How To Grow On Instagram Without Reels!

Instagram, once a platform for static photos, shifted to video, leading to 'short-form video fatigue.' Many users, including artists, are overwhelmed by the constant onslaught of short, intense video clips. The speaker notes a collective longing for the 'good old days' of Instagram and observes a current shift back towards static posts gaining more reach. This is encouraging for artists who prefer not to create video content regularly.

Carousel posts, though not new, have evolved. Instagram now allows more images per carousel and, crucially, permits text directly on the images. This feature is a 'game-changer' because it provides immediate context and value to the viewer, enhancing engagement. Unlike lengthy captions, text on images is more attention-grabbing and offers additional information about the art, the artist, or an event, leading to increased shares, saves, and better algorithm performance.

The speaker conducted an experiment by posting casual carousel posts featuring aspects of her life, which received significant engagement, sometimes outperforming her deliberate artwork. To merge casual content with art, she began creating visually engaging carousel posts using tools like Canva, incorporating her photography into collages with chosen fonts to tell a story about her creative process. These posts, detailing photography adventures and artistic styles, consistently outperformed her Reels, demonstrating that video isn't the only path to engagement.

Artists can adapt this approach in various ways: breaking down their art-making process (e.g., a ceramicist showing stages of a matcha bowl), sharing 'behind-the-scenes' glimpses of their life, revealing the inspiration behind their art, or introducing themselves to their audience. These methods allow artists to show personality and depth without needing to appear on camera, fostering deeper connection and engagement with their followers.

While Instagram isn't a perfect platform, it serves as a valuable tool for artists to engage with new people. The speaker views Instagram as a 'handshake' – a first point of contact that can lead followers to more in-depth content on platforms like YouTube, Substack (for newsletters and email list building), or their personal website. The strategy is to use dynamic carousel posts to maintain presence and connect with an audience, without the pressure of creating constant viral video content, effectively leveraging Instagram for broader reach and deeper engagement elsewhere.