End-of-the-year shopping craze is a huge opportunity for every artist to boost the sales and make some new fans and followers.
Holiday gifts, juicy discounts, a Black Friday splurge… Whatever the reason, the end of the year is when people buy the most art. If you’re a creator, this is when you need to expand your selection with new art, stay on top of your marketing game, and make sure you do everything you can to bring in those sweet, sweet bucks.
And while all you beautiful artistic souls out there might find this business talk a bit mundane (we get it!), it’s really not that hard to make the most of the holiday shopping season. Here are 7 useful tips from the team at Displate – the world’s biggest metal poster marketplace, which you can join for free at any time!
#1 Sync Up with the Big Sales
To maximize your holiday sales, start with a solid strategy, and syncing up with the sales calendar of major art marketplaces is the perfect starting point.
Typically, limited-time discounts start at the end of November, with Black Friday and Cyber Monday, and extend through the December holiday season. Some platforms, like Displate, even kick things off early with Early Black Friday sales. The easiest way to stay on top of their sales calendar is by reviewing their past social media activities. This will help you plan ahead and time your own promotional efforts.
#2 Build Anticipation
The holiday season is the perfect time to reveal your latest art pieces, but don’t show all your cards right away. Build up the hype by sharing sneak peeks on Instagram, shoot a TikTok explaining your creative process, and tease your upcoming collections on your website or in your newsletter.
This way, you’ll ensure that people are excited about what you’re offering—and that they’ll be ready to buy as soon as your new art drops. Plus, you’ll attract new fans and followers along the way!
#3 Boost Your Commission With Affiliate Links
Once your big release finally comes, be sure to use the affiliate links that many art platforms offer. On Displate, you can significantly boost your commission by selling your work through dedicated Share and Earn links.
It’s just too simple to pass up – here at Displate, creating your unique affiliate link takes only seconds, and it lets you increase your commission up to 50% each time you make a sale through Share & Earn.
#4 Leverage Art Marketplaces For Increased Visibility
Established art platforms offer logistical support and access to a broad customer base, making it easier to manage high-season demand.
Some platforms even offer unique features – like Displate, where you can sell your art as one-of-a-kind metal posters. Displate also simplifies the process of adding new artworks with tools like automatically generated titles, tags, and description recommendations.
What’s more, marketplaces often provide marketing assistance, running promotional campaigns that can boost your visibility. They also add credibility to your portfolio, as being featured on a well-known platform can build trust with new customers. Plus, many of these platforms have vibrant communities on places like Discord or Reddit, allowing you to connect with other artists and engage with fans in a more meaningful way.
Want to sell your art on metal? It’s just too easy to pass up – learn how to open your own Displate shop now!
#5 Get Inspired With Trending Topics
In the pre-holiday season, when everything is running at high speed, you might need a little help with understanding people’s needs. There are specific interests in certain designs and themes, and you may want to follow these trends when creating your new collections.
To make it a bit easier for you, here are the popular topics and search terms on Displate during the end-of-the-year shopping season:
- 90s and retro
- travel
(Pro tip: Capture the essence of countries like United Kingdom, France, Germany, Austria and Turkey, focusing on their unique landmarks, culture, and landscapes.)
- robots
- music
- sports
#6 Prepare For Increased Traffic
With more visitors during the end-of-year season, you may want to double-check if your website or online shop is prepared to handle higher traffic volumes. A slow or unresponsive site can quickly turn away potential buyers, so start by checking your website’s loading speed and optimizing images and files for faster performance. Consider using tools like a content delivery network (CDN) to ensure quick loading times, no matter where your customers are.
Once again, this is where joining a marketplace can prove incredibly helpful, as it allows you to fully outsource this (often tricky) part of running an art business. If you’re selling through platforms like Displate, all you need to do is keep your shop updated and make sure your artworks are properly described and easy to find as more users browse the site.
#7 Add New Art!
The holiday season is the perfect time to give your audience something new to get excited about. Adding new art not only keeps your shop looking fresh but also gives loyal fans a reason to come back and explore your latest pieces. Try introducing seasonal designs to create urgency and attract collectors looking for unique gifts.
Don’t forget to promote your new art across all your channels. Share updates on social media, include them in your newsletters, and highlight them in your online shop. The more you spread the word, the more likely your new art will catch the eye of holiday shoppers.
