With the evolution of technology and the internet, a lot has changed in terms of how people operate nowadays. We’re living in a digitized environment, and this is affecting most things, including how artists showcase and sell their work to the target market. Even the good old auction houses have now started selling their artwork online, and this is a trend that doesn’t seem to be slowing down. In fact, it is increasing annually. If you are an artist or just an individual looking to sell their artwork, you will certainly not lack in finding an online market place or website to work with. However, just like choosing other things, it is important that you identify a website that resonates with your brand. This means that you have to analyze and research on the different options available before settling on the final one. To help you with the search for websites that best fit your artwork, we have created a list of the best sites you can consider for selling your artwork.
Society6
Intro
Society6 is a well-known site whose popularity increased as a result of the growth and evolution of the internet. A flourishing community of independent artists from around the world Society6 is the ideal site for artists looking to have their artwork printed on several different products ranging from pillows to canvas print, amongst others. The site gives artists the ability to manage how they would like to operate as they get to set their own royalties on their artwork. The profits on the site are also pretty reasonable as they can range from anything between $ 1.50 all the way to $ 13.90. Additionally, your artwork can also be featured on Society6’s main shop, which means that there is a likelihood that customers will discover your artwork without necessarily having to rummage through the numerous designs on the website.
Pros
- It is ideal for artists who do not mind having their work replicated on several different materials.
- Artists can get to focus on their work and not have to worry about dealing with customers as the site manages the customer service aspect of the business.
- There are plenty of well renowned artists such as Evie Seo and Andreas live, which means that the site is extremely credible.
Cons
- There is lots of stiff competition on this site as there lots of artists already using it.
- Artists will need to grow a following before they can see good results worth mentioning.
ArtFire
Intro
Artfire is a site that has been around for as long as we can remember (almost ten years) and shares a lot of similarities with Etsy. This site is perfect for selling artwork as it has quite the traffic reporting up to three hundred thousand unique monthly visitors. This means that artists can reach a very large number of customers while putting in minimum effort. The site takes care of a lot of the hassles that come with creating a site to sell your pieces. They provide artists with the necessary customer assistance required to get things done. It also offers a community through which artists can get to engage and share skills or learn from each other.
Pros
- Artists get access to a large number of buyers as the site manages every SEO aspect of the site and has a unique visitor following that is unmatched.
- There are a variety of packages that artists can choose from depending on what suits them best. For example, the standard shop costs 23 cents for every listing and $ 4.95 monthly.
- The site grown with the artists, so depending on the size and capacity of your store, your growth will be catered for.
- The site has various categories, from supplies to weddings, which means it caters to different artists regardless of their work.
Cons
- We could not seem to find any faults with Artfire as they mostly had glowing reviews.
Saatchi Art
Intro
Undeniably one of the largest art marketplaces on the internet, Saachi Art holds the bragging rights of being home to over 65,000 artists from around the world. If nothing, the number of artists translates into a great boost for artists looking to have their work out there for people other than their usual everyday customers. Saatchi art does an excellent job of supporting their artists as they do more than just sell the artwork. Some of their other engagements include organizing curator groups and art fairs for their artists. They also ensure that as an artist, your work is actively promoted as they highlight new original artwork to their customers. On this site, artists can sell their work to both individuals buying single pieces or collectors who have a love for art and are constantly looking to purchase the next best piece of work.
Pros
- They have a “New this week” tab, which consists of a number of curated pieces of art highlighting different artists every week.
- They have over twelve million monthly page views, and their work is sold to collectors all around the globe.
- Their joining process is pretty easy and straightforward.
Cons
- The number of artists on the platform may make it hard for a newbie to achieve visibility almost instantly.
Pixapp
Intro
Even though Pixapp have a website, it is more of a social, mobile marketplace, which means that artists need to download the app for them to use it. Pixapp is a selling platform that is a cross between Instagram and Redbubble. Just like on most social platforms, users on the platform can follow their favorite artists, after which the company only gets 10% of what the artist makes form every sale. This type of engagement is perfect for an artist who may not be looking to pay a fee to be part of a site, as is the case with some of the sites. Additionally, artists can also opt to have their designs on some of the products such as t-shirts, canvases, and mugs that pixapp sells.
Pros
- Pixapp manages the customer service aspect of the business. i.e., once a customer purchases your artwork, they handle everything else related, including shipping and production, until the customer receives the items purchased.
- It is an extremely budget-friendly option, especially if you do not want to invest in paying several fees to a third-party company.
- The app’s popularity has been increasing gradually, and with the take over witnessed by social media, it will come as no surprise when it soon becomes oversaturated.
- The company has plans underway to launch a fully functional website for those artists who may prefer working from a website as opposed to an app.
Cons
- They are still small, so if you are looking to reach a large volume of people instantaneously, it may not be ideal.
Shopify
Intro
If you are a reputable artist and with an established customer base, you can opt to set up shop independently by selling directly from your website as opposed to using a third-party website. For this purpose, Shopify is the ideal e-commerce website that will help you achieve your dreams. The platform is resonably easy to use and can be designed specifically with your brand in mind, therefore, ensuring brand image continuity across all online platforms. Our favorite thing about Shopify is that it is difficult for anyone outside of an artist organization to know that they are using a platform that has been integrated into the website. Shopify is renowned with over 600,000 businesses using the platform and well over one million active users.
Pros
- Artists can find comfort in knowing that the platform they are using is being run by experienced hands with the technical know how to elevate their sales.
- Artists can easily manage the platform and choose the direction that they would like for their work to take.
- Customers are not limited to the number of products they can list on their Shopify ecommerce platform.
Cons
- It does require for an artist to either have the technical know-how of executing the integration or one could hire a third party to do it for them.
- Artists do not have to share their profits with other parties.
Conclusion
The number of online selling options are plenty, and there has never been a better time to introduce a bigger audience to your work. The buzz surrounding online platforms is certainly not about to die down soon, and every artist should jump at the opportunity to present their work. Online platforms typically do not require much work; however, the ease of use will vary depending on the site you choose to work with. The key factor when it comes to choosing a site for your art is identifying the platform that will give you the most traffic and is easy to set up. Do your research so you can be sure that the site resonates with your brand and does not cause utter chaos. Feel free to let us know which site is your favorite place to sell your artwork.