Sara Lachajewski
If you’re a young artist like I am, you’ve probably considered selling your artwork online to make some extra cash. You may also get stuck on researching and determining how to sell. Deciding between the many methods of selling art online may seem overwhelming now, but I am here to help you understand how to make this decision.
There are many great aspects of selling on print-on-demand websites. Selling on print-on-demand websites is arguably the easiest way to sell artwork. All you have to do is upload a two-dimensional design (which is generally free of charge), and the print-on-demand company will put it on shirts, hats, mugs, and other goods as people buy them; you aren’t responsible for shipping, production, or customer service. Another benefit is that many print-on-demand companies are partnered with pop-culture brands, allowing you to design merchandise for some of your favorite shows, movies, and musicians. For example, TeePublic allows you to sell designs based on Jurassic Park, Adventure Time, and over 50 more brands. There are disadvantages to using these websites though; unfortunately, little of the profit made on these sales goes to the artist. Additionally, this method limits you to only selling your two-dimensional designs rather than any three-dimensional artwork or crafts. Also, though selling on an already-established website helps reach more people, there are many other designs you have to compete with. For example, Gareth Willey, a casual seller on print-on-demand website RedBubble, said he has only made about $200 in his three years as a seller.
Unlike print-on-demand websites, marketplaces like Etsy allow you to sell all things art, including but not limited to prints, sculptures, canvases, keychains, and even plushies. Similarly with print-on-demand websites, selling on marketplaces makes it easier to reach customers but you also have lots of competition. Etsy, for example, advertises its users’ products on Google free of charge. When selling this way, you are responsible for production and shipping. Unfortunately, this also means that you are legally responsible and can be sued for any damages caused by the product; to prevent this, you should be very careful when choosing what to sell and look into purchasing product liability insurance. Etsy, one of the most popular art marketplaces, takes a small transaction fee, but they also offer their sellers discounted shipping prices.
Selling on your own art website is best for established art sellers. The benefit of having your own website is the ability to customize the appearance, which allows you to tell your story, brand your shop, and make your shop stand out. You also don’t have to pay individual transaction fees, as you have to handle the transaction yourself. This may not be worth it for beginner sellers, as it is expensive to set up and you must pay whether or not you get sales. Additionally, you have to market on the side to get people to see your products. It’s more work to have your own site, because you are responsible for all of the marketing and the maintenance of the website. As with selling on a marketplace, you are responsible for liabilities, so if you are established and have the extra money for product liability insurance, it would be a good idea to invest in it.
Each way of selling art online has advantages and disadvantages, and you should make your decision based on your circumstances and goals as a seller. Now that you have been introduced to each method of selling art online, you are more informed on making this big decision.
Works Cited
“6 Reasons Sellers Choose Etsy.” Forbes. 4 Mar. 2015. https://www.forbes.com/sites/quora/2015/03/04/6-reasons-sellers-choose-etsy/?sh=46409ce3344e. Accessed 12 Feb. 2021.
“Create a T-Shirt.” TeePublic. https://www.teepublic.com/signup/designer/sell-art-online. Accessed 12 Feb. 2021.
“Current Brand Partnerships.” ZenDesk - TeePublic. https://teepublic.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/articles/360024966893-Current-Brand-Partnerships. Accessed 12 Feb. 2021.
Daigle, Jeff. “Marketplaces vs. Your Own Website: Where Should You Sell?” Denver Business Design Consulting. https://dbdc.us/articles/marketplace-vs-website/. Accessed 12 Feb. 2021.
“Etsy vs. Your Own Website: What's Best for Artists & Makers?” Design ByRosanna. 13 Apr. 2019. https://www.byrosanna.co.uk/blog/etsy-vs-website. Accessed 12 Feb. 2021.
Steiner, Ina. “Etsy, Seller Sued after Heartbreaking Death of a Child.” eCommerce Bytes. Steiner Associates, 7 May 2019. https://www.ecommercebytes.com/2019/05/07/etsy-seller-sued-after-heartbreaking-death-of-a-child/. Accessed 12 Feb. 2021.
(Grace Lochner)
ReplyDeleteThis was really informative! I know some people who sell stickers on Redbubble, and like you said, it doesn't make a ton of money, but it is still something for being a teenager and possibly having another job. What Kinds of artwork do you sell? Or do you plan to in the future? I know I buy tons off of Etsy, Redbubble, and other selling sites, so I'd love to see some of your work!
I thought your piece was so interesting! I love art, but I didn't know you could sell things on Red Bubble so that is so cool. I love their stickers and buy things off of there and also Etsy, but that's very unfortunate you don't make much money of Red Bubble. This blog was super informational and I would love to see some of the artwork you have created!
ReplyDelete(Emma Hanan)
This is a very good idea considering that there are many artists out there who aren't able to put their art out there. This is also a great way to make a little money on the side. I know a lot of people who make art but don't have anywhere to put it. This allows for people to be paid and get recognition for their artwork.
ReplyDeleteCheyenne Kaatz - Although I am not an artist myself, it was really nice to read about the different ways artists can try to sell their products. I really liked your blog because it was so easy to follow along and you provided so many great tips that any level artist will be able to understand and use your blog to their advantage. I know I have a better understanding of certain websites and how they either help or hurt sellers of they aren't careful with what their selling, and can experience sites that don't pay artists enough for their work. I'm also interested - from what you mentioned about being an artist yourself - if you use any of these websites to promote your artwork. I think adding the author's experience in this piece would be a good addition as it would build up trustworthiness to your viewers because you would be following your on advice on which website to promote on.
ReplyDeleteI loved this blog post! I didn't really look at the different options when I wanted to start selling things online & I just started an Etsy shop & so far it has been good. What I like about Etsy is it makes it so easy to start your shop & post listings.
ReplyDelete(Jack Miller)
ReplyDeleteI have heard and looked into some of these online marketplaces such as Redbubble but their is a lot of them I have never heard of. One question I have is how good does your art need to be? When I was looking into Redbubble I noticed that their is millions on designs. I just feel like it would be very difficult to sell unless you have crazy talent because you have a lot of competition. The other question I have is How do you attract people to your website if creating one? I have found this blog very useful to see all the different ways to sell and it is alot of different options to choose between. One thing I would suggest to look into is creating logos for companies. If you are a artist you could put that creative talent into creating logos and some companies pay pretty well to get them made.
As a young artist too, I have thought about selling my artwork online and have just started designing and publishing my own website as a portfolio for my artwork. Although selling my artwork isn't the most exciting or demanding thing for me to do, I still have thought about it. I have seen and follow many artist that sell their artwork online and different kinds of websites, like what you described; each process has it ups and downs but taking that chance could jumpstart you ideas and you could gain a following. I also had just started my own instagram displaying my artwork (producationdesign.co) as a first step for me. There are so many different places that artist can sell there work and I'm glad a learned a few more places in this article.
ReplyDeleteLove how informative this is. Even though this is more for selling art and such, I can see other people going into other fields may use this information. Marketability is so important in the land of creativity and you've given some insight on what I and others can do to market/selling things themselves.
ReplyDeleteThis is a creative topic that was presented very well! I like how you provided many options on how to sell artwork including the advantages and disadvantages that come along with each one. I never have really heard of any of websites besides a few, but if I were wanting to sell my artwork, this blog would help me with several options on how to do so. I'm curious of what websites you have used to sell your artwork already out of all these options, and how difficult it was at first to start selling your own artwork? Overall great job though on this blog, it is very helpful and informative for those who would want to sell their artwork!
ReplyDeleteI found this post really interesting. When I discover a new artist I always like to go to Redbubble and Etsy and see what kind of merch fans of the artists makes and puts a spin on it or make it there own design etc.
ReplyDeleteThis was a very interesting topic to read about, as I've considered selling art in the past and I didn't know exactly which way was the best for such a task. I agree that existing online vending sites like Etsy and Teepublic have their disadvantages, and I like the way you've organized the information by websites, marketplace, and print-on-demand tactics--it was very easy to read and obtain information. Have you thought about ever promoting your art in a physical facility, such as an art gallery or restaurant? One of my coworkers is an artist and posts locally on Facebook Marketplace and distributes her art to several restaurants in Wisconsin. Not only that, but I think promotional techniques on social media such as an Instagram or TikTok account could reap good income, as you're spreading your art to the public in several different manners. I know she uses both and actually attains a lot of customers just from using those additional sites.
ReplyDeleteVery detailed and informational. I like how you made the post about something that would interest others and yourself instead of something boring. I have been considering something like this but was unsure how to start.
ReplyDelete(Mia Bolyard)
ReplyDeleteThis was an informative article, though I would have liked to see more on how much money one can make in a time frame on one of these sites in comparison to others. I know you touched a little in how they differ but I think seeing a number allows for more understanding on just how different it is. And I also question the different ways liability can effect your decision. You mentioned liability charges, how do those differ among the three options? Which do you pay the most? Specific numbers?
The piece that you have made is interesting and can help people sell there products online. Also, selling art online is hard because people can be picky with what they want. So I would tell the reader who wants to sell there art work that they have to make something pop out to the consumer to make them want to buy it then once they are selling art they can move to a website of they own making but still have that pop.
ReplyDeleteThis article is very interesting to me. I myself have thought of selling art in the past but was unsure where and how to start but your informational post helped me. I would be interested to learn how much the average person makes selling artwork on these sites. I have also seen lots of people selling art promoting their work on social media.
ReplyDeleteI love your article, especially the structure of it as you break down the different methods of personal branding for beginning artists. I think that selling art online is such a personal endeavor, as the art you create is a form of self expression that you are putting into the world as a piece of yourself, sold for profit. I am curious about the long-term benefits of selling your art online. Does growing a portfolio online get lost in the many other developing artists, or does it allow you to stand out for future freelance, entrepreneur or long term job opportunities? How does one grow their shop from a redbubble store to a developed audience?
ReplyDeleteWilliam Castillo: Although I am not a serious artist myself, I think that this was an incredibly interesting piece. The way that you utilized images that simplified what types of selling is occurring along with the benefits helped organize your post significantly. I have seen some people on social media who make a living selling on marketplaces or even to galleries, however, I have yet to see somebody make a living selling on Redbubble, which your piece also explains. What do you think about people selling on their Instagram or Snapchat? How do you think these types of sellers impact the art community?
ReplyDeleteI can tell this is a topic that is very close to your heart as a young artist. This article was informative but still personal and I love that you made sure to mention all kinds of websites for not only those who are beginners, but also for the more advanced and developed artists. Are you selling your own designs? If so, where? I would love to see them and possibly purchase something from you. I would also love to see the effects that different advertisements have on business. If you use a less known website but have a larger platform on social media how does that compare to someone using Etsy but with a smaller platform?
ReplyDeleteAshley Anderson - Out of all of the posts I have read over, I have found yours to have the most correlation to my own life. As a seller myself, I have just recently started my own small business through Etsy too! It has been both a fun and rewarding experience, and your blog post has only enhanced what I already knew about selling on a market place. One thing that stood out to me in your blog post was the transition a person can make from selling on a market place to eventually selling on their own website. I really enjoyed the thorough steps you included on how an individual might go about doing this, because transitioning from Etsy to having my actually website is something I plan on doing in the future. In addition, I have one question for you in regards to the content of your blog posts... in your opinion, what do you personally feel is the best way to sell artwork or other products online? In other words, out of the three options you listed, what do you prefer the most to sell your artwork? Overall, I truly gained much knowledge from your post and plan on applying the tips you listed to my own small business!
ReplyDeleteIts awesome that you have your own Etsy shop! Another thing I read while researching is that it is a good idea to have both an Etsy shop and a website as you begin to grow your business. Also, in response to your question, I think which method is best really depends on who you are and what you want out of your art.
DeleteI have always wanted to sell prints of my picture that I take, but was unsure where the best place to sell would be. Your information that you have is going to be very helpful for me in the near future. I am interested to find out what the average price would be for prints though. Would a cheaper alternative be selling over social media instead of using the ways you have mentioned?
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ReplyDeleteI’ve never sold my own artwork before but I always wondered how artists can sell their art online and what their profits would be. I know from an occasional clothing seller viewpoint that there’s a lot that goes into packaging up your stuff and how there’s fees that can lower how much you can receive. For me personally, when I would sell clothes on Poshmark and someone buys a shirt from me for $10, I only get around $5 to $7 in return. Although selling something that you’ve made is definitely rewarding and awesome, there are a lot of drawbacks like you mention. I think it’s so cool that there are sites now where artists can make super cool fan art merchandise or their own paintings and prints. It’s truly so awesome that they have that opportunity to express themselves in a way that’s profitable.
I absolutely love your blog!! I personally have always wanted to sell my paintings or other things that I make but just couldn’t find other buyers other than my friends. The only thing that I did do was make an Instagram account with some of my things but it wasn’t as successful as I would have hoped it to be. After reading your post it inspired me to go beyond my comfort zone and maybe even create my own website to try and promote my creations. I would like to say that reading about RedBubble is crazy! I had no idea that the website could be used for so many different platforms. Unfortunately, it is disappointing that people who sell on RedBubble are unable to make the profit they deserve. Overall, I loved learning about the different ways of selling because I didn’t think that there was such a difference between any of them let alone different categories. Great job Sara and thank you!
ReplyDeleteTaylor Grieger
I, personally, am not a artist however the concept of this piece is very interesting to me. The organization and flow of your piece was great and helped for me to follow and understand your piece more. Making a living off of art is a great way to love your job, and I've seen people make living off of selling their art in many different places from social media to art galleries; however, not Redbubble which is explained in your piece. What are your thoughts on selling art over social media rather than your mentioned ways of selling art?
ReplyDeleteI am not really an artistic kind of guy and never have been, but I wish I was so your blog post was enjoyable to read. I love the pictures that you included in your post, they gave a great overview of what you were going to talk about. I also liked how you organized your post with the beginner stuff in the beginning and getting to the most advanced stuff as you go. I think the concept of print-on-demand is very cool and would be something I would definitely do IF I was artistic. I loved learning about a new market place and gained some knowledge that I could use in the future.
ReplyDeleteI think that this blog was very interesting to read. I loved the topic and just how it was written in general, I think you did a great job. I find it really interesting that there are different ways to sell artwork online. I am not really the best artist, but I think that using RedBubble or Etsy would be a nice way to sell. I didn't really know that there are specific websites for that. I think it kinda sucks that artists don't make the money that they deserve for their piece. I know that many artist spend so much time and energy on what they do and I think they deserve more.
ReplyDeleteThis is a factor I think that people who are looking into self employed careers should definitely consider. If someone is going into a self employed career, they should realize that they are going to have to build their name first, in order to make more money, especially in art. I thought that it was really good that your blog post kind of acts as a timeline or stages in a self employed career, with first starting with very little profit to sell products and finishing with your own website and obtaining the entire cost of the product, gaining more and more of the complete profit as you go. What would be the best way for an artist or a self employed person to make the transition to their own website?
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