ramonn90

When, How, and What to Post on Social Media as a Beginner Artist

Published: October 15th 2024, 12:24:52 pm

So, patrons ask this question frequently, but also plenty of beginner artists I've met across time. Here are some simple tips you might find useful if you are at the beginning of your journey.

When to post

When refers to the timing of your posts, choosing the most effective moments to share your content to maximize visibility and engagement. It involves knowing when your audience is most active, understanding platform-specific peak times, and maintaining a consistent schedule. Posting at the right times can significantly increase the chances of your content being seen, liked, and shared.

• Post at the same time
  
  Some artists say it’s 18:00 to 19:00 in some parts of the US. I often do it at 21:00 GMT+2 here in Spain, but sometimes I pick 18:00 to 19:00 in Spain as well. This is because the later I post, the harder it is for me to detach from my phone and go to sleep.
  
  These timeframes work for me as most of my audience is in the USA (according to some Instagram and X insights). It would be very early in the morning for them and a bit late for the rest of Europe, but hopefully, they catch the post the next day. For my friends in Asia, I like to post at 18:00 my time to catch them around midday, if I'm not mistaken. I’m not very obsessed with this compared to the actual content, but I recognize that having a schedule helps build a sense of organization.

• Change the range time
  
  Once you have managed to build some kind of schedule, shift it every once in a while to see if the numbers vary. And please choose times that don’t wake you up at night. I used to post right before bed, and this filled me with distractions that did not allow me to sleep.

• Post at least once per week
  
  This depends on your production time. If you want to share high-quality animations, this tip might not be the best, as it will require too much time for a weekly post. But if you can create quick sketches during the week, allow yourself to share them on days you consider appropriate. I like to post from Monday to Wednesday. I’ve read that those days tend to be more active on social media. However, in the past, I also posted on Fridays at the end of the week. Why? Many theories, but it’s like shooting in the dark, I can’t tell what the best day is. I recommend focusing on what you can control, which is mostly the art.
  
  When a post is going to go viral, sometimes the timing isn’t very relevant. I say this because when I started sharing art on social media, I didn’t have a schedule. I would sit down at any time of day and post right after finishing a sketch. Some sketches were more complex than others, which varied the production time and caused me to post at random hours. However, the reaction was mostly dictated by the quality of the idea/art.
  
  Nevertheless, in terms of organization, I recommend that you, as an artist, have a schedule. Back in the day, this wasn’t an issue for me because I didn’t have many responsibilities. But these days, I do, so following a posting schedule helps me keep my tasks in order.

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How to post

How refers to the method or approach you use to share your content. It’s about the style, format, and technique you apply to get your post across, including image quality, engagement strategies, and tone of communication. Think of it as the delivery of your post.

• Image quality
  
  In Photoshop, my canvas can be huge, but when exporting, I often go for a 1920-pixel cap, regardless of whether the format is horizontal/vertical or square. The longer side of that window will have a maximum size of 1920 pixels. This allows me to control the compression the social platform might apply. If my piece looks nice at this size, the compression might not change it much.

• Post series, not only one piece
  There’s nothing wrong with posting one piece, but remember you are betting on what sticks and what doesn’t. When starting out and not knowing what creates the most reactions, posting a series of pieces or sketches might bring some insights. Pay attention to the numbers or comments to see which piece nailed that extra reaction.
  
  On X, I use the full four-image option the platform allows per post, while on Instagram, if I can post up to 10 images, I do. Of course, this is more demanding, so lately I can’t produce them all in one sitting. But I think having at least three different pieces in one post will do the trick. After a while, you can make a compilation of your most viral ones in one post, there you can throw in 10 if you have them.

• Engagement strategies
  
  I like to share on different platforms, not only Instagram, although I have most of my reactions there. Through the description or as part of the post, I send most of the people to the same place, like Patreon, using links or short text. You can do the same with your portfolio, or a place where you would like people to subscribe, for later sharing some kind of merch.
  
  About the description, below in 'what to post,' I'll dive a bit deeper into this point, but it is worth mentioning in the 'how to post' category that I like to keep descriptions brief, with one word or a few to bring most of the value to the actual piece. Below, I'll tell you what I write in them.
  
  How to comment! I apply the same rule previously mentioned: short is king. Use a few words to convey a sharp answer to the comments you want to highlight. Basically, read if the comment you want to reply to adds value to your post, if it's funny or highlights one important detail for new comment readers to see.

• Posts production
  
  I'll suggest you pay attention to the production timeframe. Creating a following or audience is a matter of consistency over time, so you can feel close to the viewers. The more you are present, the better. This does not mean sharing art every day but being present by sharing stories or simply posting about your personal experience as an artist. Here is the answer I gave recently on this subject:
  
  

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What

What refers to the actual content or material you are sharing. It’s about the substance of your post, whether it’s a finished artwork, behind-the-scenes sketches, or an inspirational quote in your Instagram stories. Think of it as the message or subject matter you present.

Now, I cannot tell you exactly what to post, as this will be very personal for each artist, but here are some insights that might help:

• Personal descriptions
  
  I love to have one word as a description, like the title, and that’s it. It makes me feel mysterious and also allows the art to speak for itself. But it’s true that sharing a bit of what inspired you behind the post might spark some comments from the most extroverted, curious viewers, especially those who might relate to the subject of your post.

  

• Comments
  
  I don’t often reply to comments, but when I do, I pick two or three that are funny in relation to the art, that are not disrespectful, and that share some insight into what most people might miss about the art. To boost them, a simple “thanks,” emoji, or short answer will do the trick.

  
  
  Bear in mind that some comments might miss your point or even say things you don’t like. That’s the price of having a glimpse of popularity, so don’t engage in discussions unless someone is being disrespectful and you want to make a very brief and sharp assessment. Fighting on social media, although satisfying sometimes, is a waste of time.

• Recycling posts?
  
  I didn’t like doing this back in the day, but now I consider it useful every once in a while. Like I mentioned in the previous step, when I’ve been posting for a while and have a few viral hits, I make a post of them together, these are like guaranteed viral posts. Don’t think people are obsessively paying attention to whether you repeat content. There are plenty of new people who will find you through that post for the first time, especially if it goes viral, so give it a try.

• Stories
  
  For stories (this applies to Instagram only), I like to have no text, just the art itself. I share the art post so people can go and engage with the original post. If the piece is complex enough, I share new images with the details, since these are not easy to zoom in on from a post.
  
  After I share stories of the post, I like to share comments I liked below the new post as a screenshot. Sharing images of comments also boosts attention back to the post.
  
  Every once in a while, I share in my stories a related art subject, like quotes or places I find inspiring. Although this distracts from my art, it brings some fresh, unexpected content for your frequent viewers, giving some contrast before returning to share your art.

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That’s it for now! Did I miss something? Please let me know in the comments and I’ll share my secrets. This is a very long subject and I probably left a few things out, so if you are a beginner, feel free to ask.

I’m still in Japan, so no new art until I come back, the first of November. In the meantime, I’ll be sharing as much value as I can with art tips, personal insights, and professional experiences!

Thank you for your support!