Summary

Here's the scoop on what you must know when designing a websiteto showcase your art, impress galleries, and win over collectors. Learn how to avoidthe mistakes most emerging artists make when creating their online portfolio.

1. You need an artists website

Any artist who can classify themselves as either "emerging" or "mid- career" will definitely benefit from having their own website to promote their work.At this stage of your career it is important to be able to have a place where anyonein the world can easily access and view your work.

2. Know who you are trying to impress

Are you trying to engage a Soho gallery to sell your $20,000paintings or sell $5 prints to children in Korea? That Soho gallery might not beimpressed when they see your online-store selling prints and art cards - but on theother hand, you could make a very handsome living if you really knew how tomarket those art cards

3. Make your website fit with your overall art marketingstrategy

A website is most effective when it is part of a larger overallmarketing strategy for your art. This includes mailings, lots of in-person galleryvisits and presentations, regular (physical) showings of your work, and developingrelationships with the art world. An effectively planned website can greatlycompliment and simplify your other marketing efforts.

4. There is a real market for art on the internet

The internet is quickly becoming an accepted place to showcase yourart to collectors and arts professionals. They might still want to see your work inperson before they buy, but the fact remains: they saw it first on your website!Having an online art presence is very important at this time.

5. Have your own website and a website portfolio service

A website portfolio service (e.g. www.absolutearts.com or www.art-exchange.com is like an online slide registry. For afee you can upload images of your work together with a bio, artist statement, andresume. They have many visitors and are a convenient way to make your workaccessible to potential clients. The down side is that they don't display your workwell, and there is little flexibility in how the art is showcased.

Your own website, on the other hand will require more work topromote, but you'll be able to present the work in the most beautiful way.Remember the times you've been taken into the dimmer room in a commercialgallery? How that art which looked fairly good on the main gallery wall suddenlybecame something you had to take home? That's how a good artist's website shouldshowcase your work.

We recommend both options - they are a perfect compliment.

6. Have a website that collectors and art professionals willenjoy

Here are some common elements which most dealers and gallerieswould agree on for your website design:

* Keep the site simple and elegant with the focus on the art itselfand don't overpower the art with a site that looks too busy

* Avoid advertising such as banner adds or sidebar adds. If youmust have them, put them in a separate "resource" section

* Avoid complex effects like flash movies. In the time it takes toplay your exotic entry page, your visitor may have moved on.

* Include your bio, artist statement, resume, contact information,gallery(s) of your work, contact information, and a pricelist.

7. Showcase your work beautifully

You need to have visual design skills to create a beautiful artistwebsite. Here are some points to get you started:

* Most Important: Use high-quality, professionally-photographedimages. Excellence in, excellence out!

* Keep the website simple and elegant with the focus on theart.

* Create multiple galleries to compliment the work - just as agood physical gallery would do.

* Choose colors that compliment (not overpower) the work. Thinkof the colors you would use in a physical gallery to showcase your work - neutralcolors like crème, white, gray, and good safe choices.

* Think "minimalist" not "busy" for the layout.

* Keep your copy (text) brief. Let the art speak for itself!

8. Bring collectors and galleries to your website

Its no use having that stunning website sitting in hyperspace. Make itwork for you! Here are the ways to bring quality visitors:

Search Engines: If your website has been well optimized forsearch engines, a search on your name or your style of art should bring up yourwebsite in the first few pages of results.

Letters of Introduction: A letter of introduction sent to agallery or dealer is a very effective way to bring a qualified visitor to your website.Better still is to include a brochure or postcard of your work with the letter.

Advertising online or in magazines: For example, if yourart is minimalist and modern in style, a banner add on an interior design websitefocused on the same minimalist ethic could draw a lot of traffic to your site.

9. You need to be able to sell your work on the internet.

But there are many ways to do it. More important than anything isthat you have clear and up-to-date contact information on your website. If a buyerlikes your work enough to bring out their checkbook, they will normally be happy tocall you to close the sale.

It's also handy to be able to sell directly from your website, especiallyif you sell lower-cost reproductions. There are simple and cost-effective ways to dothis.

10. Think again before designing your own website

Have you really added up the total cost? Here are some questions toconsider before you start designing:

* Do you have visual design skills/training?

* Can you wait several months for the site to be ready?

* Can you afford to give up a month or more of your valuableartist time?

* Do you have all the computer software and the relatively-newcomputer needed to build a high-quality website?

* Are you fully trained in your design software?

Can you answer "Yes" to all of the above? If so, you might thinkabout doing it yourself. Otherwise, hire a designer!

11. Choose your website-designer thoughtfully

The most important thing here is to remember what you are trying tocreate - a beautiful online gallery space to elegantly show your beautiful work - thisis very different from building a high-volume website selling printer ink cartridgesand paper rolls!

Look for the ability to design a space to present your work. One wayto do this is to find artist websites that you like and then contact the artist to getthe name of their designer.

12. Know what you should pay

Artist's website development prices range from a few hundred totens of thousands of dollars. Typically, bigger design firms have larger overheadsand will be significantly more expensive. On the other hand, Joe down the street canprobably build you a website for $200 - but you probably don't want thatwebsite!

At Beautiful Artist Websites we have packages ranging from $700 to$2000 for simple elegant artists websites with different levels of functionality. Wecan also develop fully customized sites to your specifications with prices based onrequirements.

© Josse Ford and Daniel Tardent. Josse Ford and Daniel Tardent are the founders ofBeautiful Artist Websites.We design cost-effective artist websites that showcase andsell your work to arts professionals. Visit our articles page for effective artmarketing tips and sign up for our free report: 6 Steps to Easy Online ArtSales.