Social media has the power and reach to create community, provide a kick of inspiration, and can help artists visualize their work from a more macro perspective. And your online presence could help you sell more work, win freelance clients, gain new creative collaborators \u2014 and help you build a robust and professional reputation. Perhaps most significantly, mastering the art of social media can help your relationships with your followers and turn them into your <\/span>tribe.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n There are many social media platform options \u2014 along with a fast-growing number of creative apps that specifically cater to creators, making it easier than ever to get your work in front of the right audience.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Some key social media benefits for artists include:<\/strong><\/p>\n But beware that social media can also be a source of frustration and isolation. However, when used wisely, it can strengthen your art practice and help your work be seen by those that would not otherwise have access. Here we share some ways to approach social media that will move you and your career forward.<\/span><\/p>\n So, what is the best social media platform to sell and promote art?<\/b><\/p>\n Here\u2019s a revelation: <\/span>there is <\/span>no<\/span><\/i> such thing as a \u201cbest\u201d social media network for <\/span>all<\/span><\/i> artists. The best social network for you<\/span> is the platform where <\/span>your<\/span><\/i> target audience hangs out. If your people are on Instagram \u2014 then Instagram is the best social platform for you. If your fans are on Facebook, that’s the right network for you to promote your work.<\/span><\/p>\n Your time is limited. Get the most out of it by researching where your audience is <\/span>before<\/span><\/i> you develop a social media strategy. Figure out which platforms are the right ones for you to invest in instead of spreading yourself thin by creating accounts on many social media platforms. Look at the current networks you’re on \u2014 where do you get the most interaction? Pay attention to that. Measure twice, cut once: Take the time to discover where <\/span>your <\/span><\/i>audience is hanging out.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n These are some of the most popular social media networks to look into for artists and creatives:<\/b> Promote your work where your audience lives and <\/span>focus on a handful of platforms at most to start, because publishing a post and forgetting about it won\u2019t help you grow your audience \u2014 you need to be in the field interacting with folks if you want to build engagement. And remember \u2014 the only constant is change, and that goes triple for the world of tech. Today’s platform may not be the best one for you tomorrow (hello, MySpace!).<\/span><\/p>\n While the world of social media options has gotten broader \u2014 many visual artists <\/span>do <\/span><\/i>indeed favor Instagram (it’s still the most popular visuals-based social platform) \u2014 so we are including some additional insights germane to that platform. <\/span>Here are some tips to help make your efforts go the extra mile.<\/b><\/p>\n Marketing gurus recommend that you optimize your profiles such that they look the same across your network. Your account name should be the same (or very similar) on each platform. Make sure to include all important links (like to your portfolio site).<\/span><\/p>\n And concerning Instagram, make the most of your 150-character bio. It tells potential followers who you are, what you care about, and is the <\/span>only<\/span><\/i> place where you can post a live link to your work. Some artists put a standard link to their site, while others change it regularly to reflect recent posts or happenings. Another tack is to take advantage of link-in-bio tools, like <\/span>Shop Grid<\/span><\/a>, <\/span>which allows you to turn a single link into a catalog of links.<\/span><\/p>\n Link to your social media platforms from <\/b>elsewhere.<\/b><\/p>\n Make it easy for folks to find your social media platforms. Add the icons to your website footer to link to your social accounts, add to your email signature, and cross-reference your various social networks in the bio section across all the platforms you use.<\/span><\/p>\n Post consistently.<\/b><\/p>\n People will start to see you as an expert in your field of art if you consistently post text and visual content on your various social media platforms. And also, the algorithms favor consistency; Instagram’s algorithmic timeline weights consistency as a key element to having your posts seen. And if your posts are shared regularly \u2014 and pick up good engagement \u2014 the algorithm will reward you by showing your posts near the top of your follower’s feeds.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Artists and brands that get into a regular flow with their Instagram posts tend to see the best results. According to a Tailwind study, profiles that post daily gain Instagram followers more quickly than those that post less frequently.<\/span><\/p>\n But heed the maxim that quality is more important than quantity, something that is true across all social media platforms. Just because you post more often does not mean it will translate to higher engagement rates. And be careful of posting a lot when you have an exhibition if you typically do not engage with social media regularly.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Focus on making content that resonates, talk about aspects of your work that will engage your followers \u2014 ultimately that is what matters most.<\/span><\/p>\n Focus on engagement, not follower count.\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n A word to the wise: take care not to let follower counts and comments become qualifiers for your work. Yes, there is some validation therein, but if these interactions become a self-fulfillment loop, it could be self-destructive. Your followers are there because they are interested in YOUR creations, YOUR voice, YOUR unique vision. And it\u2019s ok if it\u2019s not for everyone. Please remember that.<\/span><\/p>\n A large follower count does not equate to actual influence<\/span>, which<\/span><\/i> lies in the engagement with your followers. Focus on developing stronger connections with people already tuning into your work. Engagement is essential for growth, so engage your fans in a <\/span>conversation.\u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n To engage more genuinely with your audience:<\/b><\/p>\n Remember that just because someone sees your content doesn’t mean they currently follow you. If you have a chance to interact with a potential new follower, take it. Look at every comment as an opportunity to gain a new fan (or keep a current one). If that sounds like a lot of tapping on your phone, don’t fret \u2014 there’re ways to <\/span>comment and DM from desktop<\/span><\/a> too!<\/span><\/p>\n You’re posting because you want people to see your work, right? It makes sense to pay attention to when folks are the most active on your page so you can optimize when you upload new content. <\/span>Newsfeed algorithms\u2014particularly the <\/span>Facebook algorithm<\/span><\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0<\/span>Instagram algorithm<\/span><\/a>\u2014consider \u201crecency\u201d as a major ranking signal,\u00a0which means that actually <\/span>posting your content when your followers are online is one of the simplest ways to improve your organic reach<\/span>.<\/span> The best way to figure out when your people are paying attention? Switch to a business account so that you can receive some basic analytics for each of your posts.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Take a look at your\u00a0<\/span>analytics tools<\/span><\/a>, or\u00a0<\/span>social media reports<\/span><\/a>, and home in on your more successful posts for a given metric such as:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Then, take a look at what time of day or week you posted successful content, and see what kind of patterns form.<\/span><\/p>\n But here\u2019s some intelligence that may aid your efforts as you begin to dive into your own stats. Hootsuite, who creates software to streamline cross-social channel posting, did some investigation into the best times to post in a more general sense and this is what <\/span>they <\/span><\/i>found.<\/span><\/p>\n Along with monitoring ideal posting time, another essential aspect to be aware of is the quality of your image\/s. Think of social media like a trade publication, and post something worthy for those in your industry. Ask yourself if the copy and image you’re posting will stand out and tell a story. You want to catch eyes and capture minds \u2014 and pay attention to the data, so you know when is best.<\/span><\/p>\n In a nutshell: post informative information 80% of the time and promote your work by just 20%. Providing more storytelling and less promotion is essential to forging a more authentic connection with your followers. Yes \u2014 showcase your art and work on social media, but give it context by providing information about your process. Share what inspired you, what you’re planning to work on next, or perhaps some helpful tips that help solve a problem related to your art, like innovative ways to display your pieces.<\/span><\/p>\n We know it may sound a tad clich\u00e9, but letting your followers have a true look into your life is one of the best ways to connect with them online. Be honest about where and how you’re doing your work \u2014 if you convert your closet into an art studio, talk about making work in tight urban spaces. Won a residency? Share photos of your new workspace and talk about the experience. If you have an infant in the studio, show that in some of your posts and talk about creating with a tiny human in tow. It all relates to being honest and sharing your reality. Show your creative practice, share in-progress shots of your work along with images of finished projects \u2014 people will feel that much closer to your art if they travel along the continuum as you create them.<\/span><\/p>\n\n
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Optimize your social media profiles.<\/b><\/h3>\n
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Want to optimize your posting times? Consider making the switch to a business account.<\/b><\/h3>\n
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High-quality images are everything.<\/b><\/h3>\n
Embrace the 80\/20 rule.<\/b><\/h3>\n
Be Real. Be Authentic. Be YOU.<\/b><\/h3>\n