For writers, artists, photographers, and others who want to sell online.
· 3 min read
Are you a writer, artist, or other creative who would like to figure out how to get your work online so you can sell it? There are several techniques you can use. One of the most popular is a website and/or a blog.
Think of your blog or website as a beacon or a lighthouse. When it’s done right, it will shine a light out into that sea that is the Internet. That light will attract and guide your potential customers to you. That’s a simplified version. It actually involves using basic (SEO) search engine optimization so you are found during a Google search. But a blog is a great way for writers and other creatives to build an audience interested in their work.
What’s a blog and how would I use it?
A blog can be used to sell things online because it becomes a way to attract readers. A blog is similar in concept to dropping breadcrumbs to create a trail for someone to follow.
The most effective blogs are ones where the creator posts consistently, whether that’s once a week, several times weekly, or every day. Readers can follow your blog so they can keep coming back to read about your projects and other updates. Google likes blogs because the content is dynamic and is frequently updated.
With a blog, you can attract readers who are interested in the type of art you are creating. The blog becomes the hub of activity. You present information, readers can like, comment, share, or even sign up to get additional information from you. Once you have readers who are interested in your art, you ask them to join your email list, come to a gallery show, sign up for a course you are offering, and/or click on a link where they can buy your art.
What to blog about
Write about something related to your art such as a history of the craft, newest techniques for your preferred art material, or trending colors or themes. If your blog is centered around something related your art then people interested in that type of art might be looking for that information too.
Think about who your ideal customer is and write or create around things your audience is interested in. With the right SEO, your blog will attract people to your blog who might sign up for your email list and then purchase your art or take a course about art you want to teach.
Do I need a full-fledged website?
In most cases, if you are selling something, you’ll want to have a full website at some point. A website can also function as a blog. A website serves as a place where you display your art and people can purchase your art. If you want people to be able to buy your art through your website, you need an e-commerce element or shopping cart added on.
But you don’t have to use a full-fledged website to get started. You can use a blog or even a landing page, to write or create something that your potential readers might be interested in. Somewhere in each blog post, you can include a link to your book on Amazon or to your Etsy store where people make their purchases.
This is just a very basic post about how creatives can use a blog post to selling their work online. There are many other ways to promote and sell your creative work online including using an Etsy store, Amazon author page, etc. But you can also get started with an internet connection, a domain, a self-hosted website or blog, and an email list.
If you have other technical questions about promoting or selling your creative work online, follow me at Freelance Filter or join my email list for more tech information presented in simple terms.