I’m trying to properly start knuckling down into some online marketing however I don’t really have a budget for it currently. What should I look at pursuing first that is effective and ideally free (to begin with anyway). I’m currently focusing on looking into starting mailing lists and email campaigns, improving my SEO and monitoring my analytics more closely. What else should I be looking at, at this stage?
If I do decide to spend some money somewhere in my marketing- considering the fact that my priority right now is getting traffic to my site and then assessing what customers are doing once they are there- where would it be most effective to put it?
For context, I’m an artist selling fine art prints, originals and pet portraits.
Good question. It sounds like you’re covering a lot of the basics already. The main other things to focus on are social media and direct in-person sales.
Usually, if your conversion rate is good, ads are the most effective way to turn money into business. If you’ve been doing everything yourself, you might also want to spend some money upgrading your various business systems.
I answered another artist’s question that you might relate to here:
https://community.shopify.com/c/2h-media-ama-questions/marketing-for-small-artists/td-p/2927842
Hi @colourofoctober ,
You are already taking smart first steps by building a mailing list, tightening your SEO, and watching analytics. Here are a few additional low-cost ideas that tend to work well for artists selling prints and commissions.
- Free or Nearly Free Channels to Try First
Social media stories and short-form video
- Post time-lapse clips of your painting process, “behind the print” stories, or pet-portrait reveals.
- Reuse the same clip on Instagram Reels, TikTok, and YouTube Shorts to reach wider audiences without extra work.
Content marketing
- Write a short blog post or carousel explaining how to choose the right print size or framing style.
- Share that content on Pinterest and link back to your product pages. Pinterest often drives steady traffic for visual niches like art.
Community engagement
- Join pet owner or interior-design groups on Facebook and Reddit.
- Offer thoughtful advice instead of direct selling, then drop a link only if relevant. People remember helpful experts.
Referral program
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Encourage past buyers to share their finished piece on social media in exchange for a small future discount.
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A simple discount code and a thank-you email can spark organic word-of-mouth.
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Where to Put a Modest Budget
Retargeting ads
- A small daily spend on Facebook or Instagram retargeting reminders can recapture visitors who viewed a print but left.
- Limit the audience to recent site visitors and cap frequency to reduce costs.
Influencer micro-sponsorships
- Gift a print to a pet-influencer with a loyal but smaller audience. Fees are lower than larger creators and often lead to authentic shout-outs.
Search or Shopping ads for best-selling pieces
- Test a narrow set of high-margin products with Google Shopping or Performance Max.
- Keep campaigns tightly themed to avoid wasted clicks.
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