How articles add value to artists websites.

Why should an artist write articles for their website?

If you have a portfolio site showing a good selection of artwork, surely that is enough – or is it?
A very well-known artist can get away with a portfolio site and can even have no website at all because they do not need to reach new people.
That work is done by galleries and fans of the artist.
They do not sell direct to the public but their work sells well through agents and galleries.

Enough people know their name and their name often sells their work.
However, there are thousands of marvellous artists who are Not well-known.
Fair or not, that is the nature of the art world and the art market.

With the advent of the internet the art market has changed and artists can sell their own work more easily by promoting their work online.
The art-loving public has embraced the opportunity to buy high quality affordable art.
But, they do have to find it!

How can an artist help potential buyers find their site?

Artists can help potential buyers by writing articles about themselves and their work.
This can help in several ways, even indirectly when you work is sold on other sites.

If your website is new, write articles about yourself and your work.
Include images that show your work and these images can be used to create a portfolio of work later.

If your website has been around for some time as a portfolio, add a blog or a news area to the site for articles.
This will create a place for new content that supports the portfolio.

If you have a site that already has both a blog and a portfolio, has stalled in terms of content and you think you have nothing to add, update old news and previous content! Perhaps you can rewrite some older posts or add relevant information to them.
This does not need to be done all at once, but regular attention to your site will get attention.

What can an artist write about?

• Artists can write about how they create their art, about past and present projects and about their passions and inspiration.
• Descriptions and stories about individual works of art and why they were created can be very interesting.
• Announce new ideas and tell a story about them that is not just about selling something.

What does writing and updating articles achieve?

New articles and updates to old articles will raise awareness of your website over time and potentially lead to sales.
If you sell through galleries or online shops, your site will help to sell the work sold through other outlets by providing background information that potential buyers love.

*Note: The Value of any article cannot measured solely by the value of the item sold on that page but by the value of the page to the visibility of the whole website and the potential of the article to lead to further exploration of the website by the first-time visitor, whether arriving from a keyword search or elsewhere.

For example, An artist uses their artwork on a bag or phone case. They may even use their designs to create fabric to make clothing and, these days, face masks.
These are items that are very popular and people search to find something to resonate with their own passions and personality or, in the case of a gift, to suit those of a friend.

Suppose you decide to make a face mask.
A face mask may feature a collection of designs such as dogs and your individual dog designs belong to the category ‘Dogs’.
A visitor does not want a face mask, but their own favourite dog is one of the designs or paintings in the fabric.

An article about the new project could link to the ‘Dogs’ category, which could, in turn, generate the sale of a dog print. A visitor that likes images of dogs may find the article but not want accessories, but they may be interested in the artwork.

The possibility of that visitor exploring further by seeking out the individual design is high and may well result in the sale of a painting.

If it is out of their price range they may make a recommenation to someone else.
What if they put it on their Wedding list?

Can you see how your article has value beyond the sale of one more face mask?

Finally

Remember that only people who already know your name find your home page.
As an artist, you need to attract new visitors whose INTERESTS are your subject matter.
When people search about their interests, their first visit can be any page on your website that they found through a search, or social sites!

The more complete the information your article provides, the more likely the article will be shown to searchers.
It will particularly effective if you include phrases relating to several aspects of the subject.
You don’t need to target single words to optimise your article for search engines.

If you find this article helpful, do share it with other artists!