Facebook Tips for Artists

Many artist clients have asked me to help them with their social media including how to increase their Facebook Friends. So, I put together some Facebook tips for artists with simple actions you can take.  Although it’s written with Facebook in mind you can apply most of these tips for Instagram, Twitter and other social media sites.

If you apply only one new tip from this article I’m sure you’ll see results. Let me know if you try any of these tips and how they have worked for you!

Remember P-E-A-R

Realizing this could be a boring subject I decided to give it some flavor. It’s easy to remember the anacronym P-E-A-R so let’s get started.

P — Promote
Your tone will either attract people or will turn them away. When you post images of your art to promote sales, offer some background information and write it in a positive voice. Explain what inspired the work of art. Did it sell recently or is it currently available for sale? Did it win an award?  This type of post relates to “Engage”, which you’ll read about later.

A key to attracting more Friends is to avoid writing posts always about yourself, your art and what you ate for breakfast. Mix it up! Post about the art of a fantastic artist friend, art group, an art book you’re reading, a museum exhibition you love.

When you promote someone or something else, don’t do this expecting something in return. Do it out of sheer enthusiasm and a desire to share and inform.

There may be unexpected rewards. When you promote others, they may share with their own Friends which may increase yours. Remember to tag them so they are notified about your post.

What to avoid: Experts advise us, avoid the temptation to promote yourself in every post. Remember to do updates that are about your audience, not you.

E — Engage

To attract favorable attention and interest from other Facebook users and followers, you will want to engage them often. The best artists have made this a routine practice.

I suggest posting at least once a day. Since I run a few different websites and many services I post up to 20 times a day across FB, Linkedin, and Twitter. I share content from this website, plus the art and information about members of my two websites Manhattan Arts International and The Healing Power of ART & ARTISTS. The posts contain the artists’ credentials, perhaps where they live, an award they may have won, etc.

To get some ideas take a look at my posts. My Facebook pages are: Personal Page, Renee Phillips Art Coach, and the Manhattan Arts International page.

Maximize engagement by asking questions. They are among the most popular and shared often. Facebook seems to like them too so you’ll get more exposure through their algorithms.  Questions arouse people’s interest and as the comments come in, everyone learns from each other. It’s exciting to watch and participate. This is just one of the ways you can engage people. And, when you do this, watch your follower numbers increase.

What works?
Engage others by varying your art posts with questions, humor, and inspiration.

A — Align
You will increase your Facebook Friends when you align yourself with kindred spirits. Join a large Facebook group and interact with thousands of like-minded members. When you align yourself with groups that share your artistic style, medium, beliefs, and other interests you will broaden your network. Interact and post news and comments in those groups. The more members they have the better chance other art enthusiasts have to see your posts.

Surprises await you. You never know whose attention you will attract that will help you grow your own audience.

Many artists wrongly assume that aligning with other artists is competitive and not worth their effort. I totally disagree. I have observed artists purchasing art from each other, artists recommending other artists to their galleries. I have witnessed inspirational examples of camaraderie, collaboration and mutual support that is invaluable.

R — Reciprocate
Check your notifications! You will see at a quick glance the comments and likes your posts are attracting. Whenever possible, thank these individuals and think of ways to reciprocate. Look for ways to pay it forward. This is how relationships begin and flourish.

And, it might seem like an odd suggestion, but even if someone doesn’t agree with you and your post, consider thanking them for sharing. Take the high road and you’ll have less stress.

More Tips

* List links to your social media pages in your email newsletters.

* Add your social media links to your art website.

* Update your “about” page and “information” content on your Facebook page. Add links to your websites.

* Make your banner images on your Facebook pages eye-catching and representative of your artwork. You can also change them occasionally.

* Post with passion, positivity and regularity.

* Do post a healthy mix of text, image, link, and video updates.

* Avoid writing a post when you’re feeling angry, depressed or lethargic.

* If you posted something you regret, delete it immediately.

* Share “What’s New” on a regular basis.

* Remove “Friends” that are negative and post abusive or antagonistic comments. You can “block” them. If you keep them as Friends,  you may be viewed as guilty by association. And, as you remove unwanted Friends you’ll have room for better ones.

* Don’t buy fake likes!

One More!
If you also have a Facebook Professional/Business Page post links from your personal page to them and vice versa. You cannot assume that Facebook users will automatically know that you have more than one page. I started to do this and was very happy with the quick results.