Illustrator Wendy Wahman and photographers Kim Lowe and Tom Hood use Facebook, and other social media, as an integral part of their branding. For these artists, it gives prospects a glimpse of their personalities and keeps their work out in the world. Here’s how they make the social network work for them.
How are you using Facebook these days?
Wendy Wahman: I have two Facebook pages: one for friends and relatives where I post personal and work-related items; the other is a Fan Page called Don’t Lick the Dog, the title of my first picture book, to promote my books. There, I post animal-related items plus links to children’s book and literacy information.
Kim Lowe: I use Facebook to keep my work in front of people because I know not everyone is going to my website. I also use it as a way to show my personality. Because I work with kids, I have the option to be a little more playful or feisty. I see Facebook as part of my job now. It even comes into play when I'm holding the camera and about to take a certain shot. I might photograph something funny on the side for Facebook. I did that during a shoot when a little girl took a break to pick her nose. It made for a funny post that said: “This is why I love to shoot kids.” Simple, yet different from posting a pretty picture. I put the pretty pictures on my professional site.
Tom Hood: I’ve never had a blog, but Facebook seems to be the next closest thing. I can mention a shoot, an idea or share a photo or link and it shows up in a place where many people already are. And if someone comments, ‘likes’ or re-posts it, it gets passed along to people I’m not otherwise connected with.
What does Facebook do for your business?
Wendy Wahman: The benefits are intangible but they take root and grow projects. Meeting new people in your profession leads to friendships, input and potential jobs. Right now I'm partnering with three authors to illustrate their books. My agent will shop them around. It’s an unorthodox way to do it, but we have our little co-admiration society and we want to work together.
Kim Lowe: I’ve gotten work from Facebook. I was an art director before I switched to the other side, and I had stayed in touch with another art director, Andrea Gavin, on Facebook. In November 2009, I posted some new shots. Andrea was doing some work for a toy company, B. toys. She saw the work I posted and contacted me for an assignment. We pulled together some shoots and had the B. toys catalog done in January 2010. And we just finished the 2011 catalog last month. So that's two jobs–all because Andrea saw a shot on my Facebook page.
Tom Hood: Most of the benefits seem to be intangible. I play the numbers game. Social media is a small but essential part of the marketing plan. Sourcebook ads like FoundFolios, mailers, e-blasts, cold calls and book showings all play a part in conjunction with social media. It's hard to gauge where the jobs come from. However, a lot of people use Facebook, and when I run into someone I'm “friends” with, that person will most likely have seen something I've posted and it may come up in conversation. I know it works. It's just not quantifiable.
What’s your best Facebook advice?
Wendy Wahman: Don't post endless “me, me, me” information. Share interesting links and other people’s openings and book launches. And if you do have two sites, don’t post the same thing at the same time on both pages. That’s a real faux pas.
Tom Hood: Know when you're saying too much. You don't want people to become fatigued by the amount you post. And when someone engages you, respond. Find a way to provide a memorable experience for that person.
Kim Lowe: Photographers don't want to be in front of a computer. I get that. They want to be shooting, so they don't always take advantage of everything Twitter and Facebook offers. But to use social media successfully you need to use it completely. Embrace it and have fun.
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Read what artists have to say about Twitter: Tweet, Pray, Love: Twitter Strategies For Artists