Are you wondering what the best social media channel for art is? If so, you’re in the right place!
What Social Media Channels I’ve Posted My Art On
Since I started making art regularly in 2016, I’ve tried ALL the channels. Okay, maybe I skipped Twitter, but I’ve posted on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, and Pinterest. Oh, and Tumblr!
Like many people, I tried all the places, trying to get the most traction the fastest. I also failed.
Why? Because I wasn’t consistent, I didn’t know what I was doing, I often ignored hashtags, and I didn’t make use of the newest features that were being rolled out.
Now I have a consistent schedule and know what I’m posting and why I’m doing it, so my socials are continuously growing.
Now that you know where I’ve been, let’s talk about where you should go.
How to Determine the Best Social Media Channel For Your Art
Here’s the secret: You should post on the place you like and will actually be consistent with.
I know! That feels like a total cheater answer, right? But it’s true, and I’ll get to more of that in a moment. First, though, let’s talk about the current big players in social media and what they’re best for.
If you’d rather hear me talk about this instead of reading about it, here’s a video. If not, read on below!
If there’s one place you probably thinking of posting your art, it’s Instagram. A visual platform made for pretty pictures, this site has given many an artist their successful careers.
I still think Instagram is a terrific place to put your artwork, but only if you’re willing to keep up with their newest features. Sad, but true. I saw very little growth from posting still photos after the introduction of reels, but now I release a reel every day and my Insta has grown over 30% in the last few months.
Is this annoying? Kind of. Now that I’ve gotten the hang of recording every single thing I do, though, it’s pretty easy to put something together quickly. You’ll also want to take advantage of hashtags and pay attention to the best time for posting each day.
I have to admit, though, sometimes I get really stressed out trying to grow my numbers here, and when I do, I know it’s time for a break. You should do the same–if you’re completely obsessed and stressed, you’re NOT on the right path!
This is another personal favorite of mine. Pinterest isn’t truly social media, it’s a visual search engine. You know what artists have a lot of? Visuals.
Pinterest is also a place where people who have disposable income and are looking for new products spend their time, and as an artist those are two qualities you’re looking for in your followers!
In order to make Pinterest really work for you, you must have a business account and pin regularly, also pinning from other people’s boards. I’ve taken courses in Pinterest success and can help you get the whole thing set up, should you need assistance.
Pinterest also has a newer feature called Idea Pins that are similar to Reels. You can’t link directly to your website, but these pins may be more likely to go viral, and if you’re already creating short vids, you may as well post them here, too.
The long and short of it is this: Post regularly, post things that are pretty, and make sure you’re linking back to your own website, because you have one of those, right?
Tik Tok
I’ll admit I don’t have as much experience in this channel, but this demographic tends to be younger and, from what I’ve heard, not as likely to leave the platform, so it likely isn’t the best place for an artist to post.
However! If it’s your favorite and the only one you feel comfortable on, you can still feel free to create and share content there!
YouTube
YouTube has recently introduced Shorts, kind of like Reels, so if you’re already making short form videos for someplace like TikTok or Instagram, post them here, too!
If you’re someone who likes to share your art process or record yourself painting or talking about art supplies, then YouTube might be a great place for you. You can post long or short form videos, pictures of your art, details about your process, and more, and you can link back to your own website.
I think YouTube is a terrific place to post your artwork, especially if you enjoy making videos (which, unfortunately, seems to be a necessity in today’s social media landscape).
I, personally, feel like Facebook is a toxic dump of horridness, so I don’t spend much time there. Once they introduced their own Reels, I posted some, and one went sort of viral. It maybe grew my account by a few followers, but it mostly became a place for people to insult my artwork and each other, and after that, I decided posting there just isn’t worth it for me.
If you’ve had an artist page for a long time and have built a community there, by all means continue, but if you feel like I do and don’t enjoy being on the platform, don’t!
Where to Focus Your Energy
Remember: Post where it feels good to you and where you’ll be consistent. If you find yourself getting stressed and obsessed, TAKE A BREAK!
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