On this week's Art Juice podcast, I went on a bit of a rant about the fees to enter a particular exhibition and I talked about my plan to market my own work, rather than using art fairs or galleries.Afterwards, I received this question by email...

I'm enjoying your podcast! I would be interested in a podcast on how you're achieving your success selling online. Are you using WooCommerce? Do people actually buy online though?

Rather than share my answer with just one person, I thought I'd answer it here. I don't use Woo Commerce and I have never sold a painting directly off my website without some kind of prior connection. I do believe that might happen occasionally, but it would never be a strategy I'd count on.I don't think the secret to online sales success has anything to do with specific technologies ... instead I think it has to do with something much larger.I believe that in order to sell anything, you have to play to your strengths and do things you enjoy, and I think this means there are as many potential sales strategies as there are artists. I also think it means there is little to be gained by asking what others are doing successfully.In this way, selling your art is exactly like making your art. Yes, you can look at others' work to get ideas or a jolt of inspiration, but in the end, you have to look within yourself for the answers.

My approach

I'm still evolving my approach but I have developed a strategy that plays to my own strengths and the things that I enjoy.I love to write, I enjoy making videos, I like talking about art, and I live in a beautiful part of the country. After sifting through all sorts of options and ideas, I came to these conclusions and decided to start building awareness about my work through my writing (blog and email newsletter), through a podcast, and through videos. I then decided that I would allow people to visit my studio by appointment if they wanted to see my work in person. I decided this partly because of the location of my home - this is a gorgeous place to visit - and partly because I think we buy art when we have some kind of connection with the artist. I also plan to pay for advertising online in order to build awareness for my work.I am just embarking on this plan. I am still in the midst of redesigning my website and creating some new videos and I have only dipped my toes into advertising. However, the initial indications are promising.

What this means for you

The fact is that there are buyers for almost any kind of artwork - the challenge is to find them. If you develop a strategy that plays to your own strengths, and that involved activities you enjoy, you are far more likely to work at it. And working at it is the only way to make sales.So having people come to your home might not work for all kinds of reasons. You might hate writing. You might not like online selling at all. Perhaps you are more outgoing than me, and would do well at art fairs. Perhaps you would prefer to give a gallery 50% so that you do not have to think about sales at all. Or perhaps you do want to sell online, but you have a talent for playing the banjo and you find a way to combine that with your art to build a strong online presence.That maybe a far-fetched example but, as I said earlier, there are as many potential sales strategies as there are artists. I have no idea what your strategy should be. But I do know that it's there if you just open up your mind and follow the things you enjoy.I can't wait to find out what you come up with.Have you signed up for my newsletter? If not, go do it now. I send original content weekly to artists and monthly to art lovers and you won't want to miss what I have in store.!!