Ten years ago, just having a web site put you ahead of the game. Now, millions of sites are fighting for attention. Here are the six most common mistakes artists make, (provided by my daughter - an internet marketing consultant.)
1. Poor design. Ironic but true: some of the best artists suffer from terrible web design. Your site is your calling card to the world. Keep it looking professional. Give your visitors an easily-accessible navigation bar on the top or side of each page, and create a clear visual hierarchy so people know where to look first. (For more web design tips, check out Steve Krug's book, "Don't Make Me Think.")
2. Too much stuff. Less is more, especially on the internet, which gets more crowded every day. Keep text to a minimum, and images at a reasonable size. When tempted to add something new, ask yourself: does this fit the theme of my site? Will visitors really care? If the answer to both questions is yes, then add it. But when in doubt, leave it out.
3. No contact information. If a potential customer can't find your contact details after a few clicks, she's likely to leave and never come back. Make it easy for people to get in touch with you. Put your contact information at the bottom of each page, and encourage visitors to call or e-mail. (To stop spammers,
write out your e-mail address like so: Kelly at wordwisemarketing.com.)
4. Use of flash, blinking text, animated graphics, etc. In the '90s, blinking text was a novelty. Today, flashing graphics are an assault on the senses. You want your web site to be pleasant - so stay away from splash pages, animated images, or anything that can cause seizure activity in small children.
5. No prices. If you don't list the price of your artwork, you're likely missing out on sales. That's because people love to shop, but they hate asking questions. Clearly list the price of every piece of artwork, everywhere it's featured on your site.
6. Not taking advantage of social media. Think MySpace and Facebook are just for teens? Think again. These and other social networking sites are invaluable marketing tools for visual artists. And better yet-they're free! Spend an afternoon checking out the sites and building a few pages for your artwork. It's easier than you think, and it will draw new visitors from around the globe.
Kelly Watson is owner of
WordwiseMarketing, which provides affordable internet marketing for fine artists (including Debi Watson!) Contact Kelly today for a no-cost consultation, or check out her exclusive offer for newsletter subscribers.
6 Common Website Mistakes
