My Journey as a Generalist: Tips for Marketing Yourself in Multiple Art Forms

My thoughts and advice if you are a creative person working across multiple mediums and struggling with how to present yourself online

Feb 7

As an artist who works across multiple mediums - from drawing and painting to coding, writing, and more - I know how challenging it can be to present yourself and your work effectively online.

As a multi-disciplinary artist, it can be difficult to figure out how to market yourself and your work. You may have a strong background in photography, but also enjoy creating other forms of art such as music or other crafts.

The challenge is finding a way to present all of these different aspects of your work in a cohesive manner. It can be tempting to try to fit yourself into a specific mold and market yourself as a photographer, artist, or musician, but this approach can limit your opportunities and result in a loss of audience or engagement.

In this article, we'll explore the challenges facing multi-disciplinary artists and offer tips on how to market yourself in a way that showcases all of your talents, without limiting yourself or sacrificing your artistic vision. In this article, I am writing with the idea of an Instagram profile in mind, but I’m sure my opinion can be applied to other social media as well so I’m keeping everything quite…generalist.

Pros and cons of having a generalist profile

As a multi-disciplinary artist, one of the biggest advantages of having a generalist profile is the freedom to experiment and explore different mediums and styles. This allows you to keep your art vision and creativity unrestricted and open to new opportunities. Moreover, a generalist profile can attract a wider audience as it showcases the diversity of your skills and talents, thereby creating a well-rounded online presence.

However, there are also some obstacles to be aware of when having a generalist profile. One of the biggest difficulties is branding and marketing yourself effectively, as it can be difficult to pinpoint your target audience when you work in multiple mediums. This can result in confusion for others, who may not know exactly what you specialize in, leading to a lack of clarity in your online presence. Additionally, you may find it difficult to find a cohesive style or aesthetic for your profile, which can negatively impact the overall presentation of your work.

Starting out fresh VS switching later

Starting out fresh as a multi-disciplinary artist has its advantages. If you're just beginning, you have the freedom to experiment and market yourself in a way that showcases all of your talents and artistic vision. You don't have to limit yourself to one specific classification, and you can build a brand that reflects your diverse interests and skills. The important thing to do here is to just start, without overthinking or overplanning.

If you've already established an audience that only cares about one aspect of your work, switching to a more generalist approach can be tricky. In this scenario, it's important to make it clear to your audience that you'll continue to create the type of work that they followed you for, while also exploring new mediums and styles. Making the transition slow and steady can help minimize the risk of confusion and loss of followers. It's also important to avoid fear and start the switch as soon as possible, as it will take time for you to fully embrace your new approach. Just don’t make a full profile overhaul from visual artist to musician overnight.

Using multiple profiles

It's important to note the advantages and disadvantages of having multiple online identities. If you are just starting out, I would recommend to focus on one identity, rather than spreading yourself too thin by trying to maintain multiple profiles. However, as your work evolves and you gain a better understanding of your audience, you may find that different platforms are better suited for different aspects of your work.

For example, you may have one profile dedicated to showcasing your traditional art, another for promoting your NFTs, and a third for sharing educational content. By separating your identities, you can tailor your content and messaging to each platform, ensuring that your audience sees the best possible representation of your work.

Twitter, for example, is a great platform for sharing NFTs and educational content, while Instagram may be a better choice for showcasing your traditional art and promoting your shop. By carefully considering the strengths and weaknesses of each platform, you can create a presence that is both effective and engaging.

It's also important to keep in mind that as your work evolves, your online identities may evolve as well. Don't be afraid to make changes and adjust your profiles as needed to ensure that they are always representing you and your work in the best possible light

With that said, if I could start everything from scratch, I would just do one profile. Don’t create three different ones for three different things when you have less than a few thousands of followers. Additionally, I use the same username flygohr everywhere, I just use different platforms for different things, keeping an eye on my overall discoverability.

Some actionable tips

Starting out as an artist can be overwhelming, especially with all the decisions you need to make regarding your online presence. However, it's important to remember that you don't have to have everything figured out right from the start. Here are some actionable tips to help you build your online presence:

Consistent username: Having a consistent username across all platforms is important in helping you build your brand and make it easier for people to find you. Avoid creating multiple accounts on the same platform, especially when starting out
Visual Identity: Pick a visual theme for your feed. It could be a color scheme, a specific way of presenting your art, or a cohesive way of posting. Having a visual identity will help you stand out and make your feed more appealing to others
Don't overthink and overplan: It's better to post something and learn from your mistakes than not post at all. Don't be afraid to experiment and see what works for you. As you gain experience, you can refine your approach and make any necessary changes

Shoutouts and partnerships

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Before you go, please consider sharing this with a creative friend of yours, or with your followers!

Cheers,
Flygohr

Flygohr’s Creative Spectrum