As an artist, I’ve stumbled through plenty of mistakes in building my art business. Luckily, these blunders taught me valuable lessons that I’m sharing with you. Let’s dive into three key mistakes and how you can avoid them!
1. Selling Without Urgency (A.K.A. Why No One's Buying Your Art)
Back in the day, I’d leave my products available indefinitely, thinking people would eventually purchase. Spoiler: they didn’t. Why? Because people need urgency to take action. If your art is always available, what’s stopping them from procrastinating? Answer: nothing. I now limit the number of prints or put a time cap on my sales. This little tweak has increased my sales dramatically.
How to Create Urgency:
Limited Editions: Offer a finite number of prints. When they’re gone, they’re gone. Trust me, people love knowing they have something exclusive.
Short-Term Sales: Instead of offering discounts all the time, try a limited-time sale. Whether it’s two weeks or just a weekend, giving people a deadline works wonders.
Pre-Orders: Offer exclusive access for your loyal fans to pre-order your next product. People will feel special knowing they’re getting something first.
2. Wasting Time on Client Back-and-Forth (A.K.A. the Art of Ghosting Prevention)
Oh man, the time I wasted sending emails back and forth with potential clients, only for them to disappear like Houdini. It used to drive me crazy! After a while, I realized I was giving way too much info upfront, and clients who weren’t serious were taking up valuable time I could’ve spent creating art (or, you know, eating snacks).
How to attract clients:
Dedicated Commission Page: I created a landing page for commissions that lays out everything—my process, pricing, examples of my work, and most importantly, a questionnaire. The questionnaire lets me know right away if someone’s serious or just browsing. It’s like a filter for potential clients.
Minimum Pricing Upfront: By listing my base prices on the commission page, I immediately weed out the people who aren’t ready to invest. This has saved me so much time because people know what they’re signing up for before they even contact me.
Streamlined Process: I’ve created a step-by-step process for clients to follow, from the initial inquiry to final delivery. It’s not just easier for me—it makes the client feel more confident because they know exactly what to expect.
Get Organized with a Checklist:
Instead of explaining everything over and over, you can create a landing page that answers all your potential clients' questions, giving them the confidence to hire you. You can snag my Website Checklist for Artists and Illustrators and streamline your process. Make sure it’s on your services page and anywhere else clients might check for info.
3. Not Sharing Enough of Myself on Social Media (A.K.A. Faceless Artist Syndrome)
I used to think my art would speak for itself. But here’s the thing—people follow artists because they connect with you, not just your work. Once I started sharing more personal stories—like my weird cat obsession and daily struggles—people started following me for more than just my art. That connection turned into more commissions and sales.
How to grow a following:
Behind-the-Scenes Content: Show the process, the messy desk, the unfinished pieces, and the coffee breaks. People love seeing how the magic happens. It makes your work feel more real and relatable.
Sharing Your Interests: Talk about your hobbies, passions, or the weird thing your cat did yesterday. People want to know the person behind the art. I’ve shared everything from my latest art obsessions to my guilty-pleasure Netflix shows, and it’s helped me connect with my audience on a personal level.
Be Vulnerable: Don’t be afraid to share your struggles. I’ve talked about creative burnout, imposter syndrome, and failed projects. People appreciate the honesty, and it makes them feel like they’re not alone in their own struggles.
People aren’t just buying your art—they’re buying into you as an artist. When they feel like they know you, they’re way more likely to support your work.
Want to Amp Up Your Social Media Game?
If you’re feeling stuck with social media, I get it. You can book my Social Media Strategy for Creatives session here to learn how to grow your audience, post consistently, and create meaningful content that attracts commissions.
Ready to Level Up Your Art Business?
Building an art business doesn’t have to be overwhelming. If you're ready to stop making these mistakes and grow your art business, I’m here to help!
My coaching rates go up on November 1st, so if you book now, you can lock in the current pricing—even if we don’t meet until December or January. Don’t wait, because spots are filling up fast!
Book a coaching session with me here, and let’s work together to build your dream art biz. 🎨
