How To Sell Art Online In 13 Simple Steps

If you’re an artist dreaming of turning your passion into profit, 2025 could be your best shot. With more people buying art online than ever, it’s the right time to build a website. Here’s how to start selling art online to show your work to a wider audience.

These days, buyers aren’t just after big names; they want original work they relate to. That means there’s never been a better time for independent artists to step up, stand out, and start selling online.

Whether you paint on canvas, create digital prints, or design custom illustrations, the internet provides a way to reach buyers worldwide without a gallery, a huge following, or even a physical store. All you need is a strong plan and the right tools to show your work, tell your story, and get it into the hands of paying customers.

This guide explains everything clearly and concisely, from setting up your business and choosing a platform to pricing your art and getting your first sale. We take you through every step to sell art online. You’ll also learn how to protect your work, handle shipping, and use intelligent marketing to grow.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Register your art business to protect your work and handle taxes efficiently.
• Pick a name that suits your style and allows growth.
• Secure your domain, social handles, and check name availability.
• Research your audience to know what type of art they want.
• Choose what to sell, whether it’s originals, prints, digital files, or a mix.
• Take high-quality photos that clearly display your art.
• Protect your digital work with watermarks and usage terms.
• Pick the right platform based on control, fees, and features.
• Price your art by factoring in time, materials, and platform costs.
• Write honest, detailed, and keyword-friendly art descriptions.
• Promote your art using social media, email, and content.
• Carefully pack and ship, and follow up with buyers.
• Track your sales, audience behavior, and make improvements.

How to Sell Art Online

Step 1: Register Your Art Business

Before you start to sell art online, set up your business correctly. When your business is officially registered, you’re less likely to face legal problems or unexpected fines. It also separates your personal assets from your business.

That means if something goes wrong, your savings or property won’t be at risk. Also, you can receive tax benefits that aren’t available to hobbyists.

However, before you proceed with registering your business, you must pick a business structure. There are a few ways to structure your business. The simplest one is a sole proprietorship. It’s easy to set up, but it doesn’t give you much legal protection.

If you want to protect your assets and look more professional, setting up a Limited Liability Company (LLC) is a better choice. An LLC costs more but gives you more peace of mind.

Once you finalize your art business structure, go through the following steps to register it:

1. Choose a unique name for your art business (we show you how to do this in the next section).
2. Then, check what licenses or permits you need based on your local laws.
3. You’ll also need to apply for an Employer Identification Number (EIN) from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) website; it’s free and lets you file taxes or open a business bank account.
4. Once that’s done, open a bank account solely for your art sales, to organize your finances.

Taking these steps early makes it easier to grow, manage, and promote your business with confidence.

Step 2: Choose a Business Name

When you sell art online, picking the right name for your business is one of the most exciting steps, and it’s also an important one. Your business name helps people remember you, tells them what you do, and sets the tone for your brand. A good name can also make your art stand out in a crowded market.

Here’s how you can choose a perfect business name:

• Brainstorm Ideas: Start by writing down words that connect with your art. You can use your name and pair it with words like Art, Studio, or the medium you use, such as Prints, Canvas, or Ink. If your art follows a specific theme, you can include that as well. Keep it simple, easy to spell, and easy to say.
• Stay Flexible Long-term: Avoid choosing a name that restricts your options. For example, calling your brand Watercolor Birds might work now, but what if you start painting other subjects or switch to digital art later? A flexible name grows with you, and lets you keep your options open as your style changes.
• Naming Techniques: You can also play around with creative ideas. Use wordplay, rhymes, or combine two short words to create something catchy. Words that trigger emotion or spark curiosity work well, too. Say the name out loud a few times to hear how it sounds and ensure no one else is already using it.

Once you’ve got a few names you like, check if the matching domain name is available. It’s easier to build a website and social media presence if your name is unique and available across all platforms.

Step 3: Register Your Business Name

Once you’ve chosen a great name for your art business, it’s time to make it official. Doing so protects it from being used by others and helps build trust with your buyers. It also prepares you for various things, such as setting up a website or opening a bank account under your business name.

Filing a DBA

If you’re a sole proprietor and want to run your business under a name that isn’t yours, you’ll need to file a Doing Business As (DBA). It’s a simple form that tells the government what name you’re using.

Even if you’ve formed an LLC, some states may still ask you to file a DBA if you use a name different from your registered LLC name. Check with your state or local government for exact rules and steps.

Consider Trademarking

To keep others from using your business name or logo, you may want to trademark it. To do this, start by searching the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) database to see if your name is already taken. If it’s available, you can file online.

It usually takes several months and costs a few hundred dollars. While trademarking isn’t required, it gives you extra legal protection if you plan to grow your brand.

Secure Digital Assets

Once your name is ready, don’t forget the online side of things. Grab your domain name as soon as possible, even if you’re not going to build your site yet. To keep everything consistent, claim matching social media handles and online store names. This makes it easier for people to find and remember your brand.

Taking these steps now saves you from legal issues later and gives your business a solid, professional start.

Step 4: Research the Online Art Market

Before you sell art online, it’s important to understand what people want. Knowing your niche and audience helps you create work that sells and build a brand that connects with the right buyers.

To understand your niche and target audience:

Figure out what kind of art you create and who it’s for. Do you make bold abstract pieces, soft watercolor prints, or digital illustrations? Each style attracts a different audience. The clearer your niche, the easier it is to market your work.

To learn more about your audience, try asking questions. You can conduct quick interviews or online surveys to find what people love, what they buy, and how much they’re willing to spend. You can also consider forums, Facebook groups, and Reddit communities where art lovers hang out.

Pay attention to the posts, comments, and questions people ask. This will provide real insight into what they’re looking for.

Don’t forget to use tools and reports to track trends and demand. Platforms like Google Trends, Etsy search, and art blogs can help you spot what’s popular right now.

It’s also important to take a close look at what other artists in your niche are doing. You can check how they price their pieces, which platforms they sell on, and what kind of audience they attract.

For example, if you want to sell prints online, go to Society6 and search for botanical prints or abstract wall art. Consider how other artists price their prints, what sizes they offer, and how they describe their work. This helps you understand what’s popular, how to stand out, and what buyers are looking for.

Researching early provides a clear path forward. You won’t be guessing, you’ll know exactly who you’re creating for and how to reach them.

Step 5: Decide What to Sell

Once you understand your audience, the next step is to decide the type of art you want to offer. This choice affects how you price your work, where you sell it, and how you market it.

There are various types of artwork that you can sell:

For example, you can sell originals, which are one-of-a-kind pieces. These usually attract the highest prices because they’re unique. If you want to offer more affordable options, try limited editions. These are signed and numbered small print batches. They give buyers a sense of exclusivity without the high cost of an original.

You can also sell open edition prints, which are not limited in number. These are easier to reproduce and are perfect for people who want your art but can’t afford originals.

Another great way to earn is by offering commissions; when customers request custom artwork. And don’t forget about digital art, which you can sell as downloadable files with no shipping required.

You may also use a mixed strategy, combining originals, prints, and commissions, allowing you to reach a wider audience. Some customers may want a custom piece, while others just want a small print to hang on their wall.

By offering variety, you’re more likely to make steady sales and grow your income over time.

Step 6: Prepare Your Art & Capture Quality Photos

Once you know what to sell, it’s time to get your artwork ready for buyers. Whether you’re selling original pieces or digital prints, how your art looks online plays a huge role in whether it sells.

Here’s what you need to do to take clear and high-quality photos to help your work stand out and make your shop look more professional.

Select Art to Sell

Start by picking pieces that display your style and skill. Choose artwork that represents what you’re all about. If someone visits your store or website, they should quickly understand the type of art you create. This helps build trust and makes your brand more memorable.

Photography Essentials

To show your art in the best light, you need clear, high-resolution photos of each piece. Use natural light or soft, even lighting to avoid harsh shadows or glare. Take pictures from different angles and include close-up shots to highlight texture and brushwork. A clean, neutral background helps keep the focus on your art.

Editing Tips

After you take your photos, edit them to ensure the colors in your images match the real artwork. Don’t over-edit because your goal is accuracy. Ensure all your product photos look consistent in style, lighting, and layout. This gives your online shop a neat and professional look.

Remember, great photos not only help sell your art but also make your brand feel more trustworthy.

Step 7: Protect Your Digital Art

When you share or sell art online, you must keep it safe from being copied or stolen. While you want to display your work to the world, you also need to ensure you stay in control of how it’s used.

To do this, do the following things:

WATERMARKING & LOW-RESOLUTION UPLOADS

One simple way to protect your art is by adding a watermark (a small logo or name placed over the image). This makes it harder for others to steal or reuse your work without permission. You can also upload low-resolution versions of your artwork for previews. These look good on screen but are not high enough quality for printing or resale.

COPYRIGHT REGISTRATION BASICS

In many countries, you automatically own the rights to your work as soon as you create it. But if you want extra protection, especially if you’re selling online, you can register your copyright.

In the U.S., this is done through the Copyright Office. Once your work is registered, it’s easier to take legal action if someone uses it without permission.

CLEAR USAGE & LICENSING TERMS

Always explain how buyers can use your digital art. Are they allowed to print it? Can they use it commercially or just for personal use? Adding clear usage and licensing terms to your product descriptions helps avoid confusion and protects your rights as the creator.

Step 8: Choose the Right Selling Platform

To sell art online, you need a platform where people can see and buy your work. Choosing the right one depends on what you’re selling, the amount of control you want, and how much you’re willing to pay in fees.

One option is to build a personal website using Hosted.com®’s website builder. This gives you full control over your brand, pricing, and layout. You can add your specific store, blog, and contact page, all in one place.

TIP: You may also try our website builder’s demo before signing up.

Another option is to sell on marketplaces, such as:

• Etsy
• Saatchi Art
• Redbubble

These sites already have numerous buyers looking for art. You just need to set up your shop, upload your work, and let the platform handle most of the traffic.

You can also try print-on-demand platforms, where your art is printed on various products, including t-shirts, mugs, and posters. Sites like Printful and Society6 manage printing and shipping for you.

If you’re into digital art, NFT platforms let you sell art online as digital assets using blockchain. However, if you own a website to sell art online, where you have complete control over site customization, scalability, and additional features, you can use our WordPress Hosting service.

Whatever platform you choose, each of them has its ups and downs:

• With your website, you have full control and keep more profit, but you also must attract your traffic.
• Marketplaces make it easier to get found, but take a cut from every sale.
• Print-on-demand platforms handle orders for you, but your earnings per sale may be lower.
• NFT sites are great for digital collectors, but they come with tech and setup challenges.

So, which one to choose? Here are a few platform decision factors that you should consider:

• Consider your audience first. Are they purchasing physical art, digital downloads, or collectables?
• Then work out the fees each platform will charge. Some take a percentage of every sale, while others charge monthly or listing fees.
• Find out whether the platform provides tools for payments, shipping, and customer requests.
• Consider the technical and customization control you want.

Selecting the right platform helps you grow faster and makes it easier to manage your sales.

Step 9: Price Your Art

Setting the right price for your art is one of the most important steps in selling online. You want your prices to reflect your hard work, but they also need to match what buyers are willing to pay.

There are two main ways to price your art:

1. Cost-plus Pricing: With this method, you add up the cost of your materials, time, and other expenses, then add a profit margin on top. This method ensures you don’t lose money.
2. Market-based Pricing: Here, you look at what similar artists are charging for similar work and set your prices to stay competitive.

While setting your prices, consider the following:

Don’t forget to include the time you spent creating the piece, the cost of materials, shipping supplies, platform fees, and taxes. These small costs add up fast. If you’re shipping internationally, you must account for higher delivery charges. Also, consider your experience level. As your skills and demand grow, you can slowly raise your prices.

PRICING DIGITAL ART VS PHYSICAL ART

Digital art is different from physical pieces. Since they include no shipping or material cost, digital products are often priced lower. But that doesn’t mean your work is less valuable. With digital art, you can sell the same piece multiple times, so focus on volume and value.

For physical art, each piece is unique, so pricing should reflect the uniqueness and the effort behind it. A fair price helps you make money, build trust, and attract repeat buyers. Don’t undervalue your talent. Price with purpose.

Step 10: Write Compelling Art Descriptions

A clear and engaging description helps buyers connect with your art before they even see it in person. It gives them the story, the details, and a reason to buy. Here, good writing can turn casual visitors into loyal customers.

Here are the key elements to create excellent art descriptions:

BASIC THINGS

• Begin with a strong title that captures attention.
• Then, share a short story or the inspiration behind the piece – why you made it, what it means, or how it makes people feel.
• Include the medium you used (such as acrylic, watercolor, or digital), the size (in inches or centimeters), and whether it’s an original, limited edition, or open print.

These details help buyers understand exactly what they’re getting.

SEO-FRIENDLY WRITING

Use simple, natural language that includes keywords people might search for, such as “modern landscape painting” or “digital floral print”. Don’t stuff your text with keywords; instead, just ensure they fit in smoothly. Good SEO helps your art store appear in search results, so more people will find and purchase it.

CALL TO ACTION

End with a friendly note that tells the reader what to do next. For example: “Add this one-of-a-kind piece to your collection today”, or “Message me if you’d like a custom version”. A gentle nudge can make all the difference.

Keep in mind that writing a strong art description isn’t just about facts; it’s about helping someone see the value in your work and feel excited to make it theirs.

Step 11: Market and Promote Your Art

Creating beautiful art is just the beginning. To make sales, you need to get your work in front of the right people. This is where marketing helps more people discover your art, follow your journey, and purchase from you.

SOCIAL MEDIA STRATEGY

Start by selecting platforms where your audience spends time. For example, Instagram, Pinterest, and Facebook are great for visual content. Post regularly and share more than just your finished pieces. Show behind-the-scenes moments, time-lapse videos, or your workspace.

Use clear captions and add hashtags that match your art style and topic, like #modernartor #abstractpainting, to help new people locate you.

EMAIL MARKETING

An email list provides a direct way to talk to your fans. For this, you can use Mailchimp or Kitto collect emails through your website or shop.

Send updates when you launch new art, offer discounts, or share blog posts. You can even segment your list; for example, one group for buyers and another for fans who enjoy updates. This helps you send the right message to the right people.

CONTENT MARKETING

Writing blog posts or sharing videos is a great way to build trust and boost SEO. You can explain your process, share art tips, or tell the story behind your latest piece. This helps people connect with your work and return to your site.

PAID ADS & COLLOBORATIONS

If you want to reach people quickly, try running ads on Instagram, Facebook, or Google. You can also partner with influencers or local galleries that already have an audience that appreciates art. These collaborations help you grow faster.

Marketing doesn’t have to be hard. Just be consistent, stay true to your style, and keep showing up. The more people see and connect with your art, the more likely they are to support it.

Step 12: Monitor Orders and Shipping

Once you start making sales, it’s important to manage your orders smoothly. Ensure you have a sound system that helps you stay organized, avoid mistakes, and offer buyers a great experience from checkout to delivery.

If you’re using an online store builder like WooCommerce or Etsy, most of them come with built-in order tracking. These tools show you what’s been sold, who bought it, and when it needs to be shipped.

They also help you update stock, send receipts, and manage refunds if needed. Having everything in one place saves time and keeps things running smoothly.

Packaging is just as important as the art itself. Use strong, protective materials to keep your artwork safe during delivery. For prints, consider using flat mailers or tubes. For framed pieces or originals, wrap them well in bubble wrap and sturdy boxes.

Always use trusted shipping carriers with tracking, like FedEx, UPS, or your local postal service. If you’re sending items internationally, be aware of the customs rules and ensure you fill in all the required forms.

Once you’ve shipped the order, send your customer a tracking number so they can follow the delivery. After they receive the package, send a quick message to thank them and ask if they’re happy with their purchase. A simple follow-up can lead to repeat buyers, good reviews, and referrals.

Step 13: Track Sales Performance

To grow your art business, you need to know what works and what doesn’t. To determine this, track your sales to see where your success is coming from and where there’s room for improvement. The more you understand your numbers, the better your decisions will be.

Here are a few important numbers you should pay attention to:

• Traffic: Your traffic tells you the number of people visiting your shop or website.
• Conversion Rate: Shows the number of visitors that purchase. A low conversion rate might mean your prices are too high or your product photos aren’t good enough.
• Average Order Value (AOV): This is the average amount a customer spends per order. If you sell prints, try offering bundles or discounts to raise this number.

You also need to monitor platform fees:

If you’re selling on platforms like Etsy, Saatchi Art, or using print-on-demand services, don’t forget to track how much you’re paying in fees. These small cuts can add up. Knowing how much you’re losing to commissions, transaction fees, or ad costs helps you price your art better and protect your profits.

Also, use what you learn to make small changes. If one type of art sells more than others, make more of it. If customers leave feedback, take it seriously. Maybe they want different sizes or shipping options. Use this data and customer input to fix your pricing, products, and marketing.

You can also embed customer reviews on your art store to build trust and make new visitors feel more confident about buying from you.

Step 14: Sell Art Online Today

Selling your art online may feel like a big step, but you now have all the information you need to begin. Start by setting up your art business and choosing a name that suits your style. Register it, build your online presence, and take time to understand your audience. Choose what to sell, whether it’s originals, prints, or digital downloads, and prepare your photos and product listings.

Ensure your work is protected, pick the right platform, and price your art fairly. Write clear, SEO-friendly descriptions, promote your art through social media and email, and offer a smooth experience from order to delivery. Most importantly, track your results and keep improving based on what you learn.

Don’t wait until everything’s perfect because it never will be. The best time to start sharing your art and growing your brand is now. Every artist has a unique voice, and there are buyers out there looking for exactly what you create. Take that first step, put your work out into the world, and start building a business that turns your creativity into a source of income.

FAQS

Other Blogs of Interest

– A Beginner’s Guide to WordPress Hosting – Part 1

– 6 Best Website Builder for Blogs 2024

– How to Buy an Expired Domain

– How To Transfer Web Hosting From One Company To Another

– What Is Domain Flipping