Selling digital art can be an excellent way for creatives looking to generate both active and passive income streams. Artists can sell their pieces through marketplaces, their own websites or fan support sites and digital wallets.
Online marketplaces can be great tools for artists looking to manage payments, shipping and storefront management themselves. Artists also have the option of creating their own bespoke website which gives more control.
1. Etsy
Etsy provides an ideal platform for small business owners, crafters and artists looking to connect with customers searching for handmade or one-of-a-kind goods. Boasting over one million active users each month, Etsy’s digital tools help sellers promote their merchandise while providing customer support services so all parties involved remain satisfied.
Sellers on Etsy also can access an extensive array of creative resources as a source of guidance, including workshops and free courses on photography, social media marketing and website design – giving small businesses, crafters and artists an advantage over larger competitors who may not have access to these tools.
This site initially focused on selling goods that are handmade or vintage; however, over time its reach has expanded to allow sellers to offer craft supplies and non-tangible items such as tutorials, patterns and downloadable books for sale by buyers. Although these changes may benefit some potential customers searching for handmade or unique goods specifically, some customers who are just browsing may bypass Etsy altogether for more mainstream platforms such as eBay or Amazon instead.
Etsy sellers tend to be friendly and willing to lend a helping hand when needed compared with many other ecommerce platforms which may become cutthroat with competition among sellers trying to out-do each other in terms of pricing or discounts offered. This can be invaluable for small businesses, craftspeople or artists just starting out and needing to build trust among their target audiences. Furthermore, the site features an active forum where sellers can ask and answer questions or share tips amongst each other.
2. Society6
Society6 is a print-on-demand platform that enables artists to upload their work for sale across a range of products ranging from art prints and home decor items, tech accessories and apparel. Artists receive royalties on each sale while customers purchase high-quality art prints at an affordable price – many customers have reported receiving their order within several days and that it looks just as vibrant and clear in person as online! Society6 customer satisfaction levels remain consistently high with many reporting delivery of orders within three business days or less!
Society6 stands out from competitors by its dedication to authentic art and supporting artists. Society6 employs a stringent review process that ensures all art on its platform is original and that artists receive fair compensation for their efforts. Furthermore, Society6 protects intellectual property for artists across the world.
Society6 can be an ideal platform for artists looking to sell their artwork online, yet it has some drawbacks that should be considered when considering selling on this platform. First off, its user-unfriendly layout may make new users frustrated or overwhelmed; furthermore, discounts may occur at any time on specific products and this may reduce an artist’s earnings on an ongoing basis.
Keep in mind that Society6 is a large marketplace with strong competition for certain artwork and products, so artists looking to sell their work through Society6 should implement effective marketing strategies in order to stand out.
3. Redbubble
Redbubble is a Print-On-Demand platform that enables artists to upload designs for printing on various products. Redbubble handles printing, shipping and customer service so artists can focus on creating art and promoting their shop; its large audience makes connecting with potential buyers easy – as well as resources designed to maximize creativity.
Redbubble allows artists to earn a steady income selling their designs, although Redbubble takes a large cut from each sale and does not permit artists to set their own prices; this limits profits.
Redbubble remains an ideal platform for emerging artists looking to sell their work online. Artists can build professional-looking online stores that promote designs directly to customers through Redbubble’s platform.
In order to increase sales, artists should build an audience on Redbubble by sharing their work through social media platforms like Instagram. Doing this will allow them to build up an online following while drawing new customers into their shop. Furthermore, having an engaging bio that describes their style and passions will encourage customers to explore further into their store and purchase something with their design.
Redbubble provides artists with notifications when customers make a purchase on its platform, with details including product purchased, price paid and profit made. These emails serve as an effective way for artists to keep tabs on sales activity on the platform while seeing what works well and track success with potential new markets.
4. Craft Fairs
Craft fairs provide artists who prefer interacting directly with their customers an ideal platform to sell one-off pieces directly, as well as build mailing lists by collecting email addresses at events to notify customers when you will be back selling or offer special promotions.
An advantage of taking this approach is being able to charge more for your work and potentially make more than through third-party marketplaces, offsetting additional printing and shipping costs while giving you complete control over the sales process, handling refunds and returns with ease.
But finding an appropriate venue and customer base for your art can be challenging. For instance, if you sell high-end jewellery or ceramic sculptures that require heavy transporting, school fairs may not be the appropriate platform; plus their entrance fees could put off potential buyers.
When selecting a venue for your artwork sale, speak to other stallholders and organizers about their experiences. Inquire into how the event is promoted as this can make all the difference to whether or not your art sale succeeds – for instance if organizers fail to adequately promote it on social media and newsletters they could miss out on a large potential customer base; similarly if other stallholders promote it through their social media it could help your stall gain more traction gaining you additional attention as well.
5. Your Own Website
Artists looking to protect their brands without incurring additional fees from online marketplaces or POD services may benefit from creating their own site with shop pages and payment gateways. It can be an ideal solution if they prefer keeping control of their own brands rather than being subjected to extra charges imposed by marketplaces or POD services.
Establishing your own site gives you more control over how and where you sell your art, with links to social media platforms and art profiles for maximum exposure. Furthermore, creating one allows you to foster customer relations by building a community and receiving feedback.
Bottom Line
Redbubble and Society6 offer dedicated art sales platforms, while others may provide jewelry, clothing and home decor products as well. Some platforms may charge fees while others provide free listings – it is essential that you find one that best matches both your work and audience!
Printful is a print-on-demand service that makes selling digital art easy; simply upload digital files and sell them on multiple products! They take care of printing, shipping, customer service, and customer retention so you can focus on creating art without worry or concern about technical details.
Rarible is another website that merges art and technology to sell digital artworks, providing an exciting new way of selling art online. Rarible uses cryptocurrency as its purchasing method, making it suitable for those familiar with cryptocurrency technology; additionally, its user-friendly interface makes the platform straightforward to navigate.