Tackling social media can exist a challenge, especially when you are busy in the studio.

It's easy to throw up an Instagram mail and call it good, only is that actually helping your art business organization?

Your Instagram, and really whatsoever online presence, is an extension of your art make. People are going to estimate it's quality and associate that with your art. And, did you know that more than collectors than ever are turning to Instagram to observe new art?

Whether you need to post ameliorate content or acquire how to hashtag the right way, it's time to step up your game. Follow these 9 steps to level upwardly your Instagram and get more art fans and customers.

one. Consummate Your Profile

When a potential buyer happens upon your Instagram account, you tin can commencement the relationship off right by making sure your name, image, and bio are in tip-tiptop shape.

Outset, make your username straightforward. Effort to use your existent name with a keyword similar "creative person," the medium you piece of work in, or the name of your art business. And then, cull a thumbnail image (beware — it's tiny!) that fans can identify with, such every bit a closeup of you and your fine art. Finally, brand your bio short, sweet, and descriptive.

TIP: Don't forget to include a link to your website or Artwork Annal Public Contour Page. Your bio is the only place where followers can click on a link, and the whole point of your account is to sell your work! You can fifty-fifty change out the link depending on what you want to characteristic.

two. Follow The Right People

Social media maven CoSchedule explains that i of the best ways to get more Instagram followers is by following "suggested users." Instagram creates these suggestions based on people you lot follow, your contact list, or previous posts you've liked — meaning they probably fall into your target audience.

To discover them, you lot tin can click on the icon in the top right of your app with the person and a plus sign. This will have y'all to "Discover People" with a list of suggested users. Or, you can go to a like artist'southward profile that you enjoy. Next to the "Following" push button you'll notice a triangle icon that drops down into a listing of suggested users for you to peruse.

In one case you follow someone, they will get a notification with your contour merely waiting to be viewed. Many times, people will follow you dorsum because they like what they run across!

3. Connect Your Contact Listing

You may have plenty of fans and customers in real life who simply oasis't found you lot on Instagram yet. Help them connect with you (and go their eyes on potential art to purchase) by clicking on the 3 vertical dots in the upper right corner of your account. Then, select "Find Contacts" and follow people that yous'd like to connect with and think would enjoy your Instagram.

Artists @sorrentinoart and @corinnegallastudios both take fun and complete Instagram profiles.

4. Be Social

You lot'd exist surprised at how much information technology actually pays to be social on social media. You'll proceeds fans and customers by doing so! Start by genuinely liking and commenting on the posts of young man artists and influencers. Always reply to people who have commented on your pictures — a uncomplicated "thank you" might suffice. Finally, don't forget that this platform has real potential to make real connections with other artists. If you similar an artist'south work or they are doing something interesting, don't be afraid to reach out and let them know - you never know what can come from these relationships.

TIP: When replying to someone in the comment section, brand sure to include their username starting with the "@" symbol. This will send them a notification—otherwise, they won't see it!

v. Create Good Content

We've said it earlier, and we'll say it again: always go for quality over quantity. Instagram is a wonderful chance to share your experience as an artist with your fans. Stay enthusiastic, accurate, and follow the fourscore/20 rule, and people will flock to your intriguing account.

If you are scrambling to find something to share, try posting works-in-progress, time-lapse videos of y'all creating, your favorite corner of the studio, a newfound inspiration, or a detailed close-up. Or, do a footling digging on artist accounts you adore, then make their ideas your own!

TIP: Check out the gratuitous design website called Canva! When the claiming is to take fresh content every day, Canva makes the job a whole lot easier. Their Instagram hub is chock full of piece of cake-to-use templates and drag-and-drop elements for quick yet effective designs! Go on your followers curious, share your passion, and build your art business with eye-catching Insta stories, posts, and ads that inspire appointment - the key to a growing Instagram account!

6. Post Enough, But Not Besides Much

CoSchedule found that posting one to two images a day is the sugariness spot for Instagram. If you lot mail service more than in one case, remember to mix up what blazon of content yous are sharing with your potential art buyers to continue their attention. And, try to stick to a consistent posting schedule to ever stay fresh in their minds.

What are the best times to post? ii:00 a.chiliad., 8:00 to ix:00 a.one thousand., and five:00 p.m. found CoSchedule. That fashion, your posts are seen first thing in the morn earlier working hours or after work when fans flip through Instagram to unwind.

7. Hashtag the Right Style

All the pop civilization jokes aside, hashtags serve an of import purpose on Instagram — they are the keywords and phrases that buyers tin use to discover your fine art! With one carefully selected hashtag, a collector might come up across your account and snatch up a few pieces. Information technology's just ane more way social media is changing the art world. So, which hashtags should you choose?

The easiest style is to take a expect at some popular artist accounts on Instagram. Come across what hashtags they are using and how many, then test it for yourself and see what works best. A general rule is to use 5 to ten hashtags per post, but you tin employ upwards to xxx. Y'all can even create your own brand hashtag with your studio name or something similar!

TIP: Crowding dozens of hashtags into your caption tin leave your post feeling cluttered and your bulletin overwhelmed. If you need a prepare, include your hashtags a couple of lines down from your caption with a dash or period on each line in betwixt. Or, add together a dissever comment with your hashtags instead.

Creative person @oodlies keeps the advent of her Instagram posts clean past dropping downward her hashtags.

8. Share Your Account with the World

Sometimes all it takes to become more Instagram followers is a piddling visibility. Get the Insta word out by including a link to your account on your other social media pages, and remind fans to follow you periodically.

Don't stop there! Put an Instagram icon on your website, and add together your username on business concern cards, issue materials, and more. Do you have a newsletter? Share your account with your email followers. All these steps can add up to get more eyes on your art and more art customers.

9. Find What Works

With a free business account, Instagram offers insights that can make using the social media app easier for your art business organization. You'll be able to see fan demographics, how frequently your mail service was viewed, commented on, liked, and more than. Keep runway of the all-time days, times, content blazon, and hashtags yous are posting, and you'll be on your fashion to using Instagram more effectively to sell more than fine art.

What's the bottom line?

The more you can print art fans and customers, the more interested they will be in buying your fine art. And, that includes both in person and online. These days your Instagram account is an extension of your art brand, just it's likewise the perfect platform to bewitch buyers. Follow these steps to level up your Instagram account, and see how far it can propel your art business.

Want to pace upwardly the residuum of your social media accounts in 2017? Check out this fresh social media strategy for artists.