How to Succeed on Bluethumb: Part 1

In this two part series about Bluethumb we take a deep dive into how you can succeed on this art lovers platform that was started in Australia in 2012.

Initially conceived as a solution to connect local artists with buyers, Bluethumb has since evolved into a prominent online destination for art enthusiasts worldwide.

It’s top 20% selling artists can earn $20,000-$50,000 per year and the top 10% earning $50,000 to $100,000 per year. Allowing unknown artists to grow into financially prosperous prominent artists. And this two part guide is all about helping you flourish financially and creatively on Bluethumb.

Bluethumb and Marketing

Moreover, Bluethumb offers marketing and promotional support, including features on their website and social media channels, to enhance artists’ visibility and attract more buyers.

You still do need to get involved in the marketing of your work on Bluethumb, and like other platforms such as Redbubble, Patreon, Etsy, Spoonflower etc, you’ll be rewarded by Bluethumb for doing so as they show your work to more potential customers.

Analytics and Insights by Bluethumb

The platform also provides valuable insights and analytics, enabling artists to track their sales performance and make informed decisions about their artistic practice and marketing strategies.

Getting Started

So if you’ve been wanting to make a successful and profitable Bluethumb store so you can sell more of your work to more people, dive into this two part guide.

First, we start with 15 tips for making it work. Then, in part two, we delve deeper into the practical steps to take so you get to stand out in this competitive market art space and get the support of the Bluethumb curators. We also look at realistic timeframes, hours needed each month and methods to grow into a top selling Bluethumb artist, earning $50,000 plus per year.

4. Regular Updates

Keep your Bluethumb profile and portfolio updated with new artworks to keep your audience engaged and coming back for more.

This may will require some planning once you’re getting a feel for what’s involved. Part 2 has dives deeper into how to make this work for you and the recommended frequency and quanities.

5. Variety of Artworks on Bluethumb

Offer a diverse range of artworks in different styles, sizes, and price points to appeal to a broader audience.

For some, this will be making their hearts sing as they love creating with a host of mediums, in various sizes and styles. While for others that can be daunting. But with a bit of a plan, this can be a lot easier.

Part 2 goes into more details about this very important step of pricing and the range of types of work.

7. Engage with Bluethumb Customers 

Respond promptly to inquiries, comments, and feedback from potential buyers to build trust and rapport.

This is really important. Silence makes people feel nervous.

But make sure you have set some boundaries with your time for this so you can look after your creative self.

For example, only answer customer questions on weekdays, or for a set hour on the weekend.

Look after your personal and family time with sensible boundaries.

8. Utilise Keywords as they are Game Changers

Use relevant keywords in your artwork titles, descriptions, and tags to improve visibility in search results.

This advice is given for every online platform that you want to be visible on.

For Instagram and Facebook, this translates to hashtags.

Keywords are your way of telling Bluethumb who to show your work to.

They are the buyers’ way to search for beautiful works that they fall in love with.

You need to include one to three keywords that are specifically about you, eg. if your social media profile name is Jennifer Louise Artist then that is one of your keywords for every product just as it is your hashtag #JenniferLouiseArtist for every single social media post.

You need keywords for the medium, style, size, format, colours, themes, subject and materials.

Also consider using location keywords, such as Tasmania, Sheffield, Hobart, Launceston, St Helens.

Think of the potential buyer who saw your work when they were visiting a Tasmanian exhibition or attending a workshop.

They remember the location and medium, eg. St Helens, watercolour, but aren’t sure of the artist’s name.

So they search by Tasmanian artist, St Helens and watercolour.

Understanding where your buyer is coming from is called the Buyer/Customer Journey.

9. Promote Your Bluethumb Products and Profile on Your Social Media

Share your Bluethumb profile and artworks on your social media channels to expand your reach and attract new buyers.

Bluethumb will give you brownie points for bringing people in from your social media artist profiles, Google will give you reward points too AND you make it really easy for folk who already love what you are doing to find your work online to buy.

Yes, Bluethumb does do social media marketing themselves too.

But to be frank, they have so many artists on board that there is no way you can guarantee that they will promote your work.

It is great that they do promote individual artists but you will make more money when you take control of sending customers to your Bluethumb store yourself.

10. Participate in Bluethumb Promotions

Take advantage of Bluethumb’s promotional opportunities, such as featured artist spots or themed collections, to increase exposure.

You may not be selected the first or the tenth time, but if you don’t put your hand up, your certainly won’t get the spotlight.

Always be polite, friendly and approachable to the Bluethumb team.

Never be rude, demanding, entitled or patronising to them. Positive always outshines negative.

By getting involved with the Bluethumb promotions you will learn more about what they want, what works and what buyers are looking for and you’ll thrive.

Being frank again, most artists on Bluethumb don’t get involved in the promotions.

So by doing so, you’ll be standing out from the pack.

A quicker way to learn how to do these promotions well is to look at the profiles, images, keywords etc, that the artists getting the exposure and making the sales are doing.

Do not blatantly copy exactly what another is doing, that’s unethical but also dumb, because you’re not being yourself and they already have that territory that is themselves.

But you can learn and bringing in various elements into your own unique offering.

13. Showcase Your Process

Share behind-the-scenes glimpses of your artistic process through photos, videos, or blog posts to engage and educate your audience.

While some may find the videos an easy route, others will find photos and blog stories more enjoyable.

You will need to test out what your online audience enjoy the most and find the easiest to engage with, to share with their friends and family.

I think we all enjoy seeing how a work progresses, from sketchbook idea to the planning board to the initial stages through to the completed work.

The same goes for insights into the creative spaces, whether that be the dinning table or the much longed for studio being decked out.

14. Collect and Share Reviews on Bluethumb

Encourage satisfied Bluethumb customers to leave reviews and testimonials, which can help build credibility and trust with potential buyers.

You can share these lovely reviews on your socials too, in your newsletter and your own website.

Yet, for those willing to invest care, effort, and consistency, the potential rewards are immense. By meticulously adhering to best practices, artists can position themselves for success, propelling towards the coveted ranks of the top 10% sellers on Bluethumb earning $50,000 to $100,000 per year.

Here lies the promise of not just financial prosperity, but also the validation of one’s artistic vision and dedication.

So, if you’re committed to your craft, why not channel that dedication into a systematic approach that yields tangible results? Join us as we explore the path to becoming a thriving artist on Bluethumb, where success is both achievable and rewarding.

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