Websites for Artists

What makes a Successful Artist's Website

Websites for Artists

What makes a Successful Artist's Website

Who here has a website already?

Intro

• Early interest in computers

• Working in IT industry for 15 years

• First stream of Multi media at Crows Nest TAFE

• From 1997 Graphic Designer for leading eLearning company globally

• Studied massage in 2002 and joined 3 Minute Angels 2004

• SatyaMorrison.com Web Services based at Richmond Art Supplies• I have my team that I have working with me remotely• Currently manage over 70 domains, and 45 sites varying size

• Publicity Officer for Macquarie Towns Arts Society

• Love painting and supporting the arts of the Hawkesbury

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1. Domain Name2. Hosting3. Website Design & Development

There are 3 main steps to consider for your site:

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Then… you need to Market and Measure!

So… Let’s Build a Website!

1. Your Domain Namewww.yourwebsite.com.au

$35 for 2 years

Make your domain easy to remember and not too long

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www.yourwebsite.com

2. Hosting• Space – suggest 50 GB minimum• How many domains can you host• How many email inboxes can you have• Database functionality• Enable you to have a Content Management System (CMS)

Wordpress, Joomla, Drupal etcso you can manage your own pages

• Stability, Security and Value • $7.95 per month -

• Be wary of Free or very cheap hosting• Wix, Godaddy, Blogs etc

TPP

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• Static Site – very basic, like an online brochure• Dynamic Site – CMS such as Wordpress, Joomla, etc.• Responsive Site – site resizes depending on the device e.g

mobile phone, ipad, laptop, desktop

• Colours & layout – decide on your look and feel, logo• Content - Collect as much of your information as you can

before you start e.g text, images, your direction• Watch for copyright• Decide on your pages – Standard:

Home, About, Gallery, Contact• E-commerce – woocommerce, opencart, ipgs… - sell online!

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3. Design and Development

Whois LookupIs the domain address I want available?http://whois.domaintools.com

Strong Password Generatorhttp://strongpasswordgenerator.com

How To Clear Your Browsers CacheIt's really important to clear your cache often so that you don’t fill up your pc with temporary internet files. Read more about it here:http://www.wikihow.com/Clear-Your-Browser%27s-Cache

To Optimise your imagesUse – Photoshop, Photoshop Elements, Paint, Fireworks, GIMP….

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Tech Tips

2013 Australian smartphone owners

• 67% have used their smartphones every day in the past 7 days

• 90% of smartphone users have looked for local information

• 86% have taken action as a result• 56% Look for local information at least once a week

Source: Ourmobileplanet.comYou may read the full study on: http://think.withgoogle.com/mobileplanet/en/downloads/ (see Australia)

(Some of the many reasons why you should have a responsive website.)

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Some Do's and Don’ts• Navigation and content must be straightforward and user friendly

• Keep your text short and sweet

• Don't have too many plug-ins, flash presentation, buttons and other unecessary things that will slow down and crash your website.

• Remember: the focus is on you and your artworks

• Provide a short explanation or story behind your artworks

• Avoid too many third-party advertisements, non-related goods (Google Adsense can be used to generate income but be careful to not make your site look too all over the place)

• Provide sufficient contact information

• Provide clear info on where and how buyers can purchase your pieces

• Always optimise your images otherwise pages take a long time to load and you will lose your audience

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• If you are not represented by any gallery, provide a price for each piece on your site

• Be able to justify as to why each piece is different from the other

• Offer a variety of price ranges

• Avoid showing too much "sold" art. This will make the buyers think that the best ones are already sold. Instead show it in a "Past Works" section

• "Curate" your own artworks. You don't need to show everything you have ever done

• Provide or offer return, exchange and approval policies, T&Cs

• Check your site on many devices and browsers

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Some Do's and Don’ts

Marketing & MeasuringYour Site

Now you have your site – you need to let people know about it!

Connect with other artists & your buyers

Marketing Your Site• SEO (Search Engine Optimisation)• Social Media• Selling sites and Directories• Google Adwords• Backlinking• E-newsletters• Crowdfunding• Offline – business cards, flyers, galleries,

local shops & cafes etc

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What is SEO?

• The process of affecting the visibility of a website in a search engine's "natural or un-paid ("organic") search results

• Optimising the visibility of your website

• The higher the rank of your website is in the search results, the more visitors to your website

Marketing is a numbers game

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Some Tools of the Trade

1. Google Analytics2. Google webmaster tools3. Opensiteexplorer.org4. Searchmetrics.com (paid)

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It’s always important to measure your progress

What is another measure of your success? – Sales!

Social Media• Facebook• Twitter• LinkedIn • Pinterest• Google+• Instagram• Youtube • Blogger...

Tips:• Be engaging and as natural as you can• Tell a story behind your artwork through posts (and tweets)• What are the other things you can offer? A tip on how to be

a better artist? Spotting a fake vs real artwork? Great Holiday Gift ideas?

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Market your Artworks Online

Join Networks of Artists• artfido.com• theartbox.com.au• australianartist.com.au - Australian Artist Magazine• many more…

(promote your upcoming workshops & exhibits, get featured)

Sell your Artworks:• etsy.com• redbubble.com• ebay.com• gumtree.com.au• foundmyself.com

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Build your back links!

Email Marketing

• Mail chimp – free up to 2500 a month

• CreateSend - (pay per email)

• Interspire - (pay for product open source)

Tips:• Build your lists• Have a double opt in• Make your campaigns short and sweet• Optimise your images• Regularity keeps you familiar to your audience

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Email marketing is one of the most cost effective online marketing tools I am aware of at the moment..

then FB & Google Adwords

CrowdfundingCrowd fund a project to build your profile • pozible.com• kickstarter.com• indiegogo.com• venturecrowd.com

e.g exhibitions, events, albums

Tips:• Build your audience• Choose a crowdfunding platform wisely• Always read the fine print• Have a clear campaign• How much do you need? Budget and plan• Usually funds are only transacted if you reach your target

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Some of our locals• Joe Cartwright - www.joecartwright.com.au • Mellissa Read-Devine - www.readdevine.com • Julie Simmons - www.juliesimmonsfineart.com• Leanne Jones - www.mellowcrest.com• Mr Magic Metals www.mrmagicmetals.com.au • Taryn Malzard www.oldschoolhousepastels.com.au• Marcia Rea www.reaartgallery.com.au• John Wilson www.johnwilsongallery.com• Deidre Morrison www.deidremorrison.com • Piggery Lane Studios piggerylane.blogspot.com.au • Yvonne West www.yvonnewest.com.au

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Some useful linkswww.australianartist.com.auwww.ozartists.com www.combinedartsocieties.comwww.haat.com.auwww.mtas.com.auwww.purplenoongallery.com.auwww.art-search.com.auwww.artgallery.nsw.gov.auwww.mca.com.auwww.artscene.com.auwww.richmondartsupplies.com.auwww.melbourneartfair.com.auwww.artequity.com.auwww.artwhatson.com.auwww.artandaustralia.comwww.nga.gov.au

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Thank youAny Questions

This presentation is online if you wouldlike to view it again @

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