My credentials for creating this page are that I've probably inspected and reviewed information on over 10,000 art websites while blogging about art on my main art blog Making A Mark. I've often got the impression that artists managed to get their images online and write something brief about themselves and then rather ran out of steam - or were not too sure what to do next.

As you know this website is about the art business side of art. I've also noted that some artists have a number of different ways they interact with others - but lack the relevant business pages that really need to be present as well. 

So this page aims to provide a resource and get people thinking about how they can improve their website. It also maybe highlights some issues some artists have never thought about.

The new page Web Content for Artists covers and provides brief guides to and TIPS about:

• essential pages
• website menus and navigation
• content for home pages
• content for image galleries
• content for news
• content for "about the artist"
• content for a contact page
• Terms and Conditions Content
• Privacy Page

The Privacy Page is especially relevant to all those artists who have dealings with anybody living in the European Union - given we are now just over a month away from the new General Data Protection Regulation coming into force (see Data Protection for Art and Artists).

The reason for emphasis on the Terms and Conditions pages is that I see far too many websites which neglect the fact that any business interaction with customers via the website involves explicit or implied contracts and all the relevant legislation and regulations relevant to such business. In particular, I see far too few which really get to grips with their terms and conditions of business.

This is intended to complement other pages in my Website for Artists sub-section of MARKETING which are (at present):

• Website for Artists  (general advice)
• Why websites matter
• Options for websites
• Web design for artists
• Writing for the web

In the interests of updating and improving content, I'd be interested to have your FEEDBACK about the new page. You can either comment on this post or use the feedback form on my "contact" page

HMRC updated its guidance Tax-free allowances on property and trading income yesterday (6th April 2018) for the 2018-19 tax year

Here in brief are the rules:

• If your annual gross trading income is £1,000 or less, from one or more trades you may not have to tell HMRC, however there are circumstances when you must register for Self Assessment and declare your income on a tax return.
• You must keep records of this income. This is known as ‘full relief’
• ​If your annual gross trading or property income, from one or more trades or businesses is more than £1,000 you can use the tax-free allowances, instead of deducting any expenses or other allowances.
• If you use the allowances you can deduct up to £1,000, but not more than the amount of your income. This is known as ‘partial relief’.
• If your expenses are more than your income it may be beneficial to claim expenses instead of the allowances.
• Gross income means the total amount you would put on your tax return before any allowances or expenses are taken off. This applies whether you use the cash basis or traditional accounting.

However you must still KEEP PROPER RECORDS. HMRC can charge you a penalty if the records you keep aren’t accurate, complete and readable or if you don’t retain them for the required period of time.

However, You must tell HMRC if you have:

• gross trading income over £1,000 - register for Self Assessment
• other gross income over £1,000 up to £2,500 - contact HMRC
• other income over £2,500 - register for Self Assessment

You can read more Tax Tips for Artists on my website

The Best Art Business Books for Artists is the new home for information from another site I developed with the same name. It's a work in progress at present but now has enough content to make it worth highlighting and my other site is about to be closed down.

Initial categories cover:

• Short Art Business Guides - for a quick read
• Starting Out - for those who aspire to an art career
• How to have a career and make money as an artist
• How to sell your art 
• Understanding Art Galleries
• Copyright
• Art in Transit
• The Artists' Resale Right
• Art Legacy Planning

Interestingly most of the books on the new page are EITHER new OR new editions of books that have been around for a while.

So much has changed in the past few years. In particular the emphasis on business online is now much more important. 

I'm finding that I really need to look long and hard at content as I do the transfer - and I'm needing to buy new editions of books I've loved in the past.

Plus I know than a few authors have recognised the need to update and have new editions in the pipeline.

​For example, a couple of days ago I was contacted by Caroll Michels - author of How to Survive and Prosper as an Artist (a book I really rate!) - about the NEW edition of her book which is published later this month. This has got a LOT of new content to reflect the changes in the workings of the art market and the new challenges for all artists - even established ones. For example:

• the use of social media and website development as marketing and publicity tools – what works and what doesn’t work;
• the confusions between the “art-buying public” and the “consumer market”;
• neighbourhood gentrification and the growing challenges of securing a reasonably priced work/live space; and
• the pros and cons of the new business models for artist career development.

So I hope you'll join me in my investigation of what's currently on offer and the best books about the art business for artists which offer both great content and good value for money!

There's a lot more to come and this page will be continuously updated over the next few months - and years!

Subscribe to Art Business Info. for Artists - NEWS by Email
and receive every post via email.
Your subscription is only activated after you verify the link in the email you will receive

I'm also interested to hear about what new art business books you've been buying and getting value from.

If you'd like to share your recommendations with fellow artists just leave a comment on this blog post - or contact me and give me a recommendation.