WEB DESIGN FOR ARTISTS >

Virtual Group Exhibits / vs. Individual Websites

Many artists are choosing for Virtual Group Exhibits.
The main advantage of group exhibits is that they usually have a larger budget for the promotion of the site and therefore, will get more hits.
When signing up for such a program, it is important to find out how and where the site will advertise and how much traffic it gets.
Don't waste your time with sites that look sloppy, and poor in design.

You will see that many artists have links to an Individual Website (in addition to the page that they get on that site).

The importance of choosing to have your own website is because you establish an independent profile.
When meeting a possible prospect, it just makes more sense to say: "You can find my work online at myname.com", rather then saying "I have a page at Artisokes.com/members/mygalleryamongstothers...".
Your own domain name would be more easy to remember and you will look more professional.

Here are 10 Ways How a Personal Website can Promote Your Work:

1. If someone anywhere in the world knows your name, he or she can find your work.
2. You always have a portfolio or exhibit of current work immediately available without having it linked to your competitors.
3. You can put your website URL on all print media: business cards, news stories, exhibit catalogues, bumperstickers, T-shirts, graffiti... :o)
4. You can use your own website address in a postcard mailing to announce a show or new item.
5. You can put your URL in any exhibit venue, even on title cards of casual displays in restaurants or banks, to give visitors access more information about your work.
6. You can send email to potential galleries you have pre-screened with a link to your site asking if they are interested in receiving a slide package.
7. On your site, you can list a free giveaway to collect addresses for mailing list of interested clients.
8. You can sell reproductions, duplicates, notecards--all with your URL printed on back.
9. Search engines can direct visitors to your site.
10. Listings in art directories can link to your site.
    

Group websites usually try to attract artists saying they are "cheaper". If you are on a tight budget, we would advise you to ask a web designer how much it would cost to have a custom made website with the info that you have or would have on a group site. This usually fits in 3 pages and in many cases, we can offer a start-up package for as little as $150! Contrarily to group sites, this is a one time fee. It will look more professional, more personal, and you can then add more pages to your site when you are ready for it. You will also have complete control over the lay out and the design of your site.

The bottom line:
An individual site is where you start when you want to establish your online identity.
A group site is a great place to promote your website once you have it IF it that site has a good marketing plan.

We cannot recommend group sites as this will very much depend on your specialty/niche. You will often find the most important sites in the magazines of your art form.