# Strategies for Artists When Social Media Growth Stalls
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Chapter 1: Embracing the Artistic Journey
In today's world, pursuing a career as an artist and achieving financial success has become increasingly accessible for anyone willing to cultivate an online community. However, despite following various social media hacks, you might find your efforts yielding subpar results.
The digital age has made it easier than ever to transform creativity into a business, but what should you do when your social media strategies fall flat? In this era of mass communication, aspiring artists can dare to dream big, leaving behind preconceived notions.
Drawing from my experiences in yoga, I’ve learned the value of doing your best while remaining hopeful for positive outcomes. Social media illustrates how consistent habits can lead to tangible results. Instant success is more of a myth than a reality.
Don’t be discouraged if you don’t reach 1,000 followers in your first week of consistent posting on Instagram. While miraculous success can occur, it is the time and effort invested in your craft that will ultimately yield significant returns.
As I mentioned in my previous article, "How can artists benefit from a routine without killing creativity," the frequency of your posts can dramatically impact your engagement. Occasional posting might garner some likes on older content, but consistent posting helps build a community, establish trust, attract followers, and engage potential buyers.
Section 1.1: Accepting Your Unique Path
One critical step is to acknowledge and embrace your quirks. In the beginning, you may feel a sense of embarrassment about your content, but in reality, it matters little to others. Everyone has their idiosyncrasies, and it’s essential to show your authentic self as someone who is determined to pursue their dreams.
It took me time to feel at ease in my own skin, and being an immigrant contributed to my insecurities. While I'm still navigating those feelings, it’s a journey worth sharing.
To embark on your social media content creation and showcase your art, you have two choices: Accept that you’re unique and own your quirks, or abandon the mission of becoming an artist and establishing a business from your passion.
Subsection 1.1.1: Analyzing Your Performance Metrics
The downside of being a solopreneur is the tendency to believe you’re always on the right track. Without anyone to provide honest feedback, it’s easy to get caught in a bubble of self-assurance.
However, numbers are impartial. Delve into your analytics, scrutinize the data, and draw insights from it. Key metrics to focus on include:
- Engagement
- Impressions
Don’t obsess over follower count. While it can lend credibility, it’s not a figure to check obsessively. Here’s why:
Losing followers can signify growth. For instance, after I began posting more crochet content, I lost 50 followers but gained 80 on Instagram. This suggests that those uninterested in crochet left, while those who are interested chose to stay.
Section 1.2: Celebrating Your Milestones
It’s essential to take pride in your progress and achievements, no matter how small. Remember, practice leads to improvement, not perfection.
Currently, I have yet to achieve the results I aspire to on social media—still not surpassing 1,000 followers on Instagram or securing a partnership with a yarn brand. However, I have made strides in the past two years:
- I now communicate confidently in English, which was once a source of anxiety for me.
- I no longer fret about making mistakes while speaking; I simply laugh them off.
- I’m gradually overcoming my impostor syndrome and feel increasingly empowered in my identity.
If you find it challenging to recognize the growth between your past and present self, it may be time to address feelings of discouragement.
Chapter 2: Cultivating Confidence as a New Artist
As a new artist, you might grapple with self-doubt and impostor syndrome. Here are seven mindsets to help boost your confidence:
- Embrace the joy of creating art: It should be a pleasurable experience, not solely a financial pursuit.
- Taking breaks is part of the process: If now isn’t the right time to launch your artistic career, allow yourself to step back and recharge.
- Use comparisons wisely: Looking at other artists can serve as a motivational push. The only difference between you and a more established artist is their willingness to embrace vulnerability and commit to consistency.
Final Thoughts
Today, anyone can transform their art into a business thanks to social media and digital platforms. But what happens when your social media presence feels stagnant?
Take a moment to reassess and implement the following strategies:
- Let go of all expectations.
- Own your quirks.
- Analyze your metrics and understand the data.
- Celebrate your accomplishments, no matter how small.
- Build your confidence as an emerging artist.
For more insights, grab my FREE Guide for ARTpreneurs, filled with valuable tips to help you thrive on social media and establish a successful online art business.
Guide for ARTpreneurs to Thrive on Social Media
Make a living from your art by becoming an ARTpreneur. This e-book compiles the most useful tips and tricks for your journey...
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