TikTok For Visual Artists: 5 Ways To Maximise Your Reach In 2024
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How To Use TikTok As A Visual Artist
With the ever changing nature of social media, it seems only natural that the art world as we know it is adapting alongside. For so long, the photo-sharing app Instagram held a strong lead when it came to championing artists online. But with their recent updates bringing video-content into contention, it’s hard to ignore where this shift came from. This is where TikTok for artists comes into play.
What is TikTok?
TikTok is one of today’s most popular social media apps, where compared to other platforms, only houses content through short-form videos. Originally known as Musical.ly, the app used to focus predominantly on lip-syncing videos. Although popular, 2018 saw the app undergo a rebrand with its newly acquired Chinese owners. Subsequently, TikTok was born.
This time, the app provided a much broader scope for video creation, with companies and individuals soon uncovering its mass marketing potential. The main boom of users wouldn’t come about until 2020 and the beginning of the pandemic. However, as life moved on from restrictions – it seems TikTok is here to stay.
Is TikTok a good place to sell art?
Whilst TikTok is a great place to advertise your website and store, it also comes with the benefit of TikTok shop. But what exactly is it and how can it benefit artists?
Essentially, TikTok Shop allows businesses to sell and market their products directly and in-app through videos, LIVEs and product categories. Before, users would have been sent to an external website or app to make a purchase, but TikTok shopping enhances the ease and accessibility much to the delight of companies using the site to drive sales.
For artists and small creative businesses, this feature could really help convert interest into purchases. If the video appears on their FYP and they like the item – it’s now easy for them to buy it there and then.
Why does TikTok work for artists?
Besides the engaging news worthy, funny or mundane stream of content; TikTok also has a thriving hub of artists building communities everyday. The exposure granted by the app has gone on to build highly successful small businesses for artists, like Big Jugs for example. Sculptural student Abi Haywood set up her side hustle during 2020, and after a couple of TikToks went viral, she has now amassed 4.8 million likes and counting.
The algorithm
It’s never been easier to stumble across a fellow artist or potential fan, made possible due to the app’s clever algorithm. Known as a ‘‘for you page’ (FYP), TikTok curates a personalised collection of videos based on the user’s previous video interactions, meaning most of what they see is relatable. This feature is a big bonus for artists, as their content is more likely to find its target audience without them having to follow beforehand.
The level playing field
This doesn’t just apply to well established accounts with lots of followers. In fact, TikTok is one of the easiest apps to gain traction, with some individuals getting lucky and going viral overnight. Beginner artists shouldn’t be put off by the large number of accounts and competitors on the app, as posting consistently is bound to attract some kind of attention eventually, especially if you play your cards right.
There’s plenty of accounts without a mass following that still do well on TikTok. Whilst biases exist on the app and within it’s algorithm – TikTok is significantly easier to build from scratch.
The trend in video content
It’s also worth noting the trends we see in the way people consume digital content these days. For example, Instagram’s focus on reels and video content tells us that static imagery and text is slowly on the decline. People are enjoying the short-form video content more than ever, and artists should harness this change by utilising TikTok’s popularity and potential. If you’re already considering promoting your art on TikTok, we recommend jumping in as soon as possible.
5 TikTok Tips for Artists
TikTok can be a little bit like a lottery draw when it comes to success. However, these are some ways that artists are improving their audience reach:
1. Create a brand and identity
With all social media platforms, your profile and the things you post become a visual representation of who you are. Artists on TikTok should use this to their advantage. Consider how you want to brand your art, finding a style that authentically represents your craft but also grabs the attention of those who stumble across your account.
Our best advice is to stick with a few colours, fonts and video layouts that make you easily identifiable. Of course you’re going to want to keep it interesting, so try to find ways of refreshing your content without swaying too far from your branding. This tip is applicable to marketing as a whole, but if you’re looking to make a profit from your art using TikTok, it’s definitely something you want to perfect.
2. Add your own creativity to the trends
One of TikToks greatest features is the way that trends operate. You’ll find that a particular song or sound can become popular very quickly, filling up your ‘fyp’ with a host of posts from different users. For artists, this is a golden marketing opportunity. Videos using the trending songs are more likely to be viewed a number of times, so adding your own creative take can give your account a real boost of engagement.
Think outside of the box, using your artistic vision to spark interest in those who come across your content. Remember to act quickly, as the trends on TikTok can move on quicker than those on any other social media site. The quality of video doesn’t need to be perfect, just so long as you implement some good content ideas; you should see some results.
3. Don’t be afraid to show your personality
As much as your artwork should be at the forefront; one of TikToks appeals is its way of connecting with the individual behind the camera. Viewers want to engage with relatable content, which means watching and talking to an actual face rather than products. Big corporations employ this tactic in a similar manner by commenting as if they are a singular person, interacting with customers on a friendly level.
As an artist on TikTok, try voicing your personality and thoughts every now and then. You’ll come across more approachable and relatable, meaning your audience will be more willing to support your artwork, whether that be through liking, following or buying your work. Either way, it can be very beneficial to step out and do the talking yourself occasionally, rather than relying on the artwork.
4. Be collaborative and engage with others
Like most social platforms, you get out what you put in. This includes the networking and collaboration opportunities that come your way. Without actively engaging with fellow artists’ content, you can’t really expect a lot of communication to come your way. TikTok has some great features that enable fun interactions, such as their duet mode. Users can respond to other videos directly, posting their own content side by side in a split screen view. Straight away, audiences are presented with two different accounts in the same sitting, an efficient way of reaching people you may not have before.
Another benefit is that the account you respond to is more likely to interact with you back. Alongside this method, you should also be supporting other artists by following, liking and commenting on their content. In an art world that fuels competition; it’s increasingly nice to see artists working together rather than being up against each other.
5. Provide your external links
As of current, TikTok does not possess a selling feature within their application, unlike the shop feature on Instagram. This means that artists should provide links to their external sites, including websites, other social medias and shop pages. It’s important to convert your views into actual fans and followers, as TikTok fame isn’t always guaranteed nor sustainable.
But how do you do that with only one available link per profile page? This is where Linktree becomes useful, allowing you to send your audience to all your content with just one click. Take a look around some Instagram bios of your favourite artists – we’re sure you’ll find a couple examples.
What are the best hashtags for artists on TikTok?
With millions of users worldwide, how do you make sure your video is seen by the right target audience? If you’re wanting to tap into the art community online, try incorporating these certain hashtags into your post, including whatever tags are trending at the time. Remember that trends and hashtags are constantly changing – so it’s important to do your own research too.
#tiktokart
#artist
#artchallenge
#arttiktok
#artiktok
#artistsoftiktok
#arttok
#digitalart
#myart
#arttoker
#artistcheck
#arttutorial
Things to keep in mind when it comes to TikTok for artists
As good as TikTok for artists is starting to sound, there are some things to be aware of during your time on the app.
Constant demand for new content
The demand for new content ideas can be difficult to keep on top of given societies declining attention span. As quick as someone can become interested, it’s common for them to drop off just as fast. The fame can be short-lived and shouldn’t be relied on in the longer-term. Your goal is to build enough of a loyal following that they move over to support your art elsewhere. Do this by keeping your content fresh, posting regularly and providing your external links like we previously mentioned.
Making art for online success
You can sometimes start making art for the sake of going viral and gaining commercial success. The pressure of what your audience expects doesn’t leave room for experimentation. You can also find yourself doing certain things because they are currently popular, which might take a toll on the enjoyment of making art. Remember that you are an artist first and foremost; not an influencer. Try to stay true to your style and passion whilst making yourself marketable.
The risk of copies
If successful, your art and style will start being noticed, sometimes by the wrong people. Although inspiration is an integral part of artistic development; it’s also very common for individuals to outright copy work, especially when they see something performing well. With TikTok being a fairly easy site to navigate and produce content, it’s likely someone will see your success and want to copy it. In this case, it’s best to be clued up on copyright laws and make your following aware of the copycat.
Toxicity of social media
Blurring the lines of artist and social media influencer can become complicated. By now, we’re very aware of social media’s toxic implications, especially on well-being. Make sure TikTok isn’t becoming all-consuming and addictive by taking breaks and limiting your time on the app. There’s also a significant amount of racial biases, bringing about negative effects that some users encounter when showing the artist behind the art. These unfair relaties derive from a much wider issue in society. If you encounter said problems with TikTok and social media in general, use your voice to expose it.
A summary of TikTok for Visual Artists
When exploring the way artists use TikTok and their results, getting involved seems like a no brainer. It keeps your art in the online realm using new and current ways of making popular content whilst also allowing your own creativity to thrive. Along with the helpful tips and tricks of TikTok success, you could really be boosting your artistic talent into the lives of people on a daily basis. However, remember to keep an open mind and consider the negative side effects that sometimes accompany the app. At the end of the day, your well-being, creativity and art are the most important aspects to protect here. No amount of TikTok fame is worth compromising that.
WHAT TIKTOK STRATEGIES WORK FOR YOU? LET US KNOW IN THE COMMENTS BELOW.
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SITES TO HELP:
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