LIVE PODCAST - JUNE 18, 1 PM EASTERN TIME
Part IV - Marketing Art Through Social Media: Instagram
Instagram is a photo and video-sharing networking service owned by Facebook. It was launched in October 2010. The app allows users to upload media and the posts can be shared publicly or with pre-approved followers. Users browse other users' content by tags and locations, and view trending content. Users can like photos and follow other users to add their content to a feed." It has over a billion users.
Because Instagram is all images and videos it is a perfect tool for artists to showcase their work and develop followers. The most successful Instagram users are artists who have networked with one another to share each others work.
We have three great guests: a long time Instagrammer, a medium timer and a new user.
Catherine Freshley is an painter from Portland, OR. She is dedicated to disproving the starving artist stereotype. Her Instagram followers appreciate her candid approach to talking about the business side of being an artist and her digital resource guides for artists.
- Jay McDougall is a contemporary wood sculptor from Minnesota with a long history of exhibiting at the nation's best art festivals. In recent months in order to continue to earn his living with his art he has spent a lot of time online working on his own online skills and partnering with friends to build an Instagram empire.
Dawn Wilson, a photographer and writer from Estes Park, CO, who integrates her website, Facebook and Instagram to manage her sales and serve as president-elect of the North American Nature Photography Association.
- Renzo Iglesias, a jeweler from Florida who uses Instagram to drive traffic to his site, find his audience, increase awareness, and most importantly, drive sales.
As always, we appreciate your input - helpful tips, and questions.
Call in at 1:30 - 805-243-1338
Comments
All good points, Tracy. Most of what we're talking about on these podcasts counts on having good mobile service. I'd be really grouchy. What I got from this podcast, I'm not an Instagram user, is that it is pretty simple to use (of course, always some learning curve), but geez --- they're doing a lot of it on cell phones. Not for me. But then I'm not selling art.
If you look at a map of the United States that show mobile coverage, you will see that there are vast areas in the Western states that have NO MOBILE SERVICE, and I happen to live in one. Now my iphone does work (sometimes) when I am within a foot or so of my modem, etc , but other than that I have to drive somewhere to try to find reliable connections. Looks like Instagram is not in the picture here.
Also , if you have a family AND your studio is in your home AND you are a complete novice regarding social media presence, the learning curve is going to eat up huge amounts of time as well as making one grouchy and cutting back on studio work - making art - which has paid me a nice living via art shows, galleries and commercial publishers for over 40 years...but I'm willing to learn if I can find a match.