friends, or a temporary online portfolio, but they should never be used by someone who is seriously interested in their website ranking highly on Google and being visited by hundreds or thousands of people every day.

For the best chance of success as a serious artist, you need to create your own original website.”

Here are the reasons why:

2.1. You need complete control over layout and design

Aesthetics are important. Websites should showcase your creativity and convey style and individuality so you stand out from the crowd. This cannot be achieved with a standard page on a free website that uses a template that looks like a million others.

With your own website, you can choose a remarkable design theme and customize it as you wish.

2.2. You need a great website name, NOT yourname.freeservice.de

A website name (called a domain) is the starting point for your brand. For only about €15 per year, you can give the impression that you're a professional worth investing in. Take your work seriously.

Since original website names cost so little, there's no excuse not to have your own.

2.3. You need to optimize your website so that it ranks well on Google for relevant search terms

If you cannot optimize your content for search engines, your website will float alone in the depths of cyberspace and be dependent on endless social media advertising and friendly visits from friends.

Google has a secret (and constantly updated) algorithm that determines where websites should appear in search results. When someone searches for something on the internet, Google's search engine performs a complex calculation (which takes a fraction of a second) to estimate which websites—out of all the websites in the world—you, as the searcher, would want to see.

According to Search Engine Journal, 28.5% of users click on the first result displayed in Google, 15.7% on the second result, and even fewer on the third. If your website doesn't make it onto the first page of results, only a tiny percentage of people will ever find it.

Search engine optimization (SEO) is not possible (or not sufficiently possible) on most free websites and social media platforms. To make matters worse, Google knows if your website was built on a free platform and may evaluate it accordingly: as less professional, less reputable, and less important.

Unfortunately, these lower barriers (designed to encourage a less tech-savvy audience) can sometimes attract shady characters like spammers looking for cheap and easy ways to set up dozens or hundreds of websites that add little or no value to the web. Regarding automatically generated websites, our stance remains the same: if websites don't provide sufficient value, we generally consider them spam and take appropriate measures to protect our users from being exposed to such sites in our organic search results.” – Google Webmaster

In other words, with a free platform, you have to work much harder to convince Google that your content is worth ranking for, and even then, you don't have the tools to make it easy: you start at a disadvantage. This is one of the most important factors to consider when deciding whether to create your own website.

2.4. Schools and universities should be able to view your content

A growing number of schools and universities are blocking all access to social media and free blogging platforms because, as mentioned above, these are frequently used by spammers and people who share dubious content.

Even if you don't have a direct connection to the education sector, it's a great advantage if your work is discoverable by educational institutions. For example, students often visit artists' websites for their coursework and seminars, studying artwork and content.

Schools and universities then link to the website. Authentic links from relevant websites signal to Google that the artist's website is high-quality (links from educational institutions are considered particularly valuable). This, in turn, leads Google to trust the homepage more and rank it even higher. As mentioned above, websites with a high ranking gain more visitors.

2.5. Their works must be highlighted and not get lost in the crowd

When someone is considering buying your artwork (or other creative products) on a social media platform or a shared website with multiple sellers, buyers are often distracted by the countless other items that appear in their feed.

You want people to notice your fantastic creations without others competing for their attention. You can't achieve this on social media or community websites: there, customers are easily lured away by competitors.

2.6. You need control over how you monetize your website

If you have your own website, you have complete control over your earning potential. You can sell artwork , products, or services directly from the website . You can add advertising , seek sponsors , affiliate products , print-on-demand items, or simply focus on building your brand, popularity, and reputation.

Social media platforms and free website builders often place inappropriate advertising alongside your work—out of your control—or have strict guidelines governing how you conduct business on their platform. It's very common for free website builders to place their own branding throughout your site and try to drive visitors back to them.

Generating revenue from your own website is much easier. For example, if you sell artwork online , you can do so in minutes by adding a "Buy Now" button next to the piece. Alternatively, you can add professional shopping carts or other commercial features.

2.7. Measure and analyze the number of visitors and key statistics of your website

Google Analytics and Search Console are free tools from Google that can be easily integrated into your own website. Most free website builders or social media platforms don't allow you to use them and, if they offer any statistics at all, they are of poor quality.

Google Analytics and Search Console provide detailed information about your website visitors. For example, you can see which countries visitors come from, how many minutes they spend on specific pages, which pages they leave immediately, and what they searched for on Google before arriving at your website.

This information is invaluable . It helps you shape and guide your creative work and improve your content for the future.

2.8. You must be able to build an email list

A few years ago, Facebook its news feed algorithm so that each status update from a Facebook business page was only shown to a small percentage of its followers. Now, to get posts shown to more fans, you have to pay to promote them – even to those who have already chosen to follow your page.

Therefore, the value of a large Facebook following plummeted overnight, crippling many small businesses that had relied on Facebook to reach their audience. Similarly, YouTube recently made significant changes to its algorithm, affecting which videos are shown to viewers, making it harder for creators to get their videos seen. YouTube also bans certain content and features videos it believes violate its constantly evolving policies.

Instagram also making it increasingly difficult to generate more reach organically.

Social media platforms are companies that prioritize their own interests. If you have your own website, you have the option of having your target audience securely share their email address with you. This way, you're not dependent on the goodwill of third parties: you can connect with your followers at any time.

An email list is an asset you can protect, allowing you to maintain direct contact with your audience no matter what. Almost every online entrepreneur regrets not having started an email list sooner. An email signup form can be added to your website in minutes.

2.9. You must be able to easily move your website files from one location to another

If you start with a free blogging platform and later find that you should create your own website (like most people who are serious about online marketing), this step often proves difficult; moving your content from the free platform to your own website can be extremely frustrating (it may require manually cutting and pasting each element – ​​or even rebuilding the entire website).

Whichever method you choose to create an online presence, it must portable . Moving, downloading, or backing up material from your own website is easy – you have access to every single one of your files and can export and migrate them to a new environment with just a few clicks.

Furthermore, if you decide to switch from a free website name (e.g., yourname.freeService.de) to an original website name (e.g., yourname.de), you will lose any search engine authority you previously built up with Google. This authority cannot be transferred to the new website and remains with the online platform provider. In other words, you will have to work your way back up in Google's rankings from scratch.

2.10. Topic: Copyright and data sovereignty: You must own 100% of the website

When you create a website on a free platform, your website is actually a subsection of another company's website. Website providers can shut down unexpectedly, taking your content and followers with them. Those offering free services are especially vulnerable to collapse. For example, Wikispaces the following message on its website:

As stated in our announcement from January 2018 and in website banners; as of July 31, 2018, all Free and Classroom wikis have been deactivated and are no longer accessible.

The once-popular MySpace suffered a similar fate, burying many creative careers.

Furthermore, platforms can block you or delete your files, and there's nothing you can do about it. You can suddenly be overtaken by a more successful platform, as happened when Facebook gained popularity and MySpace faded away.

They could be sold to another company that might run things completely differently, like when Flickr by SmugMug . If you have the potential to create an engaging, impressive website, it's too risky to leave it at the mercy of another company's whims. It's an invaluable resource.

You must create your own website and retain full ownership of it.

3. Why it's worth creating your website as quickly as possible

If you are serious about building an online audience, you need to create your own website as soon as possible.

Here are compelling reasons for swift action :

3.1. Domain Age: Older websites rank higher on Google

There are many factors that influence where a website appears in search engines (the higher your rank, the more visitors your website receives).

The age of the website is one of these factors – a signal that your website is more likely to be a genuine, authoritative site. The sooner you start, the sooner you can begin building your website's authority with Google.

3.2. Website names are limited and good domains are quickly snapped up

Over time, fewer high-quality website names (these are called "domain names") become available: yourname.de may already be gone. Many great domain names have already been bought and are being resold for thousands of euros.

The following tutorial shows you how to check which domain names are still available:

3.3. Lockdowns mean that more and more people are buying products online

If there was ever a time to build an online presence, it's now. Many artists and creative entrepreneurs who previously considered creating a website have, in light of recent events, made this activity a top priority.

Many art teachers and course providers are also choosing to create websites to guide their students through distance learning. This is leading to another rush of people snapping up domain names.

3.4. Your age and current circumstances are not an obstacle to success

You don't have to wait until you have more time or "more successful" . You are also not too young or too old for these kinds of "technological" ventures.

Creating a website sounds intimidating, but it only takes a few hours to get the basics up and running. Many great websites are built by young people with limited money or resources. Teenagers as young as 14 have achieved significant online success. With parental permission, you can even start during middle school.

Setting up a website can be an excellent project for an art, design, or technology student. With hard work, a website created during your studies can generate income launch career as a freelance artist . Furthermore, the skills you acquire while building a website can significantly improve your job prospects after graduation.

The best part is that the whole process is fun. It's exciting and enriching – almost addictive – to watch people from all over the world visit your website and see your content, day after day.

4. What is the best way to create an artist website (or any other website)?

There are two basic ways to create an original, professional, and unique website.

The first option is to use an existing content management system (CMS) . A CMS is similar to Microsoft Word; it's a program or tool that greatly simplifies the process of creating a digital document.

Content management systems are designed for the average user, so no coding knowledge is required. They save time and money while enabling creative, unique results.

The second option for creating an original website is to hire developers and/or web designers (or learn to program yourself) and build the whole thing from scratch. Even if you have sufficient resources to hire a developer or are familiar with programming, it is still advisable in almost all cases to use an existing content management system.

Using an existing content management system not only saves you time and money; a website built from scratch is also much more difficult to maintain, since only the person who understands how it works is the person who created it. On the other hand, if you use a popular content management system, there are many tutorials, communities, and forums online where advice is readily available and shared.

If you get stuck at any point, there are answers online to almost any question you can imagine. Furthermore, there are thousands of developers specializing in every popular content management system. This means you're not reliant on a single expert who knows your website inside and out, nor are you vulnerable if that expert suddenly becomes unavailable.

Conclusion: Unless you have a team of specialized developers and are trying to create something like the next Facebook, using an existing content management system by far the best option .

5. Creating your own website as an artist – guide, tips, do's & don'ts

 

Here are some basic things you should definitely consider from the start:

Step 1: Consistent focus on your art

Working as an artist means constantly striving to increase visibility and connect with new fans. Securing space in galleries, solo exhibitions, art fairs, and media coverage is crucial to the process. But nothing has greater potential (especially from a cost-benefit perspective) to reach more people—and art buyers—than having your own website.

The most important piece of advice right off the bat: Your website should be entirely dedicated to you and your work . Think of it like a studio visit or a reading , but without you being present.

A visitor to the website should be able all the information they need – including images of your work (in detail if required), excerpts from your texts, information about your career , a biography and/or statement , and relevant press or reviews .

Interested website visitors to your homepage should be able to discover press releases or printable images, find your contact information, and learn about your upcoming public events, exhibitions, and projects.

Having your own artist website is a powerful tool for communicating with your audience and, in turn, allowing them to communicate with you. A website can also be used to promote the work of fellow artists, for social causes, or to keep people updated on your progress.

A well-designed, functional website is a great promotional tool for emerging and mid-career artists . Whether you design your own website or hire someone to do it,

You have a tool that anyone in the world can access to learn more about you and your work at any time. Your website should have clear navigation and high-quality presentations of your work.

Step 2: Identify individual goals

First, define your individual goals for creating an artist website. Do you simply want to use the site as a digital portfolio of your work? Do you want to sell art online ? Is the website also intended for marketing purposes , such as announcing a gallery where visitors can view your art in person?

Your goals determine what kind of website functionality is required. This way, you can search for the right CMS and template that best meets your individual needs.

Tips for setting a goal

You might immediately think of a few specific goals – such as another virtual space where you can present your work – but other goals may (still) be unclear.

Here are some suggestions to help:

• Do your research: Research other art websites, such as those of Gerhard Richter , David Hockney , Jeff Koons, or other well-known artists in your field. This can generate ideas for your own website and help you identify the qualities that make for an engaging artist website.
• Create a feature list: Brainstorm a list of features and content you want on your website. Then prioritize the three most important features that are crucial for getting started. This exercise will help you narrow your focus so you can launch an initial version of your website in time.
• Start small: When you're starting out, it's most beneficial to begin with a simpler, more limited website. A basic artist website allows you to get up and running more quickly, even if it's not your ideal. Once your website is online, you can develop it piece by piece into what you want it to be—instead of trying to make it perfect from the start.

Step 3: Design the concept for structure, layout and content

3.1. Key components: What your artist website absolutely needs

Before you get too bogged down in the detailed design of your website, make sure you've covered the basics . Every artist's website needs these core elements ; otherwise, it can immediately deter potential buyers:

A. Your name

Really, you should include your name in your website's URL/domain if possible.

Your name is your brand : This is how you get found. It should be visible at all times, no matter which page the visitor is on. Create a logo and place it in the website header to achieve this. Keep your name/logo legible and bold, but the font/design should complement your artwork so visitors remember your name and associate it with your work.

B. High-quality images

Don't compromise on quality here. If you're proud of your art, then show it off. Don't post small, blurry, dark, or low-resolution images on your website.

Remember to think of your artist website as a substitute for an "open studio ." If you had someone visiting your studio, would you show them a tiny, blurry Polaroid of your artwork, or the original?

While you can't perfectly represent your work in digital form (unless you're a digital artist, ), you'd be surprised what a reasonably decent camera can achieve these days with the right tools (Photoshop & Co.).

C. Artwork details

This does not mean close-up photos of your artwork (although these can also be important). This point refers to the title, medium, dimensions, price, and year of the work .

This information helps visitors get a clear picture of almost everything they need to know before buying the artwork. It also makes your website more easily searchable by Google and other search engines (keyword: schema markup and rich data).

protect your , don't forget to add a watermark with your name (modern technologies exist for this that are barely perceptible to the human eye).

This way, the person who downloads them cannot use them as their own and commercialize them.

D. Is this for sale?

You don't just need to post pictures of available artwork, but you should make it very clear which pieces are available for purchase and which are not.

E. Biography & CV of the artist

This information is particularly useful if you use your website as a portfolio, which more and more artists are doing these days.

A biography and CV help when applying to galleries, museums, competitions or commissions.

How do I write an artist biography?

F. Artist's Declaration / Artist Statement

Ideally, the biography should also include an artist statement that succinctly summarizes what defines the artist and motivates their work.

Your artist statement speaks for you when you are absent to conduct the interview. The statement should always be written in the first person: it is different from a biography.

Learn how to write an artist statement in the following video (unfortunately only in English):

G. Contact information

If you can't be reached, you can't sell anything. Make sure your contact information is not only available on your website, but also easily accessible.

3.2. The Structure – How to Organize Your Artist Website

Don't cram all this information onto one page. A good artist's website is like a gallery or a museum. The artwork can't be stacked up and clutter the walls. You need to give each piece, whether artwork or text, room to breathe.

The best way to do this is to organize your artist website with pages.

Here's a little secret about creating websites: Each page should have only one purpose . By placing too much information (or artwork) on a single page, you'll quickly lose your visitors' interest.

This is not only the clearest and most user-friendly way to organize your website, but it also helps with something SEO (Search Engine Optimization) . SEO keeps your site at the top of search results when someone uses Google, Yahoo, Bing, or another search engine.

SEO is a discipline within internet marketing that has evolved into a complex field. Newcomers face particular challenges with websites that include an integrated online store (such as a Shopify store for selling their own artwork). This is where a professional partner can help.

If your websites are clearly focused and differentiated , the crawlers exactly what the purpose of your page is and will take it into account accordingly in the search results.

So, which pages do you need?

A. Homepage / Landing Page

This is the "face" of your website. The homepage should three main elements : a title , an image , and a navigation menu .

The title should tell visitors what your website is about. “Art by [Your Name]” or “[Your Name] Artist” is a pretty foolproof way to start. Don't get too complicated or clever here; you want the title to be easily translated into any language.

The visuals can be a single artwork, a collage, or a slideshow. Avoid the urge to cram all your artwork onto this page: that's what your artwork pages are for. The image quickly gives visitors a sense of who you are and what you're about.

If you have three different graphic styles , you can provide one example of each. However, if your artwork has a fairly consistent style, don't add more than one image.

The site guide isn't a map, but rather an easy-to-understand navigation menu . It should clearly indicate the different pages available on your website. Don't hide this menu; instead, make it bold and prominent on your page. Keep it at the top or on the left side of the page where it's immediately visible.

B. Image gallery / Portfolio / Albums

Just like your entire website, your artwork should be divided into smaller sections. There should never be more than 20-30 images in an album/page; otherwise, users will get bored and start skipping. There are many ways to organize and sort your artwork: you can do this by medium, style, year, series, or theme.

You can even divide your pages into both: perhaps you have an abstract album sorted by mood, or maybe a landscape album sorted by season. Just don't be too pedantic: each album should contain at least 10 pictures.

Remember that you want to clearly indicate which artworks are for sale and which are not. You can either specify this directly in the albums or create a separate album for available/sold artworks. However, you shouldn't do this if there are more than 25-35 artworks that fall into either category.

C. “About me”

You can include your biography, statement, and resume on this page, but add visual elements to help break up long passages of text. This can be done either by using a different colored background for each section or by using images or symbols to separate the blocks of text.

Add your portrait. Show a picture of yourself working in the studio. Do you have the very first crayon drawing you made as a child? Visual elements not only make a website clearer – they also give your artist's website personality and a human touch.

D. Contact page

Some artists simply add this to the footer or header of their website, which is a perfectly acceptable method. However, if you have a sales/contact page, it will remind website visitors that you are available.

You can even include a contact form if you don't want to disclose your personal email address, but be sure to check your messages regularly. You don't want to miss the next big sale.

E. Keep these things away from your website:

Music

Don't include automatic music playback on your website. If your visitors want to listen to music, they already do. Music is distracting and annoying, and most people will leave your website immediately if they are forced to listen to music against their will.

Show

It's a common trap set by some "free" website hosts. Before committing to a host, be sure to check if they place ads on your website. Ads can be a major distraction from your artwork and never look professional.

Works by other artists

Even if it is a work of art that has inspired you in the past, it will confuse visitors if they see artwork that is not yours.

Step 4: Create your artist website

In summary, you need three things to create your own website:

1. A domain : This is the name of the website, e.g., dasistmeinekunst.de. You already learned how to find and register an available domain in the video above.
2. Website hosting : This is rented storage space on a large server where you store the website files so that your website can connect to the internet around the clock (there are many good hosting providers, IONOS, WebGo, All-Inkl, Domain Factory and 1blu are recommended).
3. A content management system for creating the website, e.g., WordPress , which is free.

While the first two points are usually quick to complete, the third requires a little more attention. But don't worry, we'll guide you through the process:

4.1. Choose a CMS

Once you have identified your goals and have a well-developed concept for your website, it's time to find a CMS for implementation.

A key aspect is your budget. Determine how much you can afford to spend on website costs each month. This will determine what type of CMS you can buy and which features it includes.

Based on your goals and budget, look at CMS platforms that meet your needs. Some CMS options that work well for artists include Wix , Weebly , Squarespace (especially for portfolio sites), and WordPress .

Our clear favorite is WordPress! The combination of low costs, almost endless design freedom, user-friendliness, and a huge community is, in our opinion, unbeatable. Terms & Conditions apply.

While the first three CMS mentioned also have their advantages, they are limited in many respects and tied to a single company, making them vulnerable to many of the weaknesses described above.

The leading content management systems are "open source" : This means they are maintained by a huge collection of experienced developers worldwide (and are not affiliated with a single company). As such, they follow best coding practices and are kept up to date.

According to statistics, WordPress (used by approximately 61% of the market) is the world's leading content management system, followed by Joomla (5%) and then Drupal (3%). WordPress is not only the most popular content management system, but an estimated 34% of all websites worldwide run on it.

I've been using WordPress myself since 2009 and highly recommend it. Kunstplaza was also built with WordPress.

It is undoubtedly the best website builder for artists – or for anyone else who wants to create their own website. For entrepreneurs, bloggers, writers, or artists who want to market their services, promote products, or create other content-based websites or blogs that will be viewed by many people… WordPress is the optimal solution.

 

WordPress can be adapted for virtually any purpose imaginable – from an informal blog (a casual, comment-driven website) to a professional business website or online store. It can be used to create an impressive online art portfolio or to showcase work in any way you like (written text, illustrated articles, moving images, image galleries, embedded video clips, etc.).

Just as you can add an "app" to your phone to integrate additional functions, you can add "plugins" to a WordPress website, which allow you to do almost anything (there are over 52,000 WordPress plugins available). There are free plugins for adding email forms, social sharing buttons, "buy now" buttons, shopping carts, email signup fields, search engine optimization, and so on.

To change the appearance of a WordPress website, click a button to activate a new theme. Some WordPress themes are simple and minimalist; others are complex. All can be customized to suit your needs.

How difficult is WordPress to use?

Once you're familiar with WordPress, it's about as difficult to learn as Microsoft Word . But as with anything new, the first few days are often frustrating. A beginner hasn't learned where all the buttons are located, so every task requires consciously thinking through the steps. To make matters even more complicated, the sign-up process uses terminology that's unfamiliar to most people, making the whole thing seem unnecessarily daunting.

To make this process easier for beginners, there are countless documents, forums, and tutorials on the internet – for example, video tutorials on YouTube . A quick search will quickly get you what you need.

The following two video tutorials provide an ideal introduction to the topic of WordPress:

Using WordPress is more difficult than sharing something on Facebook or putting together a free drag-and-drop website. But it's nowhere near as hard as you might think. The best way to learn is to jump in and get started.

Once you get through the first few weeks, it's very easy. In a way, it's almost advantageous that it might seem a bit daunting to some beginners, as this eliminates many of your potential competitors and gives you an edge.

A note about wordpress.com and wordpress.org

Confusingly, there are two official WordPress sites. WordPress.com allows you to set up a simple, free WordPress website; however, this is not recommended for the reasons listed above.

To fully customize a WordPress website and take advantage of all the benefits of having your own site, you need to use the full open-source version of WordPress , as described on WordPress.org . Signing up to host and install WordPress is very easy and only requires a few clicks.

Step 5: Getting Started and Learning

Once your website is finished and live, your work isn't finished. Regular website maintenance is crucial, including technical maintenance, updating the website with new artwork, and information about your latest or upcoming events.

Also, take some time to figure out how you can further develop and expand the website. Your initial implementation is a starting point. After launching, you might find that website visitors have difficulty figuring out how to buy your art or find exhibition information.

To identify where your website might not be meeting your goals, collect and review website statistics . This data analysis function is available directly through your CMS or via third-party tools like Google Analytics .

Tips for getting started and learning

Here are two recommendations on how you can further improve your website:

Use analytics tools: Use Google Analytics or other data tools to learn how long visitors stay on your website. If they view your website for several minutes, this indicates that your website's content is compelling. However, if they only stay for a few seconds on average, this is a sign that something might be wrong with your website.

Perhaps it loads too slowly over a mobile internet connection, or the first page they see, usually your homepage, doesn't pique their interest. Test different changes to see how they affect visitor time on your website, and use the same approach for other metrics that are important to you, such as the number of purchases or email sign-ups.

Implement marketing: It is recommended that you engage in some level of website marketing to raise awareness of your work. Send emails or a regular newsletter to people who have signed up through your website. Also consider using inbound marketing to drive traffic to your site and explore the other marketing options available through your CMS.

6. Even more tips for your success

DOS

A. Add personality

Keep in mind that your website can be the equivalent of a studio visit, a solo exhibition and/or retrospective, or a reading. Curators, editors, agents, and producers will be involved. This usually means maintaining a professional tone and avoiding things like banner ads or posting pictures of your children or vacations.

However, make sure you include "you" in your website – don't make it a cold, white gallery space (unless that truly represents you); treat the website like a studio visit and give viewers a sense of who you are.

B. Social Sharing – Enable content sharing

If someone likes your work, make it easy for them to promote it. Your website should have URLs that allow people to write to a friend or colleague and say, "So-and-so's work is great, check out this sculpture at www.maximemusterfrau.de/great_sculpture.".

Even better, allow people to share content on social media using the "Like" buttons on your page. Make sure your website and images are properly tagged for search engine optimization and social sharing.

C. Context for your artwork

On each page, include a few words from your own perspective about the inspiration or circumstances surrounding each work. Fans and buyers connect more strongly with art when they have information about its creation.

Mention whether any pieces have been included in exhibitions or won awards. This is a significant form of social proof for visual artists.

D. Avoid distractions

Add a direct link to the shop or sales page so customers can purchase each piece directly from its portfolio page. Buying your art should always be quick and easy; minimize the chances of potential buyers being distracted once they've become convinced by a particular piece.

Keep the text on most pages of the website to a minimum. Don't distract too much from what people ultimately need to connect with: your art.

E. The About page – Show your personality

Break the rule above on your About page, which should also be located in your top navigation. This is the place to cultivate stronger personal connections with the public. Let them know who you are and why you do what you do. Share what inspires you, what your process looks like, and what your main intentions are in your work. Also, inform them about the artistic philosophies that drive you, and so on.

F. The Events page

Include an events page in your top-level navigation. Make it easy for visitors to find out where your art is currently exhibited, where it will be shown in the near future, which art fairs you are participating in, etc.

G. Blogging

Fans are always eager to learn more about your inspiration, your process, and your career. It's a great way to build stronger relationships and give people reasons to revisit your website. Don't forget to let people know about any awards or media coverage you receive.

H. Start a newsletter

Combine your events, news, and blog posts in one newsletter to build a mailing list and an engaged fan base.

Monthly usually works well, but you could go bi-weekly if you're consistently busy. Include prominent calls to action on every page of your website to encourage sign-ups.

I. Showcase your social media channels

Have prominent buttons on every page with links to your social networks that allow visitors to instantly find you on social media and connect with you there?.

Social networks are prime places to expand your reach, especially if your fans are happy to help promote your work.

J. Keep your website up to date

Once you finished creating your website , keep it up to date! There's nothing worse than a website that obviously hasn't been touched in two years.

Don'ts

A. Not too much text

Avoid using long paragraphs. Nobody has time to read several lengthy sentences. You don't want to lose your prospects' attention. Keep it short and to the point.

If there is a longer text you would like to share, link to it or create a subpage.

B. Do not use outdated film or image material

Don't add old media material that is no longer relevant to you. Focus on the type of work you are currently doing or want to do.

C. Do not use large files

Avoid using huge files on your website. The larger your files, the slower your page will load. Find a balance between high resolution and manageable size.

D. No statements without evidence

Don't mention things you've done without providing evidence. If you claim to be a teacher, where do you teach? Since when? Make sure the reader can believe and confirm everything.

E. Don't digress

Stay on topic. This page is for you as an artist. If you're also a baker or real estate agent, create a separate website for that. Also, don't share too much unrelated personal information that isn't relevant to your artistic presence.

F. Don't be afraid to contact former colleagues

Don't hesitate to ask former colleagues or employers for film or photo material. It's unlikely you already have all the photos and videos from your past work. Reach out to the people who probably do. Build your collection and repertoire so it feels complete.

G. No endless scrolling

Don't turn your page into an endless scroll. People don't want to scroll endlessly for specific information. Use clear navigation links, subpages, etc.

H. No switching between different writing styles

Vary your writing styles and tone. Don't write some sections in the first person and others in the third person. Don't write some parts in a casual, comedic style and others in a more formal one.

Choose what feels right for you, but stick with it.

I. Don't choose the easiest path

Don't take the easy way out when setting up your artist page. Don't just choose the most basic layout and throw everything together quickly. Make sure you're presenting yourself in a professional light. You're marketing your personal brand . If you invest the time, it will pay off.

J. Don't let prices put you off

Some website building components have a one-time or annual fee. Yes, it might seem a bit high at times, but remember that this is an investment in yourself and your career.

It will have endless benefits later on, and you will be grateful that you took the time and money to do it right from the start.

We wish them every success from the bottom of our hearts!!