Tips to Selling Original Art Online

Selling Your Artwork Online
The internet has revolutionized the way we buy and sell everything, including fine art. Many artists are finding that selling online can be another way to market and sell their artwork to a larger international community of art buyers and collectors. Have you ever thought how many millions of people all over the world use the internet every day to buy products including fine art to decorate their homes? According to the latest statistics, over 1.2 million people buy online every day.Commissions and Membership Fees
Art galleries charge artists as much as 50% in commission, and the marketing exposure is limited to those people that visit the gallery and decide to make a purchase. Some online art galleries sites also charge a commission. Commissions for online galleries can range anywhere between 1-5% is normal and up to 10% on the higher end. Other online art galleries charge a monthly membership fee to cover their monthly overhead cost. The reason that online art galleries commission and overhead cost is not as much as a gallery in New York is because online galleries do not pay for leasing a facility, utilities and labor cost. There are a few online art galleries that do not charge any commissions or fees.Selling Original Art
Some online art sites sell art online that is not always original art. You may think you are buying an original piece of art but instead it is a printed image of a painting on a canvas. If the prints are numbered lithographs of the original artwork, it could eventually have some value but not as much as an original painting. Some artists choose to sell prints and lithographs artwork in order to mass produce and maximize their income from every original piece of art. Those types of printed reproductions are for art buyers that are not interested in originality but are just looking to buy a print to frame and hang on their wall. More serious art buyers and collectors want the real thing.Promote and Sell Your Artwork
Selling your art online is another alternative to market your artwork because online art galleries reach a larger audience. These sites provide the venue for artists and art collectors to connect and transact with one another. They provide artist and emerging artists with the tools to market and promote their art through social medias. There are many international artists and emerging artists that are discovering this new form of promotion and selling.It has never been easier for artists to sell their work and been more convenient for art buyers and collectors to browse and select high-quality original art. Who knows, maybe the next Picasso could already be selling their art in one of those online art galleries.

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The Growth of Internet Technology: Will the Trend Continue?

The world has become a ‘global village’. This oxymoron is because of the immense contribution of the internet and the way it has been able to successfully bring the globe together in a village like community. The term ‘Global Village’ was coined in 1970s by the great visionary Marshall McLuhan. This has been converted into reality by the growth of the internet technology and its continuing trend. Before delving deep into the stats, one can easily count the benefits of the internet in the field of transportation, communication, entertainment, medical science, education, research and development, logistics and many more. The growth of internet has been exemplary over the last couple of decades. It is already documented and speaks volume about how this technology has penetrated into the lives of the masses all over the globe.It is unbelievable and surprising that the internet had just around 16 million users (about 0.4 percent of the global population) in 1995. Today, it has around 2,267 million users (December 2011). This is approximately 32.7 percent of the global population (source: IDC, International World Stats). In a span of 17 years the internet technology has grown by leaps and bounds. Off course, the credit for this impetus should also be given to the people and other emerging technologies that has consistently made internet more accessible, beneficial and omnipresent.In common parlance, Internet refers to a global interconnection of networks owned and operated by industries, academia, government and other private entities. It is meant for the transition of knowledge, information and a viable means of communication. While racing with time, it has so far achieved and surpassed all the objectives of its authors and concept builders.Even the flora and fauna has been impacted upon by the internet technology. If you are around 35 years of age then you can easily recollect the vintage years of this technology and the way by which it grew. The consolidation of the internet as a global platform has changed the way of communication and international and domestic business activities. Due to this technology, communication has no distance related barriers. It has integrated the whole world with a single thread and gave true meaning to the words ‘global village’. It would not be an exaggeration if you call internet technology as the best and universal means of communication for billions of people.The credit for this rapid growth of the internet technology should also go to the development of different protocols such as http and https, TCP/IP and IPv4 that may become IPv6 very soon. Moreover, Ethernet, routers, routing protocols, the development of the document object model, domain name resolution (DNS) and security measures like firewalls and fiber optics are some of the technological aspects that you should include in the list of the factors that has played a pivotal role in making internet technology such a big success.One more thing that you can’t afford to omit in this discussion is the role played by World Wide Web Consortium (W3C). W3C has delivered all important interoperable technologies in the form of tools, guidelines, specifications and software to help the Web grow to its full potential. As a forum for information, communication, commerce and collective learning, W3C has innumerable contributions to the growth of the internet technology.What is more intriguing and encouraging about the internet technology is its consistent growth over the years. Every day we come across about new products and services using this technology. It has given concrete platform for many industries to grow and benefit people. The latest buzz in the market related to the internet technology is the smartphone. Most recently, it has revitalized the complacent telecommunication and entertainment industry with fresh concepts and given vigor to achieve more and more in the coming years. So there is no harm in saying that the growing trend of internet technology that began a couple of decades ago is likely to continue and bring something new and improved.

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How to Locate a Dependable Travel Agent

Whether you are researching a trip on your own or not, here are tips for finding a travel agent to help you plan a trip that is right for you and who can help you with all the confusing information found online. You may be travelling on business, on a family vacation, on a religious commitment, or to host a special event like a marriage, anniversary or a family reunion on a cruise ship or an all-inclusive! Don’t forget fundraisers on a cruise ship.Location is KeyTravel agents are consultants who are around to help people like you accomplish various travel plans. To locate a reliable travel consultant for your trip, try exploring one of these options:1. Visit the local Chamber of Commerce or visit their website to review the accredited list of travel professionals.2. Search through the Yellow Pages to shortlist local travel agents and their contact information.3. Talk to neighbors or friends to accumulate some recommendations, but these are not always reliable.After short-listing a few travel agents in your area through your initial research and local contacts, take a note pad and jot down the start and end dates of your travelling schedule, the departure and arrival locations and the intermediate destinations, transportation preferences if any, available budget, and special requirements like wheelchair accessible entry and exit points. Also determine what type of activities you would like to do on your trip. All this information will help the travel agent help you chose the best product to make your trip memorable and a success. Do some research on your own, but let the travel agent help you decide whether the information you find is really the best for you. There is so much information out there.Have a Vacation without StressWhen you finally meet your travel agent, you can use your list of requirements along with the checklist provided below to avoid disappointments:1. Keep your conversation with your travel agent focused on your list items but keep an open mind to listen to suggestions of the travel agent to enhance your trip.2. When you are discussing your travelling plans, available options, and expense details, avoid falling into the trap of buying services you do not need.3. When making travel plans, always ensure you have a “Plan B” to address mishaps such as seats without reservations, missing connections, lost baggage, absence of travelling date on tickets, and more terrible possibilities.4. You should also discuss in detail the travel agent’s resources to handle last-minute changes like trip cancellations, date modifications, or itinerary changes.5. Discuss with the travel agent products like travel insurance to help protect your travel costs along with medical protection. Travel insurance covers more than just those items listed in numbers 3 and 4 above. Travel insurance also covers you medically should the need arise. Some insurance plans do not cover you when you travel outside of the United States. Make sure you check with your insurance company to see if you are covered.6. If possible, use a credit or debit card to pay for all the expenses, to ensure that all your expenses are accurately tracked, monitored, and auditable in case of a future dispute.If you are fortunate enough to locate a reliable travel agent, then you can easily expect timely and courteous services while planning, preparing, and executing your travel plans on a suitable budget and schedule.

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