In a recent experiment, an artist tested three social media platforms—Instagram, TikTok, and Threads—to find the best for securing art commissions. The results revealed that Threads outperformed the others in client acquisition, despite having fewer followers. The artist's experience highlights the importance of content strategy and the surprising fact that follower count does not directly correlate with client engagement.
In the ever-evolving landscape of social media, artists are constantly seeking the best platforms to showcase their work and attract clients. In a recent experiment, I tested three popular social media apps—Instagram, TikTok, and Threads—to determine which one would yield the best results for securing art commissions. The findings were surprising and provided valuable insights into the dynamics of social media engagement for artists.
I embarked on this journey with a clear goal: to reach as many potential clients as possible. To achieve this, I committed to creating content regularly, a strategy I had not fully embraced before. The key to satisfying social media algorithms is consistent posting, but the frequency depends on individual capacity. As a low-energy artist, I found that creating new artwork twice a week was manageable. To avoid burnout, I created a reserve of art that I could schedule for later posting.
When it comes to the type of art to create, I initially believed that producing work that brings me joy was the best approach. However, I realized that posting art aligned with what I wanted to be commissioned for was more effective. As a character artist, I focused on showcasing character art to attract potential clients.
Interestingly, I discovered that certain types of content performed significantly better than others. Fun art, particularly trending topics, garnered more attention. For instance, I created a piece related to the popular K-pop movie "Demon Hunters," which unexpectedly went viral, reaching 1.5 million views despite a humorous mistake in the artwork.
Instagram was my first choice due to previous success in securing deals with publishers and authors. Starting with 1,944 followers, I aimed to break through my stagnation. I posted every two days, including photos and reels. After posting the K-pop Demon Hunters reel, my follower count increased to 2,000.
However, the real goal was to generate income. After exhausting my art reserves, I shared a commission sheet detailing my prices and examples of my work. This led to $248 in commissions, including a commercial fee for my art, which indicated that clients were willing to pay more for artwork that could generate income for them.
Next, I turned to TikTok, where I experienced a surge in followers, reaching 3,000. However, this platform did not yield any clients. Interestingly, content about my pricing performed well, suggesting that while TikTok can boost visibility, it may not be the best platform for direct client engagement.
The unexpected winner of my experiment was Threads. This platform required minimal effort but produced the best results. I posted about the types of commissions I was seeking and, within 24 hours, secured three clients, generating $757 in commissions. Threads proved to be a powerful tool for connecting with clients who matched my niche in dark historical fantasy.
After 81 days of experimentation, here are the results:
A common misconception is that the number of followers directly correlates with the likelihood of securing commissions. My experience revealed the opposite: the fewer followers I had on Threads, the more clients reached out to me. This inverse relationship challenges the notion that popularity equates to success in client acquisition.
The journey was not without its challenges. The pressure to constantly create and perform drained the joy from my artistic process. While I am grateful for the clients I gained and the art I created, I would caution against sacrificing personal well-being for fleeting popularity. The right clients will find you at the right time, and it is essential to maintain a balance between creativity and the demands of social media.
I encourage fellow artists to share their experiences and insights in the comments. Together, we can navigate the complexities of promoting our art in the digital age.
