10 SHOCKING TIPS TO Get more engagement! Gain an audience! (YOU WILL NOT BELIEVE THIS!) (extremely emotional) (not clickbait) (Patreon)

Hi bestiecles! A fren requested some tips about gaining an audience/getting more engagement, i think i kind of brushed over the topic in this video, not really sure if i actually did.. i dont want to play the video again and listen to my voice lmaooo so i'll just go over the topic real quick here, hope it could help some of u!!

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1. Make sure you love and enjoy your process. 

This is more like a reminder to not hyperfocus too much on just getting followers or getting better engagement. If you put that first before your art, you'll eventually get tired, it will feel like a chore to do art, you'll get burned out. 

There will be times when you get so much likes on one post and you're going to be tempted to produce art similar to that and you'll end up just doing that certain style/kind of art. It's okay to cater to you audience and make the art they like from time to time but please make sure that you're still in touch with what you love and enjoy making.

2. Post consistently and make a schedule. 

Instagram's algorithm is so unpredictable, it really sucks toe big time now. Sometimes your posts will not get on top of your followers' feeds so they won't be able to see it, which directly affects your likes/comments count. 

Posting consistently and having a schedule for your posts gives you a better chance to get on top of that feed compared to posting just once or twice a month. 

I know some of you are still in school or have too much workload or are just busy in general and it's hard to make art you can post butttt you can always prepare filler posts like:

• behind the scenes 
• painting process
• that black and white painting turns to colored painting trend
• other trendy reel challenges!
• work in progress shots
• your work station/studio
• cute/aestheticcc pictures of your materials/space

These are not so time consuming to prepare, like when you're painting, you can easily take a couple of pictures of your workspace with your wip on your desk, stuff like thattt and that's already one post for you! 

About two or three years ago, I literally make so much art every weekend that I was able to post 5 times a week but now that i'm branching out, managing my store and patreon, i only have time to do three posts a week. I usually do one finished painting, a wip and a reel during Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.

Also make sure you regularly visit your insights page on instagram which will show you the times and days your followers are active, that's usually how I decide what day/time to post.

3. Be friendly with other artists.

Having artist friends is super beneficial, you guys can compare notes, ask for tips, do collaborations. You can introduce their art to your audience and you can do the same for them!

And honestly I've never really had a bad encounter with an artist before and I found the instagram artist community super welcoming so just shoot your shot! Message them! The worst they can do to you is not reply lmao

also??? i am an artist?? and a fren??? so??? u can always ask me or talk to me about art stuff?? and i will always ask u guys for tips bcos im thick skinned like that

4. Utilize your instagram stories

When you don't have time to regularly post, another way to make your followers remember you and your art is through ig stories. During my non-posting days, I update frens on my stories with behind the scenes or snippets of my process or wips.

Not only that, you can also use your ig stories to make friends, ask questions, make polls! It's the quickest way to connect with your followers and also the easiest way to help them remember your account if the algorithm screws you over by not showing your posts!

5. Use hashtags.

BUT NOT TOO MANY! I keep my hashtags short and relevant. Make sure you're using the right hashtags for your art. Use hashtags that describes your art and your style. Do not use over 20 because I remember back then people were saying that the algorithm will think you're a spam bot and they usually shadowban spambots, which makes sense, so I limit my use of hashtags.

Also! Post your hashtags RIGHT AFTER you post your art or write it with your captions! don't delay it. 

6. Questions in your captions

Sooooo this one is kind of like proven and tested (by me) lmao asking questions in your captions really help with engagement, because instagram obviously favors those with more likes/comments. So questions=answers on comments sections=gives you more chances to get shown on feeds and explore page.

BUT one of my problems with this is... i'm kinda shy.... and it's also embarrassing if no one responds to your questions but hey this is why we're here! Just call out to our community section and ask for a comments help LMAO 

we have NO (ZERO) shame here. no judgment from any of us especially me! Just call out besticle, I WILL SPEED WALK, RUN, CRAWL STRAIGHT TO YOUR COMMENTS SECTION

7. Reels reels reels

This is also another proven method! Instagram put out a video months ago saying they're going to focus more and prioritize videos, they wanna be tiktok so bad, besties. So reels are a good way to reach more audience. You can make painting/drawing reels, or like a before and after of your art, packing orders, or other popular art reel challenges! 

I'm not a reels expert (yet haha) so i'll go back to make a reel making tips when i'm getting enough numbers hehehe

8. Dont be afraid to spice it up

Make other content you're good at! Sometimes you get a little bored of your usual art schedule (and your followers might be too) so i wouldn't really hurt to try other stuff from time to time. This could also help you reach another audience!  Some of my favorite artists like tinayuart posts her beautiful cakes other than her usual sculptures! 

I also try to go other routes too, not too far from my usual stuff. I'm still trying augmented reality, a little of 3d modelling now (it's so hard, the fuck!) 

9. Host or join challenges! 

You can host your own dtiys or make your own prompt list. This way, you can reach more audience when other artist join your challenge.

Like the questions thing, I‘m so scared of hosting my own thing because I feel like no one will join dklakfh so I promise to u guys, put me under oath!!! Just call for help on our community section and I’ll join your art challenges/prompt lists!

You can also try challenges hosted by other people! Other DTIYS! Different art styles! Draw this again (redrawing your past works), left hand challenge, 100 heads challenge, art vs artist, the six fanarts thingy, join inktober or other prompt lists for every month.

10. Branch out.!

Widen your audience by making art accounts on twitter, tumblr, TikTok, youtube or other social networking sites! 

Tumblr… I’m not really sure if it’s still helpful, it wouldn’t hurt to make one!

Tiktok is great for trendy art challenges or art processes.

Twitter, besides instagram, is my favorite. The artists there are super supportive, and also it’s quite easy to reach more people because of retweets! This year I’m really gonna try posting more on Twitter.. it’s just a bit hard juggling multiple accounts lmao 

YouTube is another great art platfrom but it just requires extra work filming and editing videos. But I’ve heard other artists say before that vlogging helps a LOT especially when they start making patreon. 

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I know it’s hard to navigate social media world as an artist, I know how it is bestiecles, I literally started with no knowledge of any of this. Sometimes getting followers come naturally, sometimes you need to do extra work and you’ll need extra help. But I hope that ultimately, you don’t forget to enjoy doing art and be excited about what’s to come! 

And also know that I’m here if any of u frens need help, I’ll try my best and share everything I know!!

That’s alllll..

Lof u all

thank you if u read all of this lmao 

take care

ty ty ty