In the past, aspiring artists would hire art dealers to help them promote and sell their art. But today, all you need is an Instagram account. The accessibility of this social network makes it a perfect online gallery for all artists trying to make a name for themselves.

Indeed, not every artist promoting their art on Instagram is going to become a huge name in the arts. But what can you do to make money selling your artwork on Instagram? Take a look at the following tips straight from artists who have found success on the platform.

Simple, they know how to catch an audience’s attention by schedule Instagram posts at right time and interest and keep them engaged.

Turning Your Instagram Into an Online Gallery
What do all successful Instagram artists have in common? Simple, they know how to catch an audience’s attention and interest and keep them engaged. The primary purpose of Instagram is to display visually pleasing content, and you can assume that all popular Instagram artists know how to make use of it and receive the necessary number of views to grow content's reach on the platform and drive sales.

First things first, invest in a high-quality camera or at least a newer phone. No matter how talented you are, blurry images send all the wrong signals. As an artist, you must have an eye for design and poor-quality images tell the opposite story.

To capture your artwork in the best way, take advantage of natural light. Use a clear background so that the focus is on the colors and textures of your piece. This is especially applicable if you’re taking photos of your artwork without anything else. As a bonus tip, you may want to upload square images, which most users still prefer over rectangular ones.

Show Creativity with Your Posts
Lots of Instagram users enjoy looking at product photos, or just your artwork without anything else in the background. On the other hand, others prefer when there’s a story behind it. For instance, some artists choose to hold up their artwork and produce a signature look on their face. In contrast, some take photos of the art in the work to show the audience the whole process.

Figure out what suits you best and then stay consistent.

Craft Enticing Captions
You may know that not every artist is as good with words as with the paintbrush or whatever that tools they use. But that shouldn’t stop you from coming up with interesting captions for your images. Although Instagram is mainly used for the visuals, the copy and text can still play an important role.

You don’t have to write a mind-blowing one-liner. Think about the time when you were inspired to create that particular artwork and you may decide to tell your audience about it. Or, you can perhaps describe the creation process, your thoughts, and other details. People love reading a good story so make sure that you give it to them. This can be a way for your followers to connect with you emotionally and that’s the best way to get them to purchase your work, if not now, eventually.

Furthermore, you might want to make use of unique fonts. Browse until you find something that suits your style and personality and then make it part of your brand. As a final touch, write something along the lines of, ‘Looking forward to finding a home for this baby!’ to add a unique call to action.

Don’t Forget the Hashtags
If you don’t use hashtags, how can you expect a wider Instagram audience to find you? Hashtags are a brilliant tool to widen your fanbase. Spend some time to investigate what’s popular and better yet, what works. You can check out your favorite artists and see how they’re handling their hashtags.

There are various tools that you can use to generate hashtags that’ll suit your artwork. You might even consider creating something custom. It may take more work to make popular but you may find it worthwhile.

Create and Post Frequently
One thing is for certain, Instagram users expect to see new content often. You might not be able to create enough artwork to post daily, but at least have a posting schedule. If you can show consistency, your followers will come back to your page every time that you post new content, boosting your reach as a result.

It may seem like a daunting task to remember when you need to post. But that’s exactly what scheduling tools are for. They allow you to schedule the time and frequency of your posts so you can focus on what matters, such as creating new artwork.

Connect with Other Artists
Just like workplace connections can have a tremendous effect on a business, so does connecting with other artists on Instagram. You can tag them in a post or a story to show how you’re inspired by their work. Additionally, resharing some of their content works too. And you may prompt them to do the same for you. In doing so, their followers might notice some of your work and buy from you.

Include Your Followers
There isn’t a better way of promoting your artwork than by including your followers. User-generated content is a simple way to advertise yourself through an army of people who already admire your work. It’s effective, unique, and relatable. Think of how your artwork can inspire your fans to create their posts. You could very well be surprised by the outreach.

Consider a Flash Sale
A lot of artists use flash sales to promote their artwork quickly. Not only does this bring revenue, but it also draws an audience. Since many pieces are often on sale, more people are willing to purchase them. If you can fulfill orders smoothly, they’re bound to buy more from you.

Get the Creative Juices Flowing
In the end, all that matters is to perhaps continue to create unique art pieces and to improve your skills. To monetize your art, it wouldn’t hurt to go through the steps listed above and promote your stuff. The better that you can take advantage of hashtags, captions, artistic connections, the higher the chance of your profile gaining recognition.