Engage Me or Lose Me Forever
I’m back from paradise and ready to grow a business big enough to go back again. Who’s with me?
Before I dig in, I have a question for you. Do you have a full-time career outside of your creative work? Leave a comment below and let me know.
I stumbled into an idea that took off with people on Threads this week, and I am cooking up a plan; I’d love your help.
I Cannot Wait to Be Engaging!
Let’s be honest; nobody says that ever, but that may also be the reason your IG stats suck; I’m as guilty as most.
This week, I got a wake-up call via Instagram Reels, which sent me down a rabbit hole of figuring out how badly most of us are using the platform.
This is a contentious topic because so many people want the app to return to its wild and free days when followers and interactions hung like fruit from magic trees, ready to be plucked.
Unfortunately, there is no going back, and if we want to see growth on the platform, we need to playInstagram’sam’s rules. I
I’m currently working on an article I’ll share next week that shares:
The common complaints about the Instagram algorithm
How some timely exposure to art marketers changed my view
The new strategy I’m testing to grow my IG account
I wanted to have that story ready to publish today. It has been satisfying to write, but it’s not good enough to be useful to others yet, which is the core problem for mpeople’sle’s IG accounts.
You share your posts regularly but ignore the audience's wants.
I have a confession about my Instagram habits; maybe you can relate. I spend more time in the Explore tab than in the feed.
My feed is filled with amazing artists and designers, but if I’m being honest, it's boring. The art isn't dull, but more and more of the same types of posts from the same people day in and day out gets dulI’m
I’m willing to admit my behavior isn't great, but there's a strong chance countless others are doing the same.
“I’m an artist, not a content creator.”
That is a common detraction from the platform’s status quo, and I get it. However, if we refuse to work with the new engagement parameters, we cannot expect the audience to embrace us.
This is a bigger conversation that requires a more thoughtful investigation, and I will share that next week, but I want to leave you a question.
When you scroll through Instagram, do you find yourself compelled to engage with posts by watching videos all the way through and then giving likes, comments, and shares?
When you stop to engage with a post, ask yourself why, and then use that information to judge your content.
Art Snack: Natalia Karpman
Artist turned coach, Natalia was recommended to me by another featured Art Snacker, Megan Carty. After watching just a few reels from Natalia, she was an instant follow. Not only does she dole out great advice about being seen on Instagram, she does so in a gentle yet direct way. Be nice, but bring straight talk, and do not mince words.
Like me, Natalia still makes art, but it plays second fiddle to her passion for helping others. Mathat’sat’s you.
Sides: Creative Affiliate
You're working your creative business the right way: Selling on your Shopify or Squarespace site, writing newsletters, filming process videos, and writing blog posts about your favorite tools, but aside from the occasional piece that sells, none of it is paying you for your time.
What if some of the products and services you use regularly helped you put a few extra dollars in your pocket each month? You likely recommend these things to friends and colleagues already; you might as well get paid for the effort.
Becoming an affiliate of the products and services you use regularly is one of the easiest ways to earn money from your efforts. Although affiliate marketing has a reasonable amount of stigma attached to it because of shady operators, most affiliate programs are meant for honest transactions between people who want quality recommendations on products and services.
If you love a particular set of brushes, share them with your people. It doesn't cost them any extra to use your link, and if it helps support you, most fans and followers will gladly help you by using your links.
The absolute most accessible way to get started is the Amazon Associates program. By joining, every product on Amazon becomes an earning opportunity. However, the percentages earned with the program can be low.
I have affiliate partnerships with several companies, including Shopify, Envato Elements, Printify, ConvertKit, Beehiiv, Creative Market, Blick Art, and many others. These partnerships help me earn hundreds of extra dollars each month and keep The Hungry from starving.
Yes, all those links are affiliate links. If you’re unsure, you can ask me about them before clicking.
It’s easy to get caught up in the hype around affiliate partnerships, so here are some rules I have for myself.
I will only promote products that I currently use or have used in the past and fully endorse. For instance, I will never promote an Etsy or RedBubble affiliate program.
Be honest about the links wherever you share them. In some states and countries, this can be a legal issue, and you must disclose the relationship.
Aside from the examples above, I avoid stuffing links, especially in emails. If you overstuff your posts with affiliate products, you could lose credibility with your audience. Also, Gmail may not love it and could send your messages to the spam folder.
Affiliate programs can help bring some serious cash as your audience grows, but remember to respect the audience first. The more you do that, the more likely they'll click those money-making links.
If you'd like to know more about which affiliate programs I use, reply to this email and ask me. Maybe I'll do a deep dive on the topic in the future.
Small Bites
🎤 - Substacked announced that you can now publish any Substack Podcast directly to Spotify. Previously, podcast hosts were required to make workarounds to get their audio publication out to audiences beyond the Substack walls, but now you can be a golden-voiced god to listeners everywhere.
🔬 - I could stare at Daniel MarDiaz’saz’s work forever, or at least until they kicked me out of the gallery.
💰 - Do you kwhat’sat’s better than someone buying your work? That same person buying everything you ever produce ever. That's more challenging than it sounds, but here’s a deep dive to help you turn one-timers into repeat 4-evahs!
▶️ - If you're a YouTuber offering memberships on that account, the platform announced that you can now offer member-only Shorts. Now, you can share your dance memes for a monthly subscription.
🧠 - Steph Smith is one of the most intelligent people in tech and business. She thinks like a savant and shares like your best friend over coffee. Recently, she chatted with ConvertKit’s Nathan Barry, and the conversation is pure genius.
🔥 - Real talk: Mr. Beast doesn't think you've got what it takes to be a content creator. Ready to prove him wrong?
