We have been featured........

Thanks to our friends at student accommodation know-it-alls unihomeswap.co.uk, we have been featured on a neat little video. It is aimed at sixth form students and is designed to help them make an informed choice on university accommodation, exploring the different options available and the pros and cons of each. 

We have been name checked in the money saving tips section towards the end. Have a look. Feel free to share this with any prospective students that you know. As graduates who have spent time at university themselves, we think there is some great advice here from people who obviously know their onions.

Thank you!

How An Old Book Can Land You A Dream Job

This is a guest post from Raw Egg Interns.

After university, people generally have a vague idea of the industry that they’d like to go into. It doesn’t have to be directly linked to their degree; it doesn’t have to be linked at all. However, unless you have looked at what the industry has to offer, it can be tricky to breakdown the job roles to aim for, and even to know what you might enjoy.

Inevitably if you get to interview stage you will be asked; what do you feel you can bring to this job and which aspects of the job are you most interested in? Unless you know how the job works and fits with the rest of the industry, these questions will be followed with a long and resounding uuuuuuuuhm.

Well, that is frankly awkward, so to avoid this we would suggest getting hold of some old textbooks, basic guides or industry magazines and having a good read, before doing anything else. Not all employers want a newbie with experience, but they do want someone who knows what they’re getting themselves into. 

Don’t splash out, second hand books do the job, but do remember that digital and technology industries move fairly quickly, so any books that are pre-millennium are only for an understanding of basic principles, not day to day workings. 

By reading up on the basics, recruiters will recognise that you have put in the time and effort to make the links between your skills and their industry. They will trust that this same level of interest, research and wisdom will be maintained once you’re in the work place.

Go forth bookworms and read yourself to a job. 

Written by.......

Raw Egg Interns is more than a recruitment solution; it is a business development initiative. We connect our paid interns with industry experts so together they can generate amazing business solution, direction and insights.

Raw Egg Interns Ltd.

info@rawegginterns.com

www.facebook.com/RawEggInterns

0843 289 2554

Saving money on student accommodation

Advertorial:-

Here at the Book Pond, we love things that give students choice. We appreciate the diversity in the student body in the UK, whether this is by gender, age, life situation or any other thing that means that one student is totally different to the next. 

Because of this diversity, not every single service designed for students can suit everybody. As a mature student myself, I found that a lot of the societies and activities for students at my university did not fit in with my schedule or needs. That's not to say I was unusual. Around 50% of the students at my university were mature students, many of whom had children and a family life. Traditional students (18-25) are always well catered for, which is understandable, but we know that these arrangements don't suit all.

It's the same when it comes to accommodation. As a student starting university for the first time at the age of 26, I was glad I didn't have to live in halls or shared housing. I had lived in my own home for six years by then, and could not have coped with the inevitable activity and hustle and bustle that comes with sharing with lots of young people, as fun as it may have been. 

Even some traditional students don't like this arrangement and would prefer something a little more like back home. This is why I like UniHomeSwap.co.uk.  This is a website where you register your details and look for another student to 'swap' accommodation with. You get to move in with their family near your university, and they stay with yours. For the right arrangement, this can save you thousands of pounds a year. 

The obvious downside is that your parents have to have someone just like you in their home, when they could have been looking forward to having some us-time (dread the thought), but as it's probably their money that will be paying for your university accommodation, they will likely be more willing than you would expect. It's a solution that could work for many, not everyone, but it's certainly worth looking into. 

If you are looking to save money while studying at university, swapping your place in the family home with someone else is worth investigating. It might not be the right choice for you, but what's to lose in checking it out?

Essay writing services - your view.

I have recently noticed an increase in internet sites selling 'essay writing services'. These range from proof-reading services, all the way through to writing the entire essay for you. I am pondering their usefulness, having never used them myself, or known anyone that has. They must get customers, and enough for more than one company to exist. It's puzzling me.

One concern I have with these services is how they know what material you have covered in the lectures, or the favourite books of the module lecturers and tutors. Two essays on 'The Works of Tennyson' would probably be quite different in different universities and with different academic staff. It's not like universities follow some sort of common curriculum like schools do. By the time you've given them your notes, reading lists and points to cover, you're halfway to producing the essay yourself anyway.

Another concern is that, especially if you were to use them for only a few essays, that style would vary between your submitted works. If you get the same lecturer for more than one module, a good academic can spot variations in work, especially if you submit an amazing one not long after a poor one. Inconsistency rings alarm bells.

Also, I think I would be too anxious. What if I order an essay and it doesn't come in time? It might not leave enough time for writing a decent essay. I don't think I could cope with that amount of uncertainty. 

But my biggest problem with essay writing services is this - the whole point of university is to learn - learn how to write, how to present arguments, how to read effectively, how to manage your time, and how to prioritise. If you can't do this well enough to meet deadlines for set coursework, then you are probably better off learning study skills from your own university's study support services. Read our tips for meeting deadlines. 

Assuming that you are doing a degree to help you get a job, is it really good practice to get into the habit of paying others to do your work for you?

Honestly, if you are struggling, please get help - from your tutors, from other students, from anyone who understands what you are trying to do. Please.

Have you or anyone you know used an essay writing service? Would you recommend them to other students?

Written by Joanne Brady

Why I love real books.

I'm not afraid to admit it, as much as it's the content I love books for, there is a small (OK, a large) part of me that is entirely bibliophilic - that is, I love books for the physical object that they are as well as the intangible words on their pages. I'm sure I'm not alone.

It's not the smell, or the papery feel, or the glorious colour on their spines racked up on the book shelf that I like, but the whole idea that this book in my hands right now, is not just something for me to look at, to learn from, to share - but has been for someone else in the past, and will be for someone else in the future.

The whole idea that this little object of paper and glue has been on a journey all of it's own. From it's birth in the printing press, on to a lorry, arranged attractively on the bookshelf, chosen by a human hand, and taken away to a new home in a little bag.

It's been carried around in bags, placed under packs of sweets, dropped on grass, scribbled on by scholars, carefully guarded until exams are over. 

Does this book remember who has read it? Does it recognise their face, or the sound of their voice? Does it mind having little notes scribbled in it's otherwise pristine margins? Who knows?

I have a book on my shelf. It is a very old copy of Little Women by Louisa May Allcott. I love my book - not just because of the story that is told through it's arbitrary printed language (although it is one of my favourite stories) but because it's not really mine at all. I am but its temporary custodian.

On the inside cover there is, in blue ink, an inscription.......

"To Betty,
Merry Christmas for 1955"

That's all it says. I have no idea who wrote this. I have no idea who Betty is.


The only clue is another small inscription on the inner title page. It says......

"15p"

.......in the top corner, in pencil.

This book that I love so much, was given as a Christmas present to someone called Betty in 1955, twenty-two years before I was even born. It was then sold second-hand at a jumble sale, I imagine, to someone else who wanted it. Maybe that was my grandmother - she then passed it on to me when I was a child. Who knows who else has been its temporary custodian over the last almost 60 years? Did they love it as much as me?

I will keep this book and pass it on to my own daughters in a few years time. It smells a bit musty and the pages have weathered somewhat, but I hope that they will come to love it as much as I do, and respect how this simple little collection of paper and glue has found it's way into their possession. 

I love proper, real, physical books. e-books just aren't the same. 

The Internet- Saving students money

As a student, it’s important to think about being wise with your cash and to put aside some money for a rainy day. The internet is one important tool to make use of when trying to save a few pennies.

All money savvy students will know that the internet can help you grab a good deal. It’s always worth doing your research online before you go out to a restaurant, the hairdressers or even on holiday as you could find a better deal online or a voucher code to print off.

Here are a few tips for students to save money by using the internet:

• Comparison websites will most definitely land you a bargain. Whether it is your grocery shopping, new car insurance deal or utilities, you can find out who is cheapest with the simple click of a mouse.

• Fashionistas should make sure to look for discounts and offers on clothing and shoes both for online stores and high street shops. Discounts can range from free delivery to a whopping 25% off and can work out a real steal if you are in the mood for a shopping spree.

• Don’t buy tickets for coaches or trains at the ticket office- these places are usually the biggest rip off and charge for overhead costs such as staff. Make sure to find cheap coach and train tickets online. Furthermore booking ahead of time could work out cheaper with ‘early bird deals’ and at the same time guarantee a seat!

• If you’re visiting another town, city or country, try couch surfing. The concept is that you offer a place for somebody to stay at your house, and in return you can ask for a place to kip for a night or two- for free! There are numerous sites online which offer this service.

• There’s no need to traipse around town wasting time and energy searching looking at grotty student houses, or pay an estate agent a big fee.  For example you can easily find a flatshare in Nottingham whilst relaxing on the sofa and in the meanwhile not have to experience messy student rooms!

• Sign up to all newsletters for pubs, clubs, restaurants and bars. They often send vouchers with special 2 for 1 deals or discounted meals and drinks. Also make use of loyalty cards as they usually end in a free meal or drink.

Always make sure to read the fine print- there’s nothing more embarrassing than using an out of date voucher!

5 reasons why students FAIL!!!

OK, maybe fail is a bit strong, but through my university life I saw too many people under-achieve because of  things that could have been avoided. 

While I'm not going to provide you with a magic formula to help you succeed, by avoiding falling into the traps of too many other students you can at least try not to be an under-achiever. Here, with some amount of sarcasm, are my five observations from my time spent at University.

Make sure it's not your picture next to THAT definition.

1) "But, I don't understand how I missed that. I attended all the lectures!" - Sometimes turning up to lectures is not enough. You also have to stay awake during them, bring a pen and paper, not spend all your time playing Angry Birds on your phone, and make an effort to follow up the lectures by actually reading the pieces that have been recommended to you by the lecturer. 

Staying awake is always a way to ensure you are listening

2) "But I don't understand why I haven't learnt anything. I bought all the textbooks!" - Gosh, and don't they look pretty, in perfect mint condition on your bookshelf? What you actually need to do now you own (or have borrowed) those magical, mystical objects of knowledge is to open them at the page which contains the information you have to learn, and start reading. And take notes. And read it again. And try and remember it. That is actual learning.

3) "But I don't understand how I was late handing in that essay. I had the same amount of time as everyone else!" - Yes, you did. But they probably set aside some time in their schedule to actually do some reading, and some writing. They probably remembered about their meetings with their tutors to discuss said essay, and kept an eye on the calendar to make sure they were doing enough to meet the deadline date. See our tips on meeting deadlines if you want more help.

Don't let yourself get overwhelmed by deadlines.

4) "But I don't understand why those questions came up on that exam. I'm sure we didn't cover that in the lecture." - Apart from the fact you're falling asleep or not paying attention in the associated lectures, you can have a good stab at predicting what is going to come up in an exam. Check over the themes you covered in the module and the reading you were given, including seminars as well as lectures. Eliminate what has been tested in other ways for example in essays, or mid-terms. Whatever is left is fair game for the exam, I would say. It's not a completely foolproof method, but it worked for me. Mostly.

Face Palm - the classic reaction

5) "But I don't understand how I didn't know how and when we were going to be assessed. How do you know these things?" - What I do, dear colleagues, is when we are given the module handbook at the beginning of the term, is to read it, take notes of important assessments with associated dates, and write them down somewhere. I keep the module handbook somewhere safe, and try not to lose it. Please don't come to me toward the end of the term and ask to 'borrow' mine as refusal will offend.

So, there you go. Distractions are everywhere at university, and are there to be enjoyed, but take your eye off the academic ball at your peril. Competition for graduate positions is more fierce than ever before. Don't set yourself up for mediocrity. Mediocre might not cut it once you're released into the big, bad world.

Good luck.

How to choose your university

At some point in your school life, you will start thinking about whether or not to go to university. If you decide you do want to go, then you have to make the choice of which university, or universities to apply for. There are over 100 universities in the UK, as well as numerous affiliated and independent colleges which offer degree courses. 

You may have made the decision very early on in your life, or had the decision made for you by an esteemed family history. For those of us who have no family history to influence them, there is a plethora of universities to choose from and the choice can be overwhelming. Speaking to a careers tutor is often a good idea, and they will help you work out what is important to you. 

Here's the low-down on what you need to consider when making your choice.

1) How good is the University's reputation? Check out the Guardian league tables for a rough idea of how your potential institution stands with regards to student satisfaction, staff:student ratios, and average career development of graduates. It's not the be-all-and-end-all, but you don't want to pick a duff one if you intend to study to further your career, and some employers do consider some universities to be more prestigious than others.

2) How far is the university from your home? Some people like to be close to home, whereas others like the freedom associated with being a bit further away. It's personal preference, but don't forget to consider the cost of returning home for the holidays or just for a visit. 

3) What is the cost of living? Some universities are situated in very expensive places, for example central London. If finances are going to be an issue, then choosing somewhere with a lower cost of living might ease some of the pressure. Check out this article for some surprisingly cheap recommendations - York anyone?

4) The general feeling of the university. You really should go on at least one open day at each university you are considering. Prospectuses can give you a good overview, but there is nothing like being there and seeing for yourself. During the open day, make sure you ask about things such as on and off-campus accommodation, public transport, parking, childcare facilities (if you need them), and anything else you can think of while you are there. Make a complete pain of yourself. Universities are used to these types of questions, and the more accommodating and friendly places will deal with your questions well.

5) What type of campus is it? A closed campus has everything on one easily accessible site. Good examples of this are Hull, and Sheffield. An open campus, such as Durham or Edinburgh, has a few sites and buildings dotted around, and some of these can be quite far away, making travel between lectures a necessity. Some students don't like this and the worst type can make student life pretty complicated. Have a look round your prospective department and ask about the likelihood of needing to travel for your studies. 

6) Think about the extra-curricular activities. Lectures and seminars are not the only things you will experience whilst at university. Look at the union building and it's activities. Is there something you can get involved in? Are there societies you can join that fit your interests? Whether it's sport, journalism, volunteering, or music, that you love, check out the potential for adding breadth to your three years. 

7) Get to know your prospective host city or town. Think about what is important to you in a place - is it vibrant off-campus night-life, a leafy landscape, or a low crime rate? Doing a bit of research into the wider community will give you a feel for whether this is somewhere you can spend three years of your life.

8) What is the potential for finding part-time employment? Ease of access to a paid job might make all the difference between financial survival and oblivion.

9) Consider the university facilities. Check out the library - is it busy but still not too difficult to find somewhere to study? Are there adequate computer facilities and access to WiFi if you need it? Is there somewhere cheap to eat? Don't get suckered in by having a book-store on campus - you will visit this twice a year at best. I found that the cafe serving a five-item breakfast got much more of my patronage.

10) Most of all - which university provides the course you are most interested in. When it comes down to the nitty-gritty, being on a course you find interesting, teaching you things you want to learn, and which will help you meet your long-term goals is more important than how a 'top' university will look on your CV. 

ABOVE ALL - Use your instincts.

Good luck.

SHMXW9YGNQQM

Going Global 2012: Where Would You Go?

Pass Me My Passport! 

Among the hundreds of holiday jobs, part time and graduate jobs StudentJob has to offer all year round, we also have some of the best international internships going. When we say an internship abroad can change your life, we really mean it.  Internships come in all shapes and sizes and now the view from your office or sofa can be a lot different to the standard doom and gloom the British weather likes to supply us with...Whether you have 3 months over summer or one year to travel or work in industry why not look into an international internship? 2012 can be one of your most memorable years yet!. StudentJob have a huge variety of part time jobs, paid placements and internships across the world... 

Putting it into perspective, for many during or finishing university means to simply seeking employment . But not for everybody. Many students have chosen to travel therefore discovering  the real world by going global alongside earning, learning and living life with new experiences when they venture out into the world. Whatever you fancy doing this year, StudentJob offer everything from working in Summer Camps in America to Hospitality Staff in some of the exotic holiday resorts going. 

Pushing your boundaries is all part of the excitement., not to forget that all of this will be enhance your career prospects through the whole experience and creating new contacts. Who knows who you might meet? Or where you might travel to next? 

Whichever stage you are at in your career  whether you are looking for a career experience, change or break, exploring the world can create new perspectives  a new plan for your future both professionally and personally. 

Yes internships abroad can seem daunting, riding solo with new responsibilities and living in a new place, however the bigger your stepping stones,  the better your experience can be. Remember - Nothing ventured, nothing gained. StudentJob has partnered with some of the best companies across the world, to ensure only the best and dependable opportunities are available for our candidates.  

Destination Unknown

Don’t know where to go? Begin looking into making 2012 unforgettable and begin to plan your adventure now by visiting www.studentjob.co.uk to see the variety of opportunities we have, covering everywhere from Amsterdam to Australia, Brazil to Beijing,  Germany to Greece, and many, many more!. Start to discover what is available by visiting  www.studentjob.co.uk

Exploring the world in 2012. Now that sounds like a good plan. 

5 Steps to Going Global with StudentJob   


1 - Register at www.studentjob.co.uk


2 - Look through our global vacancies  


3 - Apply to vacancy with 1 click  


4 - Wait for a response from the company 


5 -Find your passport! 


Twitter - @StudentJobUK
Facebook - StudentJob

For more information please contact Rebecca Twohey
 at r.twohey@studentjob.co.uk 
      www.studentjob.co.uk 
      

My graduation: Joanne, Hull, 2006

By Joanne, BA(Hons) Economics and Geography, The University of Hull. 2006.

This is the story of my graduation day.

The majority of Hull students graduate at The City Hall in Hull city centre, which is where my ceremony was held. First we met up at a nearby hotel, where we collected our robes and caps, and had our official graduation photos taken. I had a drink with my friends, and then we walked to the City Hall.

We checked in at the welcome desk and were allocated a seat based on our degree type (BA, BSc, MA etc) and then alphabetically by surname. It took about an hour from this point to be seated and to wait for the families (including my Mum and Dad) to be seated.

The ceremony host talked us through the procedure for walking on to the stage and whether we had to bow to the chancellor, or we were allowed to shake her hand. Then the academic procession began.

I was about number 30 on stage, of around 300 graduands, but it never really got dull. When it was my turn, we were quietly asked to stand and join the line, staying in order so the host knew who we were. On my turn, I nervously walked on to the stage and I was allowed to shake the chancellors hand. This is because I got a first! In your face, everyone else. The chancellor was Baroness Virginia Bottomley, and she was lovely. I had a quick look to see if I could see where Mum and Dad had been seated but I couldn't see them. My actual degree certificate was passed to me as I left the stage.

When we had all been up on the stage to accept our degree, the honorary graduands had their moment. We had a few people collecting honorary doctorates, including Dame Kelly Holmes who gave us a speech. She was pretty good actually.

Once it was all over, we all went outside in to the sunshine and I found my parents. My husband, who had been at work, came to meet up with us, and also my Nan and Auntie came to see too. Let that be a warning to anyone who graduates from their local university - you might get every man and his dog turning up. We took some photos of us all in Queen Victoria Square. Some of my friends came to see me. As I was a joint student, some of my friends were in Economics, but I graduated with Geography. Economics had graduated the day before, so it was lovely that they came back to see me and a few others. 

Afterwards, we went back to the university where the geography department had put on a reception buffet. It was boiling hot by then and I was melting in the robes. My husband collected our daughter from the nearby nursery and she came and met all my friends and tutors. She was very excited and loved Mummy's silly hat. The reception was a good chance to say goodbye to the friends I'd made over the last three years.

I look back on my graduation day with happy memories. It was a lovely day which had topped off three years of hard work. The photos I had taken with my friends who'd come to visit me are some of my most treasured.

How was your graduation day? Are you looking forward to yours?

Earning cash from your hobby

A good way of earning money to help you through university is to turn your hobby into cash. Of course, it helps if your hobby is doing something that someone is willing to pay money for, but if you can get money for something you enjoy doing and will be doing it anyway, then great!

There are specialist websites that can help connect you with customers happy to pay students to undertake work for them, such as StudentGems. The other option is to go it alone. One such student to have already started this process is Hayley Spiers, a third year English and Drama student at The University of Hull.

She says….. “Like many students I have a part-time job to help support myself financially, but I’ve also managed to turn my hobby into something that makes a little extra cash. I’m a self-taught photographer and I recently started advertising via my Facebook page, my website and on free advertising websites such as Gumtree, Friday-Ad Ltd and VivaStreet. I’ve had a great response with people asking for everything from headshots to family portraits to event photography such as parties and fundraisers, and it’s great to be able to enjoy my hobby and make some extra money at the same time.” HayleyMariePhotography

Hayley’s hobby is great as she can build up her experience by helping her fellow students by taking their portraits for their drama portfolios, and it’s something she can fit around her studies and part-time job. The advantage of having all the equipment in place already means that after a bit of advertising and a free website and you’re ready to go.

The work that you do as a result of your hobby will also provide valuable business experience, such as marketing, sales, customer service, and accounts which you can add to your CV. This could make the difference in helping you in to that important graduate position.

Remember if you start making money from your hobby, you should check with HM Revenue and Customs to see if you should be paying National Insurance and Tax.

If you are interested in a cheap photographer in the East Riding area, then you’d do worse than contact Hayley via her Facebook page or her website, but be quick, she won’t be this cheap forever! You never know - her hobby may take her far, as could yours.

Are you making money from your hobby whilst at university? Get in touch and you could be featured too.

How to sell your university text books

After, or even during your time at university, you will accumulate textbooks that have done well for you, but that you no longer need. It's a shame to think about throwing them away, as they won't have been cheap and there's probably another student somewhere just like you who would benefit from using them. It's a good idea to sell university textbooks as it helps the environment by encouraging re-use, preventing waste, and gives you welcome extra cash. 

Here are our recommendations to find your unwanted books a loving, new home.

1) Use our site, the Book Pond. It's free to use and easy to list books. The site puts you in touch with other students in your university town who need the book you want rid of. You set your own price and exchange the book in person for cash. Use the page tabs above to link through to our main site and start selling today. Yes, this and similar sites may not have massive audience numbers yet but it is free to use, fully searchable, and you can list your books in other places at the same time with no obligation to sell. 

2) Put up a notice at university. This is a tried and tested method which has worked ok for me in the past. By putting a notice on your department notice board you are reaching students who are on the same or similar course and studying the same modules. They are also likely to be local so you can hand it over in person. The downside to this method is you need to be physically on campus to put the notice up, and there's always a chance it will go missing, so you need to check back regularly. Also, you need to be careful what contact details you leave on the notice to avoid nuisance phone calls. 

3) EBay. Good old EBay - I love it! There's nothing you can't get on EBay, text books included. The massive advantage of this method is the sheer reach of the site. The disadvantage is that you will likely need to post it, incurring P&P costs, and that listings run out, so if it doesn't sell within the listing period, you will need to keep re-listing. Fees apply - a fee of about 50p to list, and then 10% of the final selling price is typical for textbooks. 

4) Amazon Marketplace. If you want the best chance of selling your books, then Amazon Marketplace is the method for you. I have sold almost every book I have ever listed with Amazon but I paid the price for it. The registration process is more thorough than other sites, and you need to register a bank account with them. The commission is higher than EBay, and the postage that they charge the seller on your behalf does not cover what it will actually cost you to post it, especially if the book is bulky and heavy, which many textbooks are. But this is a good method if you want rid at any price, and see some cash as better than none. Bear in mind that because Amazon handle the sales automatically for you, it's probably not wise to list the books in other places at the same time.

5) Sell to a book dealer / book shop. Many university towns have independent book shops that trade in textbooks. Some will buy your textbooks from you, and this is a minimum fuss way of getting rid of them for cash. Be warned though - some book shops won't buy certain categories of books (for example, law or business), and the price they will give you will be well below the RRP at around half of what they expect to sell the book for on the second-hand market. Others offer a brokering service on a commission basis, which will give you a bigger share of the sale price, but with the increased risk of the book not selling at all. 

So there you go, turning your textbooks into cash is pretty easy but you must choose the method that suits you. The method is a trade-off between getting the most value out of a sale, and guaranteeing the book will sell at all.

Don't forget of course, you can always donate your books to the local charity shop, or pass them down to a younger student out of good will. 

Whatever you choose to do, please do something because having textbooks sat on your bookcase doing little more than gathering dust is a very sorry sight. They deserve to be loved and to be useful to someone. So wish them well, and send them on their way.

Getting established in the art industry

BuyStudentArt.co.uk is a website where art students can sell their work direct to the general public on a commission basis. Kerri shares with us some tips on how to get established in the art industries after university.

So you are an artist….now what?

Once you have set yourself on the road to becoming a full time artist, what do you do next?  You have created your next master pieces, you could have canvases stacking up or photographs filling up PC space, so how do you go about selling your artwork and becoming recognised? 

 See my 10 ways to becoming recognised as an artist.......

1.       Decide on a name and a brand - this doesn’t have to be expensive, will you be known as your name or by a brand name? 

2.       Add your website wherever you can, have it as the signature on your email, on your profile on Facebook and Twitter

3.       Buy your url, this is simple and a quick Google search will determine if this is available, they are usually less than £10 and well worth it

4.       Design a quick and easy website – you can do this for free if you use something like www.webs.com it certainly gives the impression that you are a serious and professional artist, it is simple then to direct people to your website for sales

5       Sell your artwork, try and find outlets for your work

6.       Try websites such as ours, www.BuyStudentArt.co.uk where you can upload your artwork and then a commission is taken if the artwork is sold

7.       Try local fairs, lots of universities have summer fairs with stands for as little as £5 and well worth trying to sell your artwork here

8.       Have posters and flyers made up – try Vistaprint for free promotional material

9.       Join online networking groups, such as LinkedIn and find groups where you can network online

10.   Contact your local library or adult education centre and see whether you can put an exhibition on in the foyer

11.   Contact the local paper, if you have a good local story, they will love to cover you

Wish you all of the best and if we can help at BuyStudentArt with selling your artwork or advice then please drop us an email on Info@BuyStudentArt.co.uk 

Thank you to Kerri of BuyStudentArt.co.uk for sharing her advice with us.