Selling your artwork online requires traffic, and SEO for artist websites is key to driving that traffic. SEO isn’t about stuffing keywords—it’s about creating a user-friendly experience and ensuring search engines can understand your website. As search algorithms evolve, staying updated on SEO best practices is essential to help your website be discovered by the right audience.
As artists, our websites are often filled with images. But here’s the catch: search engines like Google can’t “see” images—they rely on words. To help search engines understand your website, it’s important to use text strategically in places like image ALT tags, blog posts, and page titles. By doing this, you can improve your chances of being found and ultimately growing your art business through organic search.
Let’s break down how to effectively apply SEO to your artist website.
Own Your Platform
The first step in optimizing your artist website for SEO is owning your platform. While many artist website builders exist, WordPress is the most customizable and SEO-friendly. By using WordPress, you can maintain full control over how your site is structured and optimized for search engines.
To make SEO easier, I recommend using a plugin like RankMath, which helps you track your keyword usage, content length, and internal/external links. RankMath also provides helpful suggestions for improving your on-page SEO, making it an ideal tool for beginners.
Your website should serve as a hub where you share not only finished artwork but also your creative process. By documenting your process—whether it’s using an artwork pricing calculator or explaining how you ship your art—you can provide valuable content that not only engages your audience but also improves your website’s SEO.
Content is Key for SEO
Consistently creating content is crucial for SEO.
Search engines rely on text to understand what your website is about, so writing about your art, process, and artistic growth is key. Sharing your creative journey not only engages your audience but also helps search engines index your content and rank it higher.
Your blog is a powerful tool for this. Whether you’re discussing how to apply for art grants, reviewing the best tools for artists, or reflecting on your artistic journey, each post provides an opportunity to target specific keywords. This helps improve your chances of ranking in search results. Writing about real experiences, like selling art online or creating art sustainably, also allows you to integrate relevant keywords naturally.
What Should Artists Write About?
Creating engaging content can sometimes feel challenging for artists, but writing is a crucial part of SEO for artist websites. The goal is to share your creative process and thoughts in a way that not only connects with your audience but also boosts your visibility online.
Here are a few ideas to help you get started:
- Document Your Artistic Process: Share each stage of your work, from sketch to completion. This type of content not only engages your audience but also gives search engines valuable text to index.
- Write for Collectors: Address potential buyers by explaining the inspiration behind specific pieces or collections. These posts help build trust with collectors and demonstrate the value of your art.
- Share Behind-the-Scenes Insights: Share a peek into your workspace, materials, and tools. Writing about the process behind your artwork makes it relatable and human, encouraging both search engines and visitors to explore more.
- Create Tutorials and How-To Guides: Offering tutorials or guides on art techniques, such as watercolor or charcoal drawing, can showcase your skills and attract traffic while helping potential collectors see your expertise.
- Share Industry Knowledge: Writing about topics like pricing artwork, selling art, or participating in exhibitions helps you establish authority and target specific keywords naturally.
The Role of Keyword Research
To get the most out of SEO, keyword research is essential.
Keywords are the search terms people use to find your content. Choosing the right ones can make a big difference in how easily your site is found by your target audience.
As artists, it’s often more effective to use long-tail keywords (phrases with three or more words). For example, instead of targeting a broad term like “artist website,” it’s better to focus on more specific phrases like “how to print artwork at home” or “best places to sell art.” These longer, more specific keywords are often less competitive, giving your site a better chance of ranking.
Tools like UberSuggest help you discover relevant keywords that align with your content. Once you have a list of keywords, you can incorporate them naturally into your blog posts and website content. Each post should focus on one primary keyword—like “SEO for artist websites”—and include it in the title, URL, and first paragraph to maximize its visibility.
Optimizing Individual Pages
A common misconception is that SEO is about optimizing the entire website.
In reality, search engines rank individual pages, not the whole site. Each blog post or page on your website should focus on a single keyword. For example, if you write a post about creating a certificate of authenticity, you would optimize that page for related keywords.
Internal linking also plays a huge role in optimizing individual pages. Linking relevant pages on your site to each other helps search engines understand the structure of your content. For instance, if you have a post about creating art prints at home, linking it to a page about the best printers for artists builds a stronger connection between your content and improves your site’s overall SEO.
Internal and External Linking
Creating a strong internal linking structure is essential for SEO for artist websites.
Internal links help visitors navigate your site more easily while also giving search engines a clearer sense of how your content is related. For example, linking a post about creating art prints to another post about choosing the right materials can help search engines understand the relevance between the two pages.
External links are also important for SEO. Linking to reputable sources outside of your website shows search engines that your content is well-researched and valuable. For example, if you’re discussing sustainable art practices, linking to an authoritative source on eco-friendly materials can help boost your page’s credibility.
Tools for SEO Success
To make SEO easier, there are several tools that I recommend for artists:
- Google Search Console: This free tool helps you track how your site performs in search results. It shows which pages are being indexed, identifies crawl errors, and provides insights into the keywords people are using to find your site. You can also submit your sitemap, which makes it easier for Google to index your content.
- Google Analytics: If you want to understand how visitors interact with your website, Google Analytics provides detailed insights. It helps you see which blog posts are driving the most traffic, where your visitors are coming from, and how long they stay on specific pages. This data can help guide your content creation strategy, whether you’re creating tutorials or process posts.
- UberSuggest: Great for keyword research, UberSuggest helps you discover relevant keyword ideas based on what people are searching for. It also provides insights into search volume and competition, making it easier to choose the best keywords for your content.
- RankMath: If you’re using WordPress, RankMath is an essential plugin for tracking SEO factors like keyword usage, content length, and internal/external links. It’s a user-friendly tool that helps ensure your blog posts and pages are optimized for search engines.
Final Thoughts
SEO for artist websites is a long-term strategy that requires consistent effort, but it can significantly boost your visibility and attract more organic traffic over time.
By focusing on creating valuable, engaging content that shares your artistic process and naturally incorporates relevant keywords, you’ll create a website that not only appeals to search engines but also resonates with your audience.
Remember, SEO isn’t just about keywords—it’s about creating a meaningful experience for visitors. Whether you’re sharing tutorials, behind-the-scenes insights, or industry knowledge, make sure each post provides real value. Over time, as you update old content, improve internal links, and ensure your site is mobile-friendly, you’ll see your traffic grow steadily.