How to Start an Art Blog: Tips & Strategies for Success

a woman working on her art blog on a laptop

Starting an art blog can be a fantastic way to share your creativity with the world, connect with fellow artists, and even monetize your passion. Whether you’re an experienced artist or just starting out, having a successful art blog can help you build an audience, showcase your work, and create opportunities for your art business. In this post you’ll learn the basics of how to start an art blog along with tips, strategies, and content ideas for long term success.

how to start an art blog featured image

Define Your Niche

Before you begin, it’s important to define your niche. The art world is vast, and focusing on a specific area can help you stand out and attract a dedicated audience. Your niche could be anything from watercolour painting, digital art, street art, or easy drawing tutorials. Think about what makes your art unique and what you’re most passionate about, then build your blog around that. Keep in mind, this isn’t set in stone. Your blog can evolve as your art practice does.

an artist painting a cityscape

Choose the Right Platform

Choosing the right blogging platform is crucial. Popular options include WordPress, Wix, Squarespace, and Blogger. Each platform has its own set of features, costs etc. so consider your needs and technical skills when making your choice. WordPress is highly customizable and offers a wide range of plugins, making it a favourite among many bloggers, including myself. Setting up your blog correctly is key in how to start an art blog.

Create High-Quality Content

Content is king in the blogging world. Focus on creating high-quality, engaging content that resonates with your audience. Here are some ideas for content you can create for your art blog:

  • Tutorials: Step-by-step guides on how to create specific art pieces or use certain techniques.
  • Behind-the-Scenes: Share your creative process, from initial sketches to the finished piece.
  • Art Challenges: Participate in or create your own art challenges and share your progress.
  • Product Reviews: Review art supplies, tools, and software that you use in your work.
  • Interviews: Conduct interviews with other artists to share their insights and experiences.
an artist drawing on a tablet

Optimize for SEO

Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is essential for driving traffic to your blog. Use relevant keywords in your blog posts, titles, and meta descriptions to help search engines understand what your content is about. Tools like Google Keyword Planner and Yoast SEO can help you find the right keywords and optimize your content.

Utilize Social Media

Social media is a powerful tool for promoting your art blog. Share your blog posts on platforms like Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, and X (Twitter) to reach a wider audience. Use relevant hashtags, join art communities, and engage with your followers to build a loyal audience. Visual platforms like Instagram and Pinterest are especially effective for artists, as they allow you to showcase your work visually.

smartphone beside black pen on white paper with instagram app on the screen

Build an Email List

An email list is a valuable asset for any blogger. It allows you to stay in touch with your most engaged audience and promote your content directly to their inbox. Offer a freebie, such as an art guide or printable, to encourage visitors to subscribe to your email list. Use email marketing tools like Mailchimp or ConvertKit to manage your subscribers and send regular newsletters.

Monetize Your Blog

Once you’ve built an audience, there are several ways to monetize your art blog:

  • Affiliate Marketing: Promote art supplies and tools that you use and earn a commission for every sale made through your affiliate links.
  • Sell Digital Products: Create and sell digital products like e-books, printables, or online courses.
  • Offer Services: Offer services like custom art commissions, workshops, or one-on-one coaching.
  • Display Ads: Use ad networks like Google AdSense to display ads on your blog and earn money based on clicks or impressions.

Network with Other Artists

Networking with other artists can help you grow your blog and find new opportunities. Join online art communities, attend art events, and participate in collaborations. Building relationships with fellow artists can lead to guest blogging opportunities, cross-promotions, and increased visibility for your blog.

man and woman having a conversation about how to start an art blog

Stay Consistent and Patient

Consistency is key to building a successful art blog. Set a regular posting schedule and stick to it. Whether you post once a week or once a month, consistency helps build trust with your audience. Remember that building a successful blog takes time, so be patient and stay committed to your goals.

Track Your Progress

Use analytics tools like Google Analytics to track your blog’s performance. Monitor metrics like page views, bounce rate, and user engagement to understand what’s working and what’s not. Use this data to refine your content strategy and make informed decisions about your blog.

Conclusion

Learning how to start an art blog requires passion, dedication, and a strategic approach. By defining your niche, creating high-quality content, optimizing for SEO, and leveraging social media, you can build an engaged audience and grow your blog over time. Remember to stay consistent, be patient, and continuously refine your strategy based on your blog’s performance. With these tips and strategies, you’ll be well on your way to creating a successful art blog that showcases your creativity and connects you with fellow art enthusiasts.

Cheers,

julie signing off

SEO for Artists: How to help your art get found online

seo tips for artists
seo tips for artists

Marketing your art in the digital age requires a diverse set of skills. Artists must not only be well-versed in the creation of their work, but also in digital marketing and SEO.

SEO, or search engine optimization, is the process of optimizing a piece of content for search engines with the goal of earning higher web traffic and improving visibility. For artists, this can help your art get found more easily online.

There are a few SEO tips that artists should keep in mind when creating and marketing their work online.

  • Use keyword-rich titles and descriptions for your art. This will help Google index your work and make it more searchable.
  • Use social media to promote your work and drive traffic to your website.
  • Add alt text to your images. This will help Google “read” your images and include them in image search results. This also includes the file name!

By following these simple SEO tips, you can make sure that your art can be found online and reach the widest possible audience.

photo of an artist using laptop for graphic designs

How can you help your art get found online?

Some artists are under the impression that all they need to do is to post their art on social media and wait for the likes and comments to roll in. But if you want to reach a wider audience, you’ll need to put a little more thought into your online presence.

Here are a few tips to help your art get found online:

  1. Start by creating a website for your art. This is a great way to showcase your work in a professional manner. Make sure to include high-quality images of your work, and a bio or statement that gives visitors a sense of who you are as an artist.
  2. Use social media to your advantage. While it’s important not to rely too heavily on social media, it can be a great way to promote your work. Post interesting and engaging content, and be sure to use hashtags to increase your visibility.
  3. Get involved in the online art community. There are many forums, websites, and online groups dedicated to promoting and discussing art. Getting involved in these communities can help you reach new audiences and connect with other artists.
  4. Stay active and consistent. One of the best ways to stand out online is to simply be active and consistent. Post new content regularly, interact with other users, and make sure your website and social media channels are up-to-date.

By following these tips, you can create a strong online presence for your art that will help you reach a wider audience.

seo for artists

Optimize your website for search engines

When it comes to SEO for artists, one of the most important things you can do is make sure your website is optimized for search engines. This means making sure your site is easy to find and navigate, and that it contains keyword-rich content that will help it rank high in search results.

There are a few simple things you can do to make sure your website is optimized for search engines.

  • Make sure your site is easy to find and navigate. Include clear and concise titles and descriptions for each page, and make sure your navigation is easy to understand.
  • Create keyword-rich content that is relevant to your art. Use keywords and phrases that potential customers are likely to use when searching for art online.
  • Include links to your site on other websites and in online directories. This will help to build up your site’s reputation and improve its ranking in search results (also known as backlinks).
  • Create compelling and original content. This means writing blog posts and articles that are interesting and informative, and that will help to promote your art.

By following these tips, you can help to ensure that your art is more visible online, and that you attract more viewers and potential buyers.

setting up an online store

Use unique and descriptive keywords for your artwork

By using unique and relevant keywords and phrases in your titles, tags, and descriptions you can ensure that your artwork is more likely to show up in search engine results.

Here are some tips for creating keyword-rich titles and descriptions for your artwork:

  1. Use descriptive keywords. When choosing keywords for your titles, be sure to use words that accurately describe your artwork. This will help potential customers find your work when they search for terms related to what you create. For example, if you paint landscapes, you might use keywords such as “landscape”, “nature”, or “scenery”.
  2. Use keyword-rich phrases. In addition to using individual keywords, you can also use keyword-rich phrases in your titles and descriptions. For example, instead of just “painting”, you could use “original oil painting” or “hand-painted watercolour”. These phrases are more likely to be used by people who are searching for specific types of art, and they can help your work stand out.
  3. Use relevant keywords. It’s also important to use keywords that are relevant to your specific artwork style. For example, if you create abstract art, you might use keywords such as “abstract”, “modern”, or “contemporary”. By using relevant keywords, you can ensure that your artwork is more likely to appear in search results for people interested in that style of art.
  4. Make sure you have unique titles for your artwork. It’s important to have unique titles for each piece of artwork you create. This not only helps potential customers find your work, but it also ensures that your work is more likely to show up in search engine results and won’t be competing with each other for ranking.
photo of an artist working on her laptop and thinking about SEO

Use alt text to describe your artwork

When uploading images to your website, always include alt text to accompany each image. This is an especially important SEO tip for artists. Not only is this good practice for general accessibility purposes, but it also allows search engines to index your images, improving your site’s overall ranking. You can also add alt text to your Instagram posts.

When deciding what alt text to use, be sure to include key phrases that accurately describe the image, as this will help your site come up in relevant image searches.

For example, if you have a painting of a nature scene, some suitable alt text might be “oil painting of a river in the mountains”. This not only tells users what they can expect to see if they click on the image, but also tells search engines what the image is about, making it more likely to appear in results for relevant searches.

Alt text can also used to describe an image to someone who is blind or partially blind, so it can also help with the accessibility of your art and website.

In addition to improving your site’s ranking, using alt text also provides another opportunity to include relevant keywords and phrases on your site, which can further improve it’s visibility in search engine results. So next time you upload an image to your site, don’t forget to include alt text!

describing artwork helps with SEO for artists

Optimize your website’s metatags and meta descriptions

One of the most important aspects of SEO for artists is optimizing your website’s metatags and meta descriptions.

There are many different metatags, but the most important are the title, meta description, and keywords. The title is the main heading of the page or blog post, and it should include your most important keywords. If you’re using WordPress, there are sections for each of these that you can fill out for every piece of content you publish.

The meta description is a brief summary of your website page or blog post, and it should also include your keywords. Keywords are what people will use to search for your website, so it’s important to include them in both the title and meta description.

You can use an SEO plugin like Yoast SEO (which is what I use) that will help you fill out all of the relevant metadata.

Optimizing your website’s metatags is a great way to improve your SEO and get your art noticed online.

instagram on a phone with graphic design pencil and a notebook

Promote your website on social media

It’s no secret that social media is a powerful tool for promoting just about anything – and that includes websites. By promoting your website on social media, you can reach a large audience of potential customers and clients who may not be aware of your site otherwise.

Here are some tips for promoting your website on social media:

  1. Make sure your website is ready before you start promoting your site on social media. Take a look at your site and make sure everything works as it should, looks good, and is something that people will want to share. A well-designed, user-friendly website with interesting and informative content is more likely to be shared than a site that’s difficult to navigate or that doesn’t offer anything new or unique.
  2. Use social media to drive traffic to your website. Once you’ve ensured that your website is ready, it’s time to start using social media to drive traffic to your site. Posts about your website on social media should include a link, if possible, so that people can easily visit it. You can also include a call-to-action in your posts, such as “check out my website for more information (link in bio)” or “visit my website to see more of my art”.
  3. Make it easy for people to share your website by adding share buttons to your site. With social media share buttons on your website, people can easily share your site with just a few clicks.
  4. Monitor your analytics. Monitor your analytics to see how your posts are performing. Look at the engagement metrics for your posts, such as likes, comments, and shares. You can also track how much traffic your website is getting from social media using Google Analytics, and see which social media platforms are sending the most traffic to your site.

By following these tips, you can promote your website on social media and reach a larger audience.

happy woman doing painting

Conclusion of SEO for artists

The most important thing for artists to remember when it comes to SEO is that content is king. Creating high-quality, keyword-rich content is the best way to help your art get found online.

In addition to great content, artists should also focus on building backlinks and creating social media profiles to help promote their work. By following these simple SEO tips, artists can attract more viewers and potential customers to their online portfolio.

Looking for more tips for artists? Check out my Artist Resources page!


Cheers,

julie signing off

How to Find Keywords for your Zazzle Products

how to find tags for zazzle products
how to find tags for zazzle products

Hello! Today I’m sharing a quick tutorial on how to find the right keywords for your Zazzle products and improve SEO within Zazzle’s website.

I recently crossed the mark of becoming a Bronze Pro seller on Zazzle which means I’ve made over $1000 USD! Most of this happened recently as I finally figured out how to use tags and keywords properly.

To increase your sales on Zazzle you really must pay attention to SEO.

When I first started selling my art online over 6 years ago I had no idea what I was doing. After revising some of my old products and implementing this strategy I’ve seen a big increase in sales and traffic to my Zazzle shop.

Watch the video below to see a demonstration of my keywords strategy.


Of course there are other websites and tools for finding keywords and trends like Google Keyword Planner and Google Trends. The strategy I’ve shown you today is specific to the Zazzle website and their internal search engine.

How to find Keywords for your Zazzle products

  • Come up with 1 to 3 generic keywords to describe your design as a starting point.
  • Use the search function with the Zazzle website to search for that keyword or phrase. (I used “pink elephant” in my demonstration)
  • You will see some keywords and phrases come up on the top of the page. Pick a few that work for your design.
  • Click on a few top selling designs which look similar or have a similar theme to your design.
  • Scroll down on the page until you see the “Tags” section. Pick a few relevant tags from there as well.
  • Use only the tags that are highlighted in blue on either line. Black ones are being ignored by Zazzle’s search function (such as product descriptors like “blanket”).
  • Choose wisely as you only get 10 tags (or phrases) to work with.
  • Use a couple of the same keywords in your title and description as well.

I hope these tips with help you find better keywords for your Zazzle products and get you more sales!

Let me know what other tips you have for keyword research in the comments below.

Cheers,

julie signing off

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