Your Instagram is probably amazing. But your website should be the hub that your fans keep returning to. While social media is vital in today\u2019s world, depending on it for engagement is risky. You\u2019re at the mercy of each platform\u2019s creators (or, more likely, bots that can ban without providing cause, warning, or recourse). Algorithms change overnight, potentially cutting off your revenue before you know what\u2019s happening. In this environment, you need a direct line of communication with your fans, completely independent of social media.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But how can an individual or small business compete with the likes of Meta and TikTok? Believe it or not, it\u2019s not too difficult.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
When discussing competition in marketing, one of the most important questions to consider is \u201cWho are our competitors?\u201d For example, Trader Joe\u2019s and Wal-Mart are not direct competitors, even though they\u2019re both grocery chains. That\u2019s because, in spite of offering similar products, they\u2019re marketing to completely different client\u00e8le. Trader Joe\u2019s focuses their advertising on middle to upper class consumers, while Wal-Mart directs their ads to shoppers from the lower and lower-middle class. Likewise, even though both Sushi Kashiba and RockCreek Seafood & Spirits price their meals similarly, they offer vastly different dining experiences. That means they tailor their marketing to appeal to different tastes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The point I\u2019m getting at is that the best way to \u2018compete\u2019 with major social media platforms is to not compete at all.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Your art site should be in an entirely different category than Instagram, TikTok, X, Facebook, or any of the others. When it comes to user experience (UX), it\u2019s in a league of its own.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Most social media platforms offer a streamlined experience to their users. Algorithms tailor their home feeds so that users find more or less what they expect. The experience is low-energy and fleeting. It\u2019s like stopping at a convenience store for a quick hot dog.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Your personal art site, on the other hand, should be more like a fine dining experience. You\u2019ll want to give users\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Give your fans a way to interact with you, your artwork, or other fans. This can be something as simple as having a blog that allows comments, or something as sophisticated as clickable, animated artwork. Simon Freund offers interactive art like mit oder ohne<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You don\u2019t want your art site to be only a portfolio or shop. Ideally, your website should include your artwork, products for sale, a guide to your creative process, information about upcoming events, and a way for fans to get to know you personally. When your fans know they can expect updates on any of the above, they\u2019ll return.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This doesn\u2019t have to be a new piece of art. It could be a blog, product drop, or site update. Your fans likely won\u2019t have time to stop back every day, or even every week. But they\u2019ll be glad to see a notification or email from you about once a month. And you\u2019ll benefit from keeping your art on their radar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Even if your artwork isn\u2019t interactive, the internet is. By designing your website with your fans in mind, you can create an artistic oasis in the midst of a chaotic social media landscape.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Above all, your fans want to see your own unique style. The moment someone visits Teagan White\u2019s website<\/a>, they know exactly what type of art she creates, even before clicking over to her portfolio. That\u2019s the kind of immersive design your followers will love. If you want to stand out, work with a custom website designer to bring your art to the screen.<\/p>\n\n\n\nSeveral different things to do<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Something new each month<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Remember to infuse your website with your own creativity<\/h3>\n\n\n\n