You might not know this, but there is a ton of helpful resources and information on Imagekind for artists. We continue to try and build one of the top services for artists to help sell their art prints online. That’s why we have developed several articles and posts directed at all things art related. Whether you are confused about how to make your original artwork into print ready digital files, or just want to know some helpful decorating tips and ideas for your framed art, we hope that you find the below topic useful!

1. Preparing Prints – Making your Originals Print Ready

Printing Basics – Getting Perfect Prints
5 Tips for Turning your Originals into Giclee Prints

2. Selling art successfully online

Selling Art Online – Tips to selling successfully on Imagekind
Pricing your Art on Imagekind
Sell more Art – 3 Ways to Promote your Art
The Five Best Networking Sites to Help Promote your Art Prints

3. Tools to showcase your art online

An Easy way to Display your Art Online
How to Create a Video of your Artwork
Create a Slide Show of Your Artwork

4. Decorating Ideas to Help you Prepare

Interior Design Ideas
5 Tips for Preparing your Home
Fall 2008 Art Decorating Trends

A few weeks ago I showed you how artists can make their own slide show and video using their artwork.

Now, I want to show you an even easier way to add your artwork to your website, blog or social network page using tools already provided to every artist on Imagekind.

It’s called Widgetbox. Users can import their content and make custom boxes to display their content. In this case, I’ll show you how to easily display the art in your gallery.

1. Visit www.widgetbox.com
2. Click “Join Now” at the top and fill out your info
3. Once registered, click the green “Make a Widget” box
4. Select “Blog/feed”
5. Go to your Imagekind gallery you want to display
6. Scroll down to the bottom of the gallery and click “RSS for this Gallery”



7. Copy the RSS Feed URL at the top and paste it in the URL box on Widgetbox (note: you can also right click on the orange “RSS for this gallery” and select “copy link location”)
8. Follow the options to customize your widget
9. Once you are finished, click “Publish Widget” (you can leave it private if you want)
10. Copy and paste the embed code on your blog, site or network

** One Special note, to change the image displayed at the top of the widget with your Imagekind profile avatar, go to your Imagekind profile, right click on the avatar and select “copy image location.” Once you have it copied, paste the code in the image box under “Choose your blidget’s header style and details.”

If you need further instructions, or help on creating a personal widget with your Imagekind gallery, visit this helpful tutorial, or feel free to leave a comment and ask a question.

Nate

Want to know how to get more sales on Imagekind?

A lot of artists do. Many just don’t know where to start.

I was looking through some of the exposure we’ve gotten in the past from around the web, and I came across this interview with one of our many successful Imagekind artists.

Michael Longfellow has been selling his artwork on Imagekind since April of 2007! He was interviewed by Andrew Gibson, from the online photo magazine Magical Places Fine Art, who had the chance to ask him a few tips on how to be successful selling your artwork on Imagekind.

Though the interview has been around for awhile, I think Michael’s responses are timeless, and worth sharing. I especially liked his thoughts on how to promote your artwork for sale.

Here’s a quick excerpt and some of his advice:

Andrew Gibson: What three pieces of advice would you give to a photographer who wants to successfully sell his or her work on Imagekind?

Michael Longfellow:

1. Post your best work. There’s no advantage to volume unless of course it’s all great work.

2. Tell unique and intriguing stories.

3. Choose the best frame or canvas. The “purchase as the artist intended” button can help present the best display solution for each of your photos, so use it.

Make sure to read the full interview and discover more great ideas to help sell your artwork on Imagekind.

I think some of the best advice to help increase your art sales on Imagekind is to be proactive about it.

Nate

For all pro and platinum artists!

In lieu of our Member Appreciation, month-long free shipping promotion, I thought I’d get some banners for you to help promote your artwork for this special offer. I tracked down Scott, one of our designers here to help with the graphics, and he was cool enough to comply.

So, if you are a pro or platinum artist, and want to place some exclusive free shipping banners on your website, blog, or social networking page, grab the code and follow the instructions below.

Not a pro or platinum artist? You still have time to sign up to take advantage of this exclusive offer!

**Just remember that the free shipping offer is valid in September only and you should remove the banners from your site once the promotion expires.

Spread the Word!

Copy and paste the code below the banner on your website, blog or social network site. Just make sure to change SCREENAME with your Imagekind screen name (found on your profile page) to correctly send shoppers to your Imagekind art prints for sale!

<a href=http://SCREENNAME.imagekind.com><img src=http://blog.imagekind.com/media/free_shipping_234_1.gif alt=free_shipping border=1></a><br/>

<a href=http://SCREENNAME.imagekind.com><img src=http://blog.imagekind.com/media/free_shipping_234_2.gif alt=free_shipping border=1></a><br/>

<a href=http://SCREENNAME.imagekind.com><img src=http://blog.imagekind.com/media/free_shipping_234_3.gif alt=free_shipping border=1></a><br/>

<a href=http://SCREENNAME.imagekind.com><img src=http://blog.imagekind.com/media/free_shipping_468_1.gif alt=free_shipping border=1></a><br/>

<a href=http://SCREENNAME.imagekind.com><img src=http://blog.imagekind.com/media/free_shipping_468_2.gif alt=free_shipping border=1></a><br/>

<a href=http://SCREENNAME.imagekind.com><img src=http://blog.imagekind.com/media/free_shipping_468_3.gif alt=free_shipping border=1></a><br/>

______

Thanks to artist Ed Kinnally for helping clear up my last mistake!

Nate

So, you’ve set yourself up on a couple of social networks, now what?

Promoting your artwork where fans of your work congregate online is one of the best ways to help increase your art print sales. Whether its MySpace, Facebook, Twitter, Flickr or any of the other myriad social network choices, you have to first let people know your work is available in order to spark their interest.

If no one knows your artwork is for sale, how can you expect people to buy it?

I know most artists don’t like to promote their artwork for sale. Whether it’s because they’re timid, shy, unsure about their talent or just don’t want to be pushy, most artists don’t like this idea at all. However, I hope to explain three of the simplest, most passive ways to market your work online; no bullish sales pitches needed.

Here are three ‘passive’ tips to help you promote your artwork for sale on social networks. I say passive because, in most cases, it simply requires you to do something once. For the sake of brevity, I will explain how to do this on MySpace as not only is it one of the largest networks; the other choices require fairly similar processes.

Tip #1: Include a button or banner

Even if you are not very technical and know absolutely no HTML, I can show you how to do this easily.

1. Login to your Imagekind account
2. Go to “my account” and click on “Marketing Tools” in your admin
3. Choose either “Link to my Profile” or “Text Link” (note: because most online network sites don’t allow flash, I am sticking with the simpler, static options available through Imagekind. However, you can still opt to use the flash buttons and banners if you choose.)
4. Follow the steps and copy the code in the yellow box
5. Login to your network profile and select “edit profile” and paste the code in the box under your desired section, either “about me” “general” “music” etc.
6. Hit save changes and it should now show up on your profile.

- or -

Skip steps 1-4 and simply copy and paste the following code on your profile, making sure to change SCREENNAME to your Imagekind screen name:

<a href=http://SCREENNAME.imagekind.com><img src=http://www.imagekind.com/images/buttons/buy_my_art.gif alt=”Buy my art at Imagekind.com.” border=”0”></a><br/>

Tip #2: Share relevant Imagekind sales and promotions

I have setup a few different buttons and banners that will change automatically on your site when we launch a new promotion. You can choose either a small button sized promotion or a larger banner promotion. To put these on your profile or personal site with a link back to your profile, copy and paste the following code. Again, make sure to change SCNREENAME to your Imagekind screen name.

1. Small size: <a href=http://SCREENNAME.imagekind.com><img src=http://blog.imagekind.com/wp-content/themes/default/images/homepage_image_small.jpg alt=”Save money on my art at Imagekind.” border=”0″></a><br/>
2. Large size: <a href=http://SCREENNAME.imagekind.com><img src=http://blog.imagekind.com/wp-content/themes/default/images/homepage_image.jpg alt=”Save money on my art at Imagekind.” border=”0″></a><br/>

Tip #3: Post bulletins and announcements  about your art

Just as I am sure you want to know when your favorite band releases a new album, why do you not think those who love your artwork want to know when there is an update with your work? Posting bulletins and announcements about your artwork is a great way to keep people informed about your art. I saw this one just the other day, posted by one of our own members and thought it was a great example of this very point.

Posting announcements about your art is relatively easy and can take several forms. Whether it’s a blog post, bulletin, or other communication, letting those who want to know about your artwork, know about your artwork, can help you sell your artwork.

There you go. Generally easy, fairly passive, and all around three harmless ways to help promote your artwork. You’re welcome.

Nate