How to boost your online profile
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many artists have found themselves without work, teaching, technical support, gallery work. Exhibitions and sales have disappeared. In an attempt to help alleviate some of this stress, artists are committing to the ARTIST
Part 1: Preparing an effective Instagram post
Here’s the essentials, in nine easy steps (for more details see this online guide). This includes the relevant tags to make sure you’re taking advantage of the @steyningarts and #artistsupportpledge channels.
1. Open Instagram on your phone.
2. Tap the + icon at the bottom of the screen to create a new post.
3. Choose a photo or video from your library (prepare your image in advance if necessary – it needs to be crisp).
4. Crop the image as required – then press Next.
5. Ignore the Add Filter options if you’re selling work (that would be confusing for potential buyers) – then press Next
6. Type your caption. If you’re offering work for sale this should include:
– A description of the work, medium, size, etc. and how people can contact you (e.g. DM @youraddress)
– These three hashtags #steyningarts #steyningartspledge, #artistsupportpledge (all lowercase)
– Any other hashtags you want to add to attract viewers
7. Add @steyningarts in the Tag people field – then press Next
8. Press the buttons to share the post on other social media platforms, if you’ve got accounts.
9. Finally press Share
This post from Amanda includes all the essentials.
The essential tags are
#steyningarts
#steyningartspledge
#artistsupportplege
Make sure that there are no spaces and all lowercase.
To make it easy for you, here is a listing that you can copy and paste into your phone’s notes and re-use. You’ll need to adjust the the details of your work and your name of course. Having a template on your phones notes makes it much quicker to add a post to Instagram. No need to type out the hash tags each time:
Ceremonial 1 Monoprint & mixed media collage on cartridge paper. Picture width 19cmx24cm. With mount and frame 27cmx32cm. No 1 in a series of 6 collages. Responding to Jaipur travels. Price 75 framed incl. P&p. Please DM @amandadukeartist if you are interested. #steyningarts #steyningartspledge #artistsupportpledge
Part 2: Making the most of Facebook
You can use the same approach with Facebook. Here’s a step-by-step guide for beginners (here’s a link to a more in depth guide):
1. Open Facebook on your phone, tablet or computer
2. Tap the Home button and look for the What’s on your mind? box at the top to create a post.
3. Choose a photo or video from your library (prepare your image in advance if necessary – it needs to be crisp).
4. Type your caption. If you’re offering work for sale this should include:
– A description of the work, medium, size, etc. and how people can contact you (e.g. DM @youraddress)
– These three hashtags #steyningarts #steyningartspledge, #artistsupportpledge (all lowercase)
– Any other hashtags you want to add to attract viewers
5. Tag in any Facebook friends you especially want to alert to your post, in the hope they’ll share and comment
6. Press Post
7. Share the post with the Steyning Arts Members Group (and to any other groups you’re part of). That will alert the social media team and they can choose to share it more widely on the Steyning Arts Facebook page
Part 3: Other Top Tips
Here’s some other essentials to help Steyning Arts members boost our individual and collective online profiles.
1. Make sure your personal Steyning Arts web page is up to date – with fresh images and latest contact details & social media links. Guidelines are on the Join Us page on the website. As per usual, send any changes to Melissa at steyningarts.website@gmail.com
2. Update your profile – make sure your Instagram and Facebook profiles are carefully crafted to promote you and your work, have a link to your Steyning Arts web page, or personal website (if you have one). That way anyone admiring your work can click through to find out more about you, and get in touch.
3. Post images of your work regularly – a steady flow is better than a flood. The more striking the image, the bigger the impact. So take care in getting a crisp, well-lit photo of your work, and cropping it well. Here’s some tips from Frank Bull on how to do this.
4. Help promote other Steyning Arts members – by liking, sharing and commenting on their posts. This makes a big difference in pushing posts up the rankings so more people get to see them.
5. Join our fabulous social media team – If you have some spare time and would like to join the Steyning Arts social media team, even better. They would really appreciate some help from time to time. Contact Amanda at amandagduke@gmail.com
Our #steyingartspledge feed
Below you can see our live feed of our artists’ pledges.
[instagram-feed type=”hashtag” hashtag=”#steyningartspledge”]
