As an artist manager, you understand that having an online presence is crucial for showcasing an artist’s work, reaching new audiences, and building their career. A well-designed artist website serves as a professional portfolio, a platform to engage with fans and collectors, and a tool to share upcoming events, merchandise, or other offerings. With so many website-building platforms available, it can be challenging to decide which one is the best fit. Below, we explore the top five website options for artists and why they stand out.
1. OurGig.com
OurGig.com stands out as the original website platform tailored for music. They provide several website design options, including the widely used WordPress, making it an ideal choice for artists aiming to showcase polished and professional portfolios. No matter your level of technical expertise, you can create a visually impressive and highly functional website.
Why It’s a Great Option:
- Unlimited Template Options: OurGig.com provides stylish templates while also offering access to market-based options, giving you a step ahead of 80% of music artists.
- All-in-One Platform: It provides hosting, domain registration, and built-in tools like social media or email marketing integration, making it convenient for artists who want to manage everything in one place.
- Mobile Optimization: Every OurGig.com platform is optimized for mobile devices, which is important since many people view websites on their phones.
- Integrated E-Commerce: Artists can sell prints, merchandise, or original works directly through their site using OurGig.com’s built-in e-commerce features.
- Ease of Use: OurGig.com’s platforms provide a simple drag-and-drop tool that ensures anyone can design and update a website, no matter their background in coding or design.
One downside is that at OurGig.com, you might choose a website option that requires a one-time payment for templates or even a full website build. However, the monthly fees are significantly lower than competitors, sometimes half or even a third, and you retain ownership of your website.
2. Squarespace
Squarespace is a popular website-building platform known for its sleek design templates, making it an excellent choice for artists who want their portfolios to look polished and professional. The platform is user-friendly, so you don’t need technical skills to create a visually striking website.
Why It’s a Great Option:
- Design-Focused Templates: Squarespace offers visually appealing templates that work well for artists. Whether you’re managing a painter, illustrator, or photographer, the templates showcase artwork beautifully, focusing on high-quality images.
- All-in-One Platform: It provides hosting, domain registration, and built-in tools like email marketing, making it convenient for artists who want to manage everything in one place.
- Mobile Optimization: Every Squarespace template is optimized for mobile devices, which is important since many people view websites on their phones.
- Integrated E-Commerce: Artists can sell prints, merchandise, or original works directly through their site using Squarespace’s built-in e-commerce features.
- Ease of Use: Squarespace’s drag-and-drop interface makes it simple for anyone to build and maintain the website, even without design or coding knowledge.
One drawback is that Squarespace has limited customization compared to more advanced platforms. However, for artists who want a quick and easy way to build a professional-looking website, it’s a solid choice.
3. Wix
Wix is another great option for building an artist website, offering a balance of flexibility and simplicity. With its drag-and-drop functionality and customizable templates, Wix allows for creative freedom without requiring coding skills.
Why It’s a Great Option:
- Wide Range of Templates: Wix has hundreds of templates to choose from, including many designed specifically for creative professionals like artists and photographers.
- Customizability: While Squarespace offers more polished designs, Wix is better for artists who want to fully customize their site’s look and feel.
- Wix Art Store: This is a dedicated feature for artists, enabling them to sell digital art and other creative works with ease.
- Affordable Pricing: Wix offers various pricing plans, including a free option with Wix branding, making it a budget-friendly option for artists just starting out.
- Advanced Features: Wix includes features like video hosting, blogs, and galleries, allowing artists to share behind-the-scenes content or showcase their process.
One downside to Wix is that its templates are not as polished as Squarespace’s, and it can feel overwhelming to some users due to its many customization options. However, for those who want creative control and unique layouts, Wix is a strong contender.
Choosing the Right Platform
Each platform has its strengths and weaknesses, so the best choice will depend on the artist’s goals and technical expertise. By selecting the right platform, you can help your artist build a strong online presence, showcase their work effectively, and connect with their audience on a deeper level.