Social Media Tips for Struggling Artists

Jason Howard (J-KIND)
5 min readMay 20, 2021

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When Gary Vaynerchuk talks, you must listen. As the founder of Vaynermedia, he knows what he’s talking about when it comes to digital media. Therefore, when asked about his number one advice, he always says, “learn how to communicate.” Nowadays, there’s no better way to communicate than through social media. You get to engage someone halfway across the world in a conversation about a common interest. More importantly, you get to share your passion through platforms that are basically free.

For struggling artists, social media can be the tool that will help open doors you never knew existed. One viral post can lead to several commissioned artworks, interviews, or other opportunities. Therefore, creating your online profiles isn’t an option anymore. Instead, it’s a must if you want to succeed as an artist. With social media somehow leveling the playing field, why don’t you take advantage of these platforms?

Why Get Involved in Social Media?

Social media is a game-changer. Countless individuals have created a following and a steady fortune because of what they’ve established online. Because they share what they love doing, they also became experts in their own right while gaining a legion of fans. That can happen to you if only you start. Here are some reasons why social media is so important.

First, social media allows you to stay up to date with the latest news. It helps you keep your finger on the pulse, especially on the arts. You can follow the accounts of websites that write about the developments in art, be it traditional or digital. Doing so will help you remain aware of the new trends in the industry and how they can affect your earnings.

Likewise, social media helps build your brand for your art. You can use it to differentiate yourself from the rest of the pack. Building your brand will also attract followers who will stand by what you’re promoting. Having a solid brand will also exude credibility to potential partners and associates down the road.

Finally, it’s easier to market your services and receive feedback through social media. If you don’t have a website, at least have an updated and active social media account because your followers will want to interact with you. These followers could even turn into customers who buy some of your artworks.

Aside from promoting your art, social media is a perfect way to get immediate reactions to your work. People can leave feedback on your latest masterpiece or offer immediate praise if they love your creation. Networking with your followers will also help you find inspiration for your next artworks or learn from fellow artists about the business side of art.

If you’re a struggling artist who can’t seem to find people who will appreciate your artwork, social media can level the game for you. If you put your heart and soul into what you do, chances are that you will find people who will patronize your art. They might not be your customers, but they can advocate your talent and convince others to check out your work. You can do all this just by logging onto your computer or mobile phone and without leaving your residence.

However, it’s not enough to create social media accounts and wait for people to discover you. Instead, you must also wear your promoter’s cap and engage anyone that discovers your creations. Never forget to perform the “social” in social media. Therefore, find time to respond to every inquiry you get and engage followers in conversations.

Tips to Grow your Social Media Presence

Now, let’s explore the most effective ways to grow your social media reach and following. Before making a plan of action, it’s best to find the inherent advantages of every major social media platform. Facebook works for general updates because it has the most diverse demographic. Therefore, it’s best to share updates on your whereabouts and your upcoming schedule on the platform. It’s also the ideal platform for sharing inspirational videos about your journey and how you overcame the odds.

Meanwhile, YouTube is where you can further dissect the creative process behind your masterpieces because longer videos translate to more watch hours, which is an important metric for success. Yes, having more subscribers is great. However, YouTube puts your videos on the Suggested or Related Videos field if your viewership grows.

Meanwhile, Twitter is perfect for quick updates like polls or teasers for your new creations. You can post a pixelated or zoomed-in photo of your latest work to foster a conversation about it. On the other hand, Instagram is where you can post still images of your workshop and previews of your entire artwork in the earlier stages. It’s also where you can brag a little because the platform has an aspirational mood to it.

Finally, TikTok is perfect for time-lapses of your artwork, given that each video is at most 60 seconds long. Aside from speeding through the creation process, you can also give quick tips on how aspiring artists can improve their craft or participate in challenges on the platform. Choosing the right music for your videos also helps set the mood for your masterpiece.

That said, you can grow your social media following by finding where you belong online. It’s better to focus on one or two social media platforms than to create a presence in all of them. Aside from having a more difficult time planning out your content strategy, being on all platforms may spread your audience too thinly. Therefore, Therefore, concentrate on the social media platform that can bring you the most engagement. As an artist, it also helps to create profiles in websites like DeviantArt or Behance.

Likewise, striking images may work better than video. If you take a picture of your artwork, make sure that it’s well-lit and not blurry. Posting that picture alone may yield an immediate conversation instead of a video that people must watch in its entirety. It’s better to post pictures of high resolution so that the quality remains good even if the social media platform compresses the image.

Consistency is key in extending your social media reach. A quick check on popular influencers on Instagram or TikTok will reveal that they post as frequently as possible. That’s not a bad idea to emulate, especially considering that these platforms are governed by an algorithm that determines what they share next. As a general rule, uploading three to four times a day will help the platform understand what your profile is about, and they’ll be inclined to share your content with interested parties.

Finally, it pays to stay abreast with prevailing trends. Be it in politics, entertainment, or sports, leveraging the hottest topics of the moment into crafty artworks will get you a lot of good attention. You can plan your social media calendar all you want. However, it’s best to keep an opening on sudden developments. Posts of that kind are more likely to be shared than standard artworks.

Do not be afraid of social media. It’s a friend that can help you get your message across or promote your artwork to the world. When you do that, you’re fulfilling Mr. Vaynerchuk’s advice on learning to communicate.

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Jason Howard (J-KIND)
Jason Howard (J-KIND)

Written by Jason Howard (J-KIND)

DJ / Producer (Techno), Customer Support & Marketing Pro, Blockchain/Crypto Enthusiast

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