Did you know that your INPRNT shop can benefit by your social media presence? Keep reading to learn more about what you can do to promote your INPRNT shop, and your socials!
Art by Roberto Nieto
We hate to say it, but: we’re way beyond the days of just posting to social media for the fun of it, and cultivating organic engagement. Social media offers a vast and vibrant space where artists can showcase their work, connect with fans, and find new audiences. Social media can be just as difficult as learning a new art medium- except that art medium is changing how it works, what seems like every day (iykyk, looking at you Instagram). But no matter what your preferred medium might be, understanding how to leverage social media effectively can be the key to elevating your INPRNT shop sales!
Understanding the different platforms
With so many different social media platforms out there, it can be daunting deciding which one (or let’s be real, ones) your art will find it’s following on. Here’s a quick reference for some of our favorites:
- Instagram– Originally dedicated for photo sharing, Instagram has recently made a pivot towards video based content, as well.
- TikTok– Short form video based app.
- Pinterest– A visual heavy, virtual, pinboard.
- Cara – Founded in 2023, Cara we developed specifically for sharing art online.
- Reddit– Individualized forums for various niches, allows photo and video sharing with in the app.
Create an engaging profile
Much like when you set up your INPRNT shop, social media platforms will typically ask you for a few things in order to get your account started. These simple standards help establish a sense of authenticity, and provide a small insight into the person behind the art work.
Profile Picture: Your profile picture should either be a picture of you, or of your art. Avoid things such as clip art, generic scenic photos, characters that are someone else’s intellectual property, or AI-generated.
Bio: Every platform is different on character counts for bios, so these will vary slightly. Basics include your name, where you’re based out of, you’re preferred medium, etc. Letting people know that your prints are on sale on INPRNT will put out an early call to action for viewers just discovering your social media profile!
Artist ink_stasy has an excellent bio example. She identifies her audience and style, immediately, includes up coming commission info and her INPRNT shop link. A cohesive and precise bio will benefit both you and your customer, by streamlining the information process- allowing more time for you to do what you love, make art!
Many social media platforms will allow you to only include one link- but if you’re on multiple social platforms and want your followers to know where they can find you anywhere on line, a link-in is a great work around!
đź’ˇ Link-in‘s are sites that will create a host for multiple links, all in one spot. Good links to include are to other social media platforms, your website/online portfolio, and of course- your INPRNT shop! There are plenty of free services out there to compile your link-in’s, but some popular ones include linktr.ee, beacons, carrd or linkstacc.
Content ideas
We know what it’s like being an artist while having to create content that’s both engaging and algorithm-friendly. Here are some different types of content you can make, and the platforms you can use them on!
- Print mock-up’s: Your INPRNT shop provides mock ups of your product in every product we offer! Don’t be afraid to show your customers what your art might look like as a metal print, sticker, or even an art card!
- Behind the scenes: Behind the scenes content is a great way to break down barriers and offer insight to the artist behind the print. Whether it’s a work in progress shot, or showcasing what your work space is like, behind the scenes shots offer a great opportunity at getting to know you better.
- Detail shots: Detail shots are a great way to put emphasize on just how much work goes into your art! They also provide the opportunity to highlight aspects of the art that might not necessarily be what the viewers eye is immediately drawn to. Use detail shots to highlight things such as backgrounds, textures, or color variations.
- Draw This In Your Style’s: Draw this in your style, or DTIYS for short, is a common trend across social platforms where artists will post a piece of their art and encourage their followers to recreate the art in their own unique style. DTIYS’ are a great opportunity to engage your followers, as well as build your audience by connecting with different participants in these challenges. Join in on a DTIYS by searching the hashtag #diyts on social media, or create your own!
- Monthly drawing challenges: In addition to DTIYS, there are several popular drawing trends that take place annuals during their respective month. These challenges offer a prompt for each day of the month and challenge artists to draw every day. Some of our favorites include Sketchtember, Inktober, Drawcember or Mermay!
Utilize Content Schedulers
At INPRNT, our goal is to offer a service that allows artists to have more time for doing what they love- making art. Social media schedules can be daunting and difficult to keep up with. Thankfully, there are plenty of services now that allow you to queue posts ahead of time, so you can manage your content and posting schedule in bulk! There’s several programs out there such as Meta Business Suite, Buffer, or Later, allowing artists to plan and schedule their posts across multiple platforms and track engagement. By using these platforms, artists can focus more on creating rather than getting sucked into the rabbit hole of social media management.
đź’ˇ Story posts are great for real time, organic or behind the scenes posts. Utilize post schedulers for queueing up “static” grid posts, or for announcing planned product launches or sales on your story!