This blog post isn't about some giant ego trip, I promise. But I still challenge you to google yourself. Why? Because you need to make sure that you are easy to find and that your online presence is reflective of you and your brand. It's the perfect time of year to critique your online presence!
When you Google your name (or business name), or if you have a common name (righttio, John Smith - I feel you) [your name] + artist, you should be plastered all over the first page of google. Hopefully the first listing that appears is your website.
Website
I am on my website tinkering every week. Writing blog posts, updating projects in my portfolio, adding videos to the library etc. I am constantly evaluating my website. I might receive an email or phone call from a school that can't find my workshops web page. So, I take this feedback and I make it very clear in the menu and on the index (home) page where the school workshops are. The priority for your website is to make it very clear what you do and what services or goods you offer. It should be the first thing people see. Your next priority is to make your calls-to-action very clear. What is it you want people to do? Sign up to your mailing list? Buy an artwork or print? Enquire about a mural project? Website visitors need a little guidance. Stop what you are doing right now. Go to your website and read through each page and flag where you can add call-to-action buttons.
Don't forget about your Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) on your website. Use keywords related to your art and style in your online content, including your website, images and blog posts. This can help improve your search engine ranking.
Social Media
Hopefully the next pages that pop up when you google yourself are your social media channels: Meta, X, Instagram, TikTok, LinkedIn. The great thing about these platforms is that you have the ability to jump in and update your bio to suit your business. Remember, the priority is letting people know who you are, what services and products you offer and sometimes it's helpful to know where in the world are you (Carman San Diego... 90s kids here?). Keep your messaging on brand across all platforms. For example, if your website says that you are a 'Ceramic artist that creates 70s inspired artworks', then make sure your bio on each platform reflects this. If you can, keep your bio/branding imagery consistent.
Also remember to adjust privacy settings on social media platforms to control what information is visible to the public. Be mindful of the content you share, and consider creating separate professional and personal accounts if needed.
News Articles
Hopefully you'll have some news articles pop up on the first page of Google. This is great (assuming they are good news articles) because it forms legitimacy for your brand. If there does happen to be an article floating around that doesn't show you in the best light, you can ask for it to be removed. Another strategy is to bump this news article off the front page of Google by filling the page with better articles. Reach out to your local newspaper or creative blog writer. Make sure to have a pitch. For example 'Local portrait artist is a finalist in the Archibald'. We can all dream right?
Online Portfolios
This is a great way to get your work out there into the world. When I was teaching at QUT, one of the project the students had over a semester was to set up a Behance account and each day they were to upload an image. The subject was Image Production and we worked with the students on different ways to create imagery. This meant they had a small folio of project work at the end of the semester. Also, when I was looking for work in New York as a young Graphic Designer, I put my portfolio up onto a designers folio site. I ended up in Shanghai, but if it were not for that portfolio, I wouldn't have had that opportunity.
By actively managing your online presence, you can ensure that the information available about you online accurately represents your artistic identity and helps you build a positive reputation in the art community, find new work and builds your following. Now go Google yourself!