Do you have an Instagram for your artwork yet?

If not, you should! Even if you don’t intend to sell your art, Instagram is a great way to connect with other artists.

But why you should have an Instagram isn’t what I’m going to talk to you about today.

Instead, I want to share three EASY and quick ways to get your art seen on Instagram.

These three ways I use and they have been working for me!

Participate in an Instagram art challenge

Have you seen those art challenges on Instagram where there’s a prompt list and hashtag to use? (pss..I have an art challenge that’s happening now!)

Doing these challenges and using the corresponding hashtag will boost your Instagram and get your art seen because not only will that hashtag be “small” enough to get seen, others are also using it and visiting the hashtag.

BONUS TIP: Interact with others who are doing that challenge by commenting on their entries.

Create sharable and saveable content

You have an Instagram to share your art, I know. But if growing your following and/or selling your art (either now or later on) is important to you, you should create content that your audience wants to see.

What will your audience be willing to share to their stories or tag their friends in the comments? What kind of content will they “save” (the flag icon on the bottom right of posts).

You should focus on “shares” and “saves” because this is what Instagram wants. Likes and comments aren’t as important as shares and saves.

Ask yourself these questions. If you don’t know, ask your audience! Post to your Instagram stories a poll or “quiz” to ask them what they want to see more of on your Instagram.

Some of my posts that get the most shares and saves are: videos of my painting process and carousel posts with art tips.

BONUS TIP: When you post, ASK your audience to share to their stories or tag a friend who’d like your artwork.

Comment genuinely on others’ posts

Don’t just post and then leave Instagram. Instagram doesn’t want you to just post and then leave. They want you to engage with others on their platform!

If you post and ghost, that will limit your reach.

Instagram is for creating relationships and a community. Not to just blast out photos of your art and then leave.

You can’t create a community or genuine friendships if you never engage with others.

So, ask yourself who you want to reach on Instagram. Is it other artists? Is it people who’d purchase your art? Both?

Now, research hashtags THEY would use. Not necessarily what you would use.

Go to those hashtags and find people with who you want to connect. Comment on their posts GENUINELY. Don’t ask for them to look at your Instagram. Don’t just say “love this” or comment with just some emojis. 

Do this every day and over time, you’ll create some amazing friendships! You’ll see your engagement and the following increase.

BONUS TIP: You can also DM people! A way I like to do this is to go to their stories if they have any. Then “react” (click the send message box at the bottom of a story to see the emoji reactions) to a story of theirs. You can also send them a DM instead of a reaction. This will create conversations in your DMs which is an amazing thing to do!

Bottom line: the more you engage with others, the more they will see your posts and stories. The more content you create that is sharable and saveable, the more reach you’ll get.

Will you try one of these? Reply and let me know!