It’s easy to fall into the trap of using social media tools to issue sales pitch after sales pitch, or just to advertise new posts on your blog without adding anything else of value.
There is no doubt that social networking Websites can be used effectively for this, but only when used in conjunction with other methods to help build trust from your visitors. And, as an artist looking for sales, people need to trust you in order to feel comfortable buying your work.
Social media is all about engaging people and having conversations rather than just self-promotion alone!
So where do you start?
Tempting though it may be to sign up for every social Website you can think of, consider carefully which networks will give you the most exposure in your field and stick to one or two to begin with.
The two most popular social networks are, without a doubt, Facebook and Twitter. Given their size and reach it is highly likely that there will be users who share your niche that you can converse with, which is a huge advantage to you. But whether you decide to set up a Facebook page or devote your marketing time to Twitter, make sure you are consistent and regular in your updating.
Your initial main objective should always be to forge relationships and add value to conversations, rather than to directly sell your work. After all, if you were meeting a new group of people for the first time, you wouldn’t start the conversation by asking them to buy your art!
Online etiquette aside, as well as sharing, conversing and giving advice to your peers, it’s also worth thinking about ways you can use social media in different ways. Generally speaking, people are far more likely to share videos than they are articles – so why not share your working practice on YouTube?
Social media is a vital tool in self-promotion and as with anything new, it may take some trial and error to get it right. But follow the tips we’ve outlined and you should be well on your way.
Remember, the research from the top brands clearly shows that people who ‘like’ your page or are ‘followers’ are more likely to become buyers.