The key to online success is planning. However, for many artists, this is very confusing, and even overwhelming.

Start at the beginning. You should choose your niche first.

With that niche in mind, plan your online goals: How do you plan to financially support your website… and your art career?

If your website is going to get hits (visitors)–and of course, it should–plan how visitors will find you and which pages they’ll visit at your website.

Where will your website visitors arrive, and what pages do you really want them to see? Not every visitor arrives at your index.html; don’t put all your eggs in that basket!

There are three major reasons for an art website, besides sharing art with your friends, of course. Decide this early, and–instead of just “getting hits”–you’ll attract website visitors who support your art.

1. You may be looking for customers. These include art buyers, commissions, shops and galleries to carry what you sell, and/or students and teaching opportunities.
2. You may hope for income from affiliate advertising, such as Amazon.com and others.
3. And, you may earn extra spending money with Google AdSense and similar programs. (See Earn extra money with AdSense for more info.)

Of course, you can earn money from your own sales, affiliate commissions, and AdSense. But, it’s helpful if you decide ahead of time what your income goals are.

If you’re planning on selling your art, your art-related products, or you are teaching, you’ll want to optimize your website so that search engines list you in your respective categories. Frankly, you want to get hits, and lots of them. This field is called “search engine optimization” and “search engine placement.”

Also, is when your website gets hits, do you want them to buy from your site, or is your site PR for your offline career… or both?

If you’re planning to benefit from affiliate income, you’ll want the best programs. Since some program managers visit your website before approving you as their representative, you should know what it takes to be approved.

For success with AdSense-type programs–if you use them–you’ll want to get hits, but you’ll also direct your visitors to the pages that meet their needs.

We’ll discuss career success, marketing strategies, and search engines in more detail at other pages at this website.

As you design your website, plan ahead. Decide which areas to focus on, and which income sources suit your career and financial goals. You’ll not only get hits, but quality visitors who enjoy your website and benefit the most from it while supporting your career as well.