Artist Tips for Using Social Media: Without Going Insane

Let’s talk about the reality of using social media as a creative.

So many art podcasters and teachers talk about utilizing apps such as Facebook and Instagram to grow your following….what they don’t often tell you is how difficult is is to stay true to yourself when you are constantly being fed images and content. Yes, it can be inspiring. However, more often than not, I would find myself comparing myself to others, and trying to copy what I saw successful artists were doing……Eeeeek. I even started creating just to keep up with algorithms, and found myself constantly on social media making it all SO MUCH WORSE.

Here are my tips of how to utilize social media while staying creative and innovative…and maintain your sanity!

Delete your social media apps from your phone

• I did this for one month, and with it found so much freedom! With more time freed up, I had more time to spend in the garden, play with my dogs, and create art…….and more importantly I found myself finding inspiration from what was happening in my life, rather than getting stuck in ideas I had seen already on social media.

Create art for YOU, and then take that content to share on social media

• This tip is best used when combined with tip number one. By limiting your time on social media, you give yourself more time to find fresh ideas from real life. Then, choosing to create for yourself and nobody else, you will have that extra freedom to actually create the stuff that is genuine and truly unique!

Choose a place that is off of social media to be the primary location to share your art.

• Don’t let somebody else’s platform be your main platform. Firstly, you never know when that platform could just be taken down. Also, you don’t want to be stuck constantly fighting algorithms. Have a website, pop up shop, gallery, or art festivals (or all of the above) as your primary way of sharing your art. Thennnn, share on social media when you have awesome stuff to share. It is OKAY to not be perfect on social media if it isn’t your primary way of selling. Let your business grow, and the social media can just be an extra tool….and remember followers don’t always equal customers.

Well, that is all the tips I have for now! I hope you will find new creativity and freedom by utilizing one or more of these tips!

Thank you for reading!

-Lauren Haylock