Can I make money selling art on the internet?

Yes. Here are the 7 basic steps to selling your art on the internet.

Step 1) Create your art. You need a minimum of 8 good pieces to show on your website and a maximum of 50. The preferred number if you're looking to make sales is 24 pieces; more than that is confusing for the viewer and it will hinder your sales.

Step 2) Put your best foot forward: Show your best work, ask an art dealer to help you choose the images to exhibit on your website. Please don't think, "Well, someone might like it."

Step 3) Include all pertinent information about the art. There are several philosophies regarding showing your prices. You may prefer to have people call you to ask about prices so that you can have a chance to speak with interested parties, but there’s nothing wrong with posting your prices either. Prospective clients may get turned off if you aren’t completely up front about prices. Posting prices on the internet is becoming more popular. You can also include PayPal buttons to make purchasing easier.

Step 4) Answer your phone if at all possible, and always return messages within 24 hours. Don’t just say, “Hello”, say your name when you answer. If it isn’t possible for you to return messages promptly, have your calls forwarded to someone reliable. Check your e-mail at least twice a day and reply to interested parties within 24 hours. If they do not respond to your reply, email them again in 2 days and ask them if they are interested in your art. Always be warm and polite.

Step 5) When someone is interested in your art ask them directly if they would like to buy it. “Would you like to buy that painting Mrs. Smith?” Wait for the answer – be very quiet, don’t keep talking. If the prospective buyer says, “Yes”, get down to the business of taking the full payment right then and there. If the answer is, “I’m not sure.” ask if there are any questions you may answer that might help in the decision making process. Again, be warm and polite, smile when you talk, it translates.

Step 6) It is customary for an artist to be paid in advance. As soon as the money has cleared (credit cards take about 4 days, checks can take as long as a week) get the art shipped out. The art should be in the mail or on a truck within 24 hours of the payment clearing your bank. Make sure the funds are actually COLLECTED by the bank.

Many artists and art dealers no longer accept cashiers checks. Cashiers checks were originally created by banks to ensure payment, but unfortunately they are now used by international thieves. The checks are made to look very authentic. Often the thieves will pretend that they accidentally over-paid you, and they will ask you for the art and the change back from the over-payment. Banks honor cashiers checks in just two days, but sometimes as much as a month later the check is discovered to be invalid. You will owe the bank the entire amount AND you're out the amount you gave the thieves AND you've lost your art as well.

Step 7) Don’t forget to send a thank you note within one week after the art has been delivered. The thank you note should simply say "Thank you for your purchase." Do not ask any questions in the note; do not ask if they like the painting, remember it's already sold, you don't need to re-open the sale.