Spotlight on the “Selling Your Art Online” Workshop Series

If you’re an artist or creative entrepreneur, chances are you’ve been relying more and more on your website or social media channels to promote and sell your creations (especially since the start of the pandemic). But doing so requires more than a simple Tweet or an update to your products page.

Participants attend a previous workshop from Grant Thornton, held at the beginning of 2020.

These days, being an artist means you wear many other hats - marketeer, business coach, web/social media specialist, etc. etc. etc. - as you run and build your business. But do you have a good grasp of the basics when it comes to things like growing your business, e-commerce strategies, website privacy policies and other legal essentials? Our Business Workshops for Artists series has got you covered.

Our fall series kicked off last week with Sheldon Payne of Newfound Marketing, who provided an informative and in-depth introduction to Search Engine Optimization (SEO) and how it can help participants to grow their business and audience (with a focus on artists and arts organizations).

Payne’s workshop is just one of three that aims to help artists and creatives sell and promote their work online. And whether you’re an emerging or an established artist (who’s just getting started on an e-commerce platform, or you want to expand into new markets), we’re sure you’ll pick up some valuable tips during these free, online sessions.

The series continues on October 27 with Corinne Boudreau of Online Legal Essentials (which offers guided legal templates for Canadians doing business online), who will walk participants through disclaimers, copyright notices, website privacy policies and everything else you need to know to protect yourself, your creations and your business.

"Learning about the legal stuff can give entrepreneurs and creatives confidence and peace of mind to grow and expand their reach and to build new relationships,” Boudreau says.

And on November 15, participants will get the inside scoop on how to boost their business’s profitability online from facilitators Angie Brown, Ashu Avasthi and Jeff Merrick of Grant Thornton. The team will discuss ways to adapt and grow your business, including how an e-commerce strategy can help.

"If you are new to the world of ecommerce, or a seasoned business on the internet, you will want to know some of the risks you may face," says Jeff Merrick, senior manager with Grant Thornton in the operational advisory practice.

"Does your business manage sensitive information online (credit card data, PII, etc.) – how are you making sure it is properly protected?"

Angie Brown, who leads Grant Thornton’s business advisory team in Newfoundland and Labrador, adds "If you are just getting started or trying to expand your reach through online sales this session is for you."

"Join us for an engaging discussion with some of Grant Thornton’s leaders about ways to manage your business through exploring new opportunities beyond our own provincial boarders.”

Through this free series of workshops, we hope to support and help artists and creative entrepreneurs build a robust online presence that will grow their audience this holiday season, and beyond.

For more information on this special series of workshops, or to register, click here. Each session is free to attend and will be hosted online via Zoom.We hope to see you!