Artist Web site Fundamentals: What You Want & What You Do not

Should you’ve requested, “Do I would like a web site for my floor sample design enterprise?” or “When do I would like a web site for my floor sample design enterprise?”

The reply is “sure” and “now.” So let’s discuss web sites…

It’s simple to begin taking a look at profitable floor sample designers’ web sites and get overwhelmed. Heck, it’s simple to only google “web site platforms” and throw your fingers within the air, shut your laptop computer, and run right into a forest away from something with an influence outlet. 

Hopefully, the few don’ts and do’s I’ll share right here will enable you overcome that overwhelm and get you on the way in which to creating one web site for your online business, regardless of what number of streams of revenue you might have or are working towards (we’ll get to it). 

Be aware: I’m normally a positive-first particular person (and the phrase is technically “Do’s and Don’ts”). We’re beginning with don’ts as a result of what you don’t want will make you are feeling extra assured in tackling the belongings you do want to contemplate to get began.

What You DON’T Want (to get began)

A Web site Developer

You are able to do it your self — I imagine in you! Moreover, websites like Squarespace [AFFILIATE link] make it extraordinarily simple to get began. I personally love Squarespace due to the drag and drop performance, in addition to the flexibility to scale plans and handle domains from a single platform.

You can begin from a template or construct every web page from scratch making it even simpler to “plug and play” if you would like along with your artwork!

A Brand

Sizzling Take: One of many hurdles artists have in getting began selling themselves is usually having their visible model look *juuustttt proper* (and actually, will it ever be?!). Don’t let that cease you from establishing your own home on the web.

You can begin with a easy text-based header, utilizing your title or enterprise title. Branding is extraordinarily essential, however beginning easy is totally okay. 

Aspect observe about URLs — I began my floor sample design journey utilizing my title as my URL (I already had the area as a result of I wished to carry it for a profession portfolio website) and didn’t formally break up my enterprise to a separate website till 2023 (my artwork is on CoastLStudio.com and LeahKeggi.com is the place I accumulate advertising assets).

Should you’re desirous about utilizing a studio or enterprise title however need a area which you could maintain on to, begin along with your title if it’s out there. 

A Weekly Weblog

There’s a caveat to this one. You want a spot the place you possibly can share updates, collaborations, and content material — but it surely doesn’t should be referred to as a “weblog” and it doesn’t should be weekly.

For my website, I take advantage of “Studio Notes” however you possibly can name it one thing cute like “Discipline Notes” (good in case your artwork may be very nature-forward) or “Artist Musings.” Keep away from something with “updates” or “information” in order that it doesn’t give the expectation of being up to date tremendous frequently (and removes the strain from you).

A Full Portfolio

To get began with a portfolio website, you simply want an excellent illustration of the work you might have — it doesn’t should be full. You’ll positively need one thing to share with corporations once they discover you through your web site, but it surely’s not a requirement to construct your own home on the web.

You additionally don’t should make your full portfolio out there in your web site in case you don’t need to. Many artists solely share a spotlight reel, or password-protect their bigger physique of labor! 

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Associated Article: Shield Your Artwork on Instagram & On-line

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What You DO Want

A Core Colour Palette

It’s possible you’ll not want a brand to begin, however I like to recommend a core colour palette in your web site. Past customizing background block colours and hyperlinks, specializing in a core palette will assist your website really feel extra cohesive! 

I take advantage of about 5 colours on my website in backgrounds, wherever I share flat patterns, or on gross sales pages. I attempt to stick as near these colours with mock-ups and life-style photographs as effectively. Tip: so long as the primary colour within the picture suits along with your colour palette, it typically will slot in.

The place which you could loosen up on this rule is in your not-weekly-blog part while you’re sharing work or inspiration which may be outdoors of a restricted palette. 

Examples of Previous Tasks (Actual or Mock Ups)

As I discussed, you don’t want your complete portfolio in your website, however you do want to indicate off your work! Mockups are a good way to do that as you construct your expertise. You need to solely showcase what you’ve made in a means that folks know the way they’ll work with you.

These might be much more essential on particular pages (we’ll get to it), however ought to be unfold all through your website so individuals know what you do nonetheless they land in your web page. 

Gross sales Web page (by Income Stream)

Should you noticed the phrase “gross sales” and felt icky… enable me to drag out my cleaning soap field for a second. I not too long ago heard one thing that actually resonated with me and the gist was this: Should you don’t have a standard agent out getting you enterprise, your web site is there to do the job (shout out to Kate from Folks Based for sharing this idea on a webinar with Goodtype).

Shannon additionally discusses the best way to shift your perspective about advertising your artwork right here at SDR – it’s positively value a learn in case you wrestle to be ok with advertising.

So let’s discuss gross sales pages that don’t sound such as you’re in a used automobile industrial. There are three key parts: First, it begins with easy, attention-grabbing messaging that states how one can deal with your target market’s drawback. Subsequent, it gives further element, then ends with a name to motion. 

• Typically referred to as “above the fold” this message ought to be seen with out scrolling on the web page, and will inform your target market why they need to maintain studying. For instance, my licensing web page for CoastL Studio begins off with “Add just a little trip to your merchandise with coastal impressed patterns and prints.” This addresses my shopper target market’s need to encompass themselves with coastal décor, and addresses artwork administrators and companies trying to license that fashion of artwork! (For more information about figuring out your target market, take a look at my put up!)

• When you’ve hooked your reader, offering further element will enable you seal the deal (and make sure that you just’re the best match). This could be a few paragraphs damaged up by examples of your work applicable to the income stream. 

• At all times, all the time, ALWAYS finish with a name to motion! This tells somebody what to do subsequent to e-book your companies, purchase your product, or provoke a mission and is extremely essential to truly changing your viewers. One research of e mail advertising discovered that emails with a single call-to-action can enhance clicks by over 371%.  

A observe on income streams: A separate web page for every income stream will enable you streamline (sorry, I needed to) your messaging on a gross sales web page — making it simpler to speak clearly.

Relatively than pitching licensing and freelance work in the identical breath, separate pages might help you clearly outline your provide, course of, and pricing, and when somebody asks for extra info on a particular income stream, you possibly can direct them extra clearly. Be aware: You possibly can all the time have a mixed “work with me” web page in your website for straightforward navigation to every provide.

An “About You” Web page

Individuals typically purchase from individuals, and making a connection by having an “about you” web page so that folks can learn a bit about who you’re as an individual and your expertise as an artist is a good way to try this. Whereas it will not be essentially the most visited web page in your website, it will be significant as a result of it serves to ascertain credibility and legitimacy. 

Tip: Make a remark in your calendar to replace your about web page yearly.

To make updating simpler, reference particular dates or years in your bio — for instance, use phrases like “since 2021…” reasonably than “for 3 years….” Oh, and don’t overlook to finish it with a name to motion, like a hyperlink over to…

A Contact Web page

A basic contact web page in the primary menu of your web site is a good suggestion for just a few causes, however mainly if somebody has seen your work elsewhere and desires to succeed in out they’ll skip just a few steps and join with you through a kind. 

It additionally subtly exhibits you’re “open for enterprise” by giving individuals a straightforward technique to begin a dialog! A contact web page doesn’t should be fancy both; a easy “Let’s chat about X,Y,Z!” with a kind that goes to your e mail will suffice.

That is additionally an awesome place to share your social media handles (under the contact kind) so that folks can discover different methods to attach as effectively.

The wonder and good thing about a web site is that you just’re not chiseling info into stone — it’s simple to vary and replace as your artwork and enterprise evolves.

Begin small and easy to say your own home on the web, and while you begin to really feel the urge to slam that laptop computer closed and run into the woods, keep in mind that everybody begins from zero, and child steps are progress!

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