Want to Sell Artwork Online?

Before you decide to sell artwork online, you must ask yourself some questions. Then, make sure you have good answers, or you will be wasting your time. To sell artwork online you will have to know: who are my customers? what will they be willing to spend? in what form will I sell my work (originals,reproductions)? how will my art be shipped? how will payments be made? what will I do about returns, or unsatisfied customers? what type of inventory do I need to have on hand? what about sales tax? how will I display my art? do I have adequate protection from theft? how will I advertise my art?

Of course, the questions can be endless, but if you know the answers to the ones above, you will be well on your way to your first online sale. Let's try to form a plan to answer these questions. To make it easier, I have developed a worksheet. If you can do some research to fill out the worksheet, you will have a plan in hand by the time it is done.

PLAN: SELL ARTWORK ONLINE

Click here to read the PDF in your browser, or right-click to download it

Type of art:

originals (if originals will be sold, do you have high quality digital photos?)

reproductions (prints, giclees,t-shirts,mugs,calenders...)

Do you have an inventory?

Title of piece: Number in stock:

Describe your ideal customer: (age group, sex, member of any type of group, income level, geographic location, whatever other characteristics may apply) What other types of products or services do these people purchase? (this will give you ideas on how to market to them)

Have you sold your work in the past? If so, go back to your inventory and fill in some of the prices you have charged. If not, skip this section for now.

What will you charge?

Size range of product to be shipped:

Who will handle shipping? (I will use UPS,FEDEX...) (I will outsource to...)

Payments: Set up merchant account with credit card processor? PayPal account? accept checks or money orders?

Photos: (I have digital camera and ability to take my own photos) (I have a friend who will take my photos) (I will hire somebody to do the photos)

What about sales tax?

How will customers find your art? Online gallery, your own website, art clearinghouse, Yessy, Zazzle..., word of mouth, Google ads,

How will you keep track of your sales and revenues?

Have you taken the necessary legal steps to form a business?

Do you have a way to record your customers information to be able to stay in touch with them?(so they can refer others and buy from you again)

Will you be able to handle an increase in volume?

Do you need to employ others, or outsource work?

By filling out this worksheet, you will be well on you way to your first online sale. You will also have a way to track your progress and make informed decisions about what to do next. Please contact us if you have other ideas for adding to this worksheet.

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