Want to re-energise your social media in the New Year, but don’t know where to start? We have listed 10 quick ideas for artists or small businesses to attempt to ramp up the quality and quantity of engaging content in 2025.
1. Process Videos
Set up your phone on a tripod or leaned against a prop, to create videos of yourself whilst you work on your latest project.
Tip: For the longer creative processes, use the time lapse feature on your phone for a fun sped-up video of you working.
2. Behind the Scenes
Your audience (including potential buyers) love to see what goes on behind the creation of your art. Try a flat lay photo of your equipment all laid out, a studio tour, details about your favourite material, or your messy hands after a long day working with clay or ink!
Tip: Show your face in your posts! We love to see the person behind the work and your audience will be more likely to engage in these posts.
3. Introduce Yourself
If you have a spike in new followers on your social media platform, it might be time to introduce yourself to your growing audience so they can find out more about who you are and what you do.
Tip: Show your face, maybe in your studio and try writing ‘5 Things You Might Not Know About Me’.
4. Before and After
Video content seems to be dominating social media platforms right now. Try a short video of yourself holding the materials used to create your artwork or a sketched plan, and then stitch this with another video of yourself holding your newly completed piece!
Tip: Instagram Reels has a few built-in video editing features, or try CapCut for more customisable tools.
5. Instagram Shop
If you have an e-commerce site for your artwork, you can connect this with your Instagram, so you can sell your art directly! When you post about a particular artwork for sale, you can link this to lead audiences straight to your shop. Find some guides online to get you started.
Tip: Make sure to review all the Terms & Conditions whilst setting up Instagram Shop so that it complies with your trading terms.
6. Tune into Seasonal Events
Note all of the special days throughout the year and create relevant seasonal content about your art.
Tip: For artists working with sustainable materials, why not post on Earth Day (22nd April) to explain why you commit yourself to working with environmentally friendly approaches.
7. Pre-launch FAQs
If you’re launching a new collection of work to purchase, make content with a list of FAQ’s a few days beforehand detailing your postage policies, how long delivery takes, and what materials you have used.
Tip: If you have a very engaging audience, why not use the question tool on Instagram Stories for your audience to ask questions, which you can then prepare a personalised Q&A from in a series of video Instagram Stories, or a post.
8. Use Keywords
Keywords or phrases are important to slot into your content captions for Instagram to push your posts towards the right audience. Think about who your dream buyer is and think about what they might search or who they already follow.
Tip: Keywords could include- ‘East Anglia’, ‘sculpture for gardeners, ‘Made in the UK’, ‘sustainable materials’, ‘dog walkers’, or ‘modern home design’.
9. Inspirational Stories
For the long-term followers or those who are invested in your journey, try sharing photos of your art 10 or 20 years ago and contrast this with your work today. Take time to talk about how your work has changed and why.
Tip: Make it personal- people are nosey and love finding out about the lives of others, so show yourself at your first art exhibition or art fair, looking fresh faced!
10. Tips and Tutorials
Share the love with a tip or tutorial, which will also serve as a process video outlined in Tip 1. This way, both buyers and fellow artists can engage.
Tip: Video a tutorial that’s satisfying to watch or has an ASMR quality about it to reel people in!
Final Thoughts
Ultimately, if you are using Instagram to sell your work, you need to write as if you are pitching to your dream customer. They want to know the process behind their new purchase, or reasons why you’re such a unique artist to invest in, so make sure your content reflects this, whilst sounding fun and not too commercial!
Your content doesn’t have to be perfect every time. Don’t spend hours on each post because this is not sustainable long term. Some of these tips can be quick to create and really give some varied excitement to your content. Consistency is key on successful social media profiles. Don’t worry about posting once a day if you don’t have time, but maybe try up to 3 times a week and adjust this to your needs and the way your audience responds.
Final Tip: Have fun with this, ask your audience questions, and be your authentic self throughout!
Photo by Centre for Ageing Better on Unsplash