I am looking for an online space to sell my artwork. How should I handle e-commerce?
I know there are a lot of third party websites out there that I can sell my art through, but is it worthwhile building an e-commerce function into my website itself? What are the pros & cons?
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Nov 26, 2016
First of all you have to purchase domain and hosting. I'd recomend you to ckeck out https://www.hostforweb.com for this purpose. Host For Web provides very reliable hosting services.
Nov 6, 2016
I highly recommend you to start with http://www.templatemonster.com/ website. You can find so many beautiful templates there to effectively build and handle your e-commerce website. Good luck in selling your artwork!
Oct 31, 2016
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Oct 30, 2016
Hi Zoe, Though here are a lot of hosted platforms to sell your artworks, having a self-hosted ecommerce website would be the best choice for you to have full control on what you upload or update! Take a look at www.ewdc.in to get your own ecommerce website built for startups with pre-loaded functionalities to get a perfect online selling experience. Since it is open source you can upgrade or update by yourself in the future and it does not need monthly commitments to have it.
Let me know if you are interested, I will help you with proper consultation!
Sep 21, 2016
Hi Zoe,
As you know, there are many third–party websites like Amazone, Dribbble, Behance, Deviantart and others to showcase & sell your artwork. But most people use these websites to create an online portfolio.
Having a website of your own to sell your artwork definitely gives you some advantage. First, it acts as a one-stop destination for your followers to check out the entire collection without any distractions. Second, you wouldn’t have to pay any commission if you are not selling your art work on a 3rd party website. And lastly, (though not a concrete benefit) on your website, you will have the freedom to showcase your artwork creatively (as it deserves to be) and the way you like.
I would also recommend YoKart eCommerce solution as same suggested by Daljeet in earlier reply. To get started, you can launch your own online store with YoKart at a price of $250 a year. Visit this link to learn more about this solution http://www.yo-kart.com
Sep 21, 2016
Yes it can help you to make your own branding and even getting more leads. Thanks to turnkey solutions, launching an online business is not a big deal any more like with YoKart you can launch your online store at just $250 yearly. Visit here for more details: http://www.yo-kart.com
Jul 30, 2016
Building your own Ecommerce website is definitely a good choice as in comparison to other ideas. There are many benefits of having your online store, like you can sell your products, you can also earn money from extra commission
Other benefits like:
enhanced audience
spacing out
you are the boss
more exposure
If you have small budget, then you can check this where you can start your online store in $250: http://www.yo-kart.com/multi-store-marketplace-startup.html
Jul 29, 2016
As an Artist myself I would like to say that it's ALWAYS best to have e-commerce functionality on your site. From being encouraged so much through our life to focus on "being seen"...... we can get into the habit of doing just that until we learn better... We'll spend money on a booth TO BE SEEN.... we'll pay for a web page TO BE SEEN...... we'll occasionally do free work for people TO BE SEEN...... we'll fight our way into magazines and news papers TO BE SEEN..... n at the end of the day... everybody "sees us" and LOVES everything they see n pats us on the head n walks away without buying anything because WE DON'T HAVE PRICE TAGS ON ANYTHING!!!.... because we're only focused on "being seen"....... as if we're going to wake up one morning with thousands of people outside of our door telling us we've finally earned the right to "be big" and "rich" and now they'll start paying all this money for everything and until they do that we don't deserve to charge a dime. So YES... put an e-commerce engine on your site so you can sell your own pieces.... you have a website..... you have your work on it.... why not let people buy from there too?... how else do you plan for them to purchase them?.... from some "big shot" who discovers you and gives you crumbs while they get lobsters?..... you deserve better :)
Sep 3, 2015
I think it's not right to compare CMS with open code and Online website builder. It's technologically different products. Different by type and even by purpose. WordPress is the best CMS for blogs and small info sites. And Shopify is one of the best ecommerce platforms but not a CMS. All online ecommerce website builders ( http://www.beautifullife.info/web-design/10-best-ecommerce-builders/ ) aren't used for creating blogs but just for online stores. Even if you will upload the latest ecommerce plugins on WP - such site won't be as good for online sales as a website created on Shopify or similar professional ecommerce platform.
Oct 21, 2014
Zoe -The more control you can maintain over your online store the better. Using a off the shelf solutions such as Sugarboo for e-commerce websites is great but just remember that you do not own your website when you use a third party platform like that. To maintain control over your website, build it using an open-source platform such as Magento or WordPress. Plugging in an e-commerce solution is not that big of a deal for an experienced developer to help you with. Always happy to chat more if you need. Best,
Oct 1, 2014
Hi Zoe Brown,
It is worthwhile building an e-commerce function into my website itself. If you need space you can try with resellers where you can host your website at very affordable cost. Please visit http://seo-expertz.com/cheap-hosting-india-web-hosting-in-chennai-hosting-services.html
Sep 11, 2014
Hey Zoe,
If you can easily find the niche websites that do sell/promote the artwork in the geography you're looking to market to, go sell via them, else you will need to setup your own ecommerce shop. Its fairly straight forward and can be sophisticated based on how you want to go with it. It can be as easy as setting it up on top of wordpress (I assume you're familiar with wordpress).
Having your own ecommerce shop will have advantages in terms of control, flexibility in the way you want to handle orders and processing, the kind of reports you want, payment gateway.
I've helped several startups and businesses build their web application and portal. With over 11 years of expertise in providing custom web development service, consultation and a highly competitive pricing, I remain the preferred consultant for my clients. Lets have a chat and find out if I'm the right fit for your job.
Cheers,
Deepak
Sep 8, 2014
Etsy is the right place to sell your goods. If you want to be successful in the online world, then you should follow these steps.
1. Create a high quality product
2. Use smart words to describe your product
3. Analyze the target audience and find their likes.
4. Find the places where your target audience is
5. Engage with your audience.
6. Don’t use marketing words, rather offer solutions to them
7. Social media is your key. Focus more on Pintrest because it is a place which is famous for fashion and accessories niche.
8. Market it well; it should be in every possible place where your target audience visits often.
9. Invest money on ads it works well for Australian and American region.
10. Use all the major digital marketing techniques.
11. Focus on 3 c’s -> Creativity, consumer service, Comfortable products
Earn money from this website and then create your own online marketplace like in 48 hours by using Agriya's BuySell script. It has all the necessary features and revenue option from an online marketplace website.
To know more:
http://www.agriya.com/products/etsy-clone
Sep 4, 2014
Dear Zoe,
for me it looks like a huge business opportunity. I would try to analyse the situation step be step as follows. With this 10 points constantly in your mind you should have everything you need. Focus and even try weired combinations. Don´t be afraid. No fear. Dare to fail. No problem. #9
#1 Have a close look at the still existing sites e.g. examine and compare LinkedIn (=LI) and its German clone XING (=V). Transfer.
#2 Look at the features available lots will be similar, but some rather small ones (but they might be really decisive for certain members) might be different e.g. at LI you can write mails to all your partners and send them away at once while at V there is no such function yet. The small things are important!!!
#3 Don´t be too fast with your conclusions e.g. one might think what the f.... is XING. Who is using it? Believe me or not there a lots of real HIGH class contacts on XING that you can´t find on LI. And the other way round.
#4 Think once, think twice (if necessary start a process in the backyard of your mind) e.g. who are there people who do business in Europe and the Americas incl. the states? Could there be any people out there with a similar need and what might they be like. Maybe just a small number but because they really need this feature for business with their TG, they might be willing to pay for that. Built a site exactly offering that feature, its your killer app/ USP. Combine LI and V e. g. why am I on mosaic??? Think.
#5 Use some math and don´t be to greedy at the beginning e.g. say there are 10.000 people who might pay 5 bucks/ month for that feature (I certainly would pay lots more, but ok I am not the average) then its round about 600 k gross revenue per year. OK PIMCO wont give you a call for that but someone will. Sure.
#6 Probably the most important one: kill your ego. Talk to and with everyone. Give and help. Connect always. You will get it back twice. Try this just for one week/ one day. It works. Believe.
#7 Do not hurry, go slow. Enjoy. Stop watch and learn. Relax. And talk. Be interested. Listen. And give advise if you can. Things will happen like magic.
#8 Don´t let you bring down by those who think they know everyth. yet. Keep on learning.
Combine e.g. with #4. Example: I read today some crap about analytic-ninjas and analytic-squirrels. Ignoring #1 til #6 they were mocking bout squirrels. Where I work (its on the 5th floor) we have squirrels climbing on the roof top. When we are not opening the windows (ignoring #6) it says f--- you all and jumps over a 6m gap into a tree. Just awesome. Real hardcore. People like Gonz or Michi A./ Terje would surely love that. Absolutely.
#9 L;augh about yourself/ have humour/ entertain and learn to say NO!! e.g. check horsefeathers. Ask. Is there any translation?? Any suggestions?? My colleague told me: hey you must help the squirrel and I told her: What shall I do. You can do sth. Yourself for example sew him a parachute!! Understood?? If not ask. Its not Zen her.
#10 Go out/ have fun/ party
#11 be flexible, f--- perfectionism, be pragmatic
Ok because I have a real close friend Narda from La Paz shes an artist and has probably the same problems than you, in explicit words: I´would create an basic LI and V account and contact a guy with my name. I would contact him just saying Hi heres Zoe. No fear. If hes cool he will offer some, else he is ignoring #6 #7 and you should ignore him. There will be others maybe in his contacts. Contact his contacts. No fear. Be the devil in disguise and act intelligent. It’s a little bit like poker. Contact them but only the interesting ones. Be cool, intelligent, tell the truth but in a special way sth. Like Hey Im Zoe you’re a friend of AS his not answering but I really need a contact to Narda Z. because I want to talk to her and so on… the cool cats will help. They will.
In case there should remain things unclear do not hesitate and contact me.
Show them what you got.
Lady please start your engine 11, 10, 9, 3, 2, 1, and ignition ………. Draw the moon yourself I need a cigarette. we meet somewhere un abrazo as
Sep 2, 2014
Hi Zoe,
I haven't read all the comments so forgive me if this is a repeat but probably the best thing would be to take advantage of both worlds. Post your work on multiple established art sites and then include a link back to your site for those that are looking to buy. That way you can drive more traffic and forgo the extra costs by selling through your own site. From one artist to another, good luck!
Sep 1, 2014
Hello Zen,
Yes , definitely you can go for website development for your art selling.
There are many plat forms available for such. And I will suggest you to go with appropriate CMS. By doing such it is easy to manipulation and up-date new art frequently.
There will be payment gateway from which buyer can pay you.
Social media integration will help you a lot.
Develop and go for SEO option. Sells will be increased automatically.
By the way if you wanna develop website for your business then we will deliver you appropriate website according to your requirements.
I would like to have an online conversation with you.
When is the best time for that?
My skype id : veepal.nileshp
Look forward to receive your earliest response.
Best Regards,
Nilesh Patel,
Veepal IT services
Aug 31, 2014
1) Purchase Domain & Hosting
2) Purchase or integrate Payment Gateway
3) Design website with shopping/e-commerce/woocommerce function.
I would like to answer more if you need more guidance.
See the example : www.demperor.co.uk
Aug 30, 2014
There is a very simple solution you can do one or both, 1) join etsy.com 2) join Yashta.com. With Yashta you can setup a free website and upgrade to a premium account for free which allows you to set up a shopping cart in two minutes with a paypal account. If you need more info feel free to call me direct. 505-227-5711.
Aug 28, 2014
Hi Zoe,
Glad to see you are realizing your dream to start your art gallery.
I understand you want to build an art gallery website to promote and sell your arts. As your rightly said there are third party websites to sell your art and another way is to build your own website and have an eCommerce function within website.
According to us, best approach is to build website with eCommerce website of your own and then there are ways to sync your website arts with third party website automatically. Eg. When you upload an art to your website, it will automatically be posted to third party websites (like ebay) and as reverse process, if you post your art on third part website (like ebay) that will also be listed on your website. This approach is most suitable to grow your business because of following reasons.
1. Only third party websites will not give you an identity. It will just give you a source to sell your art.
2. Only website will give you identity but earning revenue will be dependent on the visitors coming to your website. And to bring visitors to your website, your website needs to be promoted on web where art lovers are available.
3. Combination of website + third party website and synchronizing arts between them will help getting revenue from third party websites and at the same time, those third party website will also promote your website within art lovers community and that will bring visitors to your website. Thus, earning revenue and growing identity happens at the same time gradually.
Considering technicality and commercial point of view, build an eCommerce website will more time and money as compared to starting up with third party websites. But your website will give you complete control over your art gallery and also third party website will charge their fees which eventually increases cost to customer and reduces your income.
In a nutshell, for long term establishment owning a website with eCommerce capability is the solution but to kick start your business, third party websites can be used and later once website is developed, we can sync the third party website profile with your website.
As a reference, you may visit following website we have developed for an artist which includes a small art gallery (without eCommerce).
http://dhavalkhatri.com/
I am not sure how much this was helpful to you. Please let me know if you have any more questions or need clarifications. I will be happy to help to make your business grow.
Thanks,
Pratik
Aug 28, 2014
On my website, I sell my own mp3s there with paypal in addition to estores.
The profit Paypal takes from each sale is negligible, and the entire setup is totally free.
I just signed up for a business account with twitter so I could accept payments. Then I set up the html widgets and implemented them into my site next to the appropriate product. Did it all myself one afternoon.
It's not the "cleanest" buying experience, but it works for sure. And I'm really feeling the free thing.