Why artists need a website and how to start

 

As an artist, it's very important to have an online presence.

You might say "Why do I need a website?"
You probably already share your work on Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, Etsy, and other platforms. That's great and it's definitely beneficial but these platforms should be a compliment to your own website. 

Here are some top reasons to have a website as an artist.

• Your website is the only place where you have full control of your content
• If someone searches for your name your website will come up first
• You won't be at the mercy of everchanging algorithms
• Your website will be free of distractions
• It can help you sell your work
• The ability to build an e-mail newsletter

 Without a website there's no direct way for people to purchase your work or hire you for a project. Having a website shows that you are serious about your work and provides a professional presence.

 If you don't have a website where do you start?

Having a domain name is the first step in building an online presence and helps people find you. Your name is your identity so it's best to use your name for the website.

Website names are becoming more limited and yourname.com may already be gone. If your name isn't available in .com try .net, .me, .org, etc. If it's still not available you could add "art" or "artist" to the end of your name.

Try searching GoDaddy to see if your name is available.

In a future post we'll cover:
The downside of free hosting
How to create an artists website
The best website platforms for artists

~ Ria