When it comes to selling your art online, one of the key decisions you need to make is whether to integrate your store as a page on your existing website or create a separate website dedicated solely to your art sales. Both options have their advantages, and in this blog post, we’ll explore the factors to consider in order to help you make an informed choice.
- Integration: Seamlessly Blend Art and Commerce If you already have a well-established website with a strong online presence, integrating your art store as a page within your existing site can be a convenient option. This approach allows visitors to effortlessly navigate between your art portfolio and the store, providing a cohesive and immersive brand experience.
- Branding and Focus: Establish a Dedicated Artistic Identity If selling your art is a significant part of your business and you want to emphasize it, building a separate website for your store can offer a more focused approach. This allows you to create a distinct brand identity that revolves solely around your artwork and optimize the site specifically for selling your prints.
- Technical Considerations: Assessing Platform Capabilities Take into account the capabilities of your current website platform. Does it offer robust e-commerce functionality, such as product listings, shopping cart features, secure payment gateways, and inventory management? If your current platform falls short in these areas, building a separate website with dedicated e-commerce functionality might be a better choice.
- Scalability: Planning for Future Growth Consider your long-term goals for your art business. If you anticipate significant growth in your sales or plan to expand your product offerings beyond prints, having a separate website can provide more scalability and flexibility. It enables you to adapt and accommodate future developments in your business seamlessly.
- Marketing and SEO: Impact on Visibility and Reach Evaluate the potential impact on your marketing efforts and search engine optimization (SEO). If you integrate your store into your existing website, you can leverage the SEO work you’ve already invested in. However, launching a separate website means starting from scratch in terms of building an online presence and optimizing it for search engines.
Conclusion: The decision of whether to integrate your art store as a page on your current website or build a separate website is a crucial one. Consider factors such as integration convenience, branding, technical capabilities, scalability, and marketing implications. It’s important to choose an option that aligns with your specific circumstances and long-term goals. Remember, you can always start with integration and later transition to a separate site if needed. Whichever path you choose, the ultimate goal is to create a successful online art store that showcases and sells your prints effectively.
