Spent years figuring this out the hard way. Here's what actually matters if you're a digital artist trying to make money from your work:

1. Your portfolio IS your pitch. Nobody reads your bio first. They see your art. Curate ruthlessly — show 10 great pieces, not 50 mid ones.

2. Commissions > passive sales (at first). Prints and downloads sound nice but they need traffic. Custom commissions convert from day one because you're solving a specific problem for someone.

3. Price based on time, not "what feels fair." Track how long a piece takes. Set a minimum hourly rate. If a $50 commission takes 8 hours, you're making $6.25/hr. That's not sustainable.

4. Community beats algorithm. The artists making real money aren't just posting on Instagram and hoping. They're in communities where clients actively look for talent.

5. Show process, not just results. WIPs, timelapses, and breakdowns get 3-5x more engagement than finished pieces alone. People buy from artists they feel connected to.

That's why I built ArtVault — a space where digital artists share work, take commissions, and actually grow. Free to join.