How to sell art on Amazon: Your 7-step guide

1. Create a professional selling account

First things first, you need a professional account to start selling art on Amazon like a boss. This means signing up on Amazon Seller Central, picking the professional selling plan ($39.99/month), and entering your tax information, banking details, and more.

You don’t need to be a fully registered business, but having one can help long-term. Just make sure your info is accurate, because Amazon’s application process is serious about the details.

Watch out for the fine print (literally) – make sure you understand referral fees based on your category, like art, craft, or accessories. 

This is your entry ticket to reaching millions of customers across the world. And yes, it’s way more exciting than setting up a booth at the weekend fair.

2. Set up your Amazon store

Now that your selling account is live, it’s time to set up your Amazon store and make it pop. Think of this as your digital gallery.

• Pick a catchy name that fits your brand.
• Upload a logo.
• Write a fun, clear bio that tells customers who you are and what kind of art you create, from moody paintings to quirky digital pieces.

Then, set up your storefront categories. Amazon offers custom layout features to highlight collections like print series, seasonal artwork, or best-selling designs.

3. Decide what type of art to sell online

Here’s where things get fun. What kind of art do you want to sell? There’s no one-size-fits-all answer, but picking the right artwork style (or combo) can set your store up for success.

• Original work: Hand-painted paintings, drawings, or photography. Great for artists who want to sell unique pieces.
• Digital artwork: Perfect if you love to create on a tablet. Sell as downloadable files or custom prints.
• Print-on-demand products: Upload your designs to t-shirts, mugs, posters, canvases, and more with POD platforms like Printify and sell them without holding inventory. 

Each format has its pros – originals may fetch a higher price, while print items can scale fast thanks to high demand. Pay attention to category rules and trends to stand out.

4. Create product listings that sell

Now let’s turn your stunning art into scroll-stopping listings that actually sell. Because no matter how jaw-dropping your paintings are, if your listing’s a snooze, your customers will scroll right past it.

Here’s what goes into a high-converting Amazon listing, broken down and jazzed up for artists like you:

• Product title: SEO goldmine. This is your art’s first impression. Keep it clear, keyword-rich, and specific.

Example: “Abstract Ocean Wave Painting – Modern Coastal Wall Art Print, Blue and White.” Keywords like print, painting, art, and wall help Amazon know where to show your work.

• Product description: Tell a short story. This is your chance to woo your customers. Share the inspiration, the vibe, and even how it might feel in their home.

Example: “Bring calm coastal energy to your space with this dreamy wave print, hand-designed by a local artist. Perfect for bedrooms, beach homes, or your daily zen corner.”

Use bullet points for features like size, materials, shipping info, and care.

• Product images: Show off your gallery. Good photos equal good sales. Use bright lighting, multiple angles, close-ups, and show scale – a framed print on a wall, for example.

Amazon’s search engine isn’t psychic – it needs help. So tell it exactly what your artwork is and who it’s for. Speak your customers’ language.

The listing is the bridge between “just browsing” and “Add to Cart.” So, master Amazon SEO and do it right to let the sales begin.

5. Set up pricing and shipping

Let’s talk money and mailing – aka pricing and shipping, Amazon style.

First, your price should reflect your time, materials, and artistic magic, but it also needs to be competitive. Check similar artwork listings (even on Etsy or in online galleries) to gauge what’s realistic in your category. 

Remember: Pricing too high scares off customers, but too low? You’re undervaluing your art.

Use Amazon’s Automate Pricing tool to stay sharp in a changing market.

For shipping, you can choose to:

• Handle it yourself – you’ll package and ship orders.
  
• Use FBA (Fulfilled by Amazon). Amazon handles storage, packing, and delivery. Great for print items like posters, canvases, or t-shirts.
  

Set realistic, clear delivery times, pay attention to weight and size, and factor in shipping costs when setting your price.

Shipping isn’t just logistics, it’s part of the customer experience. Do it right, and you’re halfway to a repeat sale.

6. Market your art to attract more customers

You’ve set up your store, now it’s time to wave your metaphorical paintbrush in the air and get customers to notice you.

Amazon Ads are a solid start. Run Sponsored Product campaigns targeting keywords like “botanical prints” or “minimalist paintings,” and get your artwork in front of high-intent shoppers. Amazon even shows you what’s performing well so you can tweak and level up your ads over time.

But don’t stop there, your marketing superpowers extend beyond Amazon.

Social Media is your art’s hype squad.

• Instagram is basically a digital art gallery. Post your process, behind-the-scenes shots, or style reels. Use hashtags like #wallart, #artistsonamazon, or #mothersdaygift to attract the right audience. Add your Amazon link in your bio (hello, instant purchase path).
• Pinterest is a secret weapon. It’s a visual search engine perfect for art. Post your product images with links to your listings and make seasonal boards like “Spooky Wall Art for Halloween.”

• TikTok is great for short, fun videos like “Turning a sketch into a print in 15 seconds” that can go viral and lead customers straight to your store.

Seasonal marketing gives you a timely sales boost.

Holidays are goldmines. Got cozy fall vibes? Push them in September. Got floral prints? Hello, Mother’s Day. You can even design art specifically for holidays – Valentine’s Day print, Halloween poster, New Year’s wall calendar – then plan ahead and market around those spikes in demand.

Explore Printify’s eCommerce calendar with all the important and quirky dates marked year-round so you never miss an opportunity to land extra sales.

7. Grow and scale your Amazon merch

Once your art is up and selling, don’t stop – scale. Growing your Amazon merch means expanding your reach, increasing your product range, and optimizing your listings for more sales.

Here’s how to level up:

• Double down on bestsellers. Got a print that’s flying off the shelves? Put it on more products, like tote bags and candles.
• Use Amazon’s business tools like Brand Registry, ads, and A+ Content to stand out.
• Dive into data. Check your sales reports, keyword performance, and customer reviews to see what’s working.
• Expand to new categories. Maybe your art makes sense on both home decor and tech accessories.

Small tweaks can equal big growth.