SEOs: Because Apparently We Have to Learn This Too

Don’t worry—this one’s easier (and more useful) than you think.

If you’re an artist or small business owner trying to grow your presence online, you’ve probably heard the term SEO thrown around. Maybe it sounded technical. Maybe it felt overwhelming.

But don’t worry! SEO's are a super intuitive part of marketing that you probably already utilize - you just do not know it yet!

Knowledge is power, and once you learn how to optimize what you are already doing, you can rest assured that you are using your platforms to their fullest extent.

So… what is SEO?

SEO stands for Search Engine Optimization. In simple terms, it’s the practice of helping your website, social media, or online store appear higher in search results—like on Google or TikTok—when people look for things related to what you do.

Think of it this way: If someone types “handmade pottery near me” or “abstract painter in Philadelphia” into Google, good SEO helps your work show up in that search. The better your SEO, the easier it is for new fans, customers, or clients to find you.

How do SEOs work?

SEO is all about keywords—the words and phrases people type when they search. When you know what your audience is searching for, you can:

✅ Include those keywords in your website text, product descriptions, blog posts, and social captions.
✅ Use them in your page titles, image alt text, and URLs.
✅ Create content that answers the questions people are already asking online.

The result? Any platform with a search function can connect your content to the right people.

Examples of SEO for artists & small businesses

Let’s say you’re a painter who focuses on pet portraits. Some SEO keywords you might want to use could be:

• custom pet portraits

• dog painting artist

• cat portrait watercolor

• handmade pet art

• personalized animal art gift

If you’re a jewelry maker, keywords might be:

• handmade silver jewelry

• minimalist gold necklace

• artisan earrings

Notice that these are phrases people would naturally search for—not random words crammed together.

For our presence online, I have created a data base to pull relevant key terms from depending on the content. Some examples are:

• micro business support

• small business help

• artist business tips

• creative entrepreneur

In a caption, I could include SEO phrases like this:

“Getting started as a creative entrepreneur can be hard, but with us - you'll never start from zero! artWorks provides small business help alongside artist business tips to ensure that everyone's business dreams can come true.”

How do I find the right SEOs?

Here’s the good news: you don’t have to guess! There are great (and often free) tools out there that help you discover what people are searching for in your field. A few to try:

✨ Google Trends (trends.google.com) – lets you explore search interest over time and by location.
✨ Ubersuggest (neilpatel.com/ubersuggest) – offers keyword ideas, search volume, and competition level.
✨ AnswerThePublic (answerthepublic.com) – helps you see what questions people are asking about your topic.
✨ Keywords Everywhere (a browser extension) – shows keyword info as you browse.
✨ Pinterest Trends – especially useful if you’re in a visual field like art, crafts, or design.

At art|Works, we also encourage members to think about local SEO if you sell in-person or regionally—like “ceramic artist in Scranton” or “custom murals PA.”

A few simple ways to use SEOs

1️⃣ Write for humans first. Keywords are important, but your writing should still sound natural and welcoming.

2️⃣ Add keywords in smart places:

• Page titles (what shows up on the browser tab)

• Headings (like this one!)

• Product or artwork descriptions

• Alt text for images (which also improves accessibility!)

3️⃣ Stay consistent. SEO isn’t a one-time thing. It’s about building up content over time—on your site, blog, and social media.

4️⃣ Be specific. The more specific your keywords, the more likely they’ll connect you with the right audience. “Watercolor artist” is broad. “Watercolor pet portrait artist” is targeted.

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SEO doesn’t have to feel like a mystery. It’s just about helping search engines—and people—find the amazing work you’re already creating.

If you’re a member of art|Works, we’re always here to help you brainstorm SEO ideas for your field. And if you’re just starting out, experiment with one of the tools above—you might be surprised by what people are looking for!

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