Name of your website?Ryepress
Your name?
Colin Bailey
Your Location (city, etc)
Hastings
Please give us a short summary of your website?
Original limited edition etchings, Artist's own reproduction giclee prints, paintings, Fine art book and greetings cards of Rye, Hastings and the East Sussex coast by British artist Colin Bailey
What inspired you to launch your own website?
It seemed the best way of getting the most people to see my work!
When did you launch your first website, and what was it?
Ryepress was my first website and it is about 7 years old
How did you decide on a name for your website?
I was living in Rye, doing mainly etching and I had my own press
What makes it different from other, similar offerings?
The amount of time I spend on it and that unlike many artists I am interested in all aspects of design, technology not just painting.
What is your eventual goal? (To sell it, keep it for income, secure a book or other mainstream media deal?)
To earn a living completely independent of galleries and agents
How does your investment of time and money balance against your success?
Just about breaking even now - much easier since I got a scanner and digital camera!
If you had an unlimited development budget for development, how would you change your site?
would do the same for other artists - I'm sure people would buy more if there were some more cooperation amngst artists.
If your site got really big, really quickly, would you be able to keep up with the demand?
yes, although my book keeping might get a bit sloppy.
What unexpected costs and headaches have you had to deal with?
Other people; late deliveries, people not doing what they should when they should.
What has been your biggest challenge?
Getting people to buy art from a website without seeing it "in the flesh" first
What method has been most successful for promoting your website?
Being out there in reality, putting work up anywhere and everywhere - sooner or later people want to know who you are and Google you.
How has running your website differed from your expectations?
More fun! Nowhere near as difficult as people would make out; It can evolve at any pace you want
How long have you run the site already, and how long will you continue to keep it up if you don't enjoy big gains in traffic, income or popularity?
Over 7 years and I intend to keep running with it whatever!
What do you most regret about your website?
Not getting it done sooner when I was younger!
What is your website address?
Ryepress