4 reasons artists struggle to sell art online
Learn the four most common reasons most artists struggle to sell art online, and what you can do to avoid all of them.
Hi! 👋
I know why it's hard to sell your art, and I have the strategy that will help.
Welcome (back)! 🤗
This is Petra from The Creators' Diary. If this is your first TC’D newsletter, welcome! We’re happy you’ve subscribed!
Feel free to reply to this email: share your thoughts about this issue or the questions you struggle with as a creator. A real human (Petra) reads it.
Marketing tip of the week 🧠
In truth, the reasons why it might be hard to sell your art are undeniably complex, but I'm here to highlight a problem that is absolutely crucial to see—and I also have a solution.
Artists promote themselves online, especially on social media, only to end up interacting with other artists, instead of potential customers. That part is great for networking and community building, don't get me wrong, but at the very least, have one platform in your marketing portfolio where you can reach people who are actually and exclusively there to purchase art.
Here's the full list of wrongs I see artists do and what you can now avoid:
Why most artists struggle to sell art online
And why they often fail to make a consistent income.
1. They rely on oversaturated platforms
Sites like Etsy or Instagram are crowded, making it hard to stand out.
2. They sell to the wrong audience
Many artists promote and sell to other artists—not actual buyers.
3. They price too low
Competing on saturated platforms often leads to underpricing.
4. They use only one income stream
Relying on a single platform creates unstable income.
The biggest mistake artists make is relying on a single platform. Those who make the most money, or at least have a stable income, don’t rely on one platform; they build a multi-platform system—and a smart one, mixing up the types of platforms and the types of buyers they can reach.
This is what I detailed in my latest guide 👇
- A list of 6 underrated platforms where you can sell your art
- A smart strategy for a multi-platform system
- How to choose the right platforms
Petra Gönczi
Let me know if you are familiar with these platforms and if you have experience using them, or if this guide gave you new ideas and channels to explore. 🙏
See you in the next newsletter,
Petra
