Web site hosting

Dawn2 wrote

on 10 Feb 2011 11:52 AM

What sites do you all use for your web site hosting. I love that I can build my site my way but it seems that my site builder and site host just don’t want to work together and I need to make some changes. I use web easy and can build it just the way I want it using my own images, seems important for artist, but I cant seem to upload it so I am on the hunt. Also some art sites are so expensive.... what are you all using what are your thoughts

rjoynerartist wrote

on 10 Feb 2011 4:45 PM

Dawn,

I use a WordPress theme called inFocus. It's very SEO friendly and you can customize it to your taste. Websites are crucial to the success of artists, especially those that are selling online. I use dreamhost.com for hosting and have never had any problem. Themeforest.com has plenty of WP templates other than InFocus.

If you need some really reliable and inexpensive freelancers to help you, just check out my links on my blog. There are three there that I use for customizations. It may cost a few extra bucks to host, customixe etc, but it's well worth it

You can browse my site if you like. It's a work in progress but I can tell you I've acquired plenty of new collectors in a very short amount of time.

www.robertjoynerartist.com

all the best.

-robert

Paul Sullivan wrote

on 10 Feb 2011 5:05 PM

Hey Robert—

I just saw your work and I think it's great!

Paul Sullivan

Paul Sullivan wrote

on 10 Feb 2011 5:17 PM

Dawn2—

If it's of any help, I'll tell you what I did: 

I reserved the domain I wanted with GoDaddy.com. Then I made a design of the entire site (with text and pictures) in Adobe Illustrator. With printouts of the Illustrator files, I shopped around for a good place to construct, host and maintain the site. For me, that was the local offices of  WebTech.net.

Paul Sullivan

http://www.paulsullivanstudio.com

Dawn2 wrote

on 16 Feb 2011 5:40 AM

Thanks guys, I will go check these out.

Susan Williams Phillips wrote

on 22 May 2011 6:39 PM

Thank you all for sharing information. Since I'm just building my first website, through vistaprint, I am wondering the best way(s) to have customers pay for art online. Please, take a look at my site, www.redbarnartatredbarnart.net, and give me all the advice you will (yea, I asked for it

After many yrs of being "dry" (raising kids, etc., instead of painting) and having sold only "the old way" before, I am a bit daunted, but at same time excited, by the new venues now available to us. And I am even more excited about painting again! Please, share my journey. You'll also find my journaling on fb under Red Barn Art. Tomorrow I start a new painting: another 30 x 40 oil of old silos! Very excited!

Thanks! Susan

Jay Babina wrote

on 23 May 2011 4:08 PM

I went on your site anxious to see your work. I am not sure what it is that your site is supposed to be showing? Are you a painter and you paint barns and things like that? Or am I being premature and the site is not done yet? It almost seems like a service to artists and photographers displaying their work and you're looking for artists etc. 

Susan Williams Phillips wrote

on 23 May 2011 7:13 PM

Thanks Jay. That's exactly the kind of feedback I need. It is not complete; one major thing I need to do is attach ways for customers to pay for art.

Which addresses another of your points (and I have to adjust site to be self-explanitory, certainly): I am an artist, primarily painting, but not confined to one medium. Will offer original paintings, as well as, photo prints. And I hope to add other artists soon, as well. Am even looking in my area for property to use as physical studio/gallery/workshops (which will also be held by many invited artists). More on those details as they are developed.

Do you think it would be advisable to post any of that information (even though it is just on the drawing board, so to speak)?

Thank you so much for your time and comments. I do hope you will check back soon, perhaps every week or two, and let me know what you think. I'll try to spend some time tomorrow adjusting/clarifying. And again, thanks!  Susan

KatPaints wrote

on 24 May 2011 5:09 PM

Hi Susan, I just checked out your site and I agree with Jay. Most sites have some sort of "art or gallery" button or immediate viewing of their artwork. I needed to dig a bit and only found one piece. I'd suggest mentioning that the site is under construction and the viewer should check back soon. If there are no images, the viewer will not want to read or search any further. I'd suggest  surfing the net to see how other artists constructed their sites.