Before I start, let me clear the air.
This is not one of those posts that will teach you to get followers quickly.
This post is specifically for people who want to grow their Instagram accounts and get more followers as an artist.
If you’re a budding artist just starting on Instagram (or you’ve been there for some time now), and you really want to grow your reach because you love doing what you do and you want your art to reach more people, then this post is just for you.
Before you read this post, please read my detailed tutorial on how to get noticed as an Artist on Instagram. You will find it really helpful!
And also check out how to sell your art on Instagram.
I created an Instagram account sometime in December 2016. But I only really started posting sometime around June 2017. I built my following from scratch.
It took me 2 months to touch 10K followers.
And once I hit that mark, getting to 100K was easy peasy because it was a sort of snowball effect.
Growing to 1K is much harder than growing to 10K. This is a fact.
There are a lot of tutorials online that share tips on growing your Instagram account. But most of them may not work for you because youβre an artist.
You upload art.
And by doing this, we fall into a separate category.
I was able to grow my Instagram account very fast to 180K followers in a span of 6 months.
But back then, the algorithm was very different. It was much kinder to artists.
So, the tips I’m going to share with you are specifically written for traditional artists/illustrators/comic artists, and so on.
Let’s begin.
This post includes affiliate links. If you do decide to purchase something, I will make a commission at no extra cost to you. For more information, please read my entire Privacy Policy here.
How to get more followers on Instagram as an Artist
1. Picking a niche for your Instagram art account
Now, not many people tell you this, but as an artist on Instagram, you need to have a particular theme going on.
You need to know who your target audience on Instagram is.
You may ask, why?
Because not everyone is going to like what you make, it’s as simple as that.
Iβve blogged before, so Iβve had my very own website, and Iβve tried my hand at quite a few things. Let me tell you one of the major factors that definitely aided my growth on Instagram – A niche.
My comics were 90% about hair. So, Iβve attracted a crowd that loves to look at comics about curly hair/straight hair.

Therefore, having a niche establishes you as an expert in that particular field, so whatever you do, donβt stray away from your path too much.
I know Comic Artists that focus on just parenting or just mental health, and they do very, very well.
Why?
Because they attract an audience that is interested in that one particular thing, the minute they realize that youβre an expert in that field, theyβre going to want to log onto Instagram almost every single day. They will look forward to each post you publish.
They will also tag their friends who have the same interests.
This helps your account grow so much faster!
So, decide what it is that you want to really talk about in your art/comics.
Feel free to mix it up but keep it all relevant.
For example your niche could be:
- water color art
- comics
- kawaii cute art
- beautiful characters drawn in Procreate
My target audience on Instagram generally are women between the ages of 18-35 who love laughing about the snippets I make about curly hair/hair in general.
As you can see, it’s very defined. No doubt, there are a few men in my following or children who love reading my comics. But I’m talking about the majority here.
Pick your niche.
Know exactly what topic you are focusing on and have a theme.
Here are some examples of a few niches:
For instance, take @bichi.mao who only makes comics about cats:

Or take @akaimochi who only draws cute kawaii art:

Or take @iraville, who loves to use watercolors that center around autumn and cozy things.

Get the drift?
Take your time to find out what you love drawing about, and once you have your niche defined, you’re ready to grow your following!
2. Nailing your Instagram Profile
1. Choose an Instagram Username
A name is very important.
Aside from your actual name, your username will help people identify with your art series or comic series. Therefore, choose a name that is suitable for your niche.
I chose Stray Curls because people will think of hair the second they read it.
It was @maryangela1992 before. Not very attractive, to be honest. It looked amateurish. And changing the name definitely helped me attract a more stable audience.
You can even keep your username as your own name – it’s very authentic.
2. Upload a relevant Profile Picture
As an Artist, it is imperative that you let everyone know who you are the minute they see your profile.
The best way to do that is to have an illustration/artwork as your profile picture. Showcase your style in your profile picture. If possible, draw a character that either resembles you or will feature in your posts multiple times like how @saven.art does.

This is so that your character becomes recognizable, and people can identify immediately that itβs you. It helps you stand out and become more authentic to the world.
Now that youβve changed your profile picture letβs move on to the bio.
3. Use your full name in your bio
When people see your art and are intrigued, the first thing theyβll do is follow you.
Sometimes, however, they may be more curious and jump over to your profile to check if youβre legit. Because art is re-posted a lot and people copy and paste other peopleβs art on their own profiles, so your followers will want to know if you are the original creator.
Upon seeing your profile, they should confirm that you are indeed the creator.
This is why you must write your full name. If you want people to love your art, they need to understand that you created it! That’s what makes it so unique.
You.
People will feel more connected to you when they know that a human being is behind the art account.
4. Craft an Instagram Bio that speaks about your personality
Instagram doesnβt really let you add a new line for each sentence. It clumps it all together and makes it look very amateurish.
So, open your Notes app.
Any app will do.
And type a nice, well-thought-out bio. You have about 150 characters to your advantage, so use it well. Infuse it with your personality and write something that makes you, you. I use emojis because they’re more colorful than bulletin points.
The first thing youβll want to mention is that youβre an artist.
You can specify which type if you want to.
5. Use your link wisely
Instagram lets you add 1 link.
This can be to your Patreon account/website/other social media. It helps Instagram identify that you are a valid entity and not just a spam account.
Apart from this, you can also use Link Tree. This is a link to a page where you can upload more links. Many people use this, and it’s beneficial if you want to showcase all your links. I choose not to use Link Tree because I like to give my followers just one thing to focus on.
So I keep switching between links to my shop/website.
6. Use Highlights to get the most out of your profile
Instagram’s recent feature of adding highlights to your Profile makes it easier for people to navigate your profile and understand you better. You can use the Highlights Section to show a little bit of you and the links you want people to visit.
Here was mine when I used to make comics:
Here is one amazing profile that I love by @ohaisandy:

She not only uses her Carrd.co to showcase all her links, but she uses cute little icons to highlight the most important parts of her profile.
3. Using the Instagram Business Platform
1. Convert to a Business Profile
Iβve been asked a lot whether converting to a business profile is useful, and yes, it is.
You will get access to critical analytics that will help you determine when to post and what to post.
Instagram Analytics will show you the days and times that your posts do extremely well. And based on this, you will understand when to post.
Knowledge is the key to success.
By knowing which day and time my audience was most active, I changed my time of posting. I started posting at 5:00 pm every day, and it dramatically upped my game. If I was gaining 100-200 followers normally, Instagram Analytics helped me gain 1000 followers daily.
Please note: that this was back in 2017 when it was really easy to gain followers.
Not only this, but the second you convert to a business profile, a βContactβ button will appear on your profile. Make sure you put in your email address.
Because this will help you land commissions.
People who love your art/comics will want to get in touch with you and work for them.

Most people turn away when they see they cannot email you.
Not everyone is comfortable typing out long DMs (Direct Messages).
2. Create a Facebook page
If youβve not done this already, youβre missing out on a lot of followers.
Create a Facebook page.
It should have the same name as your Instagram Username.
Connect your Facebook page to your Instagram account. This helps Instagram understand that you are a genuine artist and youβre not just some spammy account posting other peopleβs pictures. This is the best way to get verified on Instagram.
Now that Instagram and Facebook are connected, youβre on the right track.
3. Allow people (who are interested in similar art) to follow you

Login to your account on your computer, and select the box that says βselect similar accountsβ This means that if people are following comic artists in your niche, your name will appear as a suggestion to them, and youβll earn more followers.
Woot woot!
4. Building a consistent brand on Instagram
Okay, we’ve nailed the basics. Now, it’s time to build consistency.
1. Have a consistent art style
If you are still finding your style, it’s okay. Take your time. Don’t rush it.
You can see how much my style progressed over time:

As you can see, it took me a while to find my art style.
And that’s totally alright.
It’s okay to experiment, and it’s okay to take your time. However, once you discover your art style, stick to it. Make more art. Your style will eventually change because you’re drawing every day. But it won’t change to such an extent that it’s not recognizable by your fans.
When people recognize your art, they will search for you because they’ll want to see more of your work. And by having at least 100-200 published pieces of art in the same style, you’re increasing your chances of being found.
If you’re looking for a good, inexpensive online class to take, please check out this one to help improve your comics.Β
2. Create a visually appealing theme
Now, Instagram is a visual platform. Being an artist, it can be tempting to do many things, but you will attract a lot of followers by having a theme. And a lot of people care about the theme and the loveliness of it all.
Pernille has a beautiful spread across her Instagram.

You can also check out her book here where she discusses how to draw and create beautiful Procreate art. I found it very helpful!
3. Take better photos (If you’re a traditional artist)
Now, if you’re a traditional artist that works with actual tools like pencils and paintbrushes, you need to up your Photography Game.
Instagram is a very visual platform.
If you donβt know how to photograph your art, youβre not going to gain traction or gain Instagram followers. The quality of your art is as important as your photos.
And it really helped me understand how lighting works and how to take better shots of my sketches. I highly recommend this class because good photos can make a huge impact on your audience and can be the difference between a 100 and 1000 follower gain for each photo you upload.
5. Tips for posting on Instagram – How to grow your Instagram account?
1. Post every single day
I cannot stress this enough, you guys.
Posting every day boosted my follower growth like crazy.
Instagram sees that youβre active and your posts are more widely shown.
Now, if your art takes you about 14-16 hours to make, and you are unable to post every day because you’re churning out 1 art piece a week, then that’s okay.
Post WIPs.
For example, @g_singh_b takes a couple of weeks to create one pencil sketch portrait.
Read his descriptions. He keeps his followers in the loop by describing the technique he’s using and the tools. Sometimes, he posts short videos to see his hand movement and how he applies pressure. But he constantly posts WIPs.

He has a very engaged following, and people look forward to his posts!
I posted almost every day for 6 months straight. i.e., I created a comic/post every single day for six whole months.
Once you’ve gained a good following and you feel you’re established, you can slow things down a notch and post a little less frequently.
2. Posting at the right time
The Instagram Analytics will help you understand which days your posts are doing well and the best time to post.
I used to post early in the morning but realizing that my audience is more active at 5:00 pm, I changed my schedule and noticed a huge spike in followers.
For me, Wednesdays and Thursdays are really optimum for posting, so I save my best comics for those days.
3. Spice up your posts
You need to be a little unpredictable and keep your audience on your toes all the time. I sometimes mix things up by posting a random illustration, or just a thank you note, or a blog post image. Post a photo of yourself once in a while or a photo of your workspace.
TIP: It’s easy to run out of ideas when you don’t keep track of them. Make sure you have a notebook where your write all your ideas down. That way, when you don’t know what to make, you can just browse your notebook.
4. Watermark your art
Copyright every single image you post on Instagram by watermarking your images. You may wonder why it’s necessary.
But your art is very susceptible to art theft. A lot of accounts like to post other people’s work. And they conveniently forget to tag the artist. These accounts have 200K or 300K followers, and by posting your art, they’re gaining more followers, and you’re gaining none.
So even if they don’t tag you, people who really love your work will search for your Instagram handle and hop on over to your account to follow you and see more of your work.
By watermarking your images, you are signing on to your artwork, claiming it’s yours.
5. Geotag your work
Geotag your work. Donβt put the exact location.
You donβt want everyone to find out where you live.
Just mark the city in which you stay. Since Iβm currently living in Bangalore, many people in Bangalore can find me because I use the geo-tag. These are the little ways you can boost your exposure in your own city.
6. Building relationships with other artists and your followers
I’ve seen a lot of artists just post their art on Instagram with a description.
#sun #photooftheday #likeforlike
Eh, wrong.
Just wrong.
Don’t even do that, yo.
Your followers are real people.
People who are taking time out of their day to see your posts. You want to connect with them. Because you want them to feeeeeeel your art. You don’t want just to shove your art in their faces and ask them to like it or follow you because you want followers.
Build relationships.
So, how do you do that?
1. Understand how comments work
Instagram judges how well your post does only in the first few moments.
And emoticons or anything less than 3 words is not considered a comment in Instagram’s Database. So, comments play a very important role in boosting your post and making it look popular.
If your post gets many comments within a few moments, Instagram realizes that your post is popular, and you will automatically rank higher in the hashtags you’ve used. Yes, it’s as simple as that.
Therefore, each post you create must have a specific call to action.
You can either:
Ask a question that is related to the post. Having them share an experience will help them write a comment.
Ask them to tag someone.
Ask them to comment.
Before you do this, make sure you share a small snippet of the day. People won’t really feel like writing a long comment if you don’t put something out there.
Sharing a little bit of your day or just a meaningful quote will encourage your followers to comment on your posts.
2. Respond to comments
Every comment is precious, and by responding to every comment at least in the first thirty minutes, you will double your engagement. It tells Instagram that youβre engaging, and there are loads of comments. So, keep replying for the first 30 minutes after you post.
People like it when you respond to their comments.
They feel encouraged to write on your posts.
And you will attract a more engaged audience each time you reply to comments.
Learn how to respond to negative comments – this is an important skill to have as an artist.
3. Go live
Okay, this was undoubtedly scary for me the first time. But I make it a point to go live once in a while. Especially when I hit a new target. I went live for the first time when I hit 20K. But I should have started at 10K.
Better late than never… right?
Anyway, going live will let your followers know that you’re indeed a real human being behind your art account.
Talk to them. Answer their questions. Build a relationship.
It really matters, especially in the long run.
Your followers will feel more connected to you and will look forward to your art.
There are loads of things you can do when you go live aside from answering questions. You can show them the behind-the-scenes of your workspace, or you could draw them a little something, or you could show them the tools you work with.
Get creative. π
4. Build relationships with fellow-artists
It’s very easy to sit on your little raft and row it all alone in the mighty ocean. But it’s even better when you’re not alone.
Follow artists you admire. But don’t expect a follow back.
I know a lot of people who follow people because they expect a follow back. And when they don’t get it in a day or two, they unfollow the artist. They’re only wasting their time.
So, do not, I repeat. Do not do that.
Follow a fellow artist because you love their work. That’s exactly what you’d expect from people who follow you too. You don’t want to be emotionally blackmailed by a new follower to follow them just because they are following you. Right?
Everyone wants to see work that they really love on their feed.
Once you’ve done that, start talking.
Start a conversation.
Build relationships.
Make friends.
Start group chats.
Get involved. Dammit.
5. Do collaborations with fellow artists on Instagram
This is an incredibly fun way to gain a huge audience and help your artist-friend do the same.
For instance, if you have 2k followers and your friend has 1k followers, you can suggest a collaboration. This collaboration could easily earn you 100 followers or more.
TIP: If you have 1K followers, and you notice that another artist has 200K followers, don’t suggest a collaboration. This goes without saying because the artist with 200K followers doesn’t have much to gain by collaborating with someone who has a 1K following.
It’s a one-sided gain, so try and find artists who can really benefit from your collaboration with them.
6. Comment and like generously
Aside from building relationships, this will also help you gain a few followers to grow your art account on Instagram quickly!
Comment on 5-10 posts every day. Don’t force the comment.
Write from your heart.
If you see a funny post, write how it made you feel. And if you see a post that stirs an ancient memory, talk about how it did that.
Or, if you want comments on your posts, you have to understand that what goes around comes around. Give back the love.
Share the love.

You are putting yourself on the map by commenting on other artists’ posts and engaging with people in your field. And this makes your account visible.
Now, when you post a comment on a fellow artistβs post, people who are commenting on that same post may see your comment. If they like what they see (added to your profile picture), they may click on your profile and see that you too are an illustrator/comic artist/artist and give you a follow.
7. Holding Contests and Giveaways
Every time you hit a new landmark, hold a contest or giveaway.
This is by far one of the best ways to increase your exposure and give your follower growth a much-needed boost.
If you don’t have anything to give away, you can do a free portrait or share something exclusive to the winner.
I normally do a free portrait.
When you hold a contest, remember that your post should have one and only one motive. The motive usually is to gain more followers.
So in the description, make sure you ask your followers to do the following:
- Follow you. (you gain more followers because the people who want to win a free portrait obviously like your style and will want to see more posts in your style)
- Like the photo. (This boosts the post because more likes boost your post’s popularity)
- Tag 2- 3 friends. (This increases the number of comments as more comments boost your post’s popularity and result in a chain reaction.) When people tag their friends, they will also want to enter the contest and win a free portrait.
Announce the day you are going to declare the results in the description. And when the day arrives, disclose the winner in the description by editing the caption and tagging the winner. Change the caption to “Contest Closed.”
Use relevant tags like #giveaway #contest #contestalert, and so on.
For more related tags to giveaways, you can read this.
8. Using the correct hashtag strategy
Okay, this little tip really helped me boost followers.
Now, when you’re starting, everyone will tell you to use the most popular hashtags.
Bad idea.
A popular hashtag like #art might have 361 million posts under it.

Whaaaaaat.
How do you have a chance of being found if you post your art in such a hashtag? Within 0.2 seconds, your post will be buried under a thousand others using the same hashtag.
Meaning, even if you manually visit that hashtag and scroll at the speed of light, you may not discover your post because there will be so many new ones being generated under the same hashtag.
So, the lesson here, kids, is to be reasonable with your hashtags.
Therefore, use at least 15 hashtags with just under 1000 posts. Be more specific. See the screenshot below:

For example: Look at the hashtags under 1000 posts above. They don’t have many posts under them. Use at least 13- 15 hashtags in this range.
Use about 12 in the range of 2000-3000 posts.
And the last 5 can be hashtags with a broad range like 40,000 to 50,000 posts.
Now comes the time-consuming bit: Monitoring your post after you post it.
After 15-30 minutes, see if your post climbed up to the Top Posts in the smaller hashtag range. If it did, you could start increasing your range to hashtags with 2000 posts. Get the drift?
If not, keep trying, or lower your range to 500-600 posts.
Basically, you need to make it to the Top Posts for a few hashtags that you use. The longer you stay in the Top Posts, the more likely you’ll be discovered. And the more popularity your post gets, the more likely it is that you’ll make it to the Top Posts in the hashtags (of the higher range).
Get it?
9. Focusing on Trending Topics
You have to understand that creating posts on trending topics is the best way to get people’s attention. I don’t do this often. But if there is a topic that everyone is suddenly talking about, you can jump on the bandwagon and take a quick ride to fame.
For example, when the famous Carrie Fisher passed away, many artists drew/illustrated her as a sweet token of love.
The Star Wars hashtags were used a lot because many people were searching for posts related to Carrie Fisher.
When people realize that you’re covering trending topics, they will look forward to your posts every time a major event happens because they’ll want to see your views on it.
10. Analyzing the competition
Another way to get on top of what works best on Instagram is to analyze your competitors.
See which posts do really well for them in terms of likes and comments. And make something similar along the lines of the same topic.
Now, don’t exploit this tip often because the quality of your posts will drop.
Do this very rarely. I’d suggest once in a month or once in two months when you need a quick boost.
TIP: Reading the most popular and liked comments is a very good way to know what people want and what they’re looking for. It may even give you new ideas to work with.
11. Use a Scheduling Program to make your description look neat and tidy
Now, if you’re directly posting to Instagram, it will be difficult to add a new line. Instagram squishes all the content in your description, and this makes it very difficult to read.
I used to use SmarterQueue to schedule all my comics and art.
Basically, this means that more people see your posts and fall in love with you.
Kaching kaching!
More followers!
Marketing is very important if you want to gain a good following and earn an income from that following. And I will be making a detailed post later on how to market yourself as an artist.
Conclusion:
I know I’ve written a lot, but trust me… there is a lot you can learn from posting every day on Instagram.
It’s not easy to implement all of these in just a minute.
But growing your art account on Instagram isn’t that hard – especially if you are consistent.
That’s totally okay.
Take your time. And build your brand.
Start implementing these tips. And I promise you; you will see a change in 2 months of doing this.
If you liked this post and found it useful, be a doll and click the share button below this post.
Did you find any tips extremely useful? Or do you have a tip to add to this long list?
Then leave a comment below!
Resources mentioned:
Courses for Artists
I highly recommend checking out Domestika’s Courses because they have courses on almost anything you want to learn, and they’re structured beautifully.
It’s very well organized, and its website is super fast. Their app is lovely too. You can download the classes and watch them offline, and the best part? Once you buy the course, you own it forever!
And if youβre using Procreate, here are some fantastic tools:
- 8 Grainy Brushes for ProCreate
- Character Drawing Toolkit for Procreate (This pack comes with free drawing tutorial worksheets!)
- 21 Custom Pencil Brushes for Procreate
Additionally, here are some posts to help you grow as an artist:
- How to draw without using a reference
- 10 things I wish I knew before becoming an Illustrator
- How to start digital art
- 7 ways to get back into drawing after taking a long break
- How to respond to compliments as an artist
- Does drawing increase creativity? Explained
- How to draw when you don’t feel like drawing – 13 easy ways
- How to get better at drawing (for beginners)
- How to find your art style when youβre a beginner artist
- 13 signs you were meant to be an artist
- How long does it take to learn how to draw? (Explained)
- How to become a full-time artist without a degree
- How to sell art and make money on Instagram without a website
- 13 drawing mistakes most beginner artists make
- 9 drawing books for beginners
- Fun drawing gifts for children under 10 years old
- 13 easy ways to make money online as an artist
- 13 reasons why people like drawing + drawing benefits!
- 13 Ways to be a more Confident Artist
this is amazing!!! loved it x
Hey Naina,
Thank you so much. So glad you loved it.
Lots of kisses,
Angela
Hi Angela,
For me, I don’t have a large follower base, but I started promoting my art by commenting to look at my page on art promotion accounts… I’m not really sure if that’s sustainable, but I’ll try to become like you lol. I also was wondering, since I had a phase in digital art, and I wanted to go back to traditional, would that work out well?
Hey Tanisha,
Don’t go for art promotion accounts. First of all, numbers aren’t everything. Why are you looking for followers? To get more clients? To gain more brand awareness? Once you know what you want, strategically post every single day. And do it in a consistent manner by sticking to one style. Either traditional or digital.
This should help!
Warm regards,
Angela
Thank you so much!!! You really areal a life saviour! Even if I may not actually succeed in what I want to do….. Thank you so much!!!
You’re most welcome Samhitha, I wish you all the best!
This guide helps me understand what my page is going to consist of. Even as a starter I want to know what help/expectations I am going to expect from this guide. This would be aimed at pretty much anyone who is willing to start an art page of some kind (even if itβs a clickbaity title). I feel like one of a few artists would offer this kind of help but I appreciate the help from this guide that I read and would consider it later on. This was really helpful and thank you β€οΈ
Hey Jaron,
I haven’t tried my hand in other fields except Instagram so I’m definitely not an expert. But all these tips are from my experience on this particular Social Media. And I want to be able to give back to the art community. I know how hard the initial days of an artist is, and we could all benefit from a little help. π
Thank you so much. And I’m glad you found it helpful.
Warm regards,
Angela
Thank you for this ?? Really useful tips. Very generous of you to give them out for free. ?
Hey Natasha,
No problem. I want to help as much as I can. π My main goal is to create a blog that is useful for artists (or creative people) of any kind.
Lots of love,
Angela
This may be the only helpful article Iβve ever read about gaining followers. Thank you ?
Hey Tania,
That means so much to me. :’) Thank you so much.
Lots of love,
Angela
Thank you sooo much for this.
You’re most welcome. π
Angela
Your blog is so inspirational and it’s a
real treasure for budding artists like me. I am surely going to try this and will come back right here after two months π
Hey Tim.toons,
Awwww, that is so sweet of you. That’s exactly what I want to build with this blog. Make sure you subscribe so you don’t miss any more tutorials like this. π
Lots of love,
Angela
Hi Angela!
I fell in love with your comics from the start and even more so after reading this TREMENDOUSLY HELPFUL blog.
I’m a young, traditional artist and currently am running an anonymous art page which has 12 posts up till now. I don’t exactly love the content at the moment which is the reason for the anonymity but I’d like to expand it’s reach as I find my art style.
Any advices for artists like me?
Also, I signed up with a company to paint for them for as long as I wish but they can’t pay me and can only help publicise my page. I would like to take it up as it’ll help me regularise my work and my style, but you suggested in another blog of yours that young artists shouldn’t work for free. I’m confused here.
Hey Ishita,
Thank you so much. I’m so glad you love the blog and find it helpful. It makes me so happy to hear that.
If you’re comfortable being anonymous, there’s nothing wrong. But in order to build connections and trust, you have to break out of your shell. It’s okay to keep experimenting till you find your style, but why don’t you let your followers in on that? You can grow with them. And you needn’t be bashful. See my earlier work, for example. It was pretty rubbish. Lol. But I continued to post and my followers saw the difference in my art. But then again, this is totally my opinion. π
Regarding the working for free thing, don’t. Are you gaining anything that is actually helping you? A lot of companies tell you that working for free is good because they’re “publicizing” or “promoting” your work and giving you “exposure.”
If they’re using these words, it’s only because they don’t want to pay you and waste money on art. And you should NOT encourage such behaviour. Remember, art is a means to earn money. Never, ever work for free. Draw up a contract, and ask for payment. If they refuse, then find someone else. It’s okay to wait.
Let me know if you have any other questions, and I’ll be more than happy to help.
Lots of love,
Angela
This is better than most courses/webinars/e-mail classes that I took from people claiming to sell you the moon and the stars and then just giving 5 vague tips, then saying Do this and you’ll be an Instagram sensation until midnight! Thank you, Angela, thank you so much! <3
Hey Ana,
I’m super happy that my post was able to provide you more content than most. It gives me a very satisfying feeling. π Thank you.
Hugs and kisses,
Angela
This is a very beautiful post… I loved every part of it.. although I have done a few of the ones you mentioned ( and not correctly I think hehehe) i am still struggling with building a solid account… But there is still so much more I can learn in which you said here!
Thank you very much for this!!
I will try and do these tipsβ₯οΈ
Lina
Hey Lina,
Ha ha, we’re all guilty of implementing tips halfway and then giving up. π
I’m super happy that you found it useful!
Lots of love,
Angela
Thank you for the feature Angela π
I actually learnt quite a few things from here. The blog was very helpful. Kudos to you. Keep up the great work π
Hey Jeff,
No problem. π It’s my pleasure. And I’m so happy you loved it.
Love from my pups to yours,
Angela
Thank you so much!!! This is really helpful! β€
I started last year (@funnyinmyheadcomics) but I don’t post regularly because I’m busy with my studies. This blog post will really come i handy! Thanks again!
Hey Phalguni,
Oh, the posting consistently really works wonders for growing your Instagram. π But don’t sacrifice your studying for that. There’s plenty of time to do that in your summer vacation. π
Lots of love,
Angela
It was very helpful, thankyou so much. I am sure I am gonna reread it several times in the future. Also, you are such a lovely artist and a sweeter human! I love you comics so much, but i mess them a lot since you seldom post them now. I love you. Keep up your good word! All the best for whatever you do!
Your* miss* work* sorry for the typos
Hey Zahra,
You’re so sweet, thank you so much. I’m taking a break from Instagram, due to the algorithm change and the fact I’ve got a new puppy. It’s never good to rely on one thing for too much. And I’m trying to build other sources of income. Just in case Instagram closes down one day. You never know…
I will continue posting eventually. π
Lots of love,
Angela
This is really helpful. I’ve been studying about this but everyone seems to give conflicting tips. Yours are very logical, will try try it out. Thank you!
Hey Zoey,
Thank you so much. And I’m really glad you found it helpful. π Let me know which tip worked the best for you.
Lots of love,
Angela
Hey Angela,
What a superb blog post, loved every bit of it! Bookmarked it and then went and read all the others π
I’m an ecologist who loves drawing wildlife, and I started an Instagram art account a few days ago. Was flailing and a bit lost, and saw this post just in time. And it was super a helpful, thank you! Can’t wait to try these out π
Hi Jessica,
Thank you so much. π I’m so glad you loved it. It’s difficult when you start. No path is easy. π
I wish you all the best! Your account sounds very interesting! π
Lots of love,
Angela
I love this! Not only helpful for artists, but also for other businesses. Iβm a hairstylist for curly hair and will implement your tips!
Hey Oryanda,
I totally didn’t think that it would be that helpful to other fields. I guess this post covers topics for any creative field! π That’s nice to know. π Thank you so much.
Lots of love,
Angela
Hi Angela,
Loved reading this post and I’m working toward implementing your suggestions with my account. However, I’m struggling to even get to 500 followers let alone 1k.
I saw some of your earlier posts and your reach was still insane. I also see accounts that have 50 posts with 3k+ followers. Although their work is great, I notice they don’t use that many Hashtags. How is this achieved?!
Hi Kiran,
Everything depends on the reach. Say they post about a conroversial topic, or even a famous account tags their post, they can reach a couple of thousand followers in just minutes.
I woke up one morning to a 3K follower boost because an account with nearly 300K follower count had featured my post.
Hashtags are important, but it’s totally your call if you want to use a lot or just 3-4. Using all 30 definitely improves your chances of being found. That’s mainly why I suggest doing so.
How many posts do you have? And what exactly is your theme about? Maybe, I could take a look and let you know.
Warm regards,
Angela
Hi Angela,
Thanks so much for your reply.
My account is @leftbydesign, and I started it as a lettering/calligraphy learning outlet.
After reading through your post above, I can see that I need to find my niche. My posts are mainly lettering challenges where I copy out a word or sentence, and lately I’m trying to make my own mini-series but I’m not posting everyday, or maybe not using the relevant tags/engaging online as much.
If there is anything else you can suggest I work on, I’m all ears!
Hello Kiran,
I just hopped on over to your profile. It’s lovely by the way. π
But there are a few things you can do. Aside from posting consistently, you can engage with your audience more. Talk to them, ask them their views, tell a story. A simple caption is no longer enough to reel your audience in. They need to know what made you choose that particular phrase or design. It’s the story they want! π
Also, post only 3 hashtags in your description.
And put the rest in the first comment.
I hope this helps.
Lots of love,
Angela
Hey Angela,
Thank you so much for taking time out to checking my profile π
I really appreciate your suggestions and will work on them!
Excited to read your next post. Take care!!
Kiran
Hey Kiran,
It was no problem at all. Happy to help a fellow artist. π
My next post will be a light read (very short) just for girls/women who love stationery. π
Is it something you’re interested in? (asking out of curiosity)
Lots of love,
Angela
YES!! Stationary f.o.r.e.v.e.r!! Haha *breathes heavily* ..I’m even more excited now π
Hey Kiran,
So happy to hear you say that! π A new post is coming today.
Lots of love,
Angela
Thank you so much for writing this! Iβve been coming back to this all weekend! Everything Iβve read about gaining followers really hasnβt been relevant for artists who want to develop an community. Iβm a recent college grad with a degree in art with no idea what to do with my skills, and this has really been a great guide and motivator to pursue my goals. Your blog posts are so helpful, please keep writing! Iβm taking notes! π
Hey Adrianna,
I know! When I started posting my art on Instagram, I was searching for an article that helped me gain followers with respect to posting art but I found close to none. π So, I decided to write one. I’m super happy that you found it helpful. <3 I'm going to keep writing for as long as it takes!
Lots of love,
Angela
Wow! Great tips!! Thank you so much, especially, for explaining a simple hashtag strategy. Bookmarked for future reference. And even as an older male, I like your art π
Hey Cameron,
I’m super glad you liked it! π And the fact that you’re male and love my art made my day. <3 Thank you so much.
Lots of love,
Angela
I think you have just taught an old dog some new tricks! I can easily see that you have a very giving heart for taking the time to share this information. All the best to you!!
Hi Joseph,
Thank you so much. ^_^ You’re very sweet. I know how hard it is as an artist to grow on Instagram. So I wanna help as much as I possibly can. I’m so glad you found this post useful.
I’ll be releasing more actionable tips soon so be sure to subscribe if you haven’t already. π
Warm regards,
Angela
Has your business of selling your art products increased as much as the number of followers on Instagram?
Is it worth it (business wise) to go through all the work and effort to increase followers on Instagram? One may get 100,000 followers, but if business does not improve a lot, is it worth doing?
Hi Sally,
I’m glad you asked this question. The reason why I wanted to grow my Instagram in the first place was to get constant and steady work. Now, all I have to do is advertise for commissions either on my Instagram story or post and I get over 25 requests. Basically, with just one post, I have enough work to keep me busy for a month. That’s what Instagram accomplished for me. π
I hope that answers your question. The engagement really matters, of course. All my posts have a constant theme, so my followers know what to expect from me.
Let me know if you have any further questions and I’ll do my best to answer them.
Warm regards,
Angela
Fantastic, super helpful information, presented in a fun and pleasant way. I have tried several of your suggestions in the last 2 days and have already seen a change! Cant wait to see what happens as I implement even more of these ideas!
Thanks
Thomas Webb
PS I found the link to this on Design Taxi if that info is of use to you.
Peace!
Hello Thomas!
Thank you so much. π I’m super glad the tips worked for you. And yes, you’ll notice a huge change. The biggest game-changer was posting everyday. I hopped over onto your Etsy Shop. And I love it! π Your art is so unique.
Warm regards,
Angela
P.S. Yes, that helps a lot!
What an amazing post. Gave me a possibility to look through my own page and see what I am doing wrong. However… I can’t really see what I am doing wrong other than not being able to post every day.. My page: Madebyamee, I do both digital and traditional illustrations. I am stuck at 300 followers and I have a maximum growth of 10 followers a day. I need to look into what I am to do to grow more rapid. Again.. That k you so much for an amazing blog post!!
Hey Anne!
Thank you so much. So glad you loved this post.
Unfortunately, posting consistently is very important in the beginning stage in order to grow. So try posting more regularly to see your follower growth rise.
Also, if possible, stick to one. Either traditional or digital. It will help build a consistent brand.
Ask questions. Talk about your life. What prompted you to draw that character. Maybe a book you read… then ask your readers what they’d like to see from you. Or mention how that one particular series inspired you to draw a centaur, for example. Ask them who is their favorite character. You have to really engage with your audience. Pretend you’re talking to your friend. It will help!
Let me know if you run into any snags, and I will try to help you out! Goodluck. You have a pretty page!
Warm regards,
Angela
Angela, Thanks for good tips π
Silly question I have,
What’s the reason that people (artists) use Instagram ?
I’d say people use it more for collaboration (with other artists or brands) ? or like a portfolio? – if not for web traffic…
Have a good day!
Hello Koko,
NO question is silly, love! And actually, it’s a very good question.
Artists use Instagram for one reason only. It’s very easy to gain followers, especially since art is trendy. It does even better if it engages with a teenage audience – mainly girls between the ages of 13-21.
Now, after I started using Instagram, I started gaining clients like crazy. I’d just put an image up saying commissions are open on my Instagram Stories and my inbox would be flooded with requests. So that’s one of the reasons artists use Instagram. To gain clients.
I have a post on how you can gain clients online right here. https://straycurls.com/easy-ways-to-get-clients/
But web traffic is kinda less, unless again they’re catering to women or a certain niche and creates cute products or fashion related products.
You basically have to find out where your audience lies and then go and get them!
Let me know if you have any questions. You ask great ones. π
Angela
Angela, THANK YOU for your response. I am going to give a GO to instagram for my other blog. It’s about food and very visual. I won’t expect page views from there but more for companies to discover me to collaborate. π
I love your blog design btw – keep at it, I will visit here agin π
Hello Koko,
It’s no problem at all. <3 Oh yes! Brands love to collaborate. Join Sway. They hold paid opportunities every week and send emails regarding the details. You can apply for anything that catches your fancy. They pay for blog posts, pictures on Instagram and so on. Do check it out!
And thank you so much for the compliment. <3
Lots of love,
Angela
Hey Angela,
Thia is so helpful… I was ocassionally posting only my craftwork on Instagram… since I want to start out as an illustrator
I’m going to be using a lot of thses tricks to put myself ‘out there’.
Cheers! Happy Sunday!
Hello Prachiti,
o0o0o0o0o0! You’re most welcome. π
Let me know how it goes. I’m sure you’ll do splendidly!
Lots of love,
Angela
I am a manga artist and have been pushed into this platform by a friend of mine. I had no idea what to do, and god how insightful your article has been! Thank you so much, and may I add that I have been an ardent follower of your comics?
Hello Priyanjana,
A manga artist!? That sounds wonderful! What is your Instagram Handle? I’d love to see your work! π
I’m so happy that you’ve found my article helpful. That’s the very purpose behind it! I really want to help people gain tons of exposure via social media. π
And yes, you may. You’re very sweet. Thank you for following me. <3
Lots of hugs,
Angela
Hi Angela,
This is the most helpful and informative post I’ve read regarding Instagram followers. Wonderful post! However, I had a question regarding hashtags.
You mentioned to post 12-15 hashtags that have less than 1000 posts starting out. I tried this for the first time yesterday, and after the 15-30 minute mark, I noticed several of my smaller hashtags were in the “Top Posts”. Even after several hours, I still have a decent amount in the top posts.
You mentioned if this is the case, that I can start using hashtags in the 2000 post range (from the small hashtag group). Does this mean that I should go back to that same post and get rid of the under 1000 hashtags and replace them with the 2000 range? Or are you saying in future posts I can start using the 2000 post hashtags for the smaller hashtag range?
Here is my instagram, just in case you need to take a look!
instagram.com/jessacreation
Thanks!
Jessica
Hello Jessica,
First of all, thank you for the lovely compliment.
No, once you’ve published the post, it’s done. Don’t go to edit the hashtags. Instagram knows it’s an old post and won’t promote it. You’ll have to experiment with the next post. So, to answer your question: Future posts.
And I just took a quick peek at your Instagram account. My… it’s absolutely lovely! I even saw a Dragonite. I’m a huge PokΓ©mon fan by the way. <3
Wishing you all the best!
Angela
P.S. Let me know if you need anything else and I'll be more than happy to help you out!
Hi Angela,
Thank you for the reply π And my pleasure! Your guide is so wonderfully detailed.
I appreciate the clarification regarding hashtags. I just have one more question I can think of; when is a good time to start using hashtags with more posts in the medium and broad hashtag range? So instead of using tags with 40,000 to 50,0000 in the broad range, when could I start using posts in the, say, 70,000 to 100,000 post range? I hope I’m making sense!
Thank you so much for the kind comment on my page π Great to see another fellow Pokemon fan <3
Thank you!
Jessica
Hello Jessica,
No problem!
And in answer to your question, you have to do your research. You can pick 2-3 hashtags to try out that are in the 70K to 100K range. And see how that fares. Do it for 3-4 posts. If it’s doing better than your previous posts, include more of those hashtags.
At the end of the day, it’s all trial and error. By noting what works, and what doesn’t you’ll grow steadily and quickly!
Warm regards,
Angela
P.S. PokΓ©mon rules! <3
Great information thank you for sharing this wonderful post.
Hello Rahul.
Thank you so much! So glad you liked it. π
Hi,
It is the perfect guide to archive the 100k and thanks for sharing wonderful article with us.
Thank you so much! I wish you all the best with hitting that 100K mark! π
Hey Angela,
So I’m a white guy with no hair, which means that if you were a super hero, I’d be your Nemesis. Just saying.
Thank you SO much for this report.
My webcomic (@ugly.sweater) had grown nicely on FB, but was stuck at around 25K followers on insta.
Your words really helped me figure out what I was missing, and what I’ve been doing right.
Totally agree that consistency and daily posting makes a huge difference.
However, with a wife, two kids and a full time corporate job, I find it challenging to be as consistent as I’d like, especially as my comic take time to prepare (10h+). I like your suggestion for quick content creation – need to plan ahead π
Wanted your thoughts on something – what do you believe the impact of “insta stories” is? Any suggestions (besides Live drawing sessions) of particular stories that create good engagement and increase reach? Do you also think it is important to have an up to date website as a brand reference? Thanks a ton for your thoughts.
Hey Brice,
You aren’t my nemesis. I bet you have hair on your arms and legs. That means, you can still join the Hair Club! π
Please forgive me for babbling, but this is going to be one long message.
Okay, here’t the thing. Instagram and Facebook are now owned by one company. Their algorithm changes (which happen quite frequently) produce small glitches which affect only a handful of people each time and it affects different people differently. It has nothing to do with the numbers.
So, make sure you aren’t affected by the glitch. Everytime you post, does your follower count go up or go down? If you are seeing that you gain 3 followers, but your number is only going up by 1 or 2, then you have been affected.
You may have to start a new account.
I reached 181K followers and the glitch affected me. I dropped down to 157K. I waited for a whole year for my account to get fixed. I tried reaching out to Support for over 3 months. No matter how much I posted or how much I engaged, it was of no use. People cannot see my posts and cannot follow me. They’re having issues even messaging me. It was very troubling. But I have started a new account day before yesterday. π And I’ve retained the same name. So it’s @straycurls
Why I’m telling you this? Because I want you to understand that Facebook/Instagram is not stable. They can suspend you anytime for no fault of your own. They can shut down or a glitch can affect your account.
You need a backup. You need to have your own Brand. No questions asked.
Do not rely on Social Media completely. Especially if you’re making money off of it. Have a back up. It’s important.
I was so scared of starting from scratch, but now I’m doing it all over again! π And I’m going to try my hardest to post everyday. With my Blog, I feel safe and secure that my Brand will never be washed off completely even if Social Media decides to cave in tomorrow. That’s my story.
Now, I totally understand that having a job, a family and so many responsibilities get in the way of posting. But might I suggest, making your sketches in advance? Keep a notebook of your ideas. And sketch them out all in one day. At least 10-12.
This will help you draw your comics faster. All you have to do, is flesh it out before posting. It will save you tons of time.
Regarding Stories, get online and answer questions. Ask your followers to ask you anything and then talk. This is by far the best form of engagement according to me.
I’m sorry I took long to reply to your comment. I wanted to give you a long, detailed answer.
Please let me know if I can answer any other questions and I’ll be more than happy to help. And your comics are super cool. You’ve just earned a new follower. π
Warm regards,
Angela
Angela, thank you sooooo much for the long and helpful reply.
I see what you mean regarding not relying on social media. It happened to me with Facebook. I built a following of 145K readers, then almost overnight I had difficulties reaching people, engagement dropped, etc. So I moved on to instagram. So I definitely relate to your experience. I am sure that the new straycurls account will quickly exceed the old one π
Love your idea regarding stories, and yes, I started putting together some sketches or templates that allow me to draw a bit faster. Also, I started thinking about one panel ideas rather than 4 panel ones, just to be able to always be able to push things forward once a week. Your comic definitely inspired me to go towards that direction.
Super happy to count you as another follower – will stay closely in touch.
Hugs!
Brice
Hey Brice,
145K is a huge amount!!! I’m honestly enraged that Social Media is treating us that way. Maybe, it’s all a gimmick to get us to start paying for ads. π
Yes, Stories are a wonderful way to connect! Time to time, you can share photos on your Stories too! Or even small videos of you drawing. You can hold a Live, to tell your audience what you use to create your comics, the brushes and things like that…
1-2 panel comic ideas is a great way to save time!!!
So glad I could help. Consider starting your own website. It’s a good way to not depend on social media completely.
Hugs and best wishes,
Angela
Thank you so much for this post! It’s only of the very few decent advices I have seen. I was already discouraged and saddened that my art account wasn’t going well but I was doing everything wrong specially with the hashtags thing, I guess using the most popular tags was what made me get creepy and spammy accounts trying that annoying method of following me just to leave in 2 days, ugh! I engage genuinely with fellow artists both huge and small accounts but I think doing this still got me people using my account to get a follow back then leaving, I only have 40 followers now and it’s very frustrating to see the number going down
Hello Miranda,
I’m glad this post helped you. Yes, growing on Instagram initially can be tough. But once you hit the 1000 mark, it’s very easy to grow from there. Don’t concentrate on the numbers. Its easier said than done. But focus only on your art and publishing pieces for yourself.
Use Instagram to watch yourself grow as an artist. Compare your new art to your older art. The followers will come eventually. As your art gets better, you’ll get more followers. Using hashtags that have few photos, are very important as that will help you grow faster!
I hope this helps you! <3
Lots of love,
Angela
Absolutely In-depth Article about Instagram !
You spoke about everything that has to do with Instagram. Great!
Yesterday i found you from Pinterest and now I found this from Google. Amazing!
Hey Dibakar,
Thank you so much! So glad you loved this post. π And yes, this is one of my top ranking posts on Google.
Warm regards,
Angela
Angela this is a great article for those people who frustrate for Instagram followers. Whether they are individual’s or brand. It really helps to build audience on Instagram. You cover all aspects about Instagram in this article.
Hey Mark,
It’s really hard to build an audience. I know this for a fact. I’m glad you found this post helpful! π
Hugs,
Angela
Hello Angela!
Really thankful for your share about the gaining followers on instagram. I currently only have 20+ people followers in my art account and I am not very good at increasing followers at all. I will denfinely do something about it and improve my artist & illustrator image! π
It all depends on how you post and how consistently you post. That’s pretty much it. Once you have a solid niche, just go for it!
Warm regards,
Angela
Hi Angela!
I just had a very quick question about your own account and follower growth. How well did your very first post do and how fast did you gain followers? Thank you so much for the tips, Iβm going to try to implement them in my own work!
Hey Jasmine,
2 years ago, Instagram was a lovely platform for beginners. After it got acquired by FB, there were a lot of algorithm updates. THe key to gaining followers is to post every single day or every once in 2 days. That’s one of the only strategies that works at this point.
Warm regards,
Ang
You’re the best ???
Thanks a ton!
Hey,i just really loved this article. thank you so much for these tips. I usually surf on the internet for Instagram tips but i usually got all those spammy and irrelevant tips…but this article was a feel good one..loved it..with so much happiness..Aswin S
Hey Asin,
Thank you so much! So glad it helped you. π
Hey, I’m just a new writer on Instagram idk anything about it this helped me a lot but I need to know how can I use the right hashtag on Instagram and how can I increase engagement and the reach of my posts I seriously need someone’s help then I saw your site it is helpful yet I would love concerning it to you. If you feel free please DM me on @the_epione (insta) and tell me the answers of my questions. If you feel not to DM then concern my questions here. Thank you so much.
Hey Mariya,
I haven’t gone on Instagram for a long time. It’s been a while. It’s difficult for me to reply to DMs because I get over 100-200 a day. I’ve explained the Hashtag strategy in detail in this post. This is the only one I used when I was growing. I just used hashtags that had low number of posts. When I realized I was ranking for those, I kept going higher. That’s it.
But the best way to grow? Post every single day. At least 5 times a week. At the same time. It really helps. If you stay in India, post at 5:30 pm.
I hope this helps,
Angela
Thanks a ton for this post. That hashtag advice was really helpful. I feel so stupid and laugh at myself for thinking that hashtags with more posts will gain me more followers when actually it is other way around. You’re so generous to let budding artists like me learn from your insights and inspire them to dream big.
Hey,
Oh, it’s not a big deal at all. We all start using hashtags that are super big and popular. But unless you’re really lucky or have content that really stands out, it’s hard to rank on the top of those hashtags. π
I wish you all the best! You’re going to make it. Social media is very finicky, so I really suggest creating a website or some kind of blog to compliment your Instagram content. π Don’t put all your eggs in one basket.
Warm regards,
Angela
When should I start posting pictures, as in after how many followers. I created an account last sunday and have only 9 followers now.So when should I start posting the pictures? Thanks a lot in advance
Hey April,
You post whether you have followers or not. Don’t pay attention to your followers. Instagram is more about engagement and less about followers. π
I wish you all the best!
Angela
Hello! Thankyou for this beautiful tips and turorial!!ππ But i have problem here, its abt my account. I changed my personal account into an art account and there are a lot of ghosts and i kinda feel down whenever i found a ghost is following me. What should i do? :”) (ps : my story viewers are also low (30~40) despite having 700 followers)
Hey Rossie,
Do you mean fake accounts? Don’t bother about fake accounts. They don’t do any harm. And Instagram usually deletes them during their algorithm updates. If your views are low, you need to work on engagement. Focus on asking questions or telling your followers a relatable story. Your description matters a lot.
thankyou so much!! i’ll… try to not pay attention to my followers number :”) also i have another question, i found out that some of my mutual friends was taking a hiatus but i saw their engagement and followers still went up around 60 (stupid me looking at their follower). Next week i have to go hiatus bcs i have exams and what should i do to keep my engagement up? :”) thankyou again!!π
Hey Rossie,
Take the hiatus and don’t worry about your followers. They’ll still be there when you get back. Do not make changes to your personal life to accommodate social media. If you can spare 2-3 minutes during your exam, just post 1-2 stories a day. That’s it. No need to create posts.
Warm regards,
Angela
Hey! Great work on providing the right info to budding artists. Iβll try incorporating these! Just starter a page
Wishing you all the best!
Loved it and very insightful..
Glad you liked it Niladry. π
Hey Angella Vaz, I am fairly new to instagram art, but its kind of hard for me to reach audiences and get more likes like you guys say on the how to get more followers tips, these tips you give are very awesome and i’ve been using them for some time, I post consistently, but i get like 1-2 followers a day, and on other days none, I keep wondering how people say they got to like 10k to 50k followers in 2 months, it seems like magic….I have to resort to follow for follow but the problem is even the guys that follow me back rarely like my posts, To be honest I don’t see myself reaching 100o followers anytime soon but ill keep posting everyday nevertheless, Though it gets kind of discouraging at times, But thanks for the tips.
Hey Alphie,
Posting consistently means posting every single day. Which means you need to publish at least 200-300 posts per year. I know it’s very hard to do, but that’s how most Businesses and Blogs grow.
Also, your art has really improved. Focus on improving your art skills and making money with your art. It’s more valuable than followers.
Thanks for taking the time to reply, But recently, I got over it, I realized it was a lot of negative energy worrying about followers and likes, and I do less work living like that, I decided to focus on what I set out to do, become an animator and make kid’s Saturday mornings fun again, If I get recognition, let it be for something That brings joy to the world. Wish me luck.
I absolutely agree. It can be very frustrating and only hampers your growth. I’m proud of you for taking that big step! You are a true artist. I wish you all the best!
I have many questions. I want to have a famous Instagram account and I need your help. I started my Instagram account on March and it’s called: elenartist. You can check it out, if you want. ππ I think that I have a very organized feed but I have two themes. I’ve heard it’s bad. I noticed a lot of mistakes I have made, except that. That’s why I have thinked of starting a new account. I’m sure that I want to make a private account for following and be followed only by people I know, so I’ll put my new art account in the bio and they’ll follow it. What do you think about my ideas? π€ Also, I want to appear in many platforms, like YouTube, Facebook, Pinterest, DeviantArt, Artfolapp and in my site. I want to make a site from GoogleSites. I hope it’s a good idea. The problem is that I like doing many things. I’m very good at traditional drawing, making jewellery and I will try to make digital art, photography etc. Can I have a different theme on each platform or i should have the same theme everywhere? But that means I’ll have to put a different username everywhere. I want you to know that I have seen your comics and I enjoyed them very much. π€β₯οΈAlthough, why Instagram has hurted you so much? You had serious problems on your previous account, but in the one you have at the moment, I see that you haven’t posted since May. What has happened? I know that I said many things, so I’ll be patient. You can take your time with the answer! π Bye!!!!! β¨πβ¨
Hey Eleni,
First of all, narrow down your niche. You’re posting art, jewelry, and photos. It’s all over the place. Narrow down, and choose 1. 1 type of art. That’s it. Don’t focus on multiple platforms. You can’t do this.
1, and only 1. Go narrow. And be consistent.
Choose 1. It’s okay to be good at multiple things, but do just 1.
I do traditional art, I blog, I draw, I make portraits, I sing.
But my Instagram platform had just hair comics – nothing else.
This is the trick to growing. Be known for 1 thing.
I haven’t posted since May, because it became too overwhelming for me. My hair comics were fun, but my blog actually helps women with their online businesses. It’s more fulfilling so I’m taking a break from comics for a while.
Narrow down your niche. You will find success.
Warm regards,
Angela
Very Informative Post. Thank You For This Article.
You’re most welcome Shayar. π
Beautiful Post, thanks for sharing your tips!
You’re most welcome Anesthesia! π
Hey great post, I personally liked the tip on picking a niche… got me thinkingπ€. Also don’t mind the length of the postππ
Unrelated(though kinda cos it’s art)π: Do I, as a comic artist, have to request permission from celebrities and companies in order to include them (or their products) in my illustrations, does it count as copyright infringement if I don’t?π€π
Thanks a lot for the advice, definitely will use. And what’s your take on the question above????π€π€
It depends.
If you’re just drawing them, that’s fine. But if you’re drawing a product of theirs or using their logo, you will need their permission because that infringes on the logo’s copyright. I hope that makes sense.
It also depends on where you’re posting these images. If you post it on Instagram, you can take it down immediately if you get a letter. If you post it on your blog, you can get sued. It’s better to stay safe and just stick to drawing the celebrities only without their products.
This post was actually a gooood read. Thank you for sharing the minute details. Surely gonma follow thede tips and get on trackkk! Yay cheers,
Umamah!
Instagram @umamahansaari I’m a calligraphy artist.
You’re most welcome, so glad you found these tips useful. π
This ticks all my boxes on “Things to know before starting an art profile”! THANK YOU SO MUCH!
You’re most welcome Nishkala. π
Just starting out on instagram and very inspired by this post. I find your hashtag strategy amazing, something I would never have considered. Am hoping it will work for me. Posted yesterday and got a very poor response for a post I worked hard on but I have a lot of work to draw on so shall be persisting and using your strategy from now on. I think it’s clear why you grew from reading your comments – you are very generous and I think people respond to that.
Hey David,
It’s wonderful that you enjoyed the post and the hashtag strategy really does work! π
Not all responses are going to be great. Experiment with different timings and see when you can post for maximum reach!
Thank you for your kind words and I wish you nothing but the best!
Angela
Hi Angela,
Thank you for this post, I’ve learned quite a few things about posting on Instagram. We have a small design business that we started in 2020. I’m a graphic designer and creative artist, I’ve being doing graphic design for almost 20 years but working for companies. I’m so glad to come across your posts.
Thank you for your valuable advice.
So happy you found the post useful Dee, much love to you!
Angela