Own Website

Are you selling prints, digital images, both, or neither...some other art form? In general you really need your own domain and a home site to go with it. Sites like FAA are a form of marketing not real great at getting YOUR message across.

wix.com - they have HTML5 templates - http://www.edwardfielding.com

Wordpress - edwardfielding.me

Tumbler is an easy way to blog - http://peanutroaster.tumblr.com/

Robert, you will discover that they are many artists who are affiliated with faa's print fulfillment center who primarily promote their online presence via their own websites.
Bottom line: you are in charge of your own work..

Robert,

Very nice images. Many here have a Zenfolio site and also images here on FAA or Pixels,whatever! You can join Photoshelter or Squarespace and use one of their templates and you're in business.

Really depends on what you're aiming for. A stand alone site or one that supports your work here.

Let us know what you want to do with a new web site of your own.

Here's my old-ish web site from BluDomains:

www.richfrancophotography.com

Rich

I´m quite satisfied with SQUARESPACE for my new website: www.colinutzphotography.com

Using Zenfolio (http://www.zenfolio.com/?refcode=5S3-9Y4-RHR) as a host. Very easy to maintain and customize. http://www.bigeyephotos.com/

I started with a WordPress free site then upgraded to a domain web site. I like WordPress, it was a bit of a learning curve but they have many options for setting up a unique site of your own.


http://cjslattery.com/

Carolyn,

Does the free Wordpress allow you to make a connection to your FAA site? It seems it used to not, what is the difference between the paid and free in respect to links?

Robert,

Wordpress is not owned by anyone, it is "owned" by the bloggers if I am saying this correctly and therefore will not go away or be bought out.

I have my own site, which I've set up to work seamlessly with FAA. If you use the web address below and go to an image page, you can use the purchase link which will take you to the corresponding Artist Website image page for purchase. Check it out. It works really well.

murraybloomphoto.com

Colin,Alexey,

Very nice and especially Colin's. Like the big images,vs the smallish ones on FAA's site here.

Carolyn, Looks good,more "bloggy" than Colin's or Alexey's, but much better than my sorry blog site!

Rich

I started with Google Sites many years ago before I joined FAA. I used to have my own domain name "Carlin Art.com" but the traffic didn't warrant the $40 a year for GoDaddy.
I use the site for Original Sales info and also more info on FAA print sales. Google Analytic shows that it does get hits for Testimonial and info on sales. So I think it is a good adjunct to use with FAA https://sites.google.com/site/carlinblahnik/

I do the same thing as Murray Bloom.. I have my own zenfolio site and if and when someone buys a print, they are directed to the artist website for that individual image. I did not want to deal with the printing or what not thru other sites like MPIX,,so I direct it all here..and hopefully it increases my ranking one day...

I host my own Wordpress site so that I can have complete control and administration of the site.

http://fluffyshotme.com

I would highly recommend that if you are going to build a site, that you learn how to host your own. I see people use Wix, Squarespace, etc... but many of them are lacking when it comes to their SEO efforts.

If you do decide to go with a Wordpress site, I would highly recommend that you attend a WordCamp event or at least a WordPress group near you in order to learn more about how to utilize your site.

Too many times I see where people will use a pre-fab site builder and then they never rank with Alexa or other metrics that would help you get organic traffic.

Find you a good host, get a domain, set up an e-mail @yourdomain and then go print business cards. It works.

I like Go Daddy..kiwionline.us

Easy to build for an amateur like me...

I'm in the midst of transitioning from a Zenfolio site I have used since 2010. The new site is a WIP but like Murray's the customer is ultimately directed to the corresponding purchase page on my Artist Website. I certainly hope not to go down that road anytime soon, but keeping it under my control means I can more easily switch in the future if the need arises to go in a different direction for print fulfillment.

http://www.beautifulworldart.com/

Oh, and mine is Wordpress but self-hosted.

David,

Nice site, but still,very bloggy and can't compare to the site that Colin has. Can't probably compare either to sales,SEO results, but for just aesthetics, Squarespace,Photoshelter and others, have beuatiful sites.

Depending on what happens here, I might rebuild my old BluDomains site,with a new template and then try other sites, for print sales,redbubble,etc.

Really depends on what Sean has up his sleeve!

Rich

What Carlin said about domains .... and .... what David Morefield said about WordPress.

I have a free WP site as I don't have reason at this time for a paid hosted site. Yes, I sell Pixels all over it.


http://FrankJCasella.wordpress.com


I also have a sharing blog: http://simplemomentsblog.wordpress.com/

I have my website with Zenfolio. So far I'm not pushing or marketing it but it's starting to get views.
http://www.lynnpalmerstudio.com/

I've just taken a look at all the website links posted here and am blown away by the quality of photographic art represented by such a small handful of photographers who posted on this thread. IMO, there are major artists right here among us! How did I not notice that before? Is it because your art is showcased so beautifully on your own sites? At first I was intimidated by the quality of the images but now after looking at them I just want to get out there and make something beautiful too! Thank you for the inspiration.

Philip,

Very nice and nicely designed! Clean and fresh.

Looked over the review link and was surprised that Photoshelter wasn't even listed. Do you know why? Or Zenfolio for that matter,

Rich

Lynn,

Very nice too! Prices seem low to me. What is the monthly on this template/services?

Rich

Well over 90% of refferals to my art prints on FAA come through my website so I would not be without it!

I use wordpress, set up as a full website not just a blog, on my own domain. It has been designed so that my "Art Prints For Sale" (FAA artist websit)e comes up within my domain - the buyer dosn't get taken out of my website until they actually go to purchase something. http://michellewrighton.com

Hey Rich, the link Philip listed does review Zenfolio and Photoshelter, you just have to select the Photography website tab at the top. Oddly Zenfolio received a poor score, saying it was difficult to use and the results were bland. I found it very intuitive and easy to use and the live telephone tech support was immediate and friendly. I would like to think my results aren't bland either. They have set up links for social media and google analytics too.

I used a coupon and paid $96 for an entire year although I think the rate has gone up recently. There is no additional charge for the template but you will have to pay for Go Daddy, Blue Host or similar service provider. If you ever decide to switch and want a discount let me know and I'll send you a link.

I'm very much enjoying my new Weebly-hosted site -
http://www.art166.net/

Weebly is a great solution for those, like myself, who only know the basics of HTML and CSS. Here's a recent thread about my experience -
http://fineartamerica.com/showmessages.php?messageid=1883073

Watching the reviews in this thread, really helped me get a handle on what viewers might be looking for in a website. I found it incredibly useful -
http://fineartamerica.com/showmessages.php?messageid=1822130&targetid=1892732#1892732

I'm still improving my site, so will use this thread as a great resource to see what others are up to. Thanks, all!

Best of luck to you, Robert.

I own and maintain my own official homepage website. My "artistwebsite" is built in as a link, I tend to push folks there/here (however you look at it) for the framed and matted product since I HATE finger print jobs. My latest changes include leaning more towards metal prints. (not faa product) From my homepage website I tend to have the ability to make a higher profit margin yet keep the end price to client lower.

In a nutshell, I highly suggest you develop your own homepage website.

Wendy,

HMTL,no wait, HLTM, no that's not right either!

There are a LOT of folks out there that don't know, or in many cases don't need to know HTML. So is this still a good suggestion,

Rich

Philip,

Thanks! Found it!

Yes, I agree somewhat with the Zenfolio rating, but I think it's better than others and would give it a 2-3 stars rating.

Wonder what We would get,FAA/Pixels...............

Rich

Rich, all my suggestions are 'good' suggestions! C'mon . . . you should already know that. ;-)

I should have said that Weebly is great even if you have little or no knowledge of HTML, CSS, etc.

There are 2 Wordpress sites:

Wordpress.com where you use their stuff and are limited on somethings where customization is concerned

Wordress.org is where you have your domain with a web host (I use Bluehost; great customer service, low price $7/mo.) then build it like you want and can customize all you want to.

Like what's already been said, there is quite the learning curve. Well it was for this 50+ woman that knew nothing about CSS/HTML. Though there are themes and plugins that will limit what code you would have to put in. Code is to change font, color, positioning of images, etc.

I haven't set up the eCommerce for my Fine Art as of yet, but there are a couple of good ones that are free as plugins. My best suggestion is to read up on WP via their website and forums (remember WP.org) and then go for it.

I use a free theme from WooThemes called Mystile, WP from the .org and a few free plugins, but mostly do my own coding now. The reason I use Mystile is the code is simplistic.

Prints of Italy

Thanks to all about to my web site question. I was always wondering if it really helps to sell prints on FAA?

Good question Robert - does a website really help to sell prints on FAA? Well ... Yes, and you have to decide what website that is and how it will work for you... and what works for you.

If there is a constant that I've seen amongst artists on FAA is that we all do our own thing ... what works for us.

Michelle says that 90% of her referrals come through her website. For me its Flickr, and my email campaign tool .... and more repeat sales have come from this as well.

What works for me is to have a presence on several social platforms for the main reason to develop relationships and collect email addresses. A prospect never sees my artistwebsite until they sign-up on my email list and get my monthly emails. Otherwise all things lead to Pixels.com. Sean put out an email several months ago saying how FAA is not a houshold name, that most sales come from Google. So, I am on several platforms for their audience and to catch the attention of Google, with Pixels as my embassy that all refer to.

In addition to the WP links I provided in my last post, you can find here [ http://about.me/FrankJCasella ] all of my links, but below are some specific ones so you can see what and how I do it with regards to websites. Hope this is helpful to you Robert!

http://frankjcasella.crevado.com/

http://frankjcasella.tumblr.com

https://www.linkedin.com/company/frank-j.-casella-photographically-speaking?trk=top_nav_home

One last note, don't over look the power of Flickr as a website or photoblog. It is a search for pictures similar to how YouTube is a search for video. Both have an audience far larger than FAA. http://flickr.com/fjcps

I use Wordpress and Woocommerce. The orders are forwarded to a white label printing company, fulfilled and sent out automatically. I wanted to use Fine Art for fulfillment but from what I recall it wasn't possible at the time. I don't think I'm allowed to post the link so if you want to see the website please message me.

If you use Wix or some of the other site builders be careful as you make your site and especially how it appears on a mobile device. Mobile is only becoming more important as we speak but not all sites are equal In this area. Many drag and drop sites look ok but their platforms are unstable.

Read reviews first and a lot of them ..visit sites and get info is all You can do.
Good luck