6 Business Ideas for Artists to Make Money Online in 2023

5 minute read

Calling all talented artists! Are you looking for innovative ways to showcase your creativity and turn your passion into a thriving business?

In this blog post, we'll dive into the 6 best art business ideas to make money online, empowering you to turn your artistic talent into a thriving entrepreneurial venture.

Whether you're a painter, illustrator, photographer, or any other type of artist, these online business ideas for artists can help you monetize your skills and reach a wider audience. Let's get started!

6 Business Ideas for Artists to Make Money Online

Create and Sell an Online Course

Sharing your artistic knowledge and expertise with others can be a rewarding experience - an an excellent business idea!

By creating an online course, you can teach aspiring artists, enthusiasts, or even individuals looking to explore their creative side.

Selling online courses is one of the most flexible and easy-to-start business models out there (in our opinion). You don't need a huge budget to get started, plus you can make money by sharing your passion with others - which is always good!

Learn more about this: Arts & Crafts Online Courses: How to Turn Your Passion Into a Business

To do this, all you need is an online course platform.

Heights Platform is the perfect choice for anyone who wants to start selling online courses and needs a reliable tool by their side that lets them build a business with flexibility.

With its user-friendly interface and comprehensive features, you can effortlessly design, structure, and deliver your course to a global audience.

You could teach whatever you are passionate about through an online course: a collection of video lessons and resources that help students get from point A to B.

If you are interested in starting your online course business but don't know where to start, we have hundreds of blog posts like this one going into details of how to build a successful course.

Here are some that you might like:

Starry Nite Studios is an example of a successful course creator who chose Heights Platform to create and sell online art courses. Here is a sneak peek of one of their awesome art courses:

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On Heights Platform, you can build unlimited online courses, and membership sites and sell digital products. You can also create your whole website with unlimited pages to promote your business!

Create Your Online Course Today

Sell Digital Products Online

In this digital age, the demand for digital products is skyrocketing. Leverage your artistic skills to create and sell digital products such as templates, worksheets, posters, digital art prints, or even custom illustrations.

Digital products refer to assets that exist in a non-physical format and lack a physical component. The internet has simplified the process of accessing and exchanging various types of digital products, making it highly convenient for creators to start selling their art online.

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Platforms like Heights Platform allow you to set up your online store, showcase your digital products, and seamlessly handle transactions.

Expand your reach, connect with customers worldwide, and transform your art into a source of leveraged income.

Learn more about creating and selling digital products:

Create a Membership Site

Another great business idea for artists is creating a membership site, as it can be an excellent way to cultivate a loyal community of art enthusiasts while generating recurring revenue.

A membership site refers to a website or program that provides exclusive content to its members.

As the creator, you have the option to charge your members a monthly or annual fee. In return, they gain access to your valuable content and a collection of products.

The content offered within a membership site can vary depending on the nature of your creative business. It could include online courses, digital products, live events, and even a community space where members can interact with each other.

Heights Platform provides a seamless solution for creating a membership site tailored to your artistic niche.

You can curate a range of membership tiers, each offering unique benefits to your members, such as access to exclusive workshops, behind-the-scenes content, or one-on-one mentoring sessions.

By creating a membership site through Heights Platform, you can foster a sense of belonging among your audience, provide ongoing value, and establish a reliable income stream.

We have interviewed creators who use Heights Platform to sell a cooking membership site. Check out their story and strategy for success here: Online Cooking Course? Learn from the success of the couple who founded Rustico Cooking.

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Build a Community of Artists

Online communities are becoming increasingly popular for building connections with your audience and fostering the growth of an online business by bringing people together.

In addition to providing a learning platform for members, online communities also serve as a powerful marketing strategy or standalone product that you can sell!

Research indicates that businesses that incorporate a community element experience a rise in leads and website traffic.

Establishing your own branded community for customers comes with several advantages. It positions you as an authority in your specific field, allows you to gather valuable feedback from your audience, and boosts customer trust, website traffic, leads, and sales.

Encourage discussions, organize virtual events or workshops, and let your community flourish.

If you want to learn all about creating your online community, check out these articles from our blog:

With Heights Platform, you have the ability to build and personalize a community according to your preferences.

This enables students to establish meaningful connections, engage in discussions with both you and fellow learners, and feel more actively involved with your brand.

Sell Licensed Artworks to Brands

Many brands and companies are constantly on the lookout for unique, eye-catching visuals to enhance their products or marketing materials.

As an artist, you possess the ability to create captivating artworks that align with a brand's vision or message. Consider selling licensed artworks to brands and establish mutually beneficial partnerships.

How Designers Can Partner with Top Brands: the Story of Cat Coquillette - The Creator's Adventure #54

On our podcast, The Creator's Adventure, we recently interviewed Cat Coquillette, an artist that built her business by partnering with top brands like Target, Urban Outfitters, Anthropologie, HomeGoods, and more - and licensing her art!

In the interview, Cat shares her secrets to building a profitable brand and licensing her illustrations with major companies.

Grow a YouTube Channel and Monetize It

YouTube has emerged as a powerful platform for artists to showcase their talent, engage with an audience, and monetize their content.

Creating a YouTube channel allows you to share your artistic process, provide tutorials, share insights, or even document your artistic journey.

You can grow a YouTube channel by posting videos regularly to keep your audience engaged. You can share your unique artistic perspective, offer tips and tricks, or showcase time-lapse videos of your creative process (as an example!).

By optimizing your videos for YouTube, engaging with your audience and posting regularly, you can grow a Youtube channel to the point where it is possible to start monetizing it.

Once your channel meets the eligibility requirements, you can apply for the YouTube Partner Program. This allows you to monetize your channel through advertisements, sponsorships, or even merchandise sales.

Remember, growing a YouTube channel takes time and effort. Here are a few blog posts to read if you want to learn more:

Conclusion

The world of art is not limited to canvases and galleries alone.

With the advent of online platforms like Heights Platform, artists and creative entrepreneurs now have an array of opportunities to monetize their creativity and build a thriving business online.

You can transform your passion into a sustainable and fulfilling career with art business ideas such as creating online courses, selling digital products, building a community, licensing your artwork to brands and growing a Youtube channel.

Which of these art business ideas will you start?

Sign up to Heights Platform today and unlock the power to share your knowledge and create a thriving online course business.

Create Your Online Course Today

Post Topics: Build and Promote Your Course