Advance Your Artist Website: Hire a Professional Web Designer

If you’d like to be a successful artist, you should be making art, not hassling with website design and maintenance. Professionally designed and managed sites are an investment in your craft that when done well will pay off in recognition and possibly sales. As my regular blog readers know, I’ve just launched Full Deck Design, a firm specializing in designing and deploying eMedia. I’m about to meet with a couple of artists interested in creating websites and thought it was the perfect opportunity to outline how to prepare for working with a professional web designer.

Tips on Preparing for an Artist Website
1. Website Purpose. Will this be a place dedicated to selling fine art? Or do you just need an online portfolio? Have people hire you for custom work? Advertise your classes/workshops? Or do you have another goal?
2. Determine How You’ll Measure Site Success. Sales? Number of visitors to the site? Exhibit opportunities? Gallery signings?
3. Design Guidelines. Decide who will design the look of your site. If you already know how you’d like the site to look, tell the designer right away. It may save you some money. Bring a sketch outlining any special features, fonts, colors. Print samples of sites you like and what you like about them.
4. Clear Communication. Make sure you choose a web specialist that you’re comfortable with. Don’t be afraid to ask a lot of questions. What is very familiar to them may be Greek to you.
5. Functionality. Do you want to include a link to subscribe to your blog or eNewsletter? Include an animation? Have fancy navigation or portfolio features? Include a shopping cart? Be compatible with handheld devices?
6. Decide on a Budget. Be honest about what you can afford to spend. Your budget may limit the functionality features, but better to set the parameters before the clock starts ticking.
7. Domain Name. Contrary to what some web hosts would have you believe, you can purchase a domain name easily and directly from many places online. I use NetworkSolutions.com. I know many people who let their web host purchase a domain name for them who subsequently wouldn’t give them their own domain account information when they wanted to switch host companies. So be careful!
8. Site Map. Most artist web sites focus on the portfolio but may also include press/news, bio, artist’s statement, gallery affiliations, class/workshop schedule, store and contact pages.
9. Content. Gather information for each site page. Try to include appealing visuals for text-based pages—a head shot for the bio page, a video of you creating your art for the home page, press clippings for the press page, etc.
10. Quality Imagery. Your art MUST look beautiful. Invest in high quality, high resolution image files. If you’re a photographer, consider digitally watermarking images or preventing image downloads with code.
11. Affiliations. If you’re a member of an arts organization or other professional organization that could reinforce your credentials, have them send you a logo to include on the site. If you’re involved with Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter or any other networking site, you might consider including links to them as well.
12. Search Engine Optimization. Do you want people to find you easily via search engines? See my earlier blog explaining this further.
13. Timeline. When do you want your site to go live? Is there a special event in the future?
14. Web Host. After the site is complete, you will need your user name and password to upload the final files.
15. Ongoing Maintenance. Who will be responsible for updating content? Discuss options with the designer that might allow you to handle after the initial setup.