Artists are always looking for ways to grow their following. There are many different strategies you can use, but one of the most effective is through social media. Social media provides artists with an opportunity to share their artworks and connect with people who like what they do. Artists also need to be aware of what not to post on social media because it's important that you stay up to date on current trends in the art community so that your posts provide value and don't seem out of date or irrelevant. This article will give some insight into how social media can help artists grow their following as well as some things you should avoid when posting on these platforms if you want your efforts to pay off long term!
What is social media and why do artists use it
Social media is a term for various websites and applications that allow users to connect with one another and share content. Artists use social media because it's an easy way to share their artwork with a large audience, and it's also a great way to connect with other artists and learn from them.
Use social media to grow your following
By posting regularly, you're able to grow your following by having something new to post often. Posting weekly is generally considered the minimum for the successful growth of a channel. It's also important to make sure you're posting regularly in order to keep people interested in what you have to say or show. Anyone can achieve success, but naturally, there are right and wrong ways to improve your standing in the online art community.
Have reels or videos in mind
Instagram is one of the most visual social networks, so it is ideal for artists. However, to improve your exposure on this social network, you must have a strategy for creating and publishing content because it is not enough to upload photos.
In 2021 up to 83.8% of internet users in the US watched online video content. In fact, reels and videos are 1200% more likely to be shared than text and image content combined.
Many artists have a video and showreel on social media to showcase their work. Showreels range from ten seconds up to three minutes long, and they're a great way of showcasing your individuality or any specialties that you might have. Showreels also allow people to get a taste of your work without feeling the pressure that comes with viewing it in its entirety, which makes them an excellent marketing strategy.
Of course, with the rise in popularity of platforms like TikTok and Instagram, creating a quick video of your artistic process that engage your audience, an easy way to showcase your art and can go a long way in helping you build your brand.
There is no harm in reposting your art
When it comes to promoting your artwork, there's no harm in reposting it on social media. In fact, it's a great way to reach a larger audience. Make sure you post it in a way that's visually appealing and easy to understand. Remember that if your channel is proving successful, you will be attracting new viewers every day. The chances of them looking through your entire back catalogue of art is small, so dredge up the best of your past and show the world again now and then. Just don't be constantly repeating yourself over a short time scale, as this will be off putting.
Instagram from: DaKeda
If you've returned to a piece of art and built upon it, don't be shy to show your audience the development process, as well as before and after photographs or videos.
Share more than just your art
When you're an artist, it's important to share more than just your art on social media. You also need to share your personality with the world. This helps people to connect with you and see you as a real person, not just an artist. When people feel connected to you, they're more likely to buy your art or even follow your work.
Make sure you post things that are interesting and engaging. If you are going to post off-topic, be sure that your posts are interesting and relevant to your audience. People will be more likely to follow you and stay interested in what you have to say.
Instagram from: Dan Eder
Behind-the-scenes tours of your art, your workspace, or your tools of the trade are a great way of showing people what really makes you tick. This is also helpful for potential buyers who are curious about your product, and whether or not it's up to standard.
Offer feedback only when asked
Remember that the online world is home to many communities. In joining groups for artists and their fans, be kind. Politeness and niceness go a long way, and the internet will be quick to turn on those seen as toxic.
Keep your opinion on others' work to yourself unless you are asked. There is no need to review other people's art and tell them how much better or worse they are than someone else, as this will only cause tension and awkwardness that can be avoided if you don't offer your opinion at all. If you are asked, give your honest opinion and avoid using superlatives unless you're incredibly confident.
Social media is about being social, not selling. Many people will discover the best way to sell themselves on social media is through honesty and authenticity – being themselves rather than trying to be something they're not.
Post consistently but don't saturate
It wouldn't be a great idea to saturate your followers with too many posts within a day. It can be frustrating when you're trying to build an audience, but it's important to remember that not everyone will immediately want to know the intricacies of who you are or what you do. Try to find a balance between posting that you can keep up with and doesn’t spam your following.
Professionals recommend posting at least once a week, preferably twice or three times per week. This gives the impression that there is always something new happening in your world and keeps your channel active and fresh for those following your content.
People need to become familiar with you, your art, and your body of work. That's how they'll be able to connect with you on a more personal level. If you’re not offering it to them, they will quickly find it elsewhere!
If you are not great at keeping up with social media and publish in the hours when your audience is most active, you can use the Facebook Creator Studio to schedule posts.
Don't steal!
When you steal someone's artwork and post it as your own, you are not only committing a crime, but you're also doing a huge disservice to the art community. You are potentially taking away recognition and sales from the artist whose work you have copied, while also contributing to the idea that it's okay to steal art.
This undermines your own image, and the internet will not hesitate to identify cases of intellectual property infringement and call you out on it. This only serves to damage the reputation of artists everywhere and make it harder for them to make a living from their work.
Make all platforms your friend
It's important to work on multiple social media platforms in order to reach the most people. This is because not everyone uses the same platform, and you want to make sure that you're reaching as many potential buyers and followers as possible to widen your marketing potential. In addition, using multiple platforms helps to build cross-platform followers who may share your content from one platform to another.
Instagram from: Gautham Krishna
You can also refer to your social media platforms in your tags. This will help people who are interested in your art find you on other platforms. It also makes it easier for them to follow you from one platform to another.
Leverage your networks for business
Once your platforms have gained a decent size, one of the best ways to drive traffic to your website or shop is by leveraging your networks. Include the link to your site in your bio and mention it now and then to send customers in the right direction. With a potential following of hundreds of thousands, this can prove very lucrative.
You can also reach out to blogs and other websites that write about art and ask them to feature your work. In exchange, you might offer to send them a free piece of your artwork or provide them with a discount code for your shop to share with their readers.
Finally, make sure that your website and shop are easy to find and navigate. Use clear and concise titles for your work and make it easy for people to purchase your artwork or products.
Conclusion
Social Media is an array of platforms that artists can use to grow their following. Social media has many different functions and not all of them are related to selling. Artists should be honest about themselves, post often, make sure they're on multiple sites, leverage networks for business, and remember not to steal other people's work or copy it as your own (even if you give proper credit). By doing these things you'll help yourself build an audience and maximize your potential for growth in the art industry!
Tell us, what strategies have you used to increase your social interactions?