Tweetable Art: 10 Twitter Tips for Artists
As an artist or creative business, one of your main goals is to connect with your audience and collectors. Social media allows us to connect and collaborate on a level we otherwise would’ve never known outside of the web. It allows collectors and fans to connect more intimately with the artist and allows for a stronger relationship with the art itself.
As an artist, I’ve found that Twitter is an excellent place for self promotion and connecting with my audience. The trick is knowing how to use it. As simple as it seems, there are things you should and should not do. To summarize, being relevant, open, sharing, and giving are the best policies for Twitter. Here are 10 ways artists can better connect with their followers on Twitter.
1. Share your work in progress
Be creative and open. People love to hear about how you create your work. If you videoblog, post a link. Describe what you are creating and what you are using. People want to hear what you are doing, what it
looks like, and what you are thinking.
Jeremiah Ketner (@smallandround) of SmallandRound.com, a gallery artist, tweets the progress of his work in text and photos, incorporating pictures from Twitpic and Flickr.
2. Share announcements
Do you run auctions online or own a shop on etsy? Do you have an upcoming show, interview, or art exhibit coming up? Announce appearances, shows, and new available art.
Anne Leuck Feldhaus (@annesart), an urban pop artist tweets announcements of upcoming art shows and exhibits weeks or months ahead. You will also find Anne live tweeting from the events she shows in.
3. Find and connect
Using Twitter for networking is the best part. Find people through the Twitter search function who would be of value to a business relationship or people who are interested in art. Build relationships through conversation about anything. Not just about art. Twitter allows for deeper, more meaningful business partnerships and relationships with your audience if you can converse with people on their level.
After connecting with their team on Twitter, I formed a business partnership with Black Card Circle and their foundation. As a result of that relationship I am showing my art in exclusive BCC events and donating my work to charities through their company.
4. Share Yourself
Share informative links to your blog, your stories, interviews, or other art news. Amie Gillingham (@gillie), an artist and co-founder of EBSQ, an online artist community and portfolio site, always offers links to helpful info for artists and collectors. In addition to her own content, she always shares and promotes other people’s links.
5. Research your followers
Use Search.twitter.com to survey what people are thinking about art, or what you do. Answer questions or tweets. Share. I’ve used search to find people who are interested in fine art and pop art. Simply search by keyword for a topic you like or would want to discuss and you will find other people to follow and connect with. Use keywords to find out who their favorite artists are, their favorite colors, or what their lifestyles are like. This gives you an opportunity to analyze the possible audience you can have or do have on Twitter.
6. Offer a collector club
If you use a private Twitter account, you can offer follower exclusives like promotional discounts, exclusive art prints, or sales info. This would work great for a collectors base on Twitter. I have yet to find artists who are utilizing this form of Twitter, but I’m certain that the idea is going to spread fast. The concept of immediate info and response to collectors would make the concept of a private Twitter club account very appealing to your group.
7. Announce site/shop issues
Announce when or why sites are down, or other problems. Having immediate information on why your followers can’t seem to buy that print or go to that blog builds trust. Elizabeth Stewart (@ecstewart) a licensed calligraphic designer uses Twitter to update on website maintenance, when new shop options are available or if the site goes down. It keeps customers from worrying or wondering when something is
getting done. They can simply watch her tweets for instant updates.
8. Hold Twitter contests
Do Twitter contests and giveaways. Offering a fine art print each week or month to friends who RT (retweet) gives you traffic and new buzz. If they don’t win, they may buy something. Include a link to your portfolio or online shop to build immediate traffic and gain buzz.
I held a “Twitter Treats†Trivia contest where I broadcasted myself asking trivia questions via Ustream.tv and had my followers answer them on Twitter. Chrysti (@ArtByChrysti), a collage artist, uses Twitter to share her giveaways.
9. Collaborate with other artists or businesses
Connect and collaborate with other artists and businesses on Twitter. Share the wealth with your followers. You can gain a good reputation amongst your following and open up future business opportunities with the people you promote and share.
Artists like Maura McGovern (@mmcgovern and myself) are collaborating on a poster design with other artists for the Social Media For Social Change event this April. Without Twitter, this would have been pretty unlikely.
10. Offer instant commissions and orders
You can use Twitter to take commissions, custom request, or orders via tweets or direct messages. I’ve used DMs to send and receive messages from customers who wanted to purchase things directly through me. Twitter also allows me to live tweet followers as I’m shipping their order and give them details on when and how it will be shipped to them.
Source: Mashable
Natasha Wescoat is a licensed artist and social media creative at NatashasArtCandy.com utilizing the web to promote her art and connect with her audience. You can follow her on Twitter.
