My teens were mortified to find me on Twitter. First blogging and now this! But don’t allow yourself to underestimate the power of social media and microblogging services. Twitter is one of the fastest ways to build brand awareness for yourself and your art business.

What do I mean by branding? The American Marketing Association (AMA) defines a brand as a “name, term, sign, symbol or design, or a combination thereof, intended to identify the goods and services of a seller or group of sellers and differentiate them from those of others. sellers “.

A strong brand is invaluable and serves to communicate credibility to your prospects and business partners. You want your brand to reside in the hearts and minds of your customers, collectors, prospects, and competitors. Twitter is the perfect place to start promoting your brand online. It is true that some people use (or abuse) Twitter as a way to share their mundane lives with us. However, many smart minds share links, news, photos, websites, blog posts, videos, podcasts, and more. Finding and networking with like-minded people is a huge plus.

Here are some important branding tips to think about: Add your suggestions by commenting below …

1. @Name – Your name is the first thing people will see on Twitter. Use whatever name you want to represent your artist brand. When I started on Twitter, I used just my name, but I quickly added the word ‘artist’ to the end of my name and quickly gained a following. It’s easier for people to associate me as an artist this way. Also, when people search for “artist,” my name comes up.

2. Profile and Bio: Choose your profile wisely. This is a great opportunity to promote yourself on Twitter. These few words will tell the world a lot about who and what you are. Make it “catchy”, this description says a lot about you, which helps people make the decision to follow you or not. A custom page is a great way to get noticed right away.

3. Your Profile Image: Remember that you are building your artist brand. It is observed that most of the people identify themselves and want to see a friendly face. If you are not comfortable with this, choose a great image of your art that represents you and catches the eye.

4. Your website: don’t forget to add your website to your profile. Make sure your portfolio is visible. Twitter will drive traffic to your site.

5. Best time of day to tweet:

12:00 midnight – 4:00 am PST: up to 6 tweets per hour 12:00 midnight – 2:00 am PST: 3 tweets per hour 8:00 am – 12:00 noon PST: up to 8 tweets per hour 12:00 noon noon – 4:00 pm PST: up to 6 tweets per hour 4:00 pm – 8:00 pm PST: 2 – 3 tweets per hour 8:00 pm – 12:00 midnight PST: approximately 1 – 2 tweets per hour

6. Be a good follower: Next, follow the people and organizations that could help you in your artistic career and that are valuable to your business. I suggest you follow galleries, museums, collectors, art trainers, fellow artists, and others that you would like to be seen by. Don’t underestimate the average Joe or newbie tweeter … he could be your next big collector! It is good to learn to be a better follower, as well as to follow interesting people from all walks of life.

7. The Tweet: Tweet, re-tweet or post high-quality content that adds value to your followers. Remember, this is microblogging. People are looking for something of value to read and share or “re-tweet” with their followers.

On Twitter, I will sometimes share a photo using Twitpic to post a new finished painting or one in progress. This is a great way to get feedback and spark interest in your work.

I like to share my favorite art quotes, insights, and tips. And, at the end of each Tweeting session, I leave a ‘tweet’ that has something of value to share.

Consider what types of personal information, links, resources, and promotional materials you plan to post.

I read somewhere that a good rule of thumb for tweeting is: one personal tweet for every 10 informational tweets. Sometimes it is tempting to get something off your chest or share exciting news like I did when I taught a plein air workshop in France or when a black bear jumped in front of me on a dark path. A little bit of this goes a long way, but it also shows a real human side for you.

Also, Tweet frequently to build a following and brand awareness. In this way, you can grow a small community of people with similar interests and who recognize your name and brand. That said, don’t bombard Twitter with numerous tweets and updates. You’ll find what works for you … and your followers will let you know if they don’t like it.

8. Retweet / RT @: Retweet is a great way to grab the attention of an art organization, gallery, or someone you’d like to “follow” you. The re-tweet shares valuable information with other like-minded people.

9. Etiquette: Don’t forget to thank people for re-tweeting or replying to your ‘tweet’. Oh, and don’t worry if you lose a follower or two … this happens every day and is the name of the game.

Be a human being, not a marketing drone. Otherwise, you will be considered a spammer if you constantly send direct messages to your URL or product line.

And finally ……….

10. The golden rule of Twitter: “Tweet others the way you want them to Tweet you.”