Content marketing is the art of business storytelling. You tell a story about your business that compels shoppers to make a purchase. When that business is art, people want to know the artist’s story, what inspires you, how you created it, and what you are working on next. 

Content marketing is about telling your story in an interesting way. And ​​according to HubSpot, 79% of online shoppers spend at least 50% of their shopping time researching products. That means you need to be online to get noticed, and a strong content marketing plan can help. There are many layers to content marketing for artists that you should take into consideration. Here are some ideas.

1. Keep Your Website Updated. A good content marketing strategy starts with having a great website, like the ones you can get from Zibster. Keeping your website fresh and up-to-date with your newest work will help keep prospects interested and engaged. With Zibster, you can even change the look of your website in just a few clicks to help keep it fresh.
   
   
2. Get on Social Media. Social media is a great way to show off your work. Make sure to always watermark any artwork that you post, so it remains attributed to you as it gets shared. Instagram is an especially effective way to market artwork, as the platform is designed to share images and videos (Reels). You can even sell your artwork straight from Instagram. You can also get in on the latest social media trends and use the appropriate hashtags to get noticed. And don’t forget Pinterest. You can make Pin Boards to showcase your artwork.
   
   
3. Blog. Blogging is a great way to keep your website content up-to-date and optimize it for search engines. It is also a great tool to showcase your artwork and tell the story behind your art. According to Medium.com, small businesses with blogs get 126% more lead growth than those without a blog. That’s a great reason to start blogging.
   
   
4. Tell Stories Through Videos. You can use videos as tutorials, like teaching a specific skill, showcase new products, create vlogs (video blogs), and a whole lot more. Video trends on social media and can help your blog get more views. It’s also a great way to broaden your audience to video channels like YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram Reels. Videos can be a good way to have some fun helping people learn about your art.
   
   
5. Showcase Time Lapse Videos. Time lapse videos are very popular on social media channels like TikTok and Instagram. They are very sharable and have the potential to go viral. They’re also a great way to show off how you created your art. Make a time lapse video so your prospective buyers can see what you do and how you do it. Buyers like to see artists’ work in action and these videos can help tell that story. According to Medium.com, “Time-lapse videos work great for illustrators and graphic designers who can record their screens. They’re also perfect for artists working with tangible materials such as sculptors, painters, sketch artists, and so on.
   
   
6. Host a Q&A Session. As mentioned, people buy artists, not just artwork. Q&A sessions are a great way to help people get to know you. You can host them live and record them on Facebook or Instagram. If you hold a Q&A session on social media, choose a platform where your customers already are, and make sure you schedule your Q&A with enough time for promotion. Then when you go live, be personable (don’t just read from a script). These sessions are great to do as you release new work and collections so you can highlight what you’re working on and keep people up-to-date.
   
   
7. Provide Sneak Peeks. Ever take a look at something that’s coming soon and say “I want that?” That’s the goal of sneak peeks. People are naturally curious, so a peek into what’s new and next is a great way to hype up your art before you’re ready to show it in full.

Content marketing is necessary for all businesses, including artists. Get started with a Zibster website today, and you’ll have a great place to tell your story, show off your art, and sell online.