How to Sell Digital Art Oline and Make Money
How to sell digital art online and make money is what we will learn in this post, I thank everyone who supports my mini affiliate marketing posts with your comments.
Selling Digital Art Online
Selling digital art online is a great way to turn your creative passion into a revenue stream. Here's a breakdown of what you need to know to get started
Products to Sell
- This is the most common option. You create high-resolution files of your art (think illustrations, paintings, textures) and sell them for customers to download and use for personal projects.
- Partner with a POD service to sell your art on physical products like t-shirts, mugs, or phone cases. You upload your artwork and the POD service handles printing, fulfillment, and shipping.
- Grant commercial use rights to your art. This allows businesses to use your art on products they sell.
Platforms to Sell On
- Several online marketplaces cater to digital art sales, like Creative Market, Envato Elements, or Etsy. These platforms have a large audience but take a commission on each sale.
- Selling on your Website gives you complete control over branding and pricing, but requires more effort to drive traffic to your site.
Things to Consider
- Ensure your files are high-resolution (300dpi+) in formats like PNG or JPG for downloads and layered PSD or AI for editable files.
- Research what similar artists charge and consider factors like complexity and intended use.
- Promote your art on social media, art communities, or through targeted ads to build an audience.
Additional Resources
- Look for online guides like "The Ultimate Guide to Selling Digital Art Online" [How to Sell Digital Art Online: The Ultimate Guide] for a step-by-step approach.
Remember, building a successful online art business takes time and effort. But with high-quality work, a strategic approach, and some marketing savvy, you can turn your digital art into a thriving online venture.
Digital Art Affiliate Programs
Here are some digital art affiliate programs you can consider
Adobe Creative Cloud
- Promote the industry-standard design software suite with a commission rate varying depending on the specific product
Clip Studio Paint
- Popular software for comics and manga creation, with affiliate programs offered through networks like Impact
Skillshare
Offer online art classes with commissions on student memberships
Digital Art Resources
Creative Market:
A marketplace for digital assets like brushes, textures, and fonts. Offers a generous 30% commission on sales
Cubebrush
A marketplace for brushes, textures, and 3D assets specifically for digital painting software. Offers a 33% commission on sales
Design Cuts
Provides design bundles and digital assets with a 30% commission on sales
Print-On-Demand Services
Redbubble
- A popular POD platform where artists can sell their designs on various products. Offers a commission rate between 10-20%
Society6
- Another major POD platform with similar commission rates to Redbubble
Etsy
While not exclusively digital art, Etsy allows artists to sell downloadable art files and POD products through their shops with a 4% commission on sales
Other Options
Udemy
Promote online art courses and earn a commission on student enrollments
Patreon
Encourage recurring support from fans by offering exclusive content and rewards (not technically an affiliate program, but allows monetization through subscriptions)
These are just a few examples, do some research to find programs that align with the type of digital art you create and your target audience. Remember to consider factors like commission rate, cookie duration (how long clicks are tracked for earning commissions), and ease of promotion when making your choice.
Selling Digital Art with Affiliate Programs
Here's how you can leverage affiliate programs to make money selling digital art online
Step 1 Choose Your Niche and Art Style
- What kind of digital art do you excel at? (e.g., illustrations, portraits, fantasy themes)
- See what types of digital art are popular and have existing affiliate programs.
- Who are you creating art for? This will help you choose relevant affiliate programs.
Step 2 Build Your Online Presence
- Showcase your artwork with a professional website. Include high-quality images, descriptions, and contact information.
- Build a following on platforms like Instagram, Twitter, or Facebook. Share your art, engage with followers, and promote your affiliate products.
- Consider creating blog posts, tutorials, or videos related to digital art. This can establish you as an expert and attract potential customers.
Step 3 Select Relevant Affiliate Programs
- Explore the programs mentioned earlier (Adobe, Creative Market, Redbubble) and others that fit your niche.
- Consider the percentage of commission earned per sale and how long clicks from your promotions are tracked (e.g., 30 days).
- Look for established programs with a good track record and positive reviews from other affiliates.
Step 4 Sign Up for Affiliate Programs
- Many programs are part of affiliate networks like Impact or ShareASale. These platforms simplify signup and manage your commissions.
- Some programs might require approval, so be prepared to submit your website or social media links for review.
- Once approved, access the program's resources like banners, text links, and product information to use in your promotions.
Step 5 Promote Affiliate Products
- Include affiliate banners or text links within your portfolio or blog posts.
- Share engaging content featuring your art and link to relevant affiliate products used in the creation process.
- Create tutorials or reviews highlighting the benefits of tools or resources you promote as an affiliate.
- Disclose that you are using affiliate links and genuinely recommend the products you promote.
Step 6 Track and Analyze Results
- Most programs provide a dashboard to track clicks, conversions, and commissions earned.
- Use website analytics tools like Google Analytics to see which types of content and promotions generate the most traffic and sales.
- Analyze your data and adjust your approach to maximize the effectiveness of your affiliate marketing efforts.
Bonus Tip
Capture email addresses from interested followers to send targeted promotions and nurture leads.
Success with affiliate marketing takes time and consistent effort. By creating high-quality art, building an audience, and promoting valuable resources, you can establish yourself as a trusted voice in the digital art community and generate income through affiliate programs.
Final Thoughts
- Don't just sell art - sell the value it brings. Does your art help people relax, inspire creativity, or solve design problems? Highlight these benefits in your marketing.
- Engage with other artists online and participate in discussions. Collaborations and shared promotions can expand your reach.
- The digital art market is constantly evolving. Try different approaches, experiment with new art styles, and adapt to changing trends.
- Learn the basics of marketing, pricing, and customer service. These skills will be crucial for your long-term success.
- Enjoy the creative process and don't be discouraged by setbacks. Selling your art should be a rewarding experience that fuels your passion.
By combining your artistic talent with a strategic approach and a dash of hustle, you can turn your digital art into a thriving online business.
Good luck!
Jeff
Recent Comments
28
Excellent post, Jeff! 👍👍
Zazzle is another option to sell digital art on mugs, hats, etc. for a commission. 😎
Frank 🤘🎸
Hi Jeff
Yes, we are visiting with multiple family members and having a Memorial Day cookout.
Plenty of music and movies will also figure into the next three days! Lol
So, put something fun on your weekend agenda😎
Frank 🎸
Hello Tim
I thank you for reading and commenting, I want to wish you a nice Memorial weekend
Jeff
Thank you, Tim
I wish you a nice weekend as well. Nothing planned for me, I will more likely be working onlne
Jeff
My first digital drawing was in Yahoo messenger. They had a 'doodle' tab that opened to a blank canvas.
Of course this was back in the day of dial-up, so you had time to.....Doodle. And I was using Windows XP.
I still have that image...grin.
Then I went to MS Paint and did some more painting. Was Still on XP.
When Windows 7 came out, wow, there were brush choices, painting styles like watercolor or oil or marker. My favorite was the spray can. Really a cool tool for accenting sunlight streaks or sprucing up the dark sky with stars, etc.
Anyway, that's what came up when I saw this title, Jeff...grin.
I did some acrylic pour painting and use that image for cell phone covers...grin, over at Red bubble.
Great post, Jeff, you've pretty much covered all the bases here!
Rudy
Thank you again Rudy
You have brought back memories of the early computer art. I wonder how many members remember these as well
Jeff
Thank you Paul
I got to thinking how I could help any artists start a business online, so this is what I found from my research
Jeff
See more comments
Some more helpful information, Jeff. I want to stress one of your bullet points about not just selling art but selling the value it brings. Show your potential buyers how your artwork can help them. Does it inspire creative talent or a meditative state? Showcase that aspect and share how this does these things.
Thanks for sharing,
Nancy
Thank you, Nancy
I always appreciate hearing from you
Jeff