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Message
Posted
The fact that my website was in a state of disrepair for so long has meant that I'm going to have to do something to encourage visitors to come back to it before I can expect to resume sales.
One of the ways of doing this is to sign up with an online gallery, of which, as we know, there are several - ranging from Saatchi online, which has its virtues but also its drawbacks (being huge is just one of them: how do you get noticed there?) - to craft galleries like Etsy, or even Ebay.
I'm not drawn to the last two, and had considerable trouble uploading images of an acceptable size to the first one: they don't seem to cater for those of us with a simple camera....
But I believe some of you have tried several of these sites, with mixed success. So can anyone out there push me in the direction of a site which a) promotes your work; b) doesn't charge so much commission you have to push your prices through the roof; c) that people can actually find on Google searches?
Posted
Robert, googling your name without adding IOW will lead to the website of a Cornish artist of the same name. I have noticed you are on http://www.artistsandillustrators.co.uk/robert-jones/artwork/2446
Then there is your blog http://www.wightpaint.blogspot.de/ and also your NAPA entry http://www.napauk.com/robertphillipjones.htm plus your old site http://www.isleofwightlandscapes.net/ It will keep you very busy to serve them all let alone creating a new one. I have got the same problem which I am trying to overcome by driving traffic to my website from my blog and via twitter and google+. I have had more than 60,000 hits on my blog but very few people actually move on to my sales pages from there. Like yourself I have stayed away from Etsy and Ebay the reason being that their clientele seem to look for extremely low prices. If you are looking to create a new site I would choose WORDPRESS or WIX both of which offer free templates. See example below.
Posted
I know - Robert Jones, not this Robert Jones but the other one, is a very accomplished painter based in Cornwall: I suspect I may have sent a few, probably not many, people to his website rather than mine, and if I have I shall be happy enough to have done so, because he's very good. The Artists & Illustrators portfolio of which you have reminded me is something I urgently need to update and develop, especially if you've found it so easily.
I could also start a Wordpress website as well ...... it has advantages, but then that's something else to manage. As Alan points out, there's Artfinder, which I've yet to investigate, and I've also found something called Artistsinfo - which requires a set-up fee to start with, but otherwise looks promising. I was on a site called Affordable British Art for a while - came off, because it wasn't getting me anywhere (partly because I wasn't visible) and there was something of the bargain basement about it, like Etsy and Ebay. I'm not looking for volume sales - one or two substantial ones every 6 months or so would meet my needs nicely..... Well, three or four; half a dozen......
I take it Pat that in your diplomatic way you're trying to tell me that there's no easy and quick answer to this - and...... I think you're right. However, if anyone out there is making their fortune online and cunningly keeping the means to themselves, perhaps they'd share it with me privately ..... you don't need to tell just everyone..... it could be our little secret, hmmmmm?
Posted
I have just joined ArtFinder - if some folk in here think WetCanvas is not easy, try this one - not easy either.
I did thnk that with my style and technique my pieces might strike an interest somewhere.
Anyway I got a pal of mine who knows his stuff with a camera and he came last night complete with tripod and very carefully took 5 shots of my works knowing that they had to be of min 1200 pixels resolution. He transferred them to my laptop. I tried to upload one today and got a message back from AF saying it was not high enough resolution. I will have to wait till Tuesday for an answer to my complaint contact with AF.
Edited
by DerekSnowdon
Posted
Well, It ain't easy whoever you are with, and that's a fact. Etsy and Ebay are a waste of your effort, tried them, great for selling artwork around the ten pound mark!
I joined Artfinder around a month or so ago, took more than a week to get a reply from them, they have to consider your work, I think I sent six in, all from my own Bridge camera and I didn't have any problems. So to cut a long story short I uploaded around 80+ works, and it does take some time. I priced them all sensibly, well, in my opinion, with a £500 max and a fair few around the £120 mark. I sold two within the first 7 days, a pricey one and a cheapy, so it does work.
Having said all that, I've not sold anything since but that's how it goes. On the upside, Artfinder doesn't charge a fee but the downside is their commission, as always. It comes in at a standard 30% but there is 20%VAT on that commission, so it's probably nearer 40%. Also you have to wait a month for your money to go into your bank, but they do pay, that's the main thing.
My aspirations to employ a Butler, which I feel I thoroughly deserve has been put on hold for the time being, this is not the road to riches.
To make things clear, these comments and views are my own personal findings, other artist's may and probably will have infinitely more success than I have.
Posted
Thanks Pat, certainly the possible reason, in hindsight to have trickle fed them weekly would make more sense. I do however have many more that I can put on, probably another 100 or so, but it can be time consuming, but will perhaps give it a go.
I was a little concerned that you found the site 'not easy' to find things, as the site should be geared up to non-members, that is were the majority of sales will come from, I'll look into that one. I must confess that I am not particularly sales motivated, so don't really put myself out on that score, my primary reason for painting has no connection to money, as I'm sure most of us will be in that same frame of mind.
Good to hear from you anyway.
Alan
Posted
Good point on the VAT - it's not just 30% commission you have to pay; so if pricing for such a site, think of the price you want (the one below which it's really not worth your while to go, perhaps) then add 40% on top. This could get a touch pricey.....
But then, if you want a sale....
It would seem that you might sell a few and then go right back to where you started. This could still be worth doing, but I still haven't done it.. Hmmmm - there's more to this than meets the eye, Holmes...........
www.isleofwightlandscapes.net
Edited
by RobertJones