Creating a good online presence: what is the best approach?

 

By now, im certain you know that you need to have an online presence. If you are serious about becoming a professional creative, you need an online space to build your business and get your name out there. The tricky part is knowing how to do it. In this post, I will be looking at different ways in which we can build an excellent online presence and consider what might be the best approach.

Where do we start?

Many new professionals face the most significant problems when they set out and can go down the wrong path. You can establish yourself on many platforms, and choosing the wrong one can potentially set you back months of effort, not to mention money. Let us take a look at a few ways in which we can get started;

Plan

It can be daunting and even overwhelming when trying to establish yourself online, so you must begin by laying out a basic plan or strategy that you can follow. It would help if you had a clear idea of the content you would like to share and where the most suitable place to do so might be. It does not need to be an exact plan, but having a guideline to follow will better establish consistency in your online presence. 

Create a simple yet effective website 

A website can be a great hub and home base for your activities as an artist. Although some might find this quite a daunting task, you don't need to be an Html or C++ coding master to accomplish this goal.

There are many good tools out there to help you do this i.e.

• Squarespace, GoDaddy, Weebly, etc. - These websites are all very similar and allow users to use pre-built templates with drag-and-drop elements to personalise and modify. Squarespace could be considered the more expensive option, but the results can be very professional with little effort.
• WordPress - free and open source content management system that allows you to host and build websites. WordPress works using plugin architecture and a highly customisable template system. I would consider WordPress a level up in difficulty, to say Squarespace but still very accessible with some knowledge.
• Artstation - leading showcase platform for games, film, media and entertainment and enables artists to showcase their portfolios professionally. There is also a paid option with a personal website, portfolio, and many other perks. 

Each has there own benefits and costs that come along with them. It's up to you and your budget on what you choose, and they are all great options. Regardless of your choice, I would start by keeping it simple and to the point. Don't be tempted over complicate what you're trying to accomplish, as it can detract from the objective.   

Social Media

Social media can be a helpful and free tool and can sit alongside your website as a way to connect or engage with people. Networking and interacting as part of a broader online community can lead to unexpected opportunities, whether on Instagram, Twitter, TikTok or Youtube. 

It's a good idea when establishing these profiles to use the same handle across all platforms, and you should have links from each to your main website.  

When posting content, use relevant tags, hashtags, etc. and think about the kind of content you are posting. You can be as creative as you like, but keeping your posts relevant and consistent with your brand or style is essential. 

Illustration by Dino Tonic

Develop a distinct style, and stick to it

Building an effective online presence is mainly about consistency in the content you publish and your work's visual style or feel.

Take time to browse through some of your favorite artists and their work. You will see that they all have unique, distinct styles that you could consider their artistic personalities or ''brand'' and by consistently promoting this, they have, over time, acquired audiences that value and appreciate their work. 

Consistency will establish a more distinct image or personal brand associated with you and you alone. This image is something the audience and clients can engage with and hopefully remember. It would be best if you tried to keep this image as consistent as possible, regardless of your sharing platform. Doing this should make your work stand out from the crowd and keep audiences engaged.

So, what are you waiting for?

Creating a solid online presence can help you tremendously and help you establish yourself in the creative industry. In addition, if you can consistently share your knowledge and enthusiasm for your chosen field, employers will likely consider you a valuable asset and hire you. 

I hope I have provided helpful suggestions you can harness to pursue a career in the creative industry. It can be a very competitive field to navigate, but by following some of what was mentioned in this post, your chances will be vastly improved.