6 Social Media Myths That Are Holding Artists Back (And What to Do Instead)
Social media is full of bad advice, outdated strategies, and myths that just won’t die. And if you’re an artist trying to grow your audience and make more sales, believing the wrong things can keep you stuck…posting endlessly with nothing to show for it.
It’s time to clear up the confusion. Here are six social media myths that might be ruining your engagement, limiting your reach, and making it harder to get your art in front of the right people.
Myth #1: Posting and Ghosting Hurts Your Engagement
People love saying that if you post and don’t immediately engage (aka “posting and ghosting”), the algorithm will punish you.
But here’s the truth:
Social platforms prioritize content that gets engagement. If your post gets comments and you don’t respond, that can hurt your reach because you’re missing out on boosting interaction.
But simply not hanging out in the app after posting? That’s not the problem.
Artists often get overwhelmed by social media, and the idea of having to sit there waiting to reply to comments in real-time sounds exhausting. You don’t have to do that.
Instead:
✔ Schedule a specific time to engage. (Example: Check comments 3x a day—morning, lunch, and evening.)
✔ Encourage interactions in your post. (Example: “Tag a friend who needs this reminder.”)
✔ Use Instagram Stories to interact. (Example: Run a poll or Q&A to encourage engagement.)
If you have to ghost after posting, it’s not the end of the world. But if you completely ignore your audience, expect the algorithm to ignore you right back.
Myth #2: Followers Are the Most Important Thing
A big follower count looks great, but let’s be real: 10,000 followers won’t always be able to pay your bills.
What matters more? Engagement and conversions.
✔ Would you rather have 5,000 loyal fans who actually buy your art or 50,000 who scroll past every post?
✔ Would you rather get 20 real comments and shares or 100 random bot followers who never interact?
✔ Would you rather make consistent sales or just have a pretty-looking number next to your name?
A smaller but engaged audience is way more valuable than a massive, uninterested one. Focus on building community, not just numbers.
Myth #3: Saying “Link in Bio” Hurts Your Reach
It’s not the words “link in bio” that hurt your post, it’s what happens afterward.
Most platforms don’t want people leaving the app. When you tell your audience to click a link and they actually leave Instagram or TikTok, it signals to the algorithm that people are exiting your content too soon. And that can lower your reach over time.
What to do instead:
✔ Use DM automation (“Comment ‘PRINT’ and I’ll send you the link!”) → This keeps engagement inside the app.
✔ Do more selling in the comments to anwser general questions. → This helps better inform your audience.
✔ Use Stories with a link sticker → These don’t impact feed engagement.
For example, if you’re selling art prints, instead of saying: “Check the link in my bio to buy this print!” Try: “Comment ‘PRINT’ to snag this poster!” (either DMing people manually or while using DM automation like ManyChat).
This keeps engagement high and doesn’t trigger a drop-off in reach.
Myth #4: Hashtags Are More Important Than Keywords
Hashtags used to be the best way to get discovered. But in 2025? SEO (keywords) matters more!
✔ Instagram, TikTok, and Pinterest now prioritize keywords in captions.
✔ People use search bars to find content, so your captions should be optimized for that.
✔ Your bio and username should include searchable terms (ex: “Dark Fantasy Artist” instead of just your name).
Does this mean hashtags are useless? No.
But instead of dumping 30 hashtags on a post, focus on:
✔ Using 5-10 relevant hashtags that actually match your content and using those same keywords in your captions. For example, instead of “New painting!”, try “Surreal horror-inspired acrylic painting of a ghostly woman.”
✔ Optimizing your profile. For example, instead of just having “Illustrator,” try “Illustrator | Custom Tattoo-Style Prints.”
Think of hashtags as bonus points, not the main strategy.
Myth #5: Posting Instagram Stories Every Day Will Get You More Traffic
Stories are great for engagement, but they don’t directly drive a ton of new traffic to your website or shop.
✔ What Stories do well: Keep your audience engaged and boost interactions.
✔ What Stories don’t do well: Bring in new followers or tons of external clicks.
If your goal is sales, prioritize feed posts, carousels, and reels because they have a longer lifespan.
Use Stories to:
✔ Encourage engagement (polls, Q&As, behind-the-scenes)
✔ Warm up your audience (so when you promote something, they care)
✔ Remind people about your shop or offers (without relying on them for traffic)
Example: Instead of posting daily Stories hoping for sales, focus on a few strong posts each week with a solid CTA.
Instagram Stories help nurture your audience, but they won’t replace a strong content strategy.
Myth #6: DM Automations Hurt Your Engagement
Some people think DM automations like ManyChat feel spammy or annoying. But when used correctly, they actually increase engagement and they are an approved Business Partner with platforms like Instagram.
Why I use ManyChat for all my businesses:
✔ They keep interactions happening inside Instagram.
✔ They make it easy for followers to get links & info without leaving the app.
✔ They boost comments & saves (which helps my reach).
Example:
• Instead of: “Link in bio to buy this print!”
• Try: “Comment ‘PRINT’ and I’ll send you a secret coupon code to snag this print 20% off”
This works because:
✔ More comments = higher engagement.
✔ It keeps people on Instagram instead of bouncing away.
✔ It makes buying easier (zero effort for your audience).
If you’re an artist selling prints, commissions, or digital downloads, DM automation is your best friend. Just make sure your messages feel personal, not robotic.
The Real Secret to Social Media Success for Artists
Stop chasing outdated strategies like:
❌ Worrying about follower count.
❌ Posting daily just for the sake of it.
❌ Relying on hashtags as your main discovery tool.
Instead try:
✔ Focusing on engagement, not just numbers.
✔ Using keyword-rich captions & DM automations instead of “link in bio.”
✔ Creating a content plan that actually helps your business, not just your ego.
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