Kim Solga - The Everything Guide to Selling Arts & Crafts Online: How to sell on Etsy, eBay, your storefront, and everywhere else online

Denise Ackerman, The Knotty Needle

Deborah Babcock, Blue Sky Pottery

Brandon Bird, Artwork by Brandon Bird

Sarah Crawford, Renewed Upon a Dream (www.Etsy.com/shop/RenewedUponaDream)

Jeanne Fry, Conscious Art Studios

Alyssa Gillooley, Clay de Lys

Elizabeth Hildreth, Mad Scientist Designs

Jenny Hoople, Jenny Hoople Authentic Arts

Julie Lyderson-Jackson, Spool + Sparrow

Carol Jenkins, Carol Jenkins Art

Heather Jessica, Papertique

David Joaquin, Twohawk Studio

Niccy Jordan, Scrapunzel, Photography by Nick Lawrence

Kevin McCorkle, Palletso

Ashley Pasquan, Adam Rabbit

Kathleen Selvaggio, In Vintage Heaven

Amilia Smith, Holdman Studios

Lauri Sturdivant, Lauri Sturdivant, Artist

Tana Taylor, Prairie Primitives Folk Art

Christina Winstanley, Jackdaw

HANDMADE GOODS HAVE NEVER been so popular. More and more people are seeking one-of-a-kind treasures instead of mass-produced consumer products. They are choosing hand thrown pottery rather than dishes from some overseas ceramics factory. They are wearing tailor-made jackets, painted silk scarves, handstitched moccasins, and custom-designed jewelry. They are framing and hanging artwork created by an artist with a personal story, an artist they have come to know and love. From holiday ornaments to new furniture, people are buying handmade items that are uniquely designed, clever, well made, and filled with meaning.

The Internet is the key to this growing trend. With the help of this immense worldwide electronic system, buyers and sellers are connecting in deeply personal ways. A woman needing a new handbag will find ideas and possibilities on websites such as Etsy and ArtFire. She will check out the fashions that her friends share on Pinterest. She will narrow down her search for her perfect handbag by learning about the designers themselves, reading their stories on profile pages, their blogs, and reviews written by other customers. She will e-mail questions and get personal answers. And she will eventually buy a one-of-a-kind handbag that is perfect for her needs, from an artisan who will most likely become an online friend.

How do you become a part of this amazing online explosion of handmade sales? How do artists and crafters realize their dreams of turning artwork into cash online? Its easy when you take it step by step. Its not prohibitively expensive and it can be a great deal of fun. Successful online artists and crafters come from many different backgrounds. Some have advanced art and design degrees from prestigious universities, while others are self-taught. Some businesses start with abundant funding and support, while others operate on a shoestring budget and grow over time. There are multitudes of venues for selling artwork, from craft fairs to high-end art galleries in great cities. No matter where you begin or where you eventually find your greatest sales, marketing yourself and your artwork on the Internet will help your art career!

Selling your artwork online is serious business. It can be your road to success at whatever level you imagine, from turning your hobby into a satisfying small part-time business, to creating a substantial full-time job and income for yourself. The secret to your success will be a combination of talent, quality, and intuition. But the main ingredient will be your ability to get down to work, because selling your artwork online is a job. It is a serious commitment to thinking like, acting like, and becoming a professional.

This guide will provide you with detailed information on how to start and build an online presence, how to promote yourself and your unique artists personality, and how get your creations to buyers. From setting up your own website and establishing good business systems to navigating popular online craft venues and using the best marketing techniques, your online arts business can be up and running in no time. Just remember, you have the power to make your business a success!

What does a successful online arts and crafts business look like? Almost anything! From small shops selling a few beautiful items, to companies with thousands of orders each month, every successful online business is unique. How do they measure success? Quite simply, an online business is successful when it fulfills the goals of its owner.

There are many reasons to start selling art and handcrafts online. Some artists want to start a new career, develop recognition for their artwork, and generate an income that will support them as they rise to success in their field. Other artists and crafters are already well established, but wish to expand their markets. And still other new online sellers simply want to share the artwork they love, and perhaps make enough pocket money to buy new materials. Here are just a few success stories that are possible for online arts entrepreneurs.

Successful online artists and crafters come from many different backgrounds. Some have advanced art and design degrees from prestigious universities, while others are self-taught. Some businesses start with abundant funding and support; others begin on a shoestring and grow in the spare time between other jobs and responsibilities. But there are a few things that successful online sellers have in common, no matter what their situation.

Ashley is a busy special education teacher. She loves her career and has no desire to leave her job, but she also loves creating jewelry. Crafting exquisite jewelry with raw crystal, stone, and wood provides the relaxation she needs to balance her high-stress profession. Ashley opened Adam Rabbit on Etsy to share her artwork and find new homes for the many wonderful earrings and necklaces she has made. She enjoys the friendship of other Etsy sellers and customers she has met online. It has helped with my self-confidence and I have joined a great community on Etsy, says Ashley. Ashleys online business, small and part-time, is a complete success. (