| If you plan to sell your art online with your own | | | | payments, have significantly more sales. Use a |
| unique website, my advice is simple: Be Different! | | | | service like PayPal to accept credit cards from |
| There are hundreds of artist websites online | | | | your website. It's free and easy to setup.Make |
| today that are all making the same mistakes.The | | | | sure you have detailed purchasing and shipping |
| first problem I would like to note, is the use of | | | | instructions in place.Have a good refund policy. |
| long multimedia presentations that artists are | | | | When your customer receives your product, it |
| incorporating into their websites. I don't think there | | | | may not be exactly what they anticipated. By |
| is anything more frustrating then arriving at a | | | | having a good refund policy upfront, you will gain |
| website and waiting for this huge multimedia | | | | your customers trust and they will be more |
| presentation to download and play. The artist may | | | | comfortable making a purchase, especially if they |
| think it's cool or adds something to their work, | | | | are parting with a lot of money.Include a "Privacy |
| but in all actuality, it only frustrates impatient | | | | Policy". Internet users are a paranoid bunch. People |
| surfers. Not all Internet users have super fast | | | | are still somewhat reluctant to part with personal |
| cable or DSL connections. Many are still using dial | | | | information, so it is your job to make them feel |
| up modems and if they have to wait for | | | | at ease when they use your website. In a |
| something to download, they will simply leave and | | | | nutshell, a privacy policy clearly states what you |
| visit your competition.There are also sites that | | | | do with users personal information. What kind of |
| insist on putting unrelated banner ads or other | | | | information do you collect from your visitors? |
| unrelated advertising on their websites. Just the | | | | What do you do with that information? Do you |
| other day I was doing a search for original | | | | share it with anyone? If you are not sure how to |
| watercolor art. The first website I arrived at had | | | | create a privacy policy, visit the following website |
| a big banner at the top of the website advertising | | | | to access an easy to use Privacy Policy |
| a dating site. I am not sure how dating is related | | | | Generator: a "Terms of Use" section. This section |
| to watercolors? This is simply a distraction and | | | | outlines the terms and conditions for using your |
| you are immediately sending visitors off your | | | | website. For instance, you probably want to |
| website. If you are going to advertise on your | | | | restrict visitors from copying or reproducing the |
| website, make sure it's related to the theme of | | | | images on your website. You would put that in |
| your website and is helpful to your visitors. Do | | | | your Terms of Use section.When adding images |
| not make it the very first thing they see when | | | | of your products, always use thumbnails that can |
| they arrive at your home page.You need to catch | | | | be clicked to show a larger image, so that your |
| your visitor's attention right away. This means | | | | pages download quickly. If the larger image is a |
| putting your most important information near the | | | | big file, let the visitor know that they may have |
| top of your website in plain view. Your goal is to | | | | to wait for the picture to load.Avoid putting traffic |
| draw your visitor into your site immediately with | | | | counters on your site. Counters make your site |
| a compelling headline so that they stay long | | | | appear amateurish. If your site is fairly new, and |
| enough to check out what you have to offer. | | | | your traffic is not yet established, you are |
| Once you draw them in with a good headline, you | | | | broadcasting this to everyone that arrives at your |
| must then direct them to take an action. That | | | | site. If you need to track your website statistics, |
| could be to subscribe to your newsletter, or to | | | | check with your hosting company. You may |
| check out your latest product(s).Keep your site | | | | already have a good website statistics program |
| navigation consistent throughout your entire site. | | | | included.Choose a basic color scheme and only one |
| This means having the same navigation links in the | | | | or two different fonts. If you go overboard on |
| same order on every page of your website. Your | | | | color and use too many different fonts, your site |
| goal is to make it as easy as possible for your | | | | will look out of balance and amateurish. Your |
| visitors to get from one place to the next, not to | | | | website does not have to be a work of art. You |
| confuse them.Make sure your visitors can easily | | | | are trying to sell your art, not your website.Use a |
| contact you. Put a link to a contact page on | | | | light background, preferably white, with dark text, |
| every page of your site.If you have testimonials, | | | | preferably black. Don't use images or textures for |
| use them. Testimonials are awesome sales tools. | | | | your background. This makes it difficult for your |
| People love to hear good reviews about a product | | | | visitor to read the text on your site.Avoid adding |
| or products they are about to purchase. It really | | | | music to your site. You may think it sounds nice |
| does boost sales. If you have ever received | | | | to include your favorite songs when your page |
| testimonials from customers, highlight a few of | | | | loads, but not everyone will agree. If they find the |
| them on your home page in clear view. If you do | | | | music annoying, they will leave.Don't make your |
| not have testimonials yet, contact people that | | | | visitor have to scroll horizontally to view |
| have purchased from you in the past and ask if | | | | information on your website. Web surfers are |
| they could provide feedback on the product they | | | | lazy. Most hate to even scroll up and down let |
| purchased for inclusion on your website. Make | | | | alone left and right.Avoid animated graphics and |
| sure they know how you plan to use their | | | | scrolling or flashing text. This only distracts your |
| testimonial, and ask if you can site their name | | | | visitors.Put prices on all of your products. If people |
| with the testimonial.Start an opt-in newsletter. If | | | | have to contact you to find out the price of |
| you do not already have a method for collecting | | | | something, they will more often than not leave |
| your visitors email addresses, then you may be | | | | and look elsewhere.Make sure your site works in |
| losing sales. Many people who first come to your | | | | all the major browsers. The most popular |
| site will usually leave without making a purchase. It | | | | browser today is Internet Explorer, but there are |
| is important therefore to collect as many email | | | | a good amount of surfers who use Netscape, |
| addresses as possible so that you can follow up | | | | Opera, and Firefox. Check out They have a great |
| with your visitors. You could send out an | | | | tool that enables you to see what your site looks |
| announcement to your list of subscribers | | | | like in various browsers.Lastly, make your website |
| whenever you have a new piece for sale. If you | | | | personal. Speak to your visitors. Let them know |
| regularly attend art or craft shows, you could | | | | who you are and what your art or craft is all |
| send out an email and let your subscribers know | | | | about. Educate and enlighten. Include a |
| when and where. You could also send out surveys | | | | step-by-step article or demonstration on how |
| or questionnaires to your list to get a better idea | | | | your work is created. If people have more of a |
| as to the type of products they are interested in | | | | connection with you and your art, they will be |
| purchasing.Make certain that you have a variety | | | | more comfortable buying from you.I hope these |
| of different payment options for your customers, | | | | website tips have helped. I wish you the best of |
| especially payment by credit card. Studies have | | | | luck in everything that you do. God Bless! |
| shown that sites, which accept credit card | | | | |