For many artists, marketing feels weird—not because they aren’t capable, but because no one has ever taught them how to do it.
Formal art education might teach you how to refine your craft or connect with galleries, but it rarely touches on how to build an entire marketing system tailored to selling art. Outside the classroom, advice for artists is often vague, focusing on social media as a catch-all solution.
That’s why the Artists Launch Academy was created—to fill this glaring gap. Designed specifically for artists, the Academy offers a comprehensive approach to marketing that feels authentic, creative, and, most importantly, achievable.
In December, we launched a pilot program with eight artists to test the curriculum in real time.
Over the past month, they’ve completed Module 1, which lays the foundation for marketing success by focusing on practical, artist-focused strategies. Through surveys and feedback, we’ve gathered invaluable insights into their learning experience, revealing not just what they learned but how it’s reshaped their confidence and approach to marketing.
This blog post dives into their journey through Module 1 and how it’s breaking down barriers for artists ready to take control of their marketing.
First, let's take a look at this beautiful graph.
To help me learn if my teaching is helpful, I have the 8 artists fill out the same survey before and after each module. This also helps me know what I need to edit for when these modules go public.
Before we get into the data, I will be slowly releasing these modules before the official big launch of the campaign so if you want to get access to this early then click the button below to subscribe to the early access email list.
Starting From Scratch: Where Artists Struggled
Before diving into Module 1, the eight artists in our pilot program rated their confidence in 39 areas of marketing, from understanding SEO to using conversion strategies. The pre-module survey revealed several key challenges:
SEO and Traffic Generation: Many artists struggled with understanding how search engines work (2.6/5) or how to generate organic traffic (2.2/5).
Retention and Advocacy: Concepts like retaining collectors (3.0/5) and leveraging advocates (2.6/5) were unfamiliar to most.
Marketing Integration: Artists found it difficult to see how different marketing channels—like their website, email list, and social media—could work together.
One artist summed it up perfectly:
"I know how to create the art, but I don’t know how to plan for marketing it. So I just do random things and hope they work."
Module 1 Goals: Foundations of Marketing for Artists
Module 1 serves as the bedrock of the Artist’s Launch Academy, introducing foundational marketing concepts in a way that feels approachable and relevant to artists. Its primary focus is on helping participants understand three key principles:
The Central Role of a Website
A website isn’t just a digital portfolio—it’s the cornerstone of a successful marketing ecosystem. Module 1 emphasizes how a well-designed website can serve as a gallery, storefront, and storytelling platform all in one.
Integration of Marketing Channels
Effective marketing doesn’t happen in silos. This module teaches artists how to connect their website, email campaigns, and social media efforts to create a seamless experience for their audience.
Retention and Conversion Strategies
Selling art isn’t just about attracting buyers—it’s about building lasting relationships. Module 1 introduces retention techniques like follow-up strategies and post-sale engagement to turn one-time buyers into lifelong collectors.
Through practical exercises, reflective prompts, and artist-specific examples, Module 1 helps participants not only understand these concepts but begin to apply them to their own practices.
Whether they’re brainstorming keywords for their SEO strategy or mapping out their marketing channels, artists are encouraged to view marketing as an extension of their creative process rather than a separate, intimidating task.
Pre- and Post-Module Transformation: A Data-Driven Analysis
After completing Module 1, the artists saw measurable improvements in their understanding and confidence across almost all areas of marketing. Here are some of the biggest wins:
1. Mastering the Role of a Website
Confidence in understanding how a website serves as the central hub of their marketing increased from 3.4/5 to 4.7/5.
Artists gained clarity on how their website connects with other marketing channels, jumping from 2.2/5 to 3.9/5.
By breaking down the purpose of a website into actionable steps—like adding calls-to-action or structuring their homepage—we helped artists see their website as more than a portfolio.
2. Making Sense of SEO
General SEO knowledge rose from 2.6/5 to 3.7/5, and confidence in organic traffic strategies increased by 1 full point.
Artists learned how to choose keywords and structure their content, helping demystify a topic that previously felt overwhelming.
As one participant put it: “The way SEO was explained in the module made it feel like something I could actually use, not just a buzzword.”
3. Understanding Advocacy and Retention
The concept of leveraging advocates improved from 2.6/5 to 3.1/5, as artists identified ways to turn collectors into enthusiastic supporters.
While retention strategies showed smaller gains, participants appreciated practical examples like follow-up emails or exclusive sneak peeks for repeat buyers.
What Worked (And What Needs Work) in Module 1 Pilot Phase
What Worked Well:
Actionable Steps: Artists responded positively to exercises like mapping out their marketing channels or brainstorming keywords.
Relatable Scenarios: Using examples tailored to artists—like Alex, the oil painter—helped make complex topics like conversion strategies (which improved by +1.5 points) easier to grasp.
What Needs Refining:
SEO Simplification: While there were notable improvements, topics like on-page SEO and organic traffic still felt too abstract for some.
Retention Strategies: This area saw the least improvement, suggesting the need for more hands-on activities and case studies.
Moving Forward
Module 1 was just the beginning, but it’s clear that it’s already making a difference. Artists are starting to feel more confident in their ability to market their work, and they’re beginning to see marketing as a creative process rather than a chore.
These insights will guide us as we refine future modules, ensuring that every artist who joins the Academy leaves with the tools and confidence they need to grow their art business.
Are you ready to transform the way you approach marketing? Stay tuned for more updates from the Academy and follow along as we continue to help artists make marketing work for them—not the other way around.
Would you like to be one of the first to join the Artist’s Launch Academy?
Sign up for our waitlist today and get insider updates on enrollment and early access opportunities.
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