Using Instagram for Artists is the latest trend in the creative world.
If you are a handmade creative and doubtful about starting your craft blog. Then, the most popular app for sharing images and videos could be your best option.
Read further to know how you can harness the power of Instagram to your advantage.
Table of Contents
How to Make Instagram Work for Artists for the First Time
1. Follow Relevant Art Influencers on Instagram
Any new Instagram account will have 0 followers. And that is better compared to having irrelevant followers.
An Instagram with zilch followers grows more than the one with fragmented followers.
That is because of the unique algorithm of Instagram. The algorithm has an affinity towards the kind of habitat you build.
That means it will grow towards the kind of accounts you follow and get followed by.
As a newbie on Instagram, you do not have a choice of followers. But you do have the option of choosing who you follow.
Hence, if you follow artists on Instagram. Then, the probability of your account getting labeled as an artist increases.
This one hack is simple and it works.
Take my word, if you start following the stalwarts in your niche. Then, you will start getting visibility.
2. Use Instagram Art Hashtags
Once your account gets within the feed of your niche. Then, the next step is to get into the feed of users searching for your niche.
For that, you will have to use the hashtags. Not all hashtags are the same. That means each hashtag has its unique connotations.
If you have an understanding of using SEO as an artist. Then, it is easy to understand hashtags.
Instagram allows 30 hashtags per post. Consider this as an opportunity to target 30 different sub-niches in your category.
That is why you should strategize them to cover both broad and narrow searches.
You should assign 10 each to cover high, low and medium searches.
For instance, for digital portrait artists, some of the relevant hashtags could be:
- High Search – #digitalportrait , #digitalpainting , #digitaldrawing
- Medium Search – #digitalportraitartist , #digitaldrawingartist , #digitaldrawingillustration
- Low Search – #digitaldrawingandpainting , #digitalportraitfromphoto , #digitalportraitsforcats
As you can notice, the 3 searches differ in their volumes. Therefore, the highest search volumes have the highest competition and vice-versa.
Thus, the strategy for artists needs all the relevant hashtags.
3. Post Beautiful Media of Your Work
Did you ever look up what does Instagram app describes itself as?
In gist, it describes itself as a simple, fun and creative app to share photos and videos.
So, you got to do what the Instagram platform expects its users to. That means you got to share simple and engaging media of your artwork.
Your pictures and videos should draw your target audience towards your profile.
Media that shows your creative process will engage your audience. The more the engagement metrics, the more the chances of conversions.
Instagram for Artists Dos and Don’ts
1. Do Remain Consistent With Your Branding
Branding is of utmost importance to build a sustainable business. Successful branding requires consistency.
I am sure you can identify Frida Kahlo’s art style the moment you see it. That is because of the diva’s consistency in creating floral designs and self-portraits.
I hope you get the point.
You can never occupy the mind share of your customers if you keep doing generic work. Thus, as a branding strategy, do remain focused on a single niche as an artist on Instagram.
2. Do Remain Consistent With Your Posting Schedule
Much like the branding strategy, the posting schedule also requires consistency.
The algorithm of Instagram will not work in your favor if you will turn lazy. You have to devise a consistent posting plan and you got to stick to it.
The posting plan will differ as per your marketing strategy. But you should try to post a minimum of 4-5 times a week.
The benefits of posting at regular intervals will amaze you.
3. Do Switch to a Business Account
If you have started a handmade business. Then, it makes sense to run your Instagram as a business account.
When you switch to a business account from a personal one. Then, you get to see the analytics and also sell from the Instagram app.
So, with a business account, you get to see what kind of content sticks with your audience. Also, you get to know the performance of your hashtags.
The best part is that it does not cost to use the business feature of Instagram.
4. Don’t Get Into Useless Traps
How many times you have used the #likesforlikes or #followsforfollows?
If you understand that the Instagram algorithm considers relevancy of utmost importance. Then, it is easy to understand that random likes and follows are of no use.
Rather, in the long run, they will hurt your brand.
A small but relevant following is much better than a huge and random one. So, obtaining likes and follows through organic reach is the best way to move forward.
5. Don’t Make Your Account Private
What is the point of using Instagram for artists if the audience cannot see it?
Most of the creatives fear that their work will get copied. That is why they keep their account closed. Their fear is valid. But by not letting people see their work hurts the business more than plagiarism.
That is why you should keep your Instagram open for all. It is one of the best ways to spread your creativity.
6. Don’t Auto-post to Facebook
Facebook owns Instagram. That is why there is a seamless integration between both platforms.
Instagram platform appreciates hashtags. But that is not the case with Facebook.
Using hashtags on Facebook could hurt the reach of your business page.
So, if you are sharing the same post from Instagram to Facebook. Then, ensure that you delete the hashtags on Facebook after auto-posting. Or you could also disable the auto-post feature to avoid spoiling your Facebook reach.
Conclusion
Today is the best time to turn your creative hobby into a professional business.
With the advent of social media, there are many options to showcase your creativity.
Among all the options, it seems that Instagram is for artists only.
The platform focusses on images and videos. Thus, it works for creative makers.
If you use the hacks mentioned in this article. You will be able to turn your side hustle into a profit-making machine.
Header Image Source: Pixabay
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