Social Media Archives

Technology Is Your Colleague in the Studio with Iris Scott (ep. 203)

Artist Iris Scott discusses her journey with social media, including how it has changed since she began her career and how she now navigates platforms like TikTok and advertising.

Iris also shares insights on overcoming doubt, using AI in her creative process, and balancing her art with motherhood. She touches on her time in Taiwan, which was key to her development, and how her income breaks down between originals and reproductions.

Technology Is Your Colleague in the Studio with Iris Scott (ep. 203) Read

The Art Biz ep. 172: Stop Incessantly Feeding the Social Media Algorithms with Kamal X

It’s easy to chase the algorithm these days. It’s more difficult to remain true to yourself and your art.

Kamal X started a collection of photographs after the murder of George Floyd—risking his health at the height of Covid because, he says, the moment was bigger than him. Kamal wants you to remember the light you have inside you, and that you can visualize and create something bigger for yourself.

The Art Biz ep. 172: Stop Incessantly Feeding the Social Media Algorithms with Kamal X Read

The Art Biz ep. 154: The Key to Success on Social Media with Cathy Nichols

While not everyone will be interested in your art, you can choose to focus on those who genuinely love your work. To embrace what is rather than wishing for it to be different.

Cathy Nichols went from 5,000 to 107,000 Instagram followers in 3 years by researching who they were and why they were following her. She shares valuable insights about how she continues to grow her art business with joy and authenticity.

The Art Biz ep. 154: The Key to Success on Social Media with Cathy Nichols Read

The Art Biz ep. 130: 4 Video Mistakes Artists Keep Making with Zach Wolfson

Whether you’re chasing the Instagram algorithm for reels, streaming live on YouTube, or pulling together a video bio for your website, it’s more valuable than ever to make good videos.

It hurts to admit that even bad videos play better on social media than a static photo, but as long as you’re going to the trouble to make a video, why not make it better?

The Art Biz ep. 130: 4 Video Mistakes Artists Keep Making with Zach Wolfson Read

abstract watercolor with blues, gold, orange, light red and textural black marks—the central image surrounded by a black arch ©artist Sara Schroeder | on Art Biz Success

The Art Biz ep. 119: Growing Beyond Being an Instagram Artist with Sara Schroeder

For more than a year, Sara Schroeder has been using tools like journaling and the Enneagram to discover more about herself and explore where she wants her work to go.

Now she wants more. She knows there is more than posting and looking for sales online, so she has stepped back and reassessed. She’s ready for a brave step.

In this episode of The Art Biz, we talk about how she’s approaching her business these days, how her Instagram strategy has evolved, and how she is preparing for her upcoming solo show.

The Art Biz ep. 119: Growing Beyond Being an Instagram Artist with Sara Schroeder Read

Pastel drawing of crashing ocean waves in blues, greens, and grays

The Art Biz ep. 67: Growing Your Art Business on Instagram with Jeanne Rosier Smith

So many artists have benefited from Instagram. This isn’t news. It comes up frequently in my interviews, and it’s so ubiquitous that I haven’t been able to pinpoint a specific lesson to devote an entire episode to.

Until now.

Jeanne Rosier Smith’s success on Instagram wasn’t random. She made a conscious decision to focus on using Instagram to grow her following and expand her art business, and it has paid off. As you’ll hear, she has been focused and deliberate in her use of the platform, while also allowing a great deal of flexibility in the process.

It’s important to Jeanne that using Instagram is, above all, fun.

In this episode, I talk with Jeanne about the strategies she has used for the past 3 years to build a following of 37,000 and reach the 6-figure mark in sales for each of those 3 years.

You’ll also hear about how she maintains good relationships with her 8 galleries even while selling on Instagram, and why she doesn’t schedule posts in advance.

The Art Biz ep. 67: Growing Your Art Business on Instagram with Jeanne Rosier Smith Read

The Art Biz ep. 62: Facebook Live Group Art Shows with Brooke Harker

Fun isn’t a word used very often when we think of marketing or business tasks. Still, it’s one of the criteria I suggest considering when you’re thinking about whether to add something to your busy schedule.

When Covid hit, Brooke Harker threw her fears about doing live video out the window and created Saturday Night Live Art Shows—because she thought it would be fun. It started with just her, but quickly grew to a core of regular artists, with new ones jumping in each week.

I wanted to talk with her about it because these weekly events are open to any artist who wants to show off their art or, perhaps, the art that you collect. In fact, as you’ll learn, the rules are, well, … What rules? This could be a great way for you to connect, practice your video (because imperfections are encouraged), and maybe even sell some art.

Brooke and I discuss:

What happens during SNL Art Shows and how you can participate. They’re 100% free!
How participating artists have benefited from being part of SNL Art Shows.
The 3 questions Brooke uses to prepare for live video.

And so much more. Listen and read the detailed notes.

The Art Biz ep. 62: Facebook Live Group Art Shows with Brooke Harker Read

Why Hacking Social Media Isn’t The Answer (and Why I Won’t Teach It)

Social media will not fix your broken marketing.

There aren’t enough friends, likes or followers that can help you when you have a weak foundation.

Plenty of online marketers will tell you how to hack social media, by which I mean they will teach shortcuts and tricks for “getting” followers and likes on social media.

There’s nothing wrong with learning this information, but I won’t teach it because I find it terribly uninteresting and, ultimately, unhelpful to the longevity of artists’ careers. The online marketers do it well, so I leave the job to them.

Out of Whack

For most artists, hacking social media is out of alignment with their values and it shows. Many artists are suspicious of gimmicks and tricks that reek of blatant self-promotion.

You can’t make something work for you if it doesn’t jive with who you are as a person.

Let’s start by examining the word “get” as in “getting” new likes and followers. It’s grabby. It’s icky.

What if, instead, we embrace the word “attract,” as in I’d like to attract more fans and followers.

If you agree that this approach is bundled in better energy, stick with me.

This Is More Valuable

Why Hacking Social Media Isn’t The Answer (and Why I Won’t Teach It) Read

How Do You Use Video? (Curious Monday)

Loyal reader Debra Disman says that she would love to see how artists are using video.

Please tell us!

What is the focus/subject of your videos?

How long are they?

Where do you post them?

What kind of results do they bring you?

Do you have help or do you do it yourself?

What have you learned about the process?

Feel free to add a link to your video.

Don’t do video? Share your favorites in a comment.

How Do You Use Video? (Curious Monday) Read

Roseate Spoonbills painting by Allison Richter

Do You Reveal Your Politics? (Curious Monday)

Things are heating up in the presidential race and online.

And it’s getting nasty. One client asked me how I deal with reading about it all in my Facebook feed and I said, I don’t. I really don’t read my feed much. It’s too upsetting. I can connect with my students and clients through our private groups, where the energy is much more positive.

What’s right for you?

Do you take a stand publicly for your political opinions? (You don’t have to tell us what they are.)

Where do you draw the line?

Do you find yourself getting trapped in political conversations on social media?

Do You Reveal Your Politics? (Curious Monday) Read

The Art Biz ep. 130: 4 Video Mistakes Artists Keep Making with Zach Wolfson

The Art Biz ep. 62: Facebook Live Group Art Shows with Brooke Harker

Why Hacking Social Media Isn’t The Answer (and Why I Won’t Teach It)

Out of Whack

This Is More Valuable

How Do You Use Video? (Curious Monday)

Do You Reveal Your Politics? (Curious Monday)

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