High-quality images of your artwork are essential, but large file sizes can slow down your site, leading to a poor user experience. TinyPNG is an easy-to-use tool that helps you compress images without sacrificing quality, ensuring your website remains fast and visually appealing. I am not happy with my site speed and am currently optimizing images. I thought it might help to share how to optimize images for your artist website with this tool.
According to Google’s official Search Central Blog, they prioritize faster websites as a ranking factor, stating that “faster sites create happy users” and “when a site responds slowly, visitors spend less time there.
Better User Experience
A quick, seamless browsing experience encourages visitors to explore more of your work.
How to Use TinyPNG to Optimize Your Images.
Step One: Prepare Your Files
Save your images in PNG or JPEG format. Make sure the dimensions are suitable for your website.
Step Two: Upload to TinyPNG
Go to www.tinypng.com and upload up to 20 images at once. Drag and drop your files directly onto the page for convenience.
Step Three: Download the Optimized Files
TinyPNG will compress your images while maintaining high visual quality. Download the optimized versions to use on your website or social media.
Step Four: Replace or Upload Your Images
Upload your new image or swap out the larger files on your site for the compressed ones to improve performance.
Bonus Tips
It’s Free
With a free TinyPNG account, you can compress up to 20 images at a time, each with a maximum file size of 5MB. While there isn’t a clearly defined monthly limit, most sources indicate you can compress around 100 images per month for free. To handle larger volumes or bypass these restrictions, upgrading to a paid TinyPNG plan is required.
Batch Compression
You can Optimize several images at once to save time.
File Naming
Use descriptive file names (e.g., bluegrass-musician-painting.jpg) to boost SEO.
Check Your Dimensions
Resize images to the maximum display size needed for your website before uploading them to TinyPNG. You can find this in the Help or Knowledgeable section of your platform.
Make an Impact with Your Images
By optimizing your images with TinyPNG, your artwork will look professional while your site remains fast and efficient. Use this simple tool to elevate an online presence.
This latest video reviews a comprehensive checklist to ensure your artwork shines on your website.
Weekly Video Recap
Key points include using sharp, well-lit images, clean crops, and close-up shots that capture texture and detail to give viewers the best possible experience. Proper lighting, multiple views, and optimized image sizes are essential.
We also talk about your website and maintaining consistency, organizing by category, adding descriptive details for each piece, ensuring mobile friendliness, and clear navigation for your audience. Finally, while you can shoot your artwork yourself, investing in a professional photographer can make a significant difference.
Your Assignment for This Week
Your task this week is to download and review the images on your website using the free checklist in the resources below.
Using Your Online Portfolio or Gallery to Connect with Your Audience
This week, we are still working on your online presence, and we begin to focus on one of its most important features: your portfolio or gallery.
Why Your Web Presence Matters
Your website is where potential buyers, collectors, and art professionals first interact with your work. This space must be well-organized, accessible, and strategic. While your About page shares your story, your portfolio or gallery is where your art takes center stage, allowing visitors to explore and engage with your pieces.
Weekly Video Recap
Online Portfolio vs. Gallery: What’s the Difference?
Although we often use the terms “portfolio” and “gallery” interchangeably, they serve different purposes:
Portfolio: If your primary goal is to attract gallery representation, commissions, or professional opportunities, a portfolio is your best bet. It showcases your range of skills, techniques, and versatility, giving curators or agents a comprehensive view of your work.
Gallery: An online gallery is more appropriate if you’re focused on selling artwork. This format is designed to display finished, purchasable pieces and is ideal for art collectors, buyers, and enthusiasts.
You don’t have to stick with “portfolio” or “gallery.” Depending on your site’s goals and the type of work you offer, you might choose other names. For example, if you’re selling prints or reproductions, you could use the title “Shop.”
Who Is Your Audience?
The format you choose depends on the action you want your audience to take:
For gallery owners or agents – Use a portfolio to display a wide range of work, highlighting your versatility.
For collectors or buyers, an online gallery is more appropriate, as it makes it easy for them to find pieces to purchase or inquire about.
Understanding your audience and goals will help you determine which format best supports your objectives.
Your Assignment for This Week
Your task this week is to decide what to call your art display area. Is it a portfolio, gallery, or something else? Whatever you choose, make sure it’s easy for visitors to find.
And if you don’t have a website or need to organize a large body of work for different audiences, consider a platform like Artwork Archive to get started.
Next week, we’ll dive deeper into how to organize your portfolio or gallery, so stay tuned!
Weekly Video Recap: Key Elements for Your Online Presence
This video gets into the key components that make your artist website an effective hub for your niche marketing strategy. We’ll discuss the must-have pages or sections for your website, along with some optional features to consider based on your goals
In the following weeks, we will focus on each element, what to include and how to include content that serves your niche audience.
The Bottom Line
While your website doesn’t need to be perfect from the start, it’s crucial to focus on the essential elements that will effectively serve your target audience. Remember, your website is a project that will evolve over time.
Stay tuned as we dive deeper into these elements in the upcoming videos!
Weekly Video Recap: Establish Your Online Presence
This step aims to create an online space to showcase your art and connect with your target audience. This space will serve as your home base, where you direct people from your marketing efforts such as through social media or QR codes at events. Setting this up sooner rather than later is crucial for your niche marketing efforts.
Your Options for Setting Up a Platform for your Art Business
The term “platform” can refer to various things—it might be your entire website, a part of your website, or even an online portfolio that functions as a website. The key is to have a space that effectively shares information about you and your art.
What if You Already Have a Website?
If you already have a website or platform that works for you, you’ll want to build on it as we move forward in our process.
Soon, we’ll discuss the essential elements of every platform. Until then, review your current online presence or start building your platform. Remember, your online space should showcase the quality and creativity of your art.
A note about affiliate links: Some of the links provided are affiliate links, meaning that I make a small commission if you buy through my link. For more info, check out my Terms page.
Your website’s home page is like the front door to your online presence, and making a great first impression is important. If you’ve attended any of my art marketing programs, you know that I always encourage artists to add a blog page to their website. If you have a blog page on your site, you need to decide if it will serve as your home page or if you will use a static welcome page. For example, artist Robert Yonke uses his blog page as the home page on the WordPress.com platform. Or, using the same platform, artist Carolyn Haas has chosen a static page as her home page and her blog is found on “The Stories” page.
There’s no one-size-fits-all answer when deciding between a static page or a blog page for your website’s home page. It depends on your goals, content strategy, and audience. Let’s explore the advantages of both options:
Benefits of a Static Page as Your Home Page
Clear Brand Identity
A static home page can prominently display who you are as an artist and what you offer. It’s ideal for an artist looking to establish a strong online presence.
Focused Call to Action (CTA)
You can direct visitors’ attention to a single, prominent call-to-action (CTA). CTAs might include signing up for a newsletter, attending an event, or contacting you.
Timeless Content
A static page can offer content that doesn’t require frequent updates, making it a good choice for information that doesn’t change frequently.
Benefits of a Blog Page as Your Home Page
Fresh Content
A blog page showcases your website’s latest content, including new work, demonstrating that you are an active artist. And it also shows that your website is updated frequently, which can improve search engine rankings.
Engagement
Your blog offers an opportunity for interaction with your audience through comments and social sharing, fostering a sense of community.
Demonstrate Experience and Credibility
By showcasing new work, news, accolades, and projects, a blog helps to build credibility over time, which can grow your audience base and open up opportunities.
The Good News
The good news is that most website platforms allow you to switch between different page types easily.
Choosing between a static or blog page as your home page hinges on your website’s purpose. A static page may be the way to go if you prioritize a static, clear brand message and a focused CTA. However, a blog page is the better choice if you want to engage your audience with fresh content and build credibility regularly. Consider your goals, audience, and content strategy to determine which option aligns best with your website’s purpose and mission. If your strategy changes, you can always switch your home page.
This post contains affiliate links which means I receive a small commission if you make a purchase using the link. For more information, see my full terms here.
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