Hey all! I wanted to make a quick blog post about a question I receive A LOT.
Do you need a following before opening an Etsy shop?
The answer:
Technically, no. I didn’t really start with one.
Keep in mind I cannot speak for other shops, everyone’s journey is different but I can tell you a little about how I’ve gained my “following”, honestly I don’t even consider myself having much of a following…but yenno, whatever.
I started posting my art on Facebook and Instagram in 2012 (or maybe sooner) when I started studying Art at Cal State Fullerton. I was an Animation major taking beginning drawing courses and beginning animation courses. As a complete beginner, my art wasn’t good, but I still posted anyway and received minimal response (lol). I switched over to illustration in 2013 and continued posting artwork I made for my classes. The only people seeing this artwork were my family, friends, and classmates. I didn’t have a large following, maybe 500 followers or less on Instagram and I’d say 90% of the people following me were friends or acquaintances who didn’t really care about my art, they just wanted to see what I was up to.
During my time at CSUF, I was heavily involved in the Animation/Illustration club called the Pencil Mileage Club (PMC). I started out as a member one year, then became the photographer for the club, the event coordinator specialist for the club, then vice president, then president. I met a ton of people through this club and the PMC became my family. A lot of people go back and forth with whether art school is worth it, for me, it was. I built friendships with some of the most talented, hardworking, passionate people I’ve ever known. Getting a little sidetracked here, but these are the kinds of people you want beside you. They will support you, be your shoulder to cry on when things get tough, you’ll be their shoulder, they’ll help you with Photoshop problems, they’re your rocks. These are the people you want following your work. These are the people who will lend you a hand when you need it and you’ll return the favor because there’s a mutual respect. These are the “fans” you want. I definitely, no questions asked, did not see them as numbers on Instagram if they followed me.
Me with reddish/brown hair at a PMC art show.
Leading a meeting with Kevin Lam, the President of the PMC at the time.
Cafe Sketching event at Downtown Disney.
Myself, making a stop motion animation for the first time.
Helping lead another PMC meeting.
So in college, I made the best of my time. I spent countless hours sketching, exploring what I wanted to do after college with art, I had an internship with Billabong one semester, I helped lead events with PMC, and I did my best with my classes all while posting on Instagram and Facebook. Those were really the only 2 social media platforms that I posted art on. A month before I graduated college in May 2015, I had my own solo exhibition show on campus which displayed 26 original pieces, my CSUF friends were there on opening night to cheer me on. I love them for that. I gained a few more followers from having that art show for a week, not a ton, but a bit. When graduating college, I had maybe 600 followers on Instagram and like I said, they were mostly non-art friends or acquaintances who didn’t care for my art.
* You didn’t go to college for your artwork? That’s okay too! There are loads of online art communities that will connect you with other artists with interests like yours! Figure out what you like to do, then do some google searching to try and find the right online communities for you. Having a great support system will help you with the tough times (we’ll all have them).
When graduating college, I needed time off from school and work. I overworked myself in college trying to absorb everything I could while throwing myself at every opportunity I could with the PMC and other art events. I didn’t know what I wanted to do, all I knew was that I needed a break. So my boyfriend, cat, and I packed up our 1 bedroom apartment and moved back to my hometown in the San Francisco bay area to live with my Mom, the plan was to stay for the summer.
Over the summer, we attended some art fairs and I fantasized about selling my artwork at them (I always have). Then I decided it was time to open my own shop, something I’d been dreaming about since I started drawing in 2012. I did a ton of research, blah blah blah then opened my shop in September 2015. I announced it via Instagram and Facebook. My first sale was from my Mom and I panicked. Had NO idea what I was doing. Experimented with packaging. I had a few sales follow, mostly from friends I think. In October I discovered Twitch Creative, a live streaming service for artists. I had streamed video games a bit in college through Twitch but didn’t know they had a section for art. I immediately started streaming. I did some figure drawing on stream, pen and ink illustrations, traditionally sculpting, stamp carving and more while also watching other streamers. I slowly, sloooooowly gained a “following” on there. Some of them followed me to Twitter and Instagram, and some made purchases. I streamed 3 days a week for 2 months then started streaming less and less when my anxiety disorder took hold. Chris and I moved back down to So Cal in Feb. 2016 and I continued selling my work on Etsy while advertising on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, and having occasional streams on Twitch. I decided shortly after to make a new Instagram dedicated to only artwork. So I went from 600 followers on Instagram to 0, and from there slowly climbed. Not too many people followed this new account from my old account so I really started from the bottom.
I gained more followers using hashtags on Instagram. They look sooooo dumb, but guys, that’s how people will find you. Having followers on Instagram really doesn’t do TOO much for your shop, yes it’ll help advertise new listings and whatnot but some people can have thousands of followers but barely any sales in their shop. Some people want to buy an item from you, but they don’t really care to see your art Instagram everyday, and that’s totally fine. So your numbers on Instagram/Twitter/Facebook/Whatever kindaaaaa don’t matter? Ever hear that saying that goes something like “Its better to have a few real friends than a thousand fake ones.” I think that’s kinda true when it comes to having a “following”. The people who follow when you don’t look that cool and you don’t have many followers, those are the sort of people who will support you because they love your work. Those are some badass fans. Those are the fans that will tell other people about your work. Those are the good ones. I love those ones.
Summer of 2016 I was inspired by Frannerd to start making YouTube videos again (I had made them in the past) and that connected me with a whole new audience. I’m slowly gaining a following there as well, but honestly has it brought in a ton of new sales? Not really. Doesn’t seem that way. But I’m meeting more people and spreading the word about my artwork.
So what has worked for me?
– Facebook (friends, family, people who know you)
– Instagram (visual based platform, good for artwork to be seen quickly)
– Twitch (very supportive community, lots of amazing people)
– Twitter (I think it goes hand in hand with my Twitch community)
– YouTube (getting my name out there)
– Etsy SEO (Etsy keywords help get my listings found, trial and error)
ALSO!
SUPPORT OTHER ARTISTS. Artists help other artists. Don’t be a greedy butthole. If you can’t support financially, support them in other ways. If you like an artist, let them know, connect with them. Help them if they need help. Be a good friend. This road isn’t an easy one, you’re going to need help at some point or another. Don’t just pop in when you need something. Devote time into giving back to the art community. Don’t force it, just be interested in other things besides yourself and your art business. Stay inspired.
I have a ton of room to grow, guys. Just doing my best. I’m not an expert. Take everything I say with a grain of salt. I just like to be open with you all and tell you what has and hasn’t worked for me. I hope this clears up some of your questions.
If you’d like to share, what has worked for you with advertising your shop?
Thanks for reading!
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How I gained my “following” Hey all! I wanted to make a quick blog post about a question I receive A LOT.
