How To Survive Running an Online Art Business

Many aspiring artists have been discouraged by society for attempting to make a living off of artistic pursuits, but many an artist has also been successful. As online marketplaces grow and online shopping booms, it is easier than ever to get eyes on your work and earn money doing what you love. If you're ready to start an online art business, here are some steps you can take to get started.

Craft Your Goals

Before you dive in and start wasting time and money, take an afternoon to write down your creative goals. What do you want your business to look like? What hole in the market do you want your art to fill? Will you sell original works, prints, or entire product lines? Think about whether you want to run the entire operation yourself, or if you one day want to expand and hire help. Once you've thought about your goals, write down some actionable steps to help you get there. Don't try to accomplish too much at once, but don't hold back when planning your long-term goals.

Make Everything Legal

It may take some time to decide on things like your logo, business name, and your brand identity. Depending on your art specialties, you may have an easier time with this than others. Once you've settled on these specifics, it's a good idea to register your business and legally protect your ideas. You can do this on your own, but you may want to look into hiring an attorney if you're concerned about doing everything correctly. Plus, there are many issues you could run into later on, like art theft or the neighbor spoofing scam, and it will be reassuring to have legal help on your side. 

Streamline Your Processes

Many artists are stuck running small businesses alone, and you'll probably be in the same boat. This means you should look into streamlining your process wherever you can. Look into automation for things like sending invoices, emails, and social media posts. See if there is anything about your business you can outsource. You'd be surprised by how much time you get back by handing a few tasks over to a virtual assistant a few hours a week. If you have the extra cash, getting rid of your least favorite tasks can keep you feeling excited about your work instead of approaching it with dread. Plus, when it comes to complicated paperwork like taxes, you're better off letting a professional handle it for you.

Perfect Your Customer Service

Satisfying customers is huge for small businesses. Big corporations can afford for customers to walk away, but your new business can't. Plus, many buyers are likely to tell others about you when you handle a misstep well, and chances are they'll come back to spend more. Some shoppers tend to treat small businesses worse than bigger stores, so don't be afraid to stand your ground when you're not at fault. They may threaten your store with a bad review, but don't let them hold you hostage. You can offer a replacement, free shipping, or the moon itself, and some people will still give you that one star.

Avoid Burnout

It's difficult to avoid burnout when the only thing you're doing is art, let alone running a whole business on top of it. You may feel like you can't slow down because you'll lose money or momentum, but your business will suffer if you have to stop for a month or more because you're burnt out. Don't neglect your needs and relationships outside of your business, and keep up with your healthy habits. Exercise, sleep, and healthy foods are all useful in keeping your mental and physical health in top shape.

Making a living from your art is no small achievement, so make sure you celebrate every step along the way. When you focus on your goals and continually learn new techniques to make your business work for you, you can spread your art across the world and support yourself doing it.