What Should Definitely Be on Your Artist Website

Today, Ceri moves to the next step of the artist website journey. Once you’ve selected the work and gathered the words, the question becomes: what should definitely be on the website? And just as importantly, what should not. Most artist websites don’t fail because they’re missing things; they fail because they’re overloaded with too many pages, projects, and text and no clear entry point. Your website is not a storage unit - it’s a guided experience. You are leading someone through your work, whether you realise it or not, and the clearer that journey is, the more confident your website feels. Listen in to learn how to create a structure that supports your practice rather than draining it. KEY TAKEAWAYS If your website feels overwhelming, remove before you add. Take anything off your site you wouldn’t actively send a curator to today, such as old projects you’ve outgrown or sections you feel you have to apologise for. Navigation is your backbone. If the menu is messy, everything else feels messy. Ceri shares a simple menu that works. Give people a "front door" to each body of work. Instead of an endless scroll, group your work by year, medium, or series to provide an entry point that lets the work do the persuading before the language does. Consider how movement affects attention . Moving sideways through work slows the encounter down and deepens the relationship, while vertical scrolling carries the muscle memory of "doom scrolling" so people absorb less. Use text as an invitation. Strangers don't want to wade through long paragraphs before seeing images. Keep text short, place it after the work, and use it to orient the viewer toward your thinking or materials. BEST MOMENTS "Volume doesn’t build trust. Structure builds trust." "Your website gets stronger every time you remove something that no longer represents you." "Home is the doorway. Work is where they fall in. About is where they trust you. Contact is where they act." “I worked with an artist who had hundreds of images with no grouping. They thought it made them look prolific. Instead, it made the viewer do all the work.” EPISODDE RESOURCES Episode 122 - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/should-you-start-a-newsletter-as-an-artist/id1709105337?i=1000717594617 https://claire-morgan.co.uk HOST BIO With over 35 years in the art world, Ceri has worked closely with leading artists and arts professionals, managed public and private galleries and charities, and curated more than 250 exhibitions and events. She has sold artworks to major museums and private collectors and commissioned thousands of works across diverse media, from renowned artists such as John Akomfrah, Pipilotti Rist, Rafael Lozano-Hemmer and Vito Acconci. Now, she wants to share her extensive knowledge with you, so you can excel and achieve your goals. ** Ceri Hand Coaching Membership: Group coaching, live art surgeries, exclusive masterclasses, portfolio reviews, weekly challenges. Access our library of content and resource hub anytime and enjoy special discounts within a vibrant community of peers and professionals. Ready to transform your art career? Join today! https://cerihand.com/membership/ ** Unlock Your Artworld Network Self Study Course Our self-study video course, "Unlock Your Artworld Network," offers a straightforward 5-step framework to help you build valuable relationships effortlessly. Gain the tools and confidence you need to create new opportunities and thrive in the art world today. https://cerihand.com/courses/unlock_your_artworld_network/ ** Book a Discovery Call Today To schedule a personalised 1-2-1 coaching session with Ceri or explore our group coaching options, simply email us at [email protected] ** Discover Your Extraordinary Creativity Visit www.cerihand.com to learn how we can help you become an extraordinary creative. This Podcast has been brought to you by Disruptive Media. https://disruptivemedia.co.uk/