Reasons to Love Instagram

Of all the various social media platforms, none is better for an artist than Instagram. The site allows the artist to post their works with limited commentary, as well as look at what other artists are doing; given that artists should always be looking into what others are doing, this is pretty good for artists. However, artists also need to be able to network and use a platform to sell their works; while sites such as Deviantart have served this function in the past, too many of those platforms have faded into the various stripes of irrelevancy.

Instagram offers an artist a relatively simple way to do all of that. It gives the artist a chance to display their works so that other artists can see them for inspiration and that future clients can see what the artist is up to. It also gives artists a chance to network with other artists, both those that have similar artists and artist communities on the platform. An artist who can figure out how to use Instagram effectively has taken a solid step into a successful future.

[Note on Hashtags: Like keywords for SEO, you need to use the minimum necessary to get the point across. Some people make the heinous sin of throwing up too many hashtags when they post; some people are so heinous that their TikTok videos are obscured by their hashtags. Try to get use no more than 3–5 hashtags per entry; if you use too few you may not get the coverage you want, but if you use too many you may get knocked for irrelevancy, no matter how good the art is.]

Shows What You Do

Instagram was primarily built to give artists a chance to show what they could, albeit in the context of social media. This means that any artist has the opportunity to create an account, populate that account with whatever art they want, and then market that art however they see fit. For those looking to build an online portfolio that anyone, especially potential employers and clients, this is a nearly ideal situation.

Easy to Figure Out 

The platform is relatively easy to figure out; virtually anyone can create an account and start publishing art immediately. While the subtleties and best strategies can be difficult to figure out, it's usually not a problem for users to get a grasp on the basics. This makes it a great place for those who are more worried about posting their art for others to see than trying to figure out a new environment.

Easy to Link To

Part of Instagram's popularity is that it's easy to set up an account and then link to that account. This means that it is pretty easy for you to copy the link and embed it somewhere where people can click back to your account. This allows you to set up all of your art in one central location and use hashtags to separate out the art as well as make it easier to find. This makes Instagram not only easy to link to but to link to specific pieces or groups of pieces.

Limitless Reach

Because Instagram is so huge, this gives it an almost limitless reach. Specifically, it is banned from very few countries making it the go-to site for artists across the world. Its inclusion in the Meta family of sites means that Facebook and Threads integrate easily it into their posts, increasing its reach even further. In short, by putting your works on Instagram you give your art the ability to show up almost anywhere.

Increases Exposure

This makes it easy for someone to obtain greater exposure. By using hashtags in your descriptions, you make it easier for people to find, and even more so search engines. By putting it on a clearinghouse site you ensure more people can see it, even if it's accidentally. By networking with other artists, those exploring their links will eventually stumble across yours. When combined, this means that others are more likely to find you, making your job that much easier.

Networking

People tend to forget that Instagram was designed as a social platform first and foremost. This means that it can be used to network with other artists. This gives you several opportunities, such as networking with artists with similar styles, those in the same geographic area, or even those in the same industry. By increasing the number of artists that you are networked with, you also tend to increase those looking at your posts, which is exactly what you're looking for; fame may be fleeting but it can be useful while it persists.

Easy to Build a Following

For those who don't mind putting in a little work, it's not that hard to build a following. You just need to get the word out, get your link out there, and then network with other artists. In almost no time at all, you can build a sizable following in almost no time.

Marketing

Anything that can be used to show off your art is never a bad thing, and Instagram is great for that. By providing a centralized location for artists to show off their art, the platform gives artists a certain credibility: While the site doesn't vet its artists, those that are allowed to post are assumed to have maintained some sort of quality. More to the point, it provides a central clearinghouse for artists; someone looking for a particular style is more likely to find it. An enterprising artist can thus use the platform to put his art right where potential customers can find it.

Can Sell Your Art

You can take advantage of the networks and marketing to sell your art. The first step is to get potential customers interested in your art; this means that you need to put a link to your art where they can find it. Once the customer finds the link, you can show your art on various products to give them an idea of what it could look like when they purchase it. Just provide a link to where they can buy the art in its finished form or as part of a good-looking product, and you increase the odds of making a sale.

Provides More Opportunity

These features all give artists a number of great opportunities. It's just easier to find potential employers and clients, establish yourself as an artist, or even just sell your art. If you have something in mind, Instagram gives you the opportunity to do it but at a higher level than you could have without it.

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For artists looking at their art as a possible business, Instagram offers a wide range of possibilities. If you are serious about putting your hat into the ring and looking for potential clients, creating an account on Instagram could just be the thing to give your career a boost. However, be advised that the account should not be used as an art dump: Don't post something just to have something there; posting too much can be its own problem, especially if it's just the same as everything else you're posting.

Another thing to consider posting is your attempts at mimicking the style of famous artists. This is not to say that you should not post these attempts, especially if the art is good; however, try to limit how much of it you post. In an era where it's easy to duplicate the style of Jack Kirby and George Perez, showing that you can mimic their style is okay but should not be the majority of what you post. Post your own work in your own style for the best results. Instagram can be a great thing if used properly and well.