How to Leverage Social Media for Artists in 2024

These days, social media has become more crowded than ever before.

So, to stand out among the competition, you must build an engaged audience on the platforms that are most beneficial for artists.

The best social media for artists are YouTube and Pinterest because both function as search engines that allow you to share evergreen content. Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook are great platforms for branding and community-building, but the shelf life of content is very short.

As you can see, some social media platforms are better for artists than others.

So, let’s have a deeper look at the pros and cons of each platform to determine at which social media is best suited for artists.

What is the Best Social Media for Artists?

There are many places where artists and creatives gather to share their art, make sales, and network, including:

1. Instagram
2. Facebook
3. Twitter
4. YouTube
5. TikTok
6. Pinterest
7. DeviantArt
8. LinkedIn
9. Behance
10. ArtStation

Right now, the best social media platforms for video content are YouTube and TikTok. Pinterest and Instagram are the best for static images and short videos. And Facebook and Twitter are both good for community-building and niche research.

That being said, let’s look at the advantages and disadvantages of these 6 major social media sites to compare each platform.

YouTube for Artists

Although I have not yet established a YouTube channel (because honestly, I just don’t have the time at the moment), I can see how this social media platform can benefit artists.

For example, some of the highlights of YouTube for artists include:

• YouTube is a visual search engine. By definition, artists are visual creators. Therefore, many artists and creatives go to YouTube to learn about art and creative pursuits
• We live in the age of video marketing. Since people love consuming video content, it’s a smart idea to create art videos to educate and entertain viewers who consume this content
• Since YouTube is a search engine, and video marketing is on the rise, your videos have a higher chance of appearing at the top of Google searches

Like any social media platform, YouTube’s disadvantages include:

• Competition is extremely fierce because more people are on the platform creating video content than ever before
• The time investment required to write, film, and edit videos is much longer than the time required to create content on other platforms
• The YouTube algorithm demands consistent and regular uploading, which can be difficult to maintain

Key Takeaways: YouTube is an excellent choice of social media for artists. But you have to be committed to your channel and understand that posting videos regularly is quite a time investment.

Instagram for Artists

Okay, I know what you’re probably thinking…

Everyone is on Instagram nowadays! It’s too competitive! It’s getting harder to be noticed by the algorithm!

Although these statements are mostly true, that doesn’t mean Instagram isn’t worthwhile.

In fact, I joined Instagram in early 2020 and I was able to grow my Instagram account to over 1100 followers in just 1 year. If I can reach this achievement, I know you can, too.

Let me explain.

Firstly, Instagram is a visually-based platform. It’s designed to share visual content such as images, reels (short videos), and stories.

When you look at the platform this way, it’s perfectly designed for artists and creatives.

Remember, vanity metrics aren’t everything. Yes, it’s harder to be noticed on the platform nowadays, but some of the major benefits of Instagram include:

• It’s a great platform for community-building and social engagement
• It’s easy to communicate with your followers and to meet like-minded artists to collaborate with
• Direct messaging is a great way to have deeper and more personalized conversations with people
• A well-curated feed functions as an online portfolio for your art
• The art community is thriving with talent and opportunity. So no matter what your art niche is, it has a presence on this platform

However, 2 of Instagram’s downsides of are:

• The algorithm is harder to compete with because Instagram wants you to pay for ads to expand your reach
• It’s difficult to encourage followers to click the single link in your bio

Key Takeaways: Is Instagram good for artists? Yes, I believe Instagram is still worth your time because you can use the platform for community-building and market research.

Pinterest for Artists

I know Pinterest technically isn’t a social media platform, but I included it on this list anyway because Pinterest marketing is very useful for artists and creative entrepreneurs.

Overall, the major benefits of Pinterest include:

• It’s a visual search engine and marketing platform that focuses on using visuals (including pins, videos, and stories) to promote content
• Art-related niches are popular on Pinterest because tons of people use it to find inspiration, learn new skills, and make purchases
• Pinterest is one of the few remaining platforms where your content can go viral and you don’t have to pay for ads to get organic reach

If you’re not sure whether Instagram or Pinterest is better for you? Then check out this article in which I compare and contrast the pros and cons of Pinterest vs Instagram.

However, there’s a catch. Ever since the infamous algorithm updates of 2020, users have encountered these problems:

• The algorithm has been known to wrongly flag users as spammers. Seriously, this happened to me! Luckily, I was able to have the problem resolved after contacting Pinterest directly
• The shelf-life (longevity) of pins isn’t as long as it used to be
• Since the 2020 algorithm update, accounts big and small have been struggling to adapt their Pinterest strategy to the new system. Some accounts saw up to 90% of their traffic vanish overnight!

Key Takeaways: I still believe Pinterest is worth it for artists. Where else can you market your content for free without paying for ads? And yes, you can still grow on the platform. I started in mid-2020, so look at my account below to see the proof.

Facebook for Artists

Ah, Facebook. The reigning champion of all social media platforms.

Similar to Instagram, Facebook is a social sharing platform where you can share posts, videos, and stories to interact with others.

Some of the benefits of this platform include:

• You can create a professional business page to promote your products and services
• You can create a group or join groups of like-minded individuals so that you can connect with your community
• You can share new content, sell physical and digital products, find clients, offer services, and get feedback from your community

However, like all social media platforms, Facebook is not without its flaws. In fact, 2 notable disadvantages include:

• The algorithm is notorious for limiting the amount of exposure your posts receive. This means that organic growth is very hard to get
• Facebook will encourage you to pay for ads to get exposure. So if you have a business page or group but you don’t have a budget for ads, you’ll have to work the old school way by marketing your business page or group on your art blog and website, etc.

Key Takeaways: Setting up an artist business page will make your brand look more professional. But understand that organic reach is limited on this platform.

TikTok for Artists

In February 2021, I conducted an interesting experiment in which I wanted to find out whether or not it was worthwhile to start a TikTok art account.

Honestly, the results surprised me!

But first, lets summarize some of the advantages TikTok offers:

• Unlike other social media platforms, TikTok can help you grow an organic community quickly because content goes viral easily
• Interconnectivity and community-building are easy to do on this platform because people (especially Gen Z) are very active on it
• Since TikTok is a newer social media platform, organic reach hasn’t become as controlled as Instagram, Facebook, or Twitter… yet

Despite all these benefits, I was surprised to discover that, after conducting a poll on Instagram, the majority of my Instagram followers (in the watercolour and gouache niche) are not active on TikTok!

Therefore, the disadvantages of creating a TikTok account include:

• You must thoroughly research your target audience to make sure they’re actually active on the platform. If they’re not, then it’s not necessarily the best use of your time
• TikTok’s demographics and culture are not the same as Instagram, Facebook, or YouTube. Just because one audience is present on the others, doesn’t mean it’s as successful on TikTok

Key Takeaways: If your art or creative niche is present and active on TikTok, then by all means create an account. If not, determine whether you believe the time investment is worth the potential return.

Twitter for Artists

Okay, let me be totally transparent… I don’t know much about Twitter. So, I’m not very familiar with how to leverage social media for artists on Twitter.

Why?

The simple answer is that I don’t have a Twitter account. I never have, and I don’t intend on getting one.

That being said, here are some of the pros that others have told me about this platform:

• Twitter appeals to a largely American demographic. If your niche or audience is dominated by Americans, then this platform has the potential to work really well for you
• It is a great platform for starting conversations and connecting with others in your niche

Despite these advantages, there are 2 cons that have deterred me from opening an account on this platform. These cons include:

• The shelf life of a tweet is incredibly short… only 18 minutes! Shelf life refers to how long a tweet remains relevant. So unless you post multiple times a day, your tweets will quickly become obsolete
• Twitter isn’t as big as other social media platforms. So I personally don’t find this social media platform worth the time investment

Key Takeaways: If you’re an artist who has an audience that is active on Twitter, then by all means give it a shot! Just understand that keeping up with consistent posting is a necessity for success on this platform.

Do You Need Social Media as an Artist?

In my opinion, I believe it’s advantageous to establish a social media presence if you’re an artist who wants to share your work online.

Why, you might ask?

Well, first of all, the global community is becoming more visual in this increasingly digital age.

That means artists and creatives have a unique advantage in a world that is obsessed with visual content. This includes everything such as:

• Photos (Images, pins)
• Videos (Reels, tiktoks)
• Stories (short video updates)
• Art for mental health purposes (coping with the 2020-21 pandemic)
• Advertisements
• Entertainment

What’s more, ever since the global pandemic started in early 2020, more people are spending time online than ever before. It’s estimated that this global trend will grow in upcoming years.

Therefore, I believe it’s important for artists and creatives to establish their brands and businesses now to keep ahead of the competition as the world becomes increasingly connected via the Internet.

Note: This article focuses on building a social media presence for artists. However, if you’re interested in learning how to start an art blog and using it as part of your social media strategy, check out this link.

Why is Social Media Important for Artists?

Over the last several years, creativity has become an increasingly sought-after skill in the job market.

Fortunately, creativity is one of the bedrocks of the artistic profession.

Therefore, there are many opportunities for artists to market their work and skills online, such as:

• By creating a branded business
• Selling original artwork
• Teaching students an artistic skill such as how to paint with watercolours, draw portraits, make children’s crafts, etc.
• Art licensing and print on demand
• Client work and commissions

In addition, you have the incredible ability to reach artists in the global art community 24/7 and across many different online platforms.

Want to see proof? Then do this:

1. Open a new window and go to Google
2. In the search bar, type in my name “Miranda Balogh” (it’s my brand name as well as the handle for my social media accounts)
3. Observe all of my different social media accounts and related content that show up

In other words, leveraging social media for artists can lead to incredible scalability and discoverability in the online space.

What’s more, the rise of online learning platforms such as Skillshare and Udemy demonstrate that people are very interested in learning artistic skills or pursuing creative projects.

How to Use Social Media for Artists

Do I still have your attention?

Then let me wrap things up by giving you a few tips and tricks to help you figure out how to develop your online strategy.

The following advice works well for all artists including art bloggers, online artists, art teachers, and creative entrepreneurs.

• Prioritize follower/subscriber engagement over vanity metrics. Likes and views don’t mean much. Comments and interaction please the algorithm, so you need to make engaging content
• Be authentic. Gone are the days of Instagram and Pinterest perfect lives that don’t reflect reality. Share your vulnerability, your hopes and dreams, setbacks and failures. This approach is much more relatable, and your audience will appreciate you more
• Use your analytics and data to determine the best posting times and days when your audience is most likely to be active

Yes, it’s tough competing with all the other social media content creators. So think about your personal branding and what separates you from the crowd.

For example, I learned how to develop a recognizable flat lay style for my artwork. That way, whenever people see my newest Instagram posts, they associate those unique flat lays with my brand.

Conclusion

And that’s a wrap!

In this article, you learned about the advantages of leveraging social media for artists and creatives.

You now understand the pros and cons of all the biggest and most influential social media platforms. Using this knowledge, it’s time for you to decide where you want to promote yourself and your work.

But remember this: social media is always changing. What works today might not work in a year or so. And that’s okay.

As long as you keep trying and don’t give up, you’ll make it as an established artist in your niche.

Which social media platform do you think is the best and most beneficial for artists? Share your reasons in the comments below!

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