It can feel hard for artists to know what to post on Instagram. I’m sure you’ve heard stories about “the algorithm” and how it’s constantly changing. This can add to the overwhelming feeling of not knowing where to start as you decide what makes the most sense to post.
As an artist, you’re in the middle of your work. You are fully in the process of it so it can be hard to step back and curate a set of images to show on Instagram when you’re still very close to the making process.
Today I’m sharing some ideas to help you work around that feeling of being too close to the process and inspire you to share your art on Instagram.
When Should Artists Post On Instagram?
Artists should post on Instagram at the times their followers are there. If you have a business or creator account, you can go to insights and see what time and which days your followers are most active on Instagram.
Basically, you want to cater your posting schedule to when people are most likely to see them.
If you have a personal account or the thought of trying to find the insights sounds too technical, create your own goal of when you would like to post. Choose a time that works best for you to make it easy for you to consistently show up on the platform.
Consistency is key because the more regularly you post, the more opportunities your followers have to learn about you and engage with your art.
What Is The Best Way To Post Art On Instagram?
When you post on Instagram, it’s a micro portfolio of the most recent pieces of your work. Use this as an opportunity to get creative.
Zoom in and show close-ups of your favorite details.
Take photos using natural light or use the tools in a photo app to make sure your images look accurately lit.
Work-in-progress and behind the scenes photos are helpful because your followers get to see and become invested in your process. This is great because you want viewers to learn all about your art so they can fall in love with it, and buy it.
When you share multiple photos in one post, also known as a Carousel, this keeps people on your post longer. This is an opportunity for your viewers to see your piece from several different angles or approaches.
For example, with a sculpture, you could show different sides of the piece and maybe even a small video walking around it.
Or you could show the progression of the creation process until its final completion. This can be great for both 3D and 2D pieces.
The added bonus of using multiple photos is that the algorithm picks up on the fact that people are digging your work. That’s called engagement and it means your post will get pushed out more to your followers.
In addition to Carousels, Instagram has said that they are weighing video more heavily in the algorithm. It increases people's trust and love of you as an artist, making them more likely to buy from you.
Why Should I Post My Art On Instagram?
Instagram is a free tool you can use to build connections and engagement with your community. Whether they are friends, family, gallerists, or collectors this social platform is a great place to interact with them.
When you share what you’re doing, people are connecting deeper with your art because they can ask you questions and they get a behind-the-scenes view of your creative journey.
This means that, just as important as good photos are, you need to have great captions/text to draw them into your work.
The image disrupts their scrolling while the text is what connects them to your art and encourages them to click through to learn more.
Think about if you were in-person, showing your work at a gallery. When someone stops at your piece, if you were to tell them the story behind it they'd have a greater appreciation and are more likely to purchase it. Your caption text works the same way on Instagram.
Ready To Start?
You can really truly build a community online and posting doesn’t have to feel stressful or too technical. The key to being successful is to think about it in a different way.
By that I mean, when you post a current image you get to share your art with your friends. And that’s always fun, right?
When you approach it this way it tells your brain that this is a fun thing to do and it can make it feel like an extension of your art practice instead of an extra burden everyone says you should do.
If you’re on board with the idea of posting but you still need more direction on how it works, in my article How Can I Promote My Art On Instagram? I explain some of the more technical details of setting up your account and maximizing your post reach. Give it a look.
Cheers,
Kate