How To Get Started On Instagram As An Artist Or Brand

Instagram is a great way to share your art and spread the word about your brand. But sometimes, it’s hard to know where to start! 

In this article, I’ll give you some tips that will help you create an account that’s all about sharing photos and videos of your work while engaging with others who are interested in your art or brand.

Instagram For ARTISTS – Instagram Art Account Tips – YouTube
Key Takeaways
1. Define your niche and target audience on Instagram.
2. Optimize your profile by using a clear profile picture and compelling bio.
3. Create high-quality and visually appealing content that showcases your art or brand.
4. Utilize relevant hashtags to increase discoverability and reach.
5. Engage with your followers by responding to comments and sharing stories.
6. Collaborate with other artists or brands to expand your reach.
7. Use Instagram insights to analyze your performance and refine your strategy.
8. Consistency is key – post regularly to maintain audience engagement.
9. Experiment with different content formats like videos, reels, and IGTV.
10. Leverage Instagram’s features such as Stories, Highlights, and Reels to tell your brand’s story.

Decide What You Want To Share

Now that you have an Instagram account, it’s time to decide what you’re going to share. As an artist or brand, it can be tempting to just start posting whatever comes your way: photos of your latest creations or random memes that make you laugh. 

However, when you’re starting on Instagram as an artist or brand, it’s best to take a little more time with this step so that your feed makes sense from the get-go.

Before we dive into some specific tips for creating a cohesive feed and sharing content consistently (and not too much), here are some general guidelines for what kind of content works best for artists and brands on Instagram:

Keep your posts relevant, don’t just post any old thing because “it would look good” or “I want people seeing my work.” Make sure every image connects back to why anyone follows you in the first place (your art).

Use hashtags sparingly, this one is pretty straightforward: using too many hashtags can cause the algorithm not to show up in people’s feeds!

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Create A Brand-Specific Bio

The best way to make your Instagram bio stand out is to use your brand’s name and your Instagram handle. This way, people can easily find you on other platforms.

If you’re setting up an account for a company or organization, it’s also important to include that information as well. For example: “Hi! I’m Jane Smith and I work at MOO.” 

Including this information in the bio will help users learn more about what MOO is all about and how they can support them in their endeavors through purchasing goods from the website or donating money to their cause (in case they’re running an event).

Don’t use generic bios like “Artist | Designer | Photographer” because that doesn’t tell people who you are or what sets you apart from other artists/designers/photographers out there. 

And don’t use overly long bios either – keep them short but sweet so that viewers want more info about what exactly makes up your unique brand identity!

Take Amazing Photos

There are a few things that make for good Instagram photos:

Images of your work. Make sure to include the name of the piece, who it was made by, and where you’re selling it. If you’re trying to build an audience for selling your work online, this is important!

Studio shots. These can be cool if you have a unique space that makes your art feel more personal or special (like this one). You can also just show off what goes on behind the scenes in your studio how do pieces come together? 

Any tools or materials used? How long does it take someone trained in traditional techniques like painting or embroidery to get something finished? Your followers will love seeing these details and getting insight into how things are made!

Workspace photos are also fun because they give people an idea of how creative professionals spend their days at home/in their studio/etc., which isn’t always easy from afar but helps everyone feel like they know each other better when done well.

Building your Instagram account from scratch? Discover effective techniques in growing your Instagram account even if you’re starting with minimal followers.

Be Consistent With Your Username And Bio

Keep your username and bio consistent with the rest of your brand. If you’ve got a new Instagram account, this may be pretty easy to do because you haven’t built up so much content yet and can keep things simple. 

However, if you have an existing account that has been around for a while, it might take some time to find a username and bio that’s right for both the platform and what people expect from your brand.

You should also make sure that all three are consistent with each other if they’re not, then they will start to feel disconnected from one another. 

This is especially important in terms of users searching for specific hashtags on Instagram: if someone is searching “#cats,” they’re probably going to expect photos of cats rather than paintings or sculptures (unless those paintings or sculptures happen to include cats).

Write Engaging Captions

The most important thing to remember is that your captions are the most critical part of your Instagram strategy. Captions can make or break your post, so you need to make sure they’re as engaging as possible.

Here are some things you can do to up the engagement factor of your captions:

Draw people in by including emojis and hashtags in the first few lines of text. You want to get their attention right away and make them want to read more, so go ahead and use those emojis! 

They might not seem like much, but they can add some fun into an otherwise boring caption. 

You should also include relevant hashtags in these first few lines it’s okay if they don’t fit perfectly together because this will help people find you by searching for similar brands or artists who use similar tags. 

Just don’t go overboard with too many hashtags; one or two is usually enough!

Use questions at the end of a sentence (if it’s appropriate). This technique works well because people often have questions about big topics like art supplies, inspiration for their work, etc., 

This means if someone happens upon your post when searching for answers on these topics then there’s a good chance that person will leave a comment asking about them too! 

Make sure not every single sentence ends with one though; otherwise it’ll start feeling repetitive after a while…

Not only does this take away from quality content creation but also reduces overall engagement levels since users won’t feel compelled towards replying directly to those specific questions anymore.

Ready to take your business to the next level on Instagram? Our guide on using Instagram marketing to grow your business provides insights on leveraging this platform for business expansion.

Use Tags To Get Discovered By New People

Finding the right tags is all about knowing what your audience wants to see. You can use Instagram’s search option to discover popular tags around the world, or you can check out what other accounts in your niche are using.

Once you’ve found some relevant hashtags, it’s time to start using them on every post! Once again.

These are not recommended as the only tags used (you should also include unique hashtags related either to yourself or your art) but rather as an additional way of getting noticed by new people who might be interested in seeing more of what you have to offer.

Be Careful About Timing Your Posts

Instagram has an algorithm that determines what posts you see. This means you can’t just publish your content and expect to reach the same audience, in the same way, every time.

For example, if your brand is a local business in New York City, then when people search hashtags like #newyork or #nyc on Instagram, they’ll see your posts first. 

But if one of those people lives in California or Florida, their feed will show them different results because Instagram thinks they’re looking for something different than you are.

So here’s another tip: post at different times of day throughout the week so that each post reaches a different audience!

Interact With Other Users

If you post a photo, people will naturally want to see what else you have to offer. As an artist or band, this means sharing more of your work. This is important because Instagram has a built-in feature that allows users to follow people based on their photos. 

If someone likes one of your posts and follows you in return, that person will receive notifications whenever you post new content.

One way to maintain engagement with followers is by reposting other users’ content within the platform itself (see above). However, there are many other ways as well:

  • Reply to comments and messages from others; this shows them that their thoughts were heard and appreciated!
  • Like comments made by others on your photos; this encourages them to keep commenting!
  • Like other users’ photos; it encourages them to continue posting great stuff too!

Collaborate With Other Users

Once you’ve established yourself on Instagram, try collaborating with other users. The best way to do this is by choosing people who have similar interests and goals as you you don’t want to work with someone who’s going after a completely different audience than yours. 

Also, make sure that the collaboration makes sense for both parties (for example, if one of you has never posted before, it might not be a good idea!).

Collaborations can be great opportunities for exposure and learning from others’ expertise. Consider what kind of information or advice they could offer that would benefit your page; 

This will help them have an idea of what kind of content they should share to contribute meaningfully to the partnership. 

It also allows them an opportunity for their followers’ engagement with yours grow organically over time rather than being forced through heavy promotion on social media channels like Instagram since some users may take longer than others

Don’t miss out on valuable tools for optimizing your Instagram marketing strategy. Explore our list of Instagram marketing tools you’re missing out on to enhance your online presence.

Use Geotags When Applicable

Many people are drawn to Instagram because it’s a community of artists and creators who share their passions with like-minded individuals. If you’re trying to reach people in your local community, make sure you use geotags. 

This way, the photos and videos you post will appear on the Explore page for users who are near your location. 

As a general rule of thumb, if you have a unique feature that makes your business stand out from others nearby (such as an art gallery located in an old bank vault.

Or an ice cream shop that offers waffle cones made from scratch), then put the address on all of your posts so customers know where they can find you!

Post Stories Often (But Give Yourself A Break)

You should post as often as you can. But this isn’t a race, so don’t try to post every day if it feels like too much work or begin to lose the joy of sharing your work online.

Remember, it’s not quantity over quality; it’s quality over quantity! The more unique and engaging images that you post, the more people will come back to see what else you’re up to.

Posting too much can also turn off followers you don’t want them unfollowing because they feel overwhelmed by all of your content!

Pin Important Stories To The Top Of Your Feed

You can also pin important stories to the top of your feed. This is a great way to keep your followers engaged, and it’s easy enough to do. 

Just tap on a post you want to pin, then tap Pin at the bottom-right corner of the screen it’ll be highlighted in yellow when you select it.

If you want even more people to see your posts and get more likes, comments, and shares (and who doesn’t?), then you should pin things like promotions or sales that are relevant to your followers’ interests. 

Just remember that not every single person will see every single post in their feed; they’ll only see what Instagram thinks they’re most interested in seeing based on how often they engage with similar content from other accounts they follow (this is called Edge Rank).

Crafting a strong marketing plan for your brand on Instagram? Check out these 15 tips for mastering your Instagram marketing plan for your brand and make the most out of your online marketing efforts.

Use Multiple Accounts To Maintain Separate Audiences

Artists and brands have multiple audiences to consider when creating and maintaining an Instagram presence. To reach a wider audience, you should use multiple accounts. 

This will help you reach people who are interested in your work or brand but may not be fans of your page.

Below are some examples of how artists can use multiple Instagram accounts:

Personal vs professional: If you want to maintain a separate account for personal work from the work that appears on your business page, creating two different accounts is an easy way to make sure people know which account is for business purposes only!

Types of content: If there are types of content that would fit better into one type of account than another (for example, travel photos posted by an artist), then this could be another reason why it makes sense for artists to have multiple Instagram accounts.

Audience size: Sometimes artists just want more followers! And having two or three different accounts with 20k followers each might help them achieve their goal faster than if they only had one account with 10k followers (or even 5k).

Conclusion

There are a lot of things to keep in mind when you’re creating your Instagram account, but don’t worry! All of these tips will help you build an audience that truly appreciates your work and what it stands for. And remember: the most important thing is consistency. 

Once you have a good handle on your brand-specific bio, username, and captions, just keep posting great content at regular intervals (but not too often because then people will get tired of seeing it!).

Further Reading

Explore these additional resources to enhance your Instagram marketing and art promotion efforts:

8 Best Tips for How to Promote Your Art on Instagram: Discover effective strategies to showcase your art and engage with your audience on Instagram.

Creating an Engaging Art Page on Instagram: Learn how to craft a captivating art page on Instagram that draws attention to your creative work.

Building Your Instagram Presence from Scratch: If you’re new to Instagram, this guide offers step-by-step advice on establishing your presence on the platform.

FAQs

How can I effectively promote my art on Instagram?

Promoting your art on Instagram involves a combination of visually appealing posts, strategic use of hashtags, and engaging with your followers through stories and comments.

What are some tips for creating a compelling art page on Instagram?

To create an engaging art page, focus on posting high-quality images of your artwork, using consistent branding, and sharing behind-the-scenes glimpses into your artistic process.

I’m new to Instagram. Where do I start?

If you’re starting from scratch on Instagram, begin by setting up a complete profile with a clear bio, profile picture, and contact information. Then, start posting content that showcases your art and resonates with your target audience.

How do I grow my follower base on Instagram?

Growing your follower base involves a mix of creating valuable content, engaging with your audience, collaborating with other artists or influencers, and using relevant hashtags to increase your reach.

What’s the importance of storytelling on Instagram?

Storytelling on Instagram allows you to connect with your audience on a personal level. Sharing the stories behind your art, your creative journey, and your inspirations can help humanize your brand and build a loyal following.