Comments on: Artist’s Websites- Six Common Mistakes http://artistswhothrive.com/index.php/2009/12/the-artists-websites-six-common-mistakes/ a community for entrepreneurial creatives Fri, 10 Sep 2010 02:19:43 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.5 hourly 1 By: Ann Rea http://artistswhothrive.com/index.php/2009/12/the-artists-websites-six-common-mistakes/comment-page-1/#comment-148 Ann Rea Wed, 20 Jan 2010 00:41:37 +0000 http://artistswhothrive.com/?p=225#comment-148 thank you Gregory! thank you Gregory!

]]> By: Gregory Despain http://artistswhothrive.com/index.php/2009/12/the-artists-websites-six-common-mistakes/comment-page-1/#comment-145 Gregory Despain Tue, 19 Jan 2010 15:54:40 +0000 http://artistswhothrive.com/?p=225#comment-145 Great Article! Thanks! Great Article! Thanks!

]]> By: Issac Maez http://artistswhothrive.com/index.php/2009/12/the-artists-websites-six-common-mistakes/comment-page-1/#comment-138 Issac Maez Mon, 18 Jan 2010 13:31:44 +0000 http://artistswhothrive.com/?p=225#comment-138 Great Article! Thanks! Great Article! Thanks!

]]> By: Ann Rea http://artistswhothrive.com/index.php/2009/12/the-artists-websites-six-common-mistakes/comment-page-1/#comment-121 Ann Rea Sat, 02 Jan 2010 02:38:06 +0000 http://artistswhothrive.com/?p=225#comment-121 Thank you for your contribution. I agree. Patrons are buying your art but they are also investing in the artist. You are your brand, your company's image. Do not underestimate a clear message for a your brand and a professional photograph that supports both your image and your company's brand message. Think of professional musicians. Thank you for your contribution. I agree.

Patrons are buying your art but they are also investing in the artist. You are your brand, your company’s image. Do not underestimate a clear message for a your brand and a professional photograph that supports both your image and your company’s brand message.

Think of professional musicians.

]]> By: Paula Christen http://artistswhothrive.com/index.php/2009/12/the-artists-websites-six-common-mistakes/comment-page-1/#comment-120 Paula Christen Fri, 01 Jan 2010 20:23:09 +0000 http://artistswhothrive.com/?p=225#comment-120 Very good advice for all of us. I'd add to your #5 - please have a photo taken that shows your face. I have to chuckle every time I see an artist photo taken from the back as they work at a project. Lots of us are camera shy, but I sure would not want that side of me to be the one people remember. Success to the "creatives". This is going to be a great year for artists! Very good advice for all of us. I’d add to your #5 – please have a photo taken that shows your face. I have to chuckle every time I see an artist photo taken from the back as they work at a project. Lots of us are camera shy, but I sure would not want that side of me to be the one people remember.

Success to the “creatives”. This is going to be a great year for artists!

]]> By: Ann Rea http://artistswhothrive.com/index.php/2009/12/the-artists-websites-six-common-mistakes/comment-page-1/#comment-105 Ann Rea Fri, 18 Dec 2009 15:00:28 +0000 http://artistswhothrive.com/?p=225#comment-105 good point Clint! That point could inspire the next blog post...the mailing list. good point Clint! That point could inspire the next blog post…the mailing list.

]]> By: Clint Watson http://artistswhothrive.com/index.php/2009/12/the-artists-websites-six-common-mistakes/comment-page-1/#comment-104 Clint Watson Fri, 18 Dec 2009 13:49:33 +0000 http://artistswhothrive.com/?p=225#comment-104 Great list Ann, thank you for compiling this. John, I agree with you, I also prefer first-person. I would just change number two to "The boring artist statement" - doesn't matter if it's 1st or 3rd...if it's boring then it's a mistake. I would add that, IMHO, the BIGGEST mistake on artists websites is no email newsletter signup. Great list Ann, thank you for compiling this.

John, I agree with you, I also prefer first-person. I would just change number two to “The boring artist statement” – doesn’t matter if it’s 1st or 3rd…if it’s boring then it’s a mistake.

I would add that, IMHO, the BIGGEST mistake on artists websites is no email newsletter signup.

]]> By: Ann Rea http://artistswhothrive.com/index.php/2009/12/the-artists-websites-six-common-mistakes/comment-page-1/#comment-103 Ann Rea Fri, 18 Dec 2009 06:40:48 +0000 http://artistswhothrive.com/?p=225#comment-103 Thank you for your contribution John. Number 2, the artist's statement, or about page, is about tone. By using the first person artists can easily slide into a tone of self involvement that distracts from their message. First person, or third, be mindful of the impression you're leaving. Talk about your work but remember your audience, your collector. Ultimately it's about them, not you. Thank you for your contribution John.

Number 2, the artist’s statement, or about page, is about tone. By using the first person artists can easily slide into a tone of self involvement that distracts from their message. First person, or third, be mindful of the impression you’re leaving.

Talk about your work but remember your audience, your collector. Ultimately it’s about them, not you.

]]> By: John T Unger http://artistswhothrive.com/index.php/2009/12/the-artists-websites-six-common-mistakes/comment-page-1/#comment-102 John T Unger Thu, 17 Dec 2009 21:10:20 +0000 http://artistswhothrive.com/?p=225#comment-102 This is all spot on except possibly No. 2… I prefer first person statements if they are well written and actually capture the personality of the artists as well as providing good information about their work and motivations. I sell almost all of my work via the web, so I'm much more comfortable with first person writing as used on twitter and blogs. I'm pretty certain that a fair percentage of my sales are related not just to the work, but to the personality behind the work. By engaging visitors, speaking to them directly, being clearly approachable and making them feel welcome and important, I think a bond is created that helps share both the art and the story of the art and artist. No. 3 is a big one. Not listing prices has multiple drawbacks. It's true that it might suggest that prices are negotiable, but worse, many people will automatically assume that the price is beyond their reach or higher than they are willing to pay. Few people want to make extra effort, so it's unlikely they will contact artists to find out the price if it's not listed. It creates a barrier to sales that prevents impulse purchases altogether. Also, it prevents an artist from benefiting from a confidence in the value of their work that is created when people can see the price and see that the work has been selling at that price point. One last thing I would add is that if you have a shopping cart (and you should) get a merchant account so that you can take credit cards directly rather than relying on PayPal, Google Checkout or Amazon services. My sales increased 500% the year I added the ability to pay directly with credit card, and have grown steadily since. My cart also supports PayPal and Google Checkout, but those account for only about 5% each of sales. I highly recommend www.e-junkie.com as an affordable and easy to use shopping cart. This is all spot on except possibly No. 2… I prefer first person statements if they are well written and actually capture the personality of the artists as well as providing good information about their work and motivations. I sell almost all of my work via the web, so I’m much more comfortable with first person writing as used on twitter and blogs. I’m pretty certain that a fair percentage of my sales are related not just to the work, but to the personality behind the work. By engaging visitors, speaking to them directly, being clearly approachable and making them feel welcome and important, I think a bond is created that helps share both the art and the story of the art and artist.

No. 3 is a big one. Not listing prices has multiple drawbacks. It’s true that it might suggest that prices are negotiable, but worse, many people will automatically assume that the price is beyond their reach or higher than they are willing to pay. Few people want to make extra effort, so it’s unlikely they will contact artists to find out the price if it’s not listed. It creates a barrier to sales that prevents impulse purchases altogether. Also, it prevents an artist from benefiting from a confidence in the value of their work that is created when people can see the price and see that the work has been selling at that price point.

One last thing I would add is that if you have a shopping cart (and you should) get a merchant account so that you can take credit cards directly rather than relying on PayPal, Google Checkout or Amazon services. My sales increased 500% the year I added the ability to pay directly with credit card, and have grown steadily since. My cart also supports PayPal and Google Checkout, but those account for only about 5% each of sales. I highly recommend http://www.e-junkie.com as an affordable and easy to use shopping cart.

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