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Digital Marketing for Artists in 2025: Costs, Systems & DIY Guide
Learn how artists market creatively in 2025, build systems, save time, and see what it costs to hire a specialist or do it yourself.
Why Artists Need Digital Marketing
Great art exists in all of us. As a writer, speaker, or visual/performing artist we can do what we do forever, granted we're in a good mood.. The real challenge? Getting it seen, loved, and sold.
Many artists think posting on social media is enough — but turning followers into buyers takes a lot more work.
That's where creative marketing comes in. A clear plan helps you build an audience, keep them engaged, and move them to buy, without feeling pushy.
In this guide, you'll see what that plan looks like, what steps you can take yourself, and how much it might cost to hire help…or how much time it will cost you to learn it all yourself
Step 1: Build a Semi-Automated Order System
Before you even market, you need a simple way to take orders and ship your work.
Sure, you can do it all yourself and react to every order. You will also lose all of your free time and the ability to be creative for your next beautiful creation.
What You Need
Here's what most artists need first as a general checklist:
1
Something to Sell!
Did you write a book? Have paintings to sell? Do you offer experiences? You can't make money if you don't think about what you offer in exchange for the cash.
2
A Working Digital Storefront
Implement reliable payment processors like Stripe or PayPal to handle transactions
3
A Streamlined Fulfillment Workflow
Set up automatic email confirmations to notify customers when orders are received and notify you so you know if you have something to do like ship to your customers!
4
A Project Management Board
Use a platform like Motion or Notion to track each new order as it comes in that you can then
5
A Weekly Plan To Scale, Clean Workflows, Offer More Value, and grow the business
Create auto-generated packing slips for efficient shipping. If you can use a "drop service" platform, this is the most cost effective solution
How to Connect It Yourself
With tools like Zapier, you can connect these steps so they run automatically. Orders log in a spreadsheet, create packing slips, and even send you reminders. This keeps your business running even when you're away from the computer.
Interested in learning how to connect your systems?
Step 2: Grow Your Audience with Digital Marketing
Art doesn't sell itself — people do. Your goal is to build trust, share your story, and stay in front of your audience. Here's a few methods to add to your weekly routine:
Weekly Social Media Routine
Once a day, Monday-Friday, talk about your latest interest, work developments, updates to your art, etc
Outreach & Influence
Connect with local book clubs, shops, and libraries to carry your work.
Know avid readers? Give them a book and ask for a testimonial!
Don't know avid readers? Pay people to read your book and get a testimonial!
The more people see your art, the more chances you have to make a sale.
If it takes, 10,000 views to get one sale…get to posting!
Need help with making better content?
Step 3: Turn Followers Into Buyers
It's one thing to get likes — it's another to get orders. Here's how to guide people from seeing your art to buying it:
Strategic "Buy Now" Links & CTAs
Include "call to actions" like a "Buy Now" button or simply say it in the middle or end of your video content
Share Your Art's Story & Inspiration
Tell the stories of why you created each piece or book
Showcase Customer Testimonials & Reviews
Show past customers and their reviews
Engaging & Creative Marketing Campaigns
Run creative campaigns, host charity events, be yourself! If you're connected, the audience is connected
DIY vs Hiring a Digital Marketing Specialist
You can do everything yourself — but it takes time. Artists who do it solo often spend an average of 29+ hours a week on:
1
Order Management
Checking emails and shipping orders
5 Hours a week, 1 hour a day or 3 20-minute sessions of communications
2
Content Creation
Writing and posting on social media
10 Hours a week, 2 hours a day:
Brainstorming, writing, recording, editing, and publishing
3
Networking
Talking to influencers and local stores
5 Hours a Week:
B2B Consultations, customer interactions, vendor interactions
4
Logistics
2 Hours A Week:
Making packing slips and keeping track of orders
5
Technical Maintenance
7 Hours a week:
Daily Check to updating websites and fixing tech issues
Over a month, that's over 100 hours you could spend creating new work.
Hiring a digital marketing specialist means you stay focused on making art.
Key Services of a Digital Marketing Freelancer for Artists
Social Media Management
Fan page management: Posts updates, handles comments
Social media content plan: Schedules posts on Instagram, TikTok, YouTube
Outreach & Partnerships
Influencer outreach: Finds and messages creators to promote your art
Local marketing: Talks to shops, libraries, book clubs
Podcast and event outreach: Books interviews and live events
System & Order Management
Build & run a semi-automated order system: Connects website, payment, packing slips, and task boards
Daily order checks (Mon–Fri): Makes sure nothing is missed
Monthly reporting: Shows you what's working
How Much It Costs to Hire Specialists
Prices change by location and experience.
But here's a general guide based on 2025 Q3 Freelance Platforms like Fiverr and Upwork:
$150-$350
Automations
Makes sure that all digital systems are operational and flowing smoothly
$700-$1500
Project Management
Handles internal operations, store, payments, & shipping)
$400-$800
Social Media Marketing
(monthly) Create ads, graphics, carousels, short form videos
$300-$600
Public Relations Manager
Find readers for testimonials, book stores for bulk inventory purchase, vendors for memorabilia, etc
Why Artists Need Marketing Beyond the Art Itself
When you handle marketing yourself, you might save money — but spend more time. That can mean fewer new pieces created, less energy, and slower growth.
When you pay a specialist:
  • Your art keeps selling even when you're offline
  • Your posts look consistent and professional
  • More time is free for creating and connecting with your audience

Return on Investment
Even one or two extra sales a week can cover the cost of hiring a marketing specialist, while freeing up your time to create more art.
You don't need to hire a full agency at once, try something small like hiring out for a few promotional advertisements
Your Next 15-Minute Artist Marketing Action Plan
Identify Your Marketing Tasks
List every marketing task you do weekly
Calculate Marketing Time Spent
Add up how much time it takes
Analyze Marketing Campaign Results
Decide which tasks bring the most results
Consider Outsourcing Marketing Tasks
Decide on what items you're okay outsourcing to a specialist
Essential Insights for Marketing Your Art
Marketing your art isn't just posting — it's building systems, telling stories, and connecting with real people.
Whether you do it yourself or hire help, the goal is the same: keep your art moving into the world and keep your time for what matters most.
Get Started with Your Artist Digital Marketing Plan
Book a call with me to get started!