Photographers: 7 tips for managing social media

The world of social networks offers every kind of company and business a potential for huge visibility at low cost that is (relatively) simple to manage, absolutely unthinkable until 10-15 years ago.

This is even more true for the world of photographers, since besides the visual features added by the mother of all social networks (Facebook), there are social networks created and developed solely for images and Visual Storytelling. But be careful! On social networks it is not enough to be there, you have to know how to use them and tell apart their specifics regarding what gets views and success and what doesn't, what increases traffic and what doesn't, who the average users are, etc.

Social networks are an exact science, based on mathematical algorithms, and even a small mistake can compromise visibility, credibility, sales and view potential.

The first piece of advice for all businesses that are social is to take a specific course on Visual Storytelling and on the use of social networks.

Now let's look, specifically for photography, at 7 tips on things to do and things NOT to do in managing your social pages as photographers, professionals or aspiring ones.

(you may be interested in the article "5 ways to find work and clients as a photographer")

1 - DON'T share only your own content

Social networks are an inexhaustible source of advertising, but they are not only for that. They are social, created to see what others are doing, appreciate it (there is a like and not a dislike, and that's no accident) and share it.
So that everyone understands you are not there just to show off, but also to see what's interesting out there, share, comment, follow, encourage... even your competitors!

2 - Interact

A Like is not enough. If you like a photo, write a comment about why you like it and why you are sharing it. When you publish your own work, don't be afraid to ask for comments. For example, if you share a photo from a job done in the snow, ask your followers to share their winter photos in the comments.
If there are people in the photo, tag them and thank them. By interacting through tags you will share the photo with more people.
If you used a venue or equipment provided by third parties, tag them and thank them, give them publicity. For every visibility tag you give, you will receive at least 3 in return.

3 - DON'T be impersonal

The social space you are using is more like a diary page (not a secret one, of course) than a billboard, even though it has greater advertising potential. So don't be afraid or hesitate to put your personality, your emotions and your opinions into comments, posts and everything you write, share or publish.
It is best for your profile picture to be a photo of you, perhaps with your logo in the corner. When you are on a social network remember that you are not just a company but a person behind a camera. Besides bringing your followers closer to you, you will show anyone who comes across your page and/or profile for the first time that you are not there (only) to sell a product.

4 - Sell on social media

Okay, you're not on Flickr just to sell... but also for that. Here you can sell images on 500px, and some online sales sites (like Getty) come and recruit you directly by analyzing your traffic. Good to know.

5 - DON'T complicate your hashtags

Be as conceptual as you like in your shots, but on social media and in tags and hashtags stay ordinary. Use the most common hashtags in your field; they only serve to bring traffic from people interested in the topic you cover, not to show how "ahead of the curve" we are.
Example: for the photos of the super conceptual and very talented Oleg Oprisco, I would avoid hashtags like:
#betweenearthandsky, #mindelsewhere, #dream, #flight.
Better to stay 'ordinary' and use
#photo, #landscape, #aerialphoto, #home, #naturephoto.

There are also dedicated apps to drive traffic to Instagram and Pinterest, depending on the main topic!

So watch out for products designed for targeted traffic.

6 - Comment on or share relevant topics

If an important political or social event has happened, don't be afraid to comment on it on your photography page too. Of course this only applies to topics we know something about and that truly interest us, otherwise we fall into the trap of know-it-all-ism in fake Facebook debates.

7 - DON'T gamble your image for a handful of likes

There are still people who think that a naked woman, talking kittens, a trashy video, bad taste, or rhetoric about crime news are elements that increase visibility. Careful! An increase in traffic does not equal an increase in your professional visibility, much less (indeed, never) in your credibility.

A design studio that panders to the masses with an out-of-context nude comes across first of all as uncreative, especially in the minds of a generation increasingly literate about advertising and marketing in general.
So, on social media as in life, be wary of easy and immediate success. Even though social networks are an excellent way to become known, they must be studied carefully over time, just as your image and credibility must be built over time.