What Artists Should Post On Instagram When First Starting Out

Summary

This video offers essential advice for artists on how to grow an Instagram following from scratch. It emphasizes the importance of practicing content creation early, shifting your mindset to see daily opportunities for posts, and understanding that followers increase exponentially over time. The creator discusses the significance of defining your brand, researching similar artists, and differentiating posts for new and existing audiences. Additionally, it covers why captions matter, discourages bragging, and advises against paid follower schemes. Ultimately, it encourages patience and consistency for organic growth.

Takeaways

• 😀 Start with zero followers: It's intimidating to begin with no followers, but every artist goes through this stage. Don't be discouraged.
• 💡 Practice makes perfect: It's important to start posting right away, even without followers. The more you post, the better you'll get at content creation.
• 📈 Followers grow exponentially: Gaining followers is not a linear process. Growth starts slowly but accelerates over time, so don't give up too early.
• 🤔 Shift your mindset: Train your mind to see daily life as potential content opportunities. This will help you consistently create engaging posts.
• 🙋‍♂️ No one cares until they do: People won't care about your Instagram right away. Most fans come from other platforms like Spotify or YouTube, not Instagram directly.
• 🚫 Avoid bad growth tactics: Don't rely on tactics like following and unfollowing or hiring shady marketing companies. Organic growth is key.
• 📸 Define your brand: Decide early on how you want to present yourself—whether you're funny, mysterious, or showcasing your talent. Stay true to your style.
• 🔍 Research similar artists: Look at what similar artists are posting to gain insights into what works for their audience. Use this research to refine your approach.
• 📊 Engage with your audience: Plan posts that cater both to attracting new followers and keeping existing ones engaged. Captions are key to increasing engagement and holding viewers' attention.
• 🚫 Avoid bragging: Don't boast about streams, rented luxury cars, or ticket sales. Focus on building genuine engagement rather than seeking validation.

Q & A

What is the main topic of the video?

The video discusses how artists can start posting on Instagram and grow their following, even when starting from zero followers.

Why is it difficult for artists to start on Instagram with zero followers?

It's challenging because it feels discouraging to post content when no one is following you, and it can seem pointless to put up stories or posts when it feels like no one is watching.

Why is practice important for artists starting on Instagram?

Practice helps artists become familiar with the process of posting, understand what content resonates with them and their audience, and prepares them to engage followers when they eventually gain a larger audience.

How does an artist's mindset change with practice on Instagram?

With practice, artists shift their mindset to see everyday experiences as potential content opportunities, making it easier to post consistently.

How does follower growth typically occur for artists on Instagram?

Follower growth is exponential. Initially, there may be slow growth, but once an artist starts gaining traction, their follower count can increase rapidly over time.

Why do people start caring about an artist’s Instagram content only after discovering them elsewhere?

People are more likely to engage with an artist’s Instagram after discovering them through their music or other platforms, like Spotify or YouTube, rather than stumbling upon their Instagram posts alone.

What is the danger of using certain growth strategies, like following and unfollowing people or using marketing companies?

These strategies often lead to superficial growth that doesn't result in genuine fan engagement, and they may not improve the quality of content, which is crucial for sustaining followers.

What should artists focus on when defining their brand on Instagram?

Artists should focus on what is important to them personally and creatively, whether they want to be mysterious, funny, showcase talent, or something else. The content must align with their personal brand to attract and maintain the right audience.

Why is it important to research similar artists and their Instagram strategies?

By researching similar artists, artists can see what works in terms of engagement and content style. This provides a framework to understand what types of posts resonate with similar audiences and helps refine their own approach.

What is the role of Instagram stories, and when should artists start using them?

Instagram stories become important when artists start seeing traffic to their profiles, as having a story live signals to followers that the artist is active. It’s recommended to always have a story up after gaining around 30 followers.