How Creatives Can Build Authentic Connection on Social Media
By
Riley S. Quinn
I’m not sure how it happened, but over the past five years, I have amassed a large online following for my animation and writing. Around 730,000 followers across Instagram and TikTok. This has often made me “the social media expert” in my creative sphere. I am approached by friends and fans alike for advice on how to grow an audience, when all they really want to do is make their art!
The online space is intimidating, especially as it grows increasingly commercialized, but building a brand doesn’t have to be as artificial as it sounds. It can even be a form of self-discovery!
My name is Riley, and I’m here to illuminate some key strategies that will help you figure out not only the most successful, but most enjoyable way to approach building connections on social media!
Creatives are often expected to be their own marketing team, a label that feels daunting and exhausting when you just want to make good work and magically attract the perfect fanbase. I’ve heard plenty of brilliant authors and artists alike bemoan how critical online popularity has become to a successful career. Especially if one does not personally have an interest in algorithms, trends, or even just being vulnerable to strangers. Letting them read your book or view your artwork is one thing, but branding can feel so… awkward. Embarrassing, inauthentic. And it’s just so unpredictable! It’s easy to stumble into burnout while searching for your perfect strategy, so I take a different approach to my virtual presence.
I’ve had way more fun with this part of my career by viewing my social media as an opportunity to build community, share my process, and grow alongside my audience. It’s tempting to chase numbers, but the key to authentic engagement is giving your audience something to stick around for. Something beyond an upcoming release, or trending audios on short-form video platforms. Showcase your creative voice! Tropes, trends, buzzwords… they’re temporary. You are the constant component, though you should be ready (and excited) to change alongside your work! Let the numbers rise and fall the same way tides roll in and draw back out; instead, find your footing in the unique facets of you.
I share some methods to consider, and how they worked for me, below.
Blend your passions. Sometimes the best way to stand out from the crowd is to show how your hobbies/careers combine! For me, that comes in the form of utilizing my animation background to bring scenes from my novels to life. In doing so, I am able to draw intrigue from lovers of both mediums, and perhaps even introduce them to the love of another. A chef could create dishes inspired by the cuisine of their fantasy world, or a dancer could film reference footage for their own animated short film and post them side by side to showcase some behind-the-scenes magic. This goes far beyond casting a wider net. It’s about offering a fresh perspective and drawing people in with a harmonious blend of familiarity and novelty.
Don’t let imperfection stop you. People crave authenticity more than ever, and despite how many perfectionists seem to fall down the creative rabbit hole, failure is part of every artist’s evolution. It’s not a bad word, or something to hide. It’s a byproduct of figuring out who you are and what you want to create! You won’t love everything you make, but someone out there will. Some of my favorite animations fell flat in front of my audience, while videos I rushed through creating in a single afternoon set personal records for engagement. What resonates with us may not land the way we expect it to, so we must also make room for the idea that the project we don’t think is “ready” might be awe-inspiring to another. We can’t get so wrapped up in making something feel complete that we never set it free.
Process, process, process. This is an extension of the previous point, but I must stress its importance because of how often it makes or breaks a project’s reception. Not only does sharing process increase the quantity of content you share, it makes your audience feel like part of something as it grows. They’ll have more love for the final product, having witnessed its evolution, and offer more support upon completion than if they were simply surprised with the final product! I share all of my exploratory sketches before diving into more polished artwork, and many have expressed their love for the “rougher” work as a peek behind the curtain.
Finally, remember to protect your creative energy. To keep your online presence and everyday life separate, it’s key to know where your limits lie. Beyond what you’re willing to share with an audience, it helps to figure out what consistency looks like for you. Some people have the time and mental energy to post daily, while others prefer posting once or twice a week, like myself. Taking the rest of the time to work, rest, or indulge other creative outlets keeps me fresh and inspired. Setting out clear expectations for yourself before jumping in keeps your relationship with your work healthy, fun, and true to you! I wish you the best of luck, and don’t forget: authenticity is the gateway to community!
Riley S. Quinn is an author, illustrator, and filmmaker whose background in animation and character design gives her writing a vivid, cinematic quality. A graduate of the Savannah College of Art and Design, she has published the Pendant of Hyacinth trilogy and now brings her artistic eye to her latest fantasy novel, Gold and Gossamer.
