Hashtag Happy

Are you getting tired of talking about Instagram? I hope not, because there is so much opportunity on this channel, and I want to help you take advantage of it in support of your art business. This week we're digging into one of the best features for discovery (and being discovered) – Hashtags. While several social platforms use hashtags, I would argue that they are the most functional and beneficial on Instagram. The trick is how you use them and which ones you use. You could turn anything into a hashtag, but I want to help you categorize these "keywords" and pick the best for your content. You need to balance relevance and popularity so people will see your posts when they search or follow that hashtag. Below I've outlined the different types of hashtags you might use so you can better brainstorm with each post what to include to increase your exposure on Instagram. #LetsDoIt

Ask the Artists: Brand Voice

Last week we talked about how to arrive at the right brand voice for your creative business. Hopefully those tips helped you think more deliberately about how you want to sound and what you want to say. Of course, examples can make these concepts more concrete, so I asked a handful of local art brands to share three words they would use to describe themselves, and here's what I got. Feel free to post your's below, and I'll add you to the list.

What's Your Brand Voice?

To promote your art as a professional, you need to talk about it in a way that’s engaging, enticing and fitting for your brand. For many artists, the question of brand voice may seem moot because you are your brand, so can’t you just be yourself? Yes, and no. Just like you don’t share every detail of your private life with customers, your brand as an artist may be a slight variation on your everyday self. Ideally, your brand is true to who you are, what you value and how you view the world, but with a filter for relevance and professionalism. For handmade  businesses that try to represent more than just the maker, its even more important that you have a shared brand persona so your whole team knows how to represent the company. If you haven’t taken time to think through your voice, I highly recommend this exercise. It doesn’t have to take long, and it should help guide you anytime you’re staring at a blank marketing plan. Moreover, who else is a better expert on your brand than you? Let’s dive in!

How Do You Create Social Media Content?

My first of several seminars this month was a success! Lots of information was shared and excellent questions were asked. One specifically stood out as something I should give a little more attention to because I imagine many of you are wondering the same thing. We’ve talked about where to post and how often. We’ve discussed best practices for posting, but when it comes to sitting down and creating social content, how do you get started? For some of us, this comes naturally. We’re always keeping an eye out for what would make a good post (occupational hazard). The good news is, you too can learn this mindset. With the right inspiration, tips and tools, creating Social Media content can be a breeze (or at least a lot easier than it has been). Just as many of you see opportunity in a blank canvas, I’d like to help you see the same in a blank Social Media calendar!

How To: Artist Headshots & Portraits

As an artist or maker, the most important thing is getting word out about what you create. You need people to see your pieces to entice them to buy or hire you for a commission. But that doesn't mean that you as the master behind the work aren't important. People are far more likely to care about handmade when they know more of the story that you have authored. Your work exists because of you, and plenty of people will want to know you. So the question to consider is whether or not you're sharing enough about yourself with your potential supporters? They simplest way to create a personal connection in the online marketplace is a quality, representative portrait of yourself!