Last year, I had a lot of things going artwise and booking things. This year, with so much art in the house that didn't sell last year, I am trying to get my online "ducks in a row". I did have a website that I cancelled and they said they couldn't give me a prorated refund (Artspan) and had to stick it out until the end of the year. On their information page they gave rates for monthly and annual fees, but when I was signed up it only had the annual. I was upset when they wouldn't prorate my cancellation (even with taking out fees) so when they asked if I would be back, I said "no!". Why would I want to be back if that is their service. I had to let them know I was cancelling again when June came up because I didn't want them charging my charge card again for the year and domain name. I had chosen Artspan to have my things on because they had a gallery and people could order prints right from my webpage. I didn't sell anything in 6 months and didn't have time or a place to promote myself so I figured it wasn't worth it. Not sure if it is my fault - if there was more I should have/could have done or not.
My next forray into trying to sell my art was to sign up for DailyPaintworks.com. You can put your art on there with a monthly fee of about $12-13/month. They do have auctions so your work gets seen and you have a gallery page. I signed up at the beginning of the year and have posted paintings and prints. I have only sold 1 ACEO for $5 - so I am reconsidering my choice. I know they have other things and contests that I haven't explored as well as perhaps liking and commenting on other artists work. I am still on the fence on this one.
Ebay/Etsy - I have been on there mostly to sell vintage items - paper dolls, sheet music, other misc. I did put some prints and paintings on and have sold a couple. I have a couple of larger paintings on Etsy but have only sold one and that was several years ago. Sometimes they do not get any looks for a long time or ever so I do not know if they are even getting seen. Both have been slow,slow, slow this year. Summer is usually my big selling time next to Christmas but it has been crickets. I did set up a separate Ebay store for Postcards, Prints and Paintings. I have had a little action there and most of my small prints and painting and ACEO's are on there.
Bonanza - they have an importer so my things on Ebay are on there - sometimes in duplicate. I haven't sold but one thing so I put them on vacation. With Ebay some advice is that you change something in the title or about the price or description to get it to hopefully look fresh and pop up somewhere. Every time I do that, it goes on Bonanza with the new listing without getting rid of the old one, so I spend a lot of time editing and looking for duplicates. now they have where you can pay a tiered membership to get more advertising and exposure. Not sure if I want to do that yet.
The next thing I am looking at is Orangenius. Still looking, not signed up yet. I also am considering POD. I did Truegether and did the Ebay download, but haven't had time to look it over much yet.
The thing is, I think there is something I am missing. When I watch these art promote videos, they talk about a mailing list - which I do not have. They talk about doing it on Facebook - which I am nervous about. I am on a Facebook Page that talks about how big copyright infringement is right now. I hate to have my creativity stolen and others make money off of it. There is talk about SEO. Google ads, Promoted listings. They talk about the POD sites where your designs might be stolen off of.
So, as an artist, what am I to do?
Outside sales and fairs - I go alone. It would be setting up a tent alone - if I had a tent. Not sure if my car would hold everything in one trip. If I get overheated I get sick (I know I sound like a baby with a lot of excuses), I use a tablet for taking charge cards but if there is no wifi in the field I am out of luck. I need to get a phone, but rarely use the cell I have now and with not working for the summer it is tight anyway without buying a new phone and service.
I guess I will have to look for indoor sales. Take a fan if there is electricity.
Online issues - I cancelled my webpage and have been using DailyPaintworks.com as my portfolio and a way to show my art. I feel pressured (by myself) to put my work on there and then am compelled all day long to see how many people looked at it, at my gallery and my blog. My options are to look it over and see what more I can get out of it. Maybe there are ways by their contests, or looking at and commenting on other artists work to network and encourage others. I know the numbers go by how many people a day are looking at the site and some days there are more than others. I think I will try to see if there is more I can to to use and enjoy it more before cancelling.
Etsy/Ebay - I am sure there are a glut of artists and artisans (besides everything else) that it is hard to be seen. I know there are creative ways to get known online and I might have to try some.
- Etsy - Jules Art Stuff - I think I will be moving my paper dolls off of Etsy. It seems like when I sell something it mostly pays off fees from listing and selling. My art doesn't seem to get seen. They charge a listing and selling fee(s) and now are having promotion and advertising fees. I may wean most of my art off of there and convert it over to a pod and have some prints. I think a lot of people are doing t -shirts right now so it is an option. They also have other ways to promote like collections or treasury that I haven't tried yet either.
Ebay - Jules Art Stuff - I have an awful lot of sheet music on there. I am marking down my paper dolls and hopefully by the first of the year be close to done with them. I enjoy selling the sheet music. I have a store and have been paying a raising fee so the goal would be to end the store subscription and just go on the free listings. They also have a collection you can set up that might help promote y sites.
Ebay - Jules Paintings, Prints and Postcards - for a new site, doing not too bad for the limited items. For having 50 free a month non-store, they give me plenty of extra listings so I am up to 200 listings. I have both hand pulled prints as well as prints of my paintings. I mostly my lower end paintings on there for now. I figure I would like about 100 ACEOs on there too in the future.
Artzok - I signed up with them to teach Painting, prints and ACEO's. New operation, waiting for a job.
Explore Orangenius and Truegether.
The thing is, nobody knows me. I have enjoyed Daily Paintworks because I know my work is getting seen even if sales are slow. Ebay and Etsy have disappointed me this Spring and Summer and this is not the first year with it. I want that whatever I do, I do it well. It has taken this half of the year to come to this point. I am thinking of a Weebly portfolio for free just to have some things out but will look to see what Orangenius has first. I am re-thinking about the big craft shows too if I am doing the local art.
I know a lot of this comes down to promotion. I am not on Instagram.I have a Linkin site just sitting there with my profile blank. I have lots to do, and it just doesn't end. I just want to create but I also want to get some of my art out of my house. Any good ideas - please let me know as I know this is a common problem with other artists right now.
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