The Ultimate Pre-Post Checklist: Posting with Purpose (Not Just for the Algorithm)
Posting Without a Plan? We Need to Talk.
Look, I get it. Sometimes you just want to post that cool painting you did at 2 AM, slap on a few hashtags, and call it a day. Or maybe you batch content like a pro and schedule everything in advance because you love having your life together (good for you).
But whether you’re a "post it in the moment" kind of artist or a "content calendar is my Bible" type, there’s one golden rule: Every post should have a purpose.
Why? Because posting just to “stay active” won’t grow your audience, drive sales, or get engagement. And let's be real, who wants to yell into the void with zero response? Not you.
So before you hit that "Post" button, run through this checklist to make sure your content is:
Actually helping you reach your art business goals.
Engaging and intentional giving your viewers a reason to follow you.
Set up for success (aka people actually see and interact with it.)
The Quick & Dirty Pre-Post Checklist
📌 Copy and paste this to your Notes app and use it before every post.
HOOK (Gotta Grab 'Em FAST)
✅ Text Hook: First thing on screen (or in the caption) that makes people stop scrolling.
✅ Audio Hook: A voiceover, trending sound, or background music that sets the tone.
✅ Visual Hook: Movement in the first 1-2 seconds (zoom, transition, hand gestures, something dynamic).
CONTENT PURPOSE (WHY Are You Posting This?)
✅ Have I posted about this recently? If yes, did it do well?
✅ Is this post for education, inspiration, or entertainment?
✅ Is this testing a new idea? (If so, track engagement for future posts.)
CALL TO ACTION (Don’t Leave ‘Em Hanging)
✅ What do I want my audience to do? (Comment, share, save, go to my shop?)
✅ Is there a clear CTA in the caption AND video? (Don’t assume people know what to do.)
✅ Consider using MANYCHAT for automated DMs and direct links.
CAPTION & HASHTAGS (SEO, Baby!)
✅ Do I have keywords in my caption that describe the post in a natural way?
✅ Are my hashtags SEO-optimized? (Mix broad + niche hashtags.)
POST & TRACK (Did This Work?)
✅ What’s my goal for this post? More reach? More leads? More sales?
✅ After 24 hours: Did it meet the goal? (More saves? More comments?)
Now, Let’s Break It Down (Because You Need to Know Why This Matters)
1. The Hook: If You Don’t Grab Attention, You Lose
Instagram, TikTok, and every other platform will punish you if people scroll past your content. (Dramatic, but true.) Your first few seconds make or break your post.
And out of everything in your post, the text hook is the most important. Why? Because before they hear your voiceover or see your movement, the text on screen is what makes them decide to stay or scroll.
So, let’s break down the three types of text hooks you should be using:
Type 1: The Negative Hook (a.k.a. The Hot Take Hook)
People love negativity. It’s why headlines like “You’re Doing This All Wrong” perform better than “Here’s a Helpful Tip.” A little controversy gets people talking.
How to use it:
Call out a mistake people are making.
Disagree with something popular.
Say something that sounds dramatic but actually has a good point.
Examples:
❌ “How to grow your art account.” → ✅ “Your art isn’t selling because you’re doing this wrong.”
❌ “Tips for digital artists.” → ✅ “Stop using the wrong brush settings, here’s what actually works.”
❌ “Ways to price your art.” → ✅ “You’re underpricing your commissions, here’s why.”
✨ Pro tip: Negative hooks work because they trigger curiosity and emotion. Just make sure the payoff is worth it (no clickbait nonsense).
Type 2: The Question Hook
Asking a question forces the viewer to engage mentally before they’ve even decided to stay. It feels personal and makes people want to comment.
How to use it:
Ask a relatable or polarizing question.
Make people choose between two things.
Pose a “What if” scenario.
Examples:
❌ “Watch my latest painting process.” → ✅ “Do you prefer digital or traditional art?”
❌ “Here’s my new artwork.” → ✅ “Would you hang this in your house?”
❌ “New video tutorial.” → ✅ “What’s harder: pricing your art or promoting it?”
✨ Pro tip: Make sure your question is easy to answer. If it requires too much thinking, people will just keep scrolling.
Type 3: The ‘What Are You Gonna Learn’ Hook
This hook sets expectations immediately. People stay when they know they’re about to learn something valuable.
How to use it:
Tell them exactly what they’ll get in the next 10-30 seconds.
Make the benefit clear.
Promise a quick tip or hack.
Examples:
❌ “How I shade my drawings.” → ✅ “The one shading trick that instantly makes your art more realistic.”
❌ “Tips for artists.” → ✅ “How to get more art commissions (even with a small following).”
❌ “My latest artwork.” → ✅ “How I made this with only three colors.”
✨ Pro tip: The stronger the payoff, the better this hook works. If you say, “Here’s a trick that will change your art,” make sure it actually delivers.
How to Combine Hooks for Maximum Effect
Want an even stronger hook? Stack two together.
Negative + Question:
“Your art isn’t selling—want to know why?”
Negative + What You’ll Learn:
“Stop doing this if you want your art to grow.”
Question + What You’ll Learn:
“Struggling with pricing? Here’s how to fix it.”
2. Content Purpose: Are You Just Posting to Post?
Your audience doesn’t need to see every work-in-progress shot of your sketchbook unless it serves a purpose. Before you post, ask:
Have I posted this before? If yes, did it perform well? If not, why am I posting it again?
What’s the purpose?
Educational: “Here’s how I shade with colored pencils.”
Inspirational: “My first vs. latest digital painting—never give up!”
Entertaining: “The unhinged process of making this cursed illustration.”
✨ Pro tip: If the post is just you screaming, “LOOK AT MY ART,” rethink it.
3. Call to Action (Tell People What to Do Next!)
Here’s the biggest mistake artists make: They forget to tell people what to do.
Your post should always have a CTA:
✅ Ask a question: “What’s your favorite art medium?”
✅ Encourage shares: “Tag a friend who would love this!”
✅ Send people somewhere: “Want early access? Join my newsletter.”
Enter ManyChat. This tool is a game-changer. Instead of saying, “Go to my bio,” tell people:
"Comment ‘PRINT’ and I’ll send you a link in DMs."
Boom. Now they don’t have to click anything—ManyChat auto-sends them the link. This can double conversions.
4. Caption & Hashtags: SEO Matters More Than You Think
Social media platforms work like search engines. If your captions and hashtags aren’t optimized, your post is invisible.
Write keyword-rich captions.
❌ “Here’s my latest drawing.”
✅ “Gothic-style ink drawing of a haunted castle—perfect for dark academia lovers.”
Hashtags should be searchable.
✅ #GothicArt #DarkAcademiaAesthetic #IllustrationDaily
❌ #Art #Drawing #Love (too broad, won’t help you rank)
5. Post & Track: Know What’s Working (So You Can Do More of It)
If you never check your analytics, how do you know what’s working? Look at:
Saves & Shares → Your content is valuable.
Comments → People are engaging.
Reach → Are you getting in front of new people?
After 24 hours, did your post do what you wanted? If not, tweak and try again.
Final Thoughts: Your New Posting Ritual
Before you hit “Post,” ask yourself:
📌 Is my hook strong?
📌 Does this post have a purpose?
📌 Did I include a CTA?
📌 Are my captions & hashtags optimized?
📌 Will I track this post’s success?
If yes → Post with confidence. If no → Fix it before posting.
