What’s holding you back?
By now, you’ve likely heard me say how important it is to have a professional artist website.
This is not just because I sell website designs, it’s because I’ve worked as a gallery director, a juror, a curator, and have also collected artwork in my spare time! In each of these instances, a professional artist website was absolutely necessary.
Let’s count your missed opportunities
If you already have a website, take a look at how many website visitors you have per day. On my website, I have an average of 60 visitors per day. If my website is not sharing the appropriate information (stale images, not up-to-date, not sharing your story), that would mean SIXTY missed opportunities (per day!)
If you do not have a website, imagine the dozens of opportunities you are missing each day!
Can you afford to miss dozens of sales opportunities per day? (I can’t!)
So, what’s holding you back?
“I can’t justify the cost of a website”
Financial Constraints: Many artists have trouble justifying the cost of a website. Costs include domain registration, hosting fees, web design, and ongoing maintenance. Here are some financial details that might help:
Website hosting costs between $250-$450 per year depending on your hosting services
Domain registration is about $30-$50/year
Full custom website design can cost multiple thousands, my packages start at $1600.
You can DIY a website and save the design fee, or use one of my templates for around $100-$200 to get a head start on a professional design.
“I’m not tech savvy enough to build a website”
Lack of Technical Knowledge: Building and managing a website requires technical skills and knowledge of web development, which may feel daunting.
I always recommend Squarespace because it is the most user-friendly website builder in my opinion. They have hundreds of online tutorials, anyone can learn!
I offer assistance over zoom at an hourly rate. No question is too silly!
“I don’t have any more time to work on a website”
Time Commitment: Artists often have busy schedules filled with creating new artwork, managing their social media presence, and participating in exhibitions. Adding website management to the mix can be time-consuming, and some artists may feel they lack the time to maintain a website effectively.
Identifying how much time you can spend on your website is crucial! Knowing the busy schedule of artists, I tend to build them so they need minimal maintenance, simply updating with new artwork occasionally.
With Squarespace, adding new artwork to your website can be done with an app, so it couldn’t be easier!
“I am not sure I’m ready for a website”
Uncertainty About Needing a Website: Setting up a website can be a significant investment, and some artists may not want to take that risk without a clear understanding of the online art market and the demand for their work.
I think I’ve made my feelings known: to be considered a professional artist, you must have a website!
If you are questioning your commitment to your artwork career, perhaps a 1:1 coaching session could help you decide on your future? (yes, I’m saying that deciding not to invest in a website could mean giving up on your professional artist future)
“I don’t need a website because I have Instagram”
Dependency on Social Media: Some artists may rely heavily on social media platforms to showcase and sell their artwork. They might see these platforms as more user-friendly and cost-effective alternatives to a website, which can lead them to overlook the benefits of having their own web presence.
It takes only one swift hack attempt to annihilate years of work, and hundreds of thousands of followers. Is it worth putting your business in the hands of a social media company?
An instagram feed could never properly tell your story appropriately, in the way a website can.
Curators, galleries and collectors need more than a social media link.
While these reasons may hold artists back from investing in a website, it's important to note that a well-designed website can provide numerous advantages, such as a more professional online presence, greater control over branding, the ability to reach a broader audience, and a dedicated platform for showcasing and selling artwork. If you feel ready to discuss your next website design or upgrades, I’d love to hear from you.
