Fine Artists: How to Sell Your Art Online - (Hint: Etsy is NOT the Answer)

[@_xBrokenxDreamsx_]

a personal website won't do anything without social media. nobody will know who you are until you start creating content. it's also helpful to be honest with yourself about what you're doing. rich collectors and museums care about art, most everyone else just wants something to put on their walls.

[@JenniferDailyArt]

You are right that just having a website won't bring you collectors. But social media is just one way to find them. And yes, understanding where your art fits in the marketplace is very important - as is a business plan :)

[@sherion80]

Thumbs up! Participating in the formal art market with galleries and a CV makes your art interesting to serious collectors. Others buy art mainly for aesthetic reasons, like decorating the wall above their couch, so you can't expect high prices from them. The value here is purely aesthetic with no chance for second market. And of course nobody will find your site without publicity and social media grind.

[@WiseTailsArt]

I closed all of my Etsy shops and was thinking about reopening. Thank you for saving me from going down the Etsy soul-sucking bunny hole again.

[@JenniferDailyArt]

You're welcome. I just talked to an artist friend who had her shop closed by etsy and was denied when she appealed. Lost hundreds of reviews and transaction info.

[@ImmortalMomentsArt]

Fine Art America...Never sold a thing. It's the same for Authors, too. You need a personal website and a way to drive traffic. Good business advice, meshes with other info I've heard in classes and other vids.

[@JenniferDailyArt]

Thanks!

[@ulysse21]

I've sold numerous stuff on FAA, but mostly POD, only 2 or 3 fine art reproductions, without any kind of social media or marketing presence, and with only 25 designs on my gallery. But all that was in many years. The average sale at the end is ridiculously low.

[@carolynwilliams-gerdes2814]

Generous of you to share this. :)

[@Maggiewuvsrufus]

Hey girl , thanks. I really appreciate you mentioning that you care about empowering women too. I feel so scared, I don’t want to go out into the world anymore (unless I have too lol) I know people like my stuff but I’m not a business person. I could make 20k after tax a year and be fine. I appreciate your time, and I sure hope I too can figure it out.

[@photobizmethod]

Perfect! You know your ICA Yay! Love to hear this advise!

[@JenniferDailyArt]

Yes! Thank you!

[@AnnikaBergmannArt]

So helpful, thank you Jennifer! Was this a paid partnership with the designer? Or did you reach out saying "hey I love your design style and I think my paintings would fit well with it"

[@JenniferDailyArt]

Definitely not paid. I reached out and we went from there.

[@MatthewPhilip_]

What do you do about shipping international?

[@alisonelixavide9268]

I tried Etsy for 6 months, only 123 views, so shut it down.

[@Hedriks]

There's so many downsides to selling as an artist on Etsy... maybe in the beginning it may have been a good idea, but now all the scammers, frauds and pretenders swamped it. On your own personal website, you have more control, can set your price, no competition or uninvited guests (scammers and the like). Yes you will need to expose yourself on the social media platforms, or else... you'll be paying ridiculous advertising costs forever, which never puts money in your pocket... just theirs.

[@JenniferDailyArt]

Agreed!

[@ulysse21]

That said, be aware of money launderers and other high level scammers. Valuable art is one of their preferred targets

[@MalenasBazaArte]

So you make your money coaching and not selling your art?

[@JenniferDailyArt]

Hi there. You may have missed the part in the video where I mention that I make six figures just from my art. I don't count the income from my educational offerings in that number. I know that when people are looking for advice or a mentor they want it from someone who is actually making money from their art, so you are right to question that fact.

[@JAMES1.5-cm1ez]

Thanks

[@JenniferDailyArt]

You're welcome :)

[@karenl8837]

FYI, Etsy charges 20c in the USA to list something- imho that is very little. Fees are only paid if you sell and are far less than many places- especially galleries.

[@JenniferDailyArt]

That's correct. 20c to list. Then a 6.5% transaction fee and a 3% + 25c on anything you sell. You are right that is still a much lower fee than a gallery. But etsy isn't really doing anything to promote your work, unlike a gallery who should be working hard to sell on your behalf. The artists I know who DO sell well on etsy use paid advertising, which takes another chunk of their profits. I'd love to hear if you are finding success selling your work there.

[@karenl8837]

@@JenniferDailyArt I’m not a painter but I do sell everything I list there. With no advertising paid to Etsy. My point was that Etsy does not charge ‘high listing fees’ as you say, and nor really does it charge high fees when you sell. And that’s the most important part, you only pay when it sells. Every payment processor will charge you to take card payments. Shopify for instance is $29 a month *plus* a payment processing fee. Exaggerating the fees kind of takes away from your credibility imho

[@JenniferDailyArt]

​@@karenl8837 I remember when the transaction fees were 3.5%, so 6.5% certainly feels high to me in comparison. But I'm glad you are having success there, regardless of what you sell.

[@ulysse21]

Yes, I have heard sellers complain about Etsy fees many times, and give it as the main reason for closing their business on this platform, while I do not understand how this could be a reason even when they take into account their specific business costs (packaging, printing, shipping, taxes, various furniture...). In the end, they could calculate their profit margin accordingly... unless they are forced to keep it low to face the competition...

[@karenl8837]

@@ulysse21 exactly, it boils down to them not calculating the fees properly and being ignorant of how much fees can be on other platforms

[@NicolaHartman-e6p]

Martin Laura Williams Brenda Harris Steven

[@byemyem]

Just another one.