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How can I boost my art account on Instagram and other platforms?
I have several online accounts where I post my artwork, but I’m struggling to grow and gain more likes and views, particularly on Instagram. I’m getting discouraged, and I’m not sure what else to try. My art quality is good, and I use appropriate hashtags. Any advice for getting more people to see my work? Thank you!
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1 Reply
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Consistency, cross pollination with other sm, short length Video, show you’re an expert in your field, trending content with your twist.
Never buy followers.
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Make some process videos. Those are super popular and Reels are shown to a wider audience. Also try a more SEO-based strategy for caption writing rather than using hashtags.
You could also pay to boost posts on IG if you wanted to invest some money in it.
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You have to research algorithm trends on a regular basis to make the most of them. I always tried to check quarterly at least. IG in particular really demands that artists use as many parts of the platforms as possible, like reels and stories. It’s no longer enough to just post static images on that platform. Beyond that, it’s normal hashtag following trends stuff.
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i think your first mistake is that you have „several“ accounts. what’s the purpose of this may I ask? Is it for different things your do or is it on the different platforms? see it that way: the one page you have is you artist website/portfolio. I definitely think it’s best to focus on one online account and put all the time and energy you have in that one, at the current time, Instagram is the best place for artists. Facebook no, Twitter no, TikTok no, Reddit no (none of those are in any shape relevant for people in the art world) – if you have video content make a YouTube channel, add the link to your Instagram. post stills or post very short clips of the original on Instagram, for sound/music use SoundCloud – promote it on Instagram too. YouTube and SoundCloud shall mainly be used for the purpose of publishing, not promotion / connecting, the focus for THis should be on Instagram. Give everything you have for this.
Follow other artists you find interesting, of course you can follow big ones but they are most likely not gonna follow you back, Start with those that have up to 2000k followers, when they find you interesting too, there is chance they follow you back.
Like like like! If someone sees your name often because you liked a post of them, it’s likely they will check out your profile if they haven’t yet
once you are connected with more people also in arts you will appear in suggestions and such, others will also see who you are already followed by and more likely follow you (back)
be active but not too active. Post every few day, max 1x a day (not more as your posts won’t appear to anyone anymore due to spam : but a few days till up to 1 week is best) make funny/interesting/artsy stories that show your personality or shots/not edited clips from the studio, of yourself (not selfies, but artsy or serious artist shots)
Check out artist that are relevant in the real art world (don’t be fooled by followers, they don’t give any information about the real relevance of an artist in the artworld: google them! If you find shows/mentions in magazines/gallerie they matter more. There is a website called artfacts.com where you can also find more info about the relevance of artists.
There IS very much many influencers on Instagram with 200.000k+ follower posing as famous/relevant artists, while the artworld has never heard of them or even knows of their existence. opposed to this most artists of the top 100 list of artifact.com have often less than 10k follower (for instance Albert Oehlen, who is in the top 100, has less than 7k followers. btw this top 100 list starts with 1)Andy Warhol 2)Pablo Picasso 3) Gerhard Richter ) (if I recall the default list setting is that it starts 1920 – so old masters are not included)
For those artists: see who the follow, what artists, collector, galleries, museums. follow the important ones. Here you can also find surely smaller artists who are not as famous but in the Szene with them. Also look at their online performance. Study the way.
very important is: make your profile look as professional as possible. The photos
have to be the best quality possible for you. see it as a portfolio. That means:1) good light: daylight, natural light is cheapest/best: no sun, no shadow, not too bright not to dark.
2) never cut off an art work show it always in full WITH a wall/table it’s presented on visible behind
3) add professional captions: (artist name is not necessary as it is you) *title, year, technique, dimensions (height x width)(+)
4) truthful depiction: don’t edit colors, or you know, make them pop more or less. show it how it really is
5) add detail shots if you want as follow up photos (in the same upload) to swipe through, starting with the whole artpiece as photo 1
6) present them as you would live: hang a piece on a wall to photograph it, a drawing on paper you can photograph laying on a (white) table (tricky with shadows from atop, watch out!) (if you think of taping them too the wall use acetone free tape (or such) since that will make sustainable damage to your work (which will only show in a view years)
You do not need to invest in a camera for this, as Instagram does minimize the quality so „zooming“ is not an option anyway (hence detail shos) / most newish smart phones have a pretty good camera. arrange the light well! Set it up for a photo! Watch out: some of the newest phone DO automatically put a slight filter on photos like pop colours more/more brightness. if that’s a phone you have, edit them with the basic photo edit option in you gallery on the phone to a more natural look.
also, don’t spam insta with 20 paintings on a row (even with days inbetween each) that almost are identical, IF there is indeed something you’d re exploring (some detail/technique) hence the similarity, point it out AND still spice your profile up with diversity: maybe a sketch, a note, a text, a photo of you in the studio (avoid selfies) (ask a friend when you have one over just real quick, or get a tiny phone tripod so you can make a proper self portrait)
– ok I’ll stop here … I hope I could help! I do See many artists on Instagram who’s works isn’t bad but they don’t know most of the things I wrote here and struggle to seem professional / connect …. try it!
adding: some here wrote reels are popular, well they are but not for people in art world at all (busy people that want to see much fast, IF its not something very special no one is gonna watch it and it makes you seem unprofessional) Basic posts are the best. You CAN AND SHOULD do stories but this rather to give a (still to a level professional but still maybe small jokes, not too stiff, NEVER boring (!!!)) insight in your studio/life/style whatever interests you. Studio videos, photos that aren’t worth a post but cool etc, detail shots of works you currently work on (like a cliff hanger what’s coming next) etc. You can even repost your own uploads to raise attention 🙂
another add: don’t cross post. when someone googled your name there shall be ONE social account public. It seems unprofessional if you are all over the place, things repeat here and there on various platforms and it seems you are trying hard to be seen. (Even if you do that, you shouldn’t show It hehe). Make it show that you know what you want and what’s important and that’s it
Adding again: I disagree with some recommendations here taht you should reveal the process of your work or even make tutorials. You want to be an artists (it sounds) not a teacher. And as an artist your work process is sacred. it’s all you have and it makes you seem a bit uninteresting if you reveal too much. sometimes you CAN if you want make a close up of your hand with a brush in the hand making a few strokes or such but this should leave more out than it reveals!
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Make Instagram Reels that get people commenting, saving, and sharing just like how you made it from start and up till the end. Create a story, tutorial, or list that keeps people swiping.
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Don’t worry, I’ve got the perfect solution: hire a squad of dancing llamas to promote your art! ????????
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Always have something to offer, like a giveaway or part 2 to an art project, these keep people engaged.
Your content can be interesting, but it’s the appearance that makes people like and follow. People like shiny, nice neat things
Coincidentally, this is what we help businesses with
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