An introduction to Instagram
Instagram is now one of the biggest social media platforms in the world.
It has over one billion active users, 500 million of which interact with the platform every day.
Instagram is also the second most engaged with platform in the world, with only Facebook beating it to the top spot.*
This social media platform isn’t just for personal posting either, 80% of Instagram users follow a business account of some description making it a commercially viable marketing channel for those willing to get involved and seize the opportunities that this platform can bring.
Why Instagram is useful for sharing artwork?
“The content on Instagram largely consists of image-heavy content such as photographs, infographics, cartoons, animations and more! This makes it the perfect choice for creative businesses that are looking to expand their reach and build their brand”
However, the fact that Instagram is popular and widely used doesn’t mean that you can just post your artwork and expect a viral reaction.
Building your Instagram audience requires planning, resources and dedication.
7 ways to increase Instagram followers for your artwork
Your Art Empire have put together this list of tips to help artists build their audience and get real Instagram followers!
If you follow these tips and tricks, you will undoubtedly see in improvement in your following, as well as an engagement when posting your artwork.
1) Optimise your Instagram profile
When creating your Instagram profile, make sure that you have completed every element as specifically as you can.
This means having a description, clear imagery and optimising your content where you can.
If you optimise your Instagram profile in a similar way to how you would optimise your website, then you will automatically make it easier to discover for your desired audience.
2) Follow and ye shall be followed in return
When you first create your Instagram and your only audience is Uncle Keith, Auntie Brenda and a few of your mates, you need to expand your social circle.
Following another user account is like saying “Hello!” to a fellow Instagrammer and can encourage them to follow you in return.
If you can follow the right people and get them to follow you back, then you will build your audience naturally as you build your social influence from dealing with already established Instagram accounts.
Appropriate suggestions for who artists could follow on Instagram include:
- Other artists
- Galleries
- Exhibitions
- Places and objects that you have taken inspiration from
- Customers
- Competitors
3) Stay engaged with your account
Effective social media marketing requires planning and dedication, so you need to generate a realistic strategy for what you’re going to post, how often and how you’re going to fit this into your routine!
Not saying that you should prioritize posting on Instagram over processing orders, but if you’re going to go for it on Instagram and turn this into a successful sales channel for your artwork, you need to keep the proverbial shop open.
4) Remember that “Insta-worthy” is a saying for a reason
Instagram is full of beautiful images by photographers and artists alike, so you need to make sure that you are able to compete with this.
When you post on Instagram, don’t advertise your artwork with shoddy photos or rushed posts that don’t say much.
Instead, display your creations in a way that will make the biggest impact or shows them in the best light.
For your artwork this could include matching your photographs background to the theme of your artwork. E.g Urban art with a cityscape background or landscape art
5) Keep your audience interested
It is well known to every budding marketer that you need to diversify your content when posting on social media.
This means that you need to create a range of different materials to keep your audience interested and coming back for more.
Here’s a few suggestions for what you could include on your artwork Instagram account:
- Photographs of your art
- Videos of your artwork
- Memes that feature your artwork
- Infographics
- Slideshows
- Places that feature your artwork
- Happy customer reviews
6) Get involved with the Instagram community
If you think about Instagram and other social media channels as a community, you will have far more success than if you just mindlessly post what you want people to see.
It’s like a friendship, if you don’t take an interest in the other person, why would they want to take an interest in you?
One sided friendship only lasts so long, so make sure that you give as much attention as you get by engaging with the people that are taking an interest in your work.
This could involve commenting on a fellow artists work, getting involved in community events that are relevant to you or sharing content from influencers in your network.
7) Make sure everyone knows who made that masterpiece
When posting on Instagram, you should always include an element of your own personal brand – Like an online signature!
This way people who repeatedly like your artwork can recognise you as an artist and a business.
To brand your Instagram posts you could do any of the following:
- Tag your own account
- Add updates to your Instagram story
- Add a watermark to your artwork
- Add a logo to any images of your artwork
How to get 1,000 followers on Instagram
As you can see, posting on Instagram alone isn’t enough to be able to boost your online profile and become a recognisable artist in your area of expertise.
However, with a firm strategy and a little bit of imagination, you could soon see your artwork being shared by the masses.
We hope that this article has helped you to develop your understanding of the best ways to build your audience on Instagram – Good luck in increasing those followers!
