How to promote yourself as an artist

You just created some beautiful art. Great! Now it's time to get out there and market yourself as an artist.

Promotion is a key factor of being an artist; you can be the most talented artist in the world and have people not know who you are. By promoting yourself, people outside your inner circle can learn who you are and where to purchase your work. So, what does it mean to promote yourself as an artist? What does it include? Here are some of the best practices when marketing yourself as an artist.

Social Media

Know your audience. See what social media platforms your target demographic uses (i.e. Instagram, Facebook, Tik Tok) and get online! I suggest creating a separate public account or a business account. This will help with privacy, your branding, and it’ll look more professional. With a business account, you can gain access to analytics, see which of your posts people like most and cater your future posts based on audience engagement

Online Engagement

You likely already have experience with online platforms, but now it's time to step it up. Try a posting schedule where Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays all have different content. Some posts you can try are sneak peeks of a new art piece you are working on, progress photos of your art, your completed work, your favourite materials (these can be videos), your workstation, an art event, and more! Your posts will depend on what you want your artist brand to be.

Remember to write something engaging to go with your images and videos when you post them. Find ways to relate to your audience; find a connection. Successful artists are able to connect to their audiences through emotion, experience, passion, and memories. You can do this too by letting people know what you are doing (i.e. painting, drawing, sculpting) and why.

And remember to like and reply to people who comment and share your posts! This can go a long way in building a relationship with art lovers.

Art Organizations

Find somewhere you can market your work and your skills in a physical setting. Try joining a society, gallery, art fair, competitions, or organization!

These will help you get yourself noticed. There is no better way to step outside your comfort zone and get noticed than art organization and public events. Art events like fairs or competitions can help you build a reputation and gain attention on an international level. Try looking up local and international events. However, be aware that event and organization submission guidelines will be affected due to COVID-19. It is important to be safe when networking with others and always bring your business cards.

Website

The process of creating a website isn't as complex as you may think. There are many websites that offer user-friendly website builders to help you navigate and create to your desires. Some offer free services and others are paid. It’s up to you! So, go out there and build your own website. Just remember it should reflect your brand.

A website is a digital version of your online portfolio. It is where people from social media and art organizations go to learn more about you or where people will purchase a piece of your artwork. So be sure to answer who, what, where, and why when completing your artist story.

Be sure your site only includes your best work. It may be hard to narrow down your pieces, but having too many can also throw off some visitors. Your best work should promote who you are as an artist, your brand, and your skill. So, go on and get out there! Let people know your work is for sale and how to reach you.

Promoting yourself as an artist can be hard; it’s a constant learning process. Be patient, be yourself, be consistent with posts and your brand, and HAVE FUN!

By Marlene Ferhatoglu