How To Sell Art On Woocommerce

Turn Your Passion into Profit: Selling Art Online with WooCommerce (A Beginner’s Guide)

So, you’re an artist looking to share your creations with the world and make a living doing what you love? Wonderful! Selling art online can be a fantastic way to reach a wider audience and control your own business. And if you’re already familiar with WordPress, WooCommerce is a powerful and surprisingly easy-to-use e-commerce platform that can help you get your online art gallery up and running.

This guide is specifically designed for artists who are new to WooCommerce. We’ll break down the process into manageable steps, making it accessible and actionable, even if you’re not a tech whiz.

Why WooCommerce for Selling Art?

Before we dive in, let’s quickly cover why WooCommerce is a great choice for selling your art online:

• Affordable & Open Source: WooCommerce itself is free! You only need to pay for your domain name, hosting, and potentially premium extensions (which we’ll discuss later). This makes it a budget-friendly option, especially when you’re just starting. Think of it as renting a studio space versus building one from scratch. Renting the “studio” (WooCommerce) is much more accessible!
• Highly Customizable: WooCommerce offers a ton of customization options. You can tailor your online store to perfectly match your brand aesthetic and showcase your art in the best possible light. Want a minimalist gallery feel? Done. Want something bold and vibrant? Also doable!
• Integration with WordPress: If you already use WordPress for your website, integrating WooCommerce is a breeze. You can seamlessly blend your blog with your online store, creating a cohesive platform to engage your audience.
• Scalability: As your art business grows, WooCommerce can easily scale with you. You can add more products, integrate with various payment gateways, and expand your marketing efforts without needing to switch platforms. Imagine starting with selling prints and then expanding to originals – WooCommerce can handle it!
• Control: You have complete control over your online store, from product listings to shipping options. You’re not at the mercy of a third-party marketplace’s rules and algorithms. This means *you* decide how to present *your* art.

Step-by-Step Guide to Selling Art on WooCommerce

Here’s a practical guide to setting up your online art store using WooCommerce:

1. Get the Essentials: Domain and Hosting

Before anything else, you need a domain name (your website’s address, like “yourart.com”) and web hosting (where your website files live).

• Domain Name: Choose a domain name that’s memorable, relevant to your art, and easy to spell. Think of it as your gallery’s address.
• Web Hosting: Select a reliable web hosting provider that supports WordPress and WooCommerce. Many hosting providers offer specific WooCommerce hosting plans. Popular options include SiteGround, Bluehost, and WP Engine. Look for features like fast loading speeds and good customer support.

2. Install WordPress and WooCommerce

• Install WordPress: Most hosting providers offer one-click WordPress installation. Follow their instructions to get WordPress up and running.
• Install WooCommerce: Once WordPress is installed, log in to your WordPress dashboard. Go to Plugins > Add New, search for “WooCommerce,” and click “Install Now” and then “Activate.” WooCommerce will guide you through a setup wizard to configure basic settings.

3. Configure WooCommerce Settings

The WooCommerce setup wizard covers essential settings. But take your time to fine-tune them:

• General Settings:
• Store Address: Enter your business address (even if it’s just your home studio for now).
• Currency: Choose your currency.
• Selling Location(s): Specify the countries you’ll ship to. Start small and expand as needed.
• Products:
• Shop Page: WooCommerce automatically creates a “Shop” page. Confirm it’s selected here.
• Weight Unit and Dimensions Unit: Set these to match how you measure your artwork (e.g., grams, inches).
• Shipping:
• This is crucial for art! Define your shipping zones, methods (flat rate, free shipping, calculated rates), and packaging sizes. Accurate shipping costs are essential to avoid surprises for your customers. Consider using the WooCommerce Shipping plugin for more advanced options.
• Payments:
• PayPal: The easiest way to get started is with PayPal. Configure your PayPal account information.
• Stripe: For credit card payments, Stripe is a popular choice. You’ll need a Stripe account.

4. Add Your Art as Products

This is where the magic happens!

• Go to Products > Add New.
• Product Title: Use a descriptive title that includes the artwork’s name and medium (e.g., “Sunset Over the Lake – Oil Painting”).
• Product Description: Write a compelling description that tells the story behind your artwork. Include details about the materials used, the inspiration, the size, and any special techniques. Imagine you’re telling someone about your art in person.
• Product Image(s): High-quality images are essential! Use professional photos of your art from different angles. Show detail shots. Consider using a white background for a clean look.
• Product Categories and Tags: Organize your art by categories (e.g., “Paintings,” “Prints,” “Sculptures”) and tags (e.g., “Abstract,” “Landscape,” “Portrait”). This helps customers find your art.
• Product Data:
• Simple Product: For a single, straightforward piece of art.
• Variable Product: If you offer different sizes or formats (e.g., prints in different sizes), use “Variable Product.” You’ll need to define attributes (e.g., “Size”) and variations (e.g., “8×10,” “11×14”).
• Price: Set your price. Consider your materials costs, time, and perceived value. Research what similar art is selling for online.
• Inventory: Manage your inventory if you’re selling originals or limited-edition prints.

Example Product Listing:

Imagine you’re selling a watercolor painting called “Whispering Woods.”

• Product Title: Whispering Woods – Watercolor Painting on Arches Paper
• Product Description: “Whispering Woods” is a serene watercolor painting inspired by a morning walk through a forest in the Pacific Northwest. Painted on archival-quality Arches paper using lightfast watercolors, this piece captures the soft light filtering through the trees. Size: 12×16 inches. Unframed.
• Product Images: A professional photo of the painting on a white background, a close-up showing the texture of the paper and the watercolor details, and a photo of the painting displayed in a room setting.
• Categories: Paintings
• Tags: Watercolor, Landscape, Forest, Nature, Peaceful

5. Choose a Theme

Your website’s theme controls its overall look and feel. Choose a theme that’s visually appealing, easy to navigate, and showcases your art effectively.

• Free Themes: Many free themes work well with WooCommerce. Check the WordPress theme directory. Look for themes that are responsive (look good on all devices) and have a clean design.
• Premium Themes: Premium themes offer more features and customization options. Popular options include Astra, OceanWP, and Divi. These often come with pre-built templates specifically designed for e-commerce.

6. Customize Your Store

Make your online store your own!

• Homepage: Design a welcoming homepage that highlights your best work and tells your story.
• Shop Page: Customize the shop page to display your art in an appealing way.
• Product Pages: Make sure your product pages are informative and visually engaging.
• Checkout Process: Simplify the checkout process to make it as easy as possible for customers to buy your art.

Explore this article on How To Edit Woocommerce Product Page Divi

• About Page: Tell your story as an artist! Share your inspiration, process, and credentials. This builds trust and connects with potential buyers on a deeper level.

7. Set Up Shipping

Getting shipping right is crucial for art sales.

• Shipping Zones: Define shipping zones (e.g., domestic, international) based on location.
• Shipping Methods: Offer different shipping methods, such as flat rate, calculated rates (based on weight and destination), and free shipping (for orders over a certain amount).
• Packaging: Invest in proper packaging materials to protect your art during shipping. Use sturdy boxes, bubble wrap, packing peanuts, and appropriate labels (e.g., “Fragile,” “Handle with Care”). Consider insuring your shipments.

8. Promote Your Art!

You’ve built your online gallery – now it’s time to attract visitors!

• Social Media: Share your art on social media platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest. Use relevant hashtags (e.g., #watercolorpainting, #contemporaryart).
• Email Marketing: Build an email list and send out newsletters to your subscribers with updates on new artwork, promotions, and upcoming events.
• SEO (Search Engine Optimization): Optimize your website and product listings for search engines like Google. Use relevant keywords in your titles, descriptions, and alt text for images. Think about what people would search for to find your art. For example, instead of just “Painting,” use “Original Abstract Painting on Canvas.”
• Art Blogs and Online Galleries: Submit your art to art blogs and online galleries.
• Run Targeted Ads: Consider running targeted ads on social media or Google Ads to reach a wider audience.

Example: Using Keywords for SEO

Let’s say you sell landscape paintings. Instead of just calling a page “Landscapes,” you could use a longer, more specific phrase:

• Poor SEO: “Landscapes”
• Better SEO: “Original Oil Landscape Paintings for Sale”
• Even Better SEO: “Buy Original Oil Landscape Paintings of the American Southwest”

The more specific you are, the better chance you have of reaching the right audience.

9. Consider WooCommerce Extensions (Plugins)

WooCommerce has thousands of extensions (plugins) to add functionality to your store. Here are a few useful ones for artists:

• WooCommerce Shipping: For advanced shipping options and integrations with shipping carriers.
• WooCommerce Product Add-ons: Allow customers to customize their art orders (e.g., add a frame, choose a different color mat).
• WooCommerce Subscriptions: If you offer subscription boxes or recurring art classes.
• WooCommerce Learn more about How To Hide Additional Information Tab In Woocommerce Memberships: To create exclusive content or discounts for members.

10. Continuously Improve and Learn

Selling art online is an ongoing process. Track your website traffic, sales, and customer feedback. Experiment with different marketing strategies and product offerings. Stay up-to-date with the latest trends in e-commerce and art marketing.

 // Example: A simple PHP snippet for displaying a custom message on your product page add_action( 'woocommerce_before_single_product', 'display_artist_message' ); 

function display_artist_message() {

echo ‘

Each piece is lovingly created by hand in my studio.

‘;

}

This is a very basic example, but it shows how you can use code snippets (or have a developer create them) to further customize your store.

Final Thoughts

Selling art online with WooCommerce takes effort, but it’s incredibly rewarding. By following these steps, you can create a beautiful and functional online gallery that showcases your art to the world. Remember to be patient, persistent, Check out this post: How To Manually Post Woocommerce Product Pages To Facebook and always focus on providing a great experience for your customers. Good luck!