HOW TO (ACTUALLY) GROW YOUR ART ACCOUNT ON TIKTOK
Entertainment
Introduction
As an artist eager to promote your work, choosing the right social media platform is crucial. Among the various options—like Instagram, Twitter, and Reddit—TikTok stands out as an incredible venue for exposure. While TikTok has its quirks, it excels in presenting content to a vast audience in a short amount of time, making it the ideal platform for artists looking to grow their presence.
Despite the platform’s advantages, many artists struggle to achieve meaningful engagement on their content. It can be tempting to think that the solution lies in perfecting video length, trending audio, or the timing of your posts, but the most significant factor affecting your engagement often comes down to the content itself. Here are proven strategies for artists to navigate TikTok's fast-paced environment and find success.
Understanding TikTok's Nature
Forget long, drawn-out time-lapse videos unless you're a renowned artist like Van Gogh. TikTok users tend to have short attention spans, so videos that capture interest quickly are essential. My own approach involves keeping clips under two seconds, highlighting the essentials of my art.
Content Creation
The type of content you produce significantly influences engagement. Initially, I found some luck posting time-lapse videos of my art but noticed engagement dwindling. A friend with only 100 followers produced a video that went viral. This prompted me to explore humor as a style in my content. I tied my videos to popular trends, especially anime, which helped me attract viewers.
A pivotal moment came when I created a funny video about the manga series "Chainsaw Man." Surprisingly, a simple joke led to a staggering eight-and-a-half million views. The takeaway is clear: while showcasing your art is important, creating engaging and relatable content can drastically increase your engagement.
Engagement Metrics
Likes may seem like the most vital metric, but they aren't necessarily indicative of content success. Instead, focus on the watch time. TikTok’s algorithm prioritizes how long viewers stay engaged—watch time is key to going viral. You can check your average watch time through TikTok's analytics. If this number exceeds the length of your video, you’re likely on the cusp of virality.
To maximize watch time, keep your videos concise. Briefly reveal finished artwork without lingering too long; once audiences see the final product, they often swipe away.
The Importance of Content Consistency
One significant discovery for me was that the content I engaged with shapes the audience for my own posts. If your feed is mixed with unrelated content and you post art, TikTok may misdirect your videos to users uninterested in your niche. Cleaning up my feed to focus on art content helped restore my view counts to previous levels.
Tips for Success
Timing is Everything: Avoid posting during work hours. The best times are early mornings or evenings when people are likely to check their phones.
Engagement is Key: Actively engage with other creators. Comment, like, and interact with their content in a positive way.
Quality Matters: Ensure your videos are high quality—record in 60fps, use good lighting, and sync your transitions with audio.
Have Fun: The more enjoyable content creation is, the more it shows through your work. Don’t stress about posting schedules; focus on quality over quantity.
Community Interaction: Consider joining communities where members support one another. Platforms like Discord can provide invaluable encouragement and critique.
Closing Thoughts
Creating content on TikTok should be about your artistic journey—connect with your audience, enjoy the process, and let your uniqueness shine.
If you’re still searching for how to improve your engagement on other platforms like Twitter, you aren’t alone. Perhaps one day, I’ll crack that code and share it too!
Keywords
- TikTok
- Art Community
- Engagement
- Content Creation
- Watch Time
- Comedy
- Anime
- Trends
- Quality
- Consistency
FAQ
Q: What is the best way to create engaging content on TikTok for artists?
A: Focus on making short, relatable, or humorous videos that align with current trends while showcasing your art.
Q: How important are likes for my TikTok videos?
A: While likes are beneficial, the watch time of your videos is a more critical metric for the TikTok algorithm and can indicate virality potential.
Q: What length should my videos be?
A: Aim for videos between one to two and a half seconds in length to maintain viewer attention.
Q: When is the best time to post on TikTok?
A: Early mornings and early evenings are ideal times when your audience is most likely to be active.
Q: Should I engage with other creators?
A: Yes! Engaging positively with other creators can help build a community around your content and encourage more visibility for your posts.