Making money out of your passion is a dream come true.
There is nothing as fulfilling as getting paid to do what you best. Unlike in the good ole days, we are now living in a vibrant age where art is highly appreciated. The rise of technology has made it possible to turn your handiwork craft into a lucrative venture.
Unfortunately, this doesn’t work for everybody. It doesn’t come either as easy as we’ve made it sound. Most people have not been lucky enough to turn their passions into rewarding careers. Instead, most of them have been forced to shelve their talents for a minute to focus on income-generating jobs.
If you are so keen on turning your artistic talent into a cash cow, here are some strategies you should put in place to catapult yourself into the limelight.
1. Selling on Social Media
Social media is now one of the leading marketplaces in the world. This gets even better. It is one place where you can sell your art from the comfort of your bed. There are many social media pages you can position yourself as an artist to attract potential clients. One such place is Instagram. This is where you need to gain popularity through a huge following.
But this is not to say that you are only limited to Instagram. There are other platforms where you can gain popularity as an artist and perhaps meet well-paying clients. Some of them include Facebook, WhatsApp status, Twitter, Pinterest among others.
Here are some good tips you should follow to attract more followers and build a clientele on your social media pages.
- Use high-quality photos.
- Choose an impressive background and use natural light for your pictures.
- Brand your art with unified styles. E.g. filters and hashtags.
- Use eye-catching captions.
- Use keywords for easy search (SEO).
- Use attractive bio as clickbait.
- Be consistent in posting and updating.
2. Apply for Grants and Sponsorship
There is always something for everyone.
There are many programs and NGOs that always seek to support upcoming and struggling artists. All you need to do is make search engines like Google your friend and apply for programs, grants, and sponsorships related to your art.
There are also other ways to gain exposure and get potential sponsors as an artist. There are thousands of competitions for different artists with attractive prizes for the winner. This normally appears in daily publications. They are also easy to join.
3. Blog About Your Art
Writing might not be your cup of tea, but blogging will change everything for your art. If you still feel like you cannot type beyond six words, there are other ways you can go around it. For example, you can hire a freelance content writer to help you blog about your work.
This will not only propel you forward as an artist searching for the limelight. Blogging will also earn you money if you go about wisely. Focus on doing reviews and affiliate marketing related to your artwork. In no time, when you have steadily gained popularity, you will begin to see a stream of related paid arts and commissioned reviews.
4. Join Similar Communities and Groups
Artists from all corners of the world with the same passion can now easily interact all thanks to social media. This is helpful for both budding and established artists. Joining creative communities on social media pages like Facebook, Etsy and Pinterest will help you get expert feedback from experts.
Besides that, you will find great support and even get an opportunity to collaborate with like-minded individuals. You will get new tips and gain resourceful ideas that you might otherwise have missed had you kept to yourself.
5. License Your Work to Stock Websites
The best part of being an artist is that you can either make passive income out of it or you can take it as a full-time job. It all depends on how far you want to go with your God-given talent. One such way to earn passively from your art is through licensing your finest art to stock websites.
In as much as this is limiting to some arts, it makes as an excellent way to passively earn for others. And this is while concentrating on other income-generating activities. Graphics, illustrations, and photographs are just some of the arts that you can easily license for stock websites.
Best Websites to Sell Your Art
As mentioned earlier, online has become the main marketplace for almost everything. Art included. If you are looking for websites and platforms to showcase your talent and skills, here are some of the best websites to upload and advertise your art.
1. Etsy
There is no better place to showcase and sell your finest handiwork than on Etsy. This website also accommodates both vintage and other creative supplies. This website works by allowing the artisans to list their art and crafts for a small fee. It also hosts craft fairs for all the sellers.
2. Amazon
Amazon is such an expanse marketplace. There is almost nothing you cannot sell on this place for as long as it is legal. Unlike other websites, Amazon is such a versatile and accomodating marketplace. It makes a great platform to showcase your art to the world.
3. Shutterstock
The first thing that comes into mind when you see or hear Shutterstock is probably photography. Well, that is not so farfetched. This website was built to especially host photographs, videos, and vectors from artists all over the world. However, unlike with other websites, you might have to break a little sweat just to secure an account with them
4. Creative Market
If you are into digital goods, this is the best place to be. Here you can showcase your graphics, website themes among other digital creativity you have up your sleeves. With over one million users, it is hard not to bump into a potential customer willing to buy your art.
5. Alamy
This is one of the most transparent and easy to work with the website. With excellent reviews from other users, it is very difficult to overlook this site. Alamy allows you to earn 50% from every sale you make. The only flipside to this website is that it is exclusive only to imagery.