Best Instagram Practices For Artists

With over a billion monthly users, Instagram has become the fastest growing social media network today. This makes it one of the best tools in your arsenal for building your brand and growing your following. With all its new features, there are more ways than ever to connect with your followers and grow your fanbase.

We’ve put together some best practices to help you get the most from your Instagram as an artist.

Be Consistent

Make sure to post at least once a day. You may feel like you’re spamming, but your followers are always looking for new content. The more consistently you post the more solid your following will become, so don’t be shy! When you’re an artist, no post is too trivial. Showing the little things like your morning routine or what you’re whipping up for dinner gives your followers something real to connect with.

Mix It Up

Be sure to post a good mix of photos, videos, stories and live content. Including variety in your posts gives fans a fuller picture of you as an artist and can increase your chances of being featured on the Explore page.

Be a Storyteller

Don’t just settle for a few words when writing captions. Add context by including details or telling a story. When you tell a story with your post it gives fans something to follow and engage with. Try out the multi-post feature to add up to 10 photos to your post. This is a great way to add dimension and show your fans the whole story, rather than just a snapshot.

Engage With Fans

Take the time to show your fans some appreciation. “Like” and respond to comments or @mention fans in your story. A little interaction goes a long way and can earn you fans for life.
Going live is another great way to be in direct contact with fans. Make sure you have a solid wifi connection and try it out! You can host a Q&A, share new music you’re working on, or just hang out with fans.

Utilize Stories

Some of the most engaging content here is made in the moment, so try not to overthink it. Give fans a glimpse of your everyday life with a combination of photos, videos and creative tools. This is a great space to show your process or make an announcement. You can save and categorize stories you want to post for more than 24 hours using highlights.

Don’t Forget Your Safety Tools

Be sure to protect your profile from hackers by enacting two-factor authentication. You can also prevent trolls from harassing you in your comments using comment filters. You can use Instagram’s standard filter or create your own using specific keywords, phrases or emojis.

Be Yourself

Above all, be authentic. Don’t be a try-hard and don’t be fake—-your followers will see right through it. When you show your personality, it gives fans more to connect with than just your music. Not only that, it’s what will set you apart from the crowd and grow your following; so always, always be yourself!