How to Build Your Career As a Network Artist

Networking is a crucial part of building your career as an artist. In fact, a recent study showed that artists with wide and diverse networks of peers are statistically more likely to become famous.

It’s important to remember to be professional when networking. Be sure to bring your business cards with you and take notes on people that you speak with, even just on your phone, as a reminder to follow up.

1. Connect with other artists.

Artists and creators need to connect with other people in order to grow their creative careers. Networking can provide peer-related inspiration, insights into industry trends and advice on overcoming challenges. It can also lead to opportunities like group shows and additional resources.

Whether it’s tapping someone on the shoulder at a bus stop, commenting on their work during an exhibition or simply sending a message to say you’re looking forward to meeting them at your next studio visit – finding and creating a community is key to a successful career as a network artist.

Luckily, networking doesn’t have to be hard work. Using tools such as Artwork Archive allows artists to easily create new contacts at gallery openings, artist studio visits or art fairs.

2. Reach out to galleries.

In order to find galleries that make sense for you and your work, it’s important to do your research. You’ll want to understand their mission, their current programs and what type of artists they represent.

Then, be prepared to present a professional portfolio to them. This should include high-quality images, a CV and an artist statement. Keep in mind that good galleries receive many inquiries and submissions each week, so it’s your job to stand out from the crowd.

Be authentic and genuine, and always be sure to show a genuine interest in the people you talk to. If you can’t come up with a compelling reason why they should care about your art, they will likely ignore your request.

3. Create a website.

A website gives your audience a place to learn more about you, and can help you connect with potential clients and customers. It’s also a great way to showcase your work in a digital portfolio.

Determine what your objectives are for your artist website, such as promoting an upcoming exhibition or announcing new art projects. This will help you determine the functionality required of your site, and can guide you in selecting the CMS platform that’s right for you.

Some CMS platforms provide ideal features for artist websites, such as Wix. They offer easy drag-and-drop website builders and a free plan. Others offer a more customizable approach, such as WordPress. They allow you to add ‘plugins’ that provide additional functionality, such as email forms, contact forms, and social media widgets.

4. Write a blog.

The more a network artist blogs, the more they can promote their work and build up a loyal band of followers. This audience can then spread the word about your exhibitions and events, helping you reach a wider audience.

Whether it’s insights into your own creative process, studio shots or sketchbook drawings, you should aim to create compelling blog posts that inspire your readers and give them a taste of your artistry. It’s also important to keep your content fast-paced and interesting, as well as checking for spelling and grammar errors that could make it difficult for readers to understand your message.

Start your blog post with a catchy title and break down the information into small, digestible chunks through subheadings. Try to stick to a theme, as this will help your website visitors find your posts using search terms they enter into Google.

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How Much Do Network Architects Make?

Few jobs see as big of a salary gap between high and low-paid employees as the computer network architect. But it all depends on the choices you make throughout your career, including certifications, education and where you work.

For example, earning a CompTIA Cloud+ could help boost your salary. And working in the right job market can mean a $65,000 difference in pay.

Telecoms

Telecommunications companies are natural candidates for network architects since making communication possible on a global scale requires massive, high-speed computer networks. These networks rely on servers, clients, peers, transmission media and a comprehensive understanding of underlying networking protocols.

For entry-level network engineers, average salaries in telecoms are fairly stable nationwide, excluding a few job markets that are unusually low or high, such as Bayamon, Puerto Rico and San Jose, CA. Regardless of the industry, however, earning CompTIA Cloud+ certification can boost a candidate’s salary because it demonstrates an in-depth knowledge of all cloud-related technologies. This translates into a greater understanding of how to choose the best technology for an organization’s needs. This can lead to higher pay and better opportunities for advancement. This is especially true if a network architect manages less-experienced team members.

Insurance

The insurance industry relies on high-speed, reliable networks to perform complex operations quickly, and provide data that can be accessed anywhere in the world, securely. As a result, network architects earn competitive salaries in this sector.

Network architects working in the insurance sector can also make more by earning relevant professional certifications like CompTIA Cloud+. This credential provides a vendor-neutral understanding of the tools and technologies available to manage network projects that include cloud technology.

A lot of things can impact a network architect’s salary, including their industry, education and professional credentials, and where they choose to work. Choosing the right locations can make or break a career in this highly sought-after field. With the right mix of knowledge and experience, a network architect can easily make $100,000 a year or more.

Healthcare

The demand for network architects is strong because every organization and institution needs to have a secure, functional IT system. Those who have the right level of experience, certifications and education will be in high demand in many different industries. The Bureau of Labor Statistics states that a bachelor’s degree in information technology or computer science is typically required for this career path.

A big part of this role is being familiar with the underlying network protocols to the point that they’re effortless to understand and use. They are also responsible for defending the network from security threats. They must develop software, systems and designs that will keep data and communications safe without sacrificing speed and efficiency. This is why their salary can vary so much from one job to the next.

Manufacturing

Most industries need computer network architects. The telecommunications industry, for example, which makes global communication possible, requires massive and resilient computer networks that need to be designed and configured by skilled network architecture professionals.

Network architects need the technical expertise to envision their company’s future needs for computer networks, and they need the communications skills to convince stakeholders to provide them with the resources to implement those plans. This combination of technical and business skills often leads to department management roles, where a network architect oversees teams of network engineers and system administrators.

Few IT jobs see as great a pay disparity between low-level and high-level positions as the average salary for network architects. Coastal metro areas consistently pay experienced network architects the highest salaries.

Education

In the education field, network architects oversee technology that provides students with access to the learning materials they need. They also help with a variety of administrative tasks, including monitoring threat activity and managing security operations.

For this reason, it’s important for network architects to stay current with the latest IT security techniques and tools. One way to do this is by earning CompTIA’s Cloud+ certification. This credential helps them understand all the different options for networking, data and compute solutions that are available and how they compare in terms of costs, features and speed.

Computer network architects must be familiar with a wide range of underlying networking protocols and languages. They must be able to analyze data networks, make recommendations and create detailed plans for how network components will operate.

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