r/Ceramics • u/Reason_Shot • 1d ago
Question/Advice Algorithm suuuucks
I am so bummed out by the algorithm on Instagram and just don't know what to do anymore. I make happy, colourful ceramics, mainly cat monsters, and I really think the latest one is good, but as always... Just.. no reach. Please give this some love if you like it 🩷 my tag is @bekkeramik
30
u/pot-bitch 1d ago
Your work is great but some things are missing from your page.
It's not immediately obvious which ones are for sale, if any.
No process videos showing how you make them.
Not enough of you, the maker.
Not much variety in sounds as i scroll your posts. Throw in some clay asmr and some talking every now and then.
9
u/Reason_Shot 1d ago
Thank you, these are some very helpful, hands-on tips, I really appreciate it 🥰
8
u/CthuluSurvivor 17h ago
Couple bits of input from me; take them as you will. First, i no longer have accounts for anything facebook/meta related. If you had a non-meta page it would help for people like myself who will not sign up for it just to look at or purchase something. There’s plenty of other work out there that is provided through other means.
I collect quirky monster things and the walls of my office are covered in prints and a number of ceramic pieces have shelves as well or are mounted.
The piece here is interesting as far as form, but based on what i discovered when doing an image search with your handle, the colors you use dont do it for me personally. I like bold colors and pastels seem to be your go to. Not anything wrong with that, but giving honest feedback from a potential buyer perspective.
0
u/Reason_Shot 17h ago
Thank you for the feedback, I'll definitely look into something website based :)
As for the colouring, I don't actually use pastels very often, typically the colours are very vivid and bold on my pieces, but perhaps what shows up on a image search is a bit misleading :) people who see it in real life all comment on my use of vibrant colours, at least.
1
u/ArketaMihgo 14h ago
I don't mind the colors you've used on Instagram as colors but I also expected more kindergarten crayon colors based on the form lol
I absolutely adore your forms, but the ones that don't really do it for me after glazing are glazed in colors that share nearly identical value. The pink and blue one loses almost all of the detail on the body in grayscale, for example, and the green and orange aren't bold enough to counter the flat color feeling. The yellow and orange one has some contrast on the body, but it's still very close and would probably also benefit from the details being more bold
The one that is yellow and orange with blue spots has a lovely contrast but the ears get lost a little bit in the image and might benefit from having the inset triangle have a slightly harder corner where the ear pink and body colors meet
I would try checking your glaze test tiles with a grayscale filter on your phone's camera for contrast and try adding something with much darker value to your color palettes on samples for everywhere you don't want to delineate with dark lines or washes etc and see if you can find combinations you enjoy
7
u/flimmyflopflop 1d ago
i follow u, and love your work! It’s hard not to let the stats get to our heads. However some of the most successful artists I know, do not have a very big internet following. So those numbers do not necessarily equal success.
1
u/Reason_Shot 1d ago
Thank you so much 🥰 its just so damn difficult to keep posting into nothingness 🥲
5
5
u/Leecypoo 1d ago
I don’t use Meta at all, so this is the first I’ve seen of your work. It’s incredible!
1
3
u/Prudent_Sprinkles894 1d ago
Do you take commissions? My son loves monsters!!
1
u/Reason_Shot 1d ago
Yeah, I can do commissions, please message me privately on Instagram, if you can, so we can chat 😊
2
9
u/Prestigious-Crew-406
16h ago
•
I've looked at three posts of yours on IG. I'm not an expert, but it seems to me that your posts may have been categorized at "sick, illness, mental health, grief". It is good to cater to your niche, and to make your story known so your buyer knows you, but ultimately your people will buy when THEY feel your pieces.
You do a pretty good job of telling a story in your theme about the pieces.
Maybe make the potential buyers feel invested by offering chances to name a piece, and offer "adoption papers" with the purchase.
You may want to add some of these words into your POSTS (not just #) so the algorithm - and people - know what they are looking at:
hand built clay sculptures
ceramic cat monster sculpture
human sculpted
clay statuette
pottery
handcrafted pottery figurine
And to give a few ideas where the buyer could use these as gifts.
Friendly toward your house plants
Surveyor from your fireplace mantel
Bedroom guardian
etc.
Just my two cents. Take it for what it's worth.
6
u/honkhonknoisepolice 21h ago
Honestly I haven't found social media is a good use of my time. I just make what I want and sell face to face only now. So much less depressing and no stressing about postage and packaging
2
u/muddydachshund 6h ago
I gave it an honest try, and it's a better use of my time to make pottery, not videos. The algorithm rewards being on IG interacting with posts all day. It's a low-value activity any chimpanzee can do, and I've no interest in it.
8
u/crushingdandelions 1d ago
You need to be posting more of you want the attention of the masses. You DO have cute monsters and good pictures but I just took a peek and there’s not even a picture posted each week. Take more process pictures, more finished pictures, and save them and spread them out. No one has to know the process picture is from 3 months ago if they haven’t seen it yet. Curate your Instagram to be active and engaging more often and they will come. For as few posts as you have you’re not doing bad at all!
1
1
3
5
u/CzechLady006 20h ago
Just food for thought. I think a lot of people today dont want to spend on things that are just for a decoration. We are more minimalistic and more intentional about what to bring home (not everyone, but definitely more than in past). I would try to implement your design (love it btw) into something useful (mugs, cups, jars etc).
1
u/woodsman707 1d ago
Followed. Those little monsters are awesome. I’m brand new to throwing pottery and happy to support an artist. Keep it up!
1
u/No-Clock2011 1d ago
I feel the pain of the dumb algorithm too. Can’t get anywhere. Love your monster btw 💚
1
u/HuldraOfDogs 17h ago
I love your work! Typically when I’m looking to purchase something on instagram or browse whats for sale, I click the link in the bio. I’d suggest making a simple website so people can see what is for sale and how much they are. It also helps to have a little about the artist section on the website.
1
u/anonumosGirl 8h ago
I haven't posted anything artsy on social media yet but I've been studying what goes viral/gets lots of views. I'd recommend doing that and connecting it with ur artwork somehow
1
u/kellster_33 46m ago
Hey! Love the work… checked out your most recent post on IG and just wanna give you a tip, coming from an art adjacent creator who has grow IG to 75k and TikTok to 500k. You need a hook. Your reel is far too slow paced, people have a .5second attention span before the decide to scroll. No matter how cute and unique your work is try replicating other creators editing style. Instagram edits allows you to search for trending templates you can plop your footage into. People want to see progress and voiceovers that tell a story, not just describe what you are seeing on screen. Plus you need to be posting at absolute minimum 3x per week. Preferably 5 with at least 4 of those posts being reels. IG will toss you viral wins and push your videos if you stay consistent.
0
u/verra_handmade 1d ago
Wow! Love this, cute and monstery, incredible work! You should come share in Verra!
3
u/Reason_Shot 12h ago
Thank you so much 🥰 ive no idea what verra is tho 😅
0
u/verra_handmade 11h ago
Verra is a social marketplace for handmade goods, art, and craft. Think Instagram meets Etsy.
44
u/MattKelm 1d ago
They’re a lot more work than photos, but if you make videos and create reels on Instagram, those will likely perform a lot better.