How to Run a Successful Online Art Business
A self-portrait of Waifu of Waifuarts.
Online art entrepreneurship can be a fun and lucrative career, but it will require learning to be business savvy in addition to your artistic skills. In this article, we share an interview with waifu of Waifuarts, who runs a successful online shop in addition to her commission-based business. Her story is a testament to merging art and business to find online success. This interview is meant to help emerging artists find advice in creating their own successful online art business.
1. How did you establish your online presence as an artist, and what platforms have you found most effective for showcasing and selling your art?
I don't feel like I really established myself so much as chipped away at posting regularly and improving my art until the odd piece that took off here and there brought in a rush of followers and enough stayed around that here I am. I personally use Twitter more to look at art but since You Know Who took over, Instagram has been my go-to. It's not really that great for art that isn't a square or nsfw but they don't penalize you for using tags and discoverability is higher. Posts also have a lifespan longer than 24 hours, unlike Twitter. I use Instasize (a phone app) to crop my comics into a square for ease of posting. Tumblr is also very good for fanart. Don't be shy about watermarking EVERYTHING and putting links to your shop wherever you can. Like this! http://waifupins.etsy.com/ !
2. Could you share your approach to pricing your artwork and how you've refined your pricing strategy over time?
Art is a luxury, so don't be shy about charging what you're worth! Consider how much time you spend on a piece on average, the minimum wage in your area, and then double it. If you think you're taking too long on commissions, figure out a way to streamline your process or do more studies to increase your speed and efficiency. I raise my prices once I start getting more commissions than I can handle and you should too!
When it comes to physical merch, I try to have a range of items for all budgets. There are a lot of drop shippers and art thieves selling things for dirt cheap; absolutely do NOT compare yourself to them! You deserve to be compensated for your time and work, and you will burn out quickly if you try to race them to the bottom. That said, I try to keep my prices affordable, so anyone can buy a little piece of art as a treat.
3. What marketing strategies or social media platforms have been the most impactful in promoting your art online?
I would recommend researching "SEO" and how the algorithm works for each platform. Each one is different. Don't be shy about taking advantage of trending or popular tags, franchises, etc. Consistency is important as well, if you post similar content regularly you will be more likely to attract the audience for that specific fandom. The downside to this strategy is if you change subjects be prepared to lose a large chunk of your following. Don't let this dissuade you from creating art that makes YOU happy though. Your real fans will stick around, and there will always be new followers.
Posting regularly has been the most impactful strategy for me. Wips, sketches, timelapses, etc are all fair game, not just finished pieces. I also post pictures of my dog sometimes because he is very cute.
4. How do you engage with and build a strong relationship with your online audience and customers?
I'm a naturally friendly person so I enjoy talking to people (especially about niche shared interests!), I've ended up making a lot of friends this way as well : D
HOWEVER! I don't think you necessarily need to build a relationship with your audience or customers if you don't feel like it. The art is the most important part!
A setup at a con. Physical exposure to potential new clients.
5. Managing the logistics of selling and shipping artwork can be challenging. How do you handle these aspects of your online art business, and do you have any tips for streamlining the process?
Having an organized workspace is my #1 tip. I have incorporated packing orders into my morning routine, it happens right after I walk my dog and feed myself. Having things on a schedule makes it easy for me to stick to.
6. Have you leveraged online art communities or collaborations with other artists? How have these experiences benefited your business?
I have done collaborations and joined group activities here and there. Working with an artist whose art you admire- WOWZA!!! It's AWESOME. I can't say it has benefitted my business but it sure has benefitted my personal enjoyment greatly. Below is a collaboration with Stvpvd on Twitter.
An example of the collaboration between Stvpvd and Waifuarts.
7. Balancing the creative and business sides of being an artist can be tricky. How do you effectively manage your time to ensure both aspects thrive?
Take time off to relax, and draw things just for yourself. Wrist injuries and other RSIs abound in artist circles. Seriously, do some stretches, drink water, take regular breaks, and have non-art hobbies you can enjoy. I try to keep office hours of a sort and have weekends to myself.
8. In the realm of commissioned work, how do you prioritize effective communication with clients and ensure you complete commissions in a timely manner?
It is important to have a professional relationship with your clients since someone is trusting you with their hard earned money. I give myself a generous timeframe to complete my commissions in, and I record everything in a google doc so I don't forget anything. For instance, I take on average a week to complete a sketch, but I say officially that it takes 1-2 weeks so I have a little extra time in case something crops up (and it often does). It's okay if you take a while to complete a commission; as long as you're upfront about it and the commissioner understands it's all good.
Replying to customer questions and messages promptly is always appreciated. So is keeping folks updated on the status of their commissions, even if the update is negative. What if your cat sat too hard on your screen and broke it? What if your dog eats your tablet pen? You don't have to go into details if you're a private person, but a simple "Hey, something came up and this piece will be delayed. Sorry," allows your customers to see that you haven't forgotten/ignored them. On the flip side, don't be afraid to refund and fire a customer if they behave poorly or make you feel uncomfortable.
9. Lastly, what are your future goals and aspirations for your online art business? Are there any exciting projects or developments on the horizon?
I want to make more cool things! There are too many to list them all. The world is my oyster! and baby I got lemon wedges and hot sauce
Naturally, I wanted to interview waifu for this blog post because I have commissioned them for most of the art you find on this blog. She has always been a joy to work with and creates commissions in a fast time frame, meaning she really has a handle on the production and business side. We hope that if you are an aspiring artist you learned something from this blog. Check out her work in the links below and leave any comments with questions!
