How to Make Social Media Work for You
And get hired
Hey there,
As illustrators, we're often told that social media is a must for getting work. But is that really the case? On one hand, it’s true—how else will people discover and get familiar with your work? But on the other hand, how often does social media directly lead to job offers?
I don’t have thousands of followers or sell products through social media and I also don’t like spending my time making content every day. So, why do I use it?
(I’m mainly focusing on Instagram here.)
To get hired: It’s a way for potential clients to get to know me, get reminded that I’m still making out an active in the field. It also shows people current work which may be relevant to a project they need an illustrator for.
Inspiration and Entertainment: It’s a great source of creative fuel and a fun way to unwind.
Connecting with Other Illustrators: I love staying in touch with fellow illustrators, seeing what they’re working on, and maintaining connections I’ve made outside of social media.
Visibility to Publishers and Art Directors: There’s always the hope that someone in the industry will see my work and be intrigued.
Informal Showcase: Social media allows me to display my work and activities in a casual setting, sharing process updates, sketches, and discussions that wouldn’t fit in my formal portfolio. It also allows me to share events that I’ll be taking part of.
Keeping up with the Market: Social media also helps me keep up with trends, competitions, events, and submission opportunities.
But, it’s important to avoid the pitfalls—like endless scrolling, comparison, and the creativity-stopping habit of obsessing over what others are doing rather than making your own illustrations.
Remember, social media should serve your creativity, not hinder it.
I’m not an expert, but after over four years on social media as an illustrator, here’s what I’ve observed:
When I post new work on instagram, I get more engagement when I stay active on the platform and engage with others.
I have signed up to Instagram, X, Cara, and Threads. While Instagram has shifted focus to videos, it’s still my favorite platform for sharing art and connecting and it’s primarily the one that I use. I also stay on Facebook, mainly for the illustrator groups that still use it, like Make Art That Sells and Cardboard Box Illustrators.
If you want higher engagement and more followers there are many accounts that share tips. I recommend following @puregalsocial and @thelittledesigncorner. There are also plenty of others paid courses, but I haven’t done any of these.
Instagram can be a full-time job. I prefer to use my time to illustrate and only a small portion of my time on social media.
In my experience, most people become familiar with my work through direct emails or in-person interactions, then visit my Instagram. It’s a useful tool to show that you’re active and give others a window into your process.
I don’t believe social media is essential for selling books. Books need to be found through search optimisation tools, general publicity and be available for easy purchase.
Follower count matters less than having the right audience.
Personally, I’m more of a casual “pop-in” user, mostly on Instagram to browse and comment on others’ work—while dodging those annoying weight loss ads!
Come connect with me on instagram and we can become social media friends.
And most importantly, this newsletter is a platform for us to connect, share experiences, and continue building friendships in the world of illustration.
Feel free to leave a comment, ask questions, and share your own stories.
I would love this to be a community that uplifts and inspires us all.
News
The illoguild live session is on 19 August ‘ILLOGUILD Talks: The art of connecting on socials. Join us for the live chat (register here) or you can sign- up to the illoguild newsletter to watch the replay.
BIG NEWS: I’ve signed a contract for another book with EK Books, set to release in October 2025. I’ll share more details on Instagram when I can—yes, social media has its perks! I’m thrilled about this project, which I’ve been working on for a long time.
Submissions: I recently submitted to two Australian publishers that I admire deeply. Both had open submission windows, and I sent in a picture book I wrote and illustrated. It might be a while before I hear back, but I’m keeping busy and plan to submit more widely.
Jewellery making: I just returned from a wonderful trip to Bali, where I got to experience creativity in a new way by making traditional silver jewellery.
Thanks for reading!
You can see more of my work on my website or instagram.
Also please check out the Illoguild Newsletter! It comes out next week.
Each month we all answer the same question. It’s so great to see how each person has a different approach. This month all the contributors will share their ‘Top Recommendations for Illustrators!’
My Books
‘Boldilocks’ (out 2025). “Boldilocks is a boy with hair so spectacular and shimmering that everyone looks at him, embarrassing him wherever he goes. But when Pa takes him to the hairdresser to do something about it, something unexpected happens. With a little salon magic and a whole lot of love, much more than hair is transformed. Boldilocks celebrates the power of community and being confident in your skin (and hair), and will resonate with anyone who’s ever felt a little bit embarrassed about how they look.”
‘Our Australian Heart’ is an anthology celebrating Australia, featuring my illustration “New Life at The Great Barrier Reef”. Sale proceeds are to be donated to The Indigenous Literary Foundation.
Mia’s grandma is no ordinary grandmother. She is a very busy grandmother who is curious, fashionable and adventurous. Glamma always has time to share her love of the world with her granddaughter Mia, so is she just like any other grandmother?
Little Shark Lulu is Sleeping Little Shark Lulu is trying very hard to go to sleeeep…
But, all around her, lots of sea life are wide awake and busily hunting, eating or playing. How can Lulu nod off with all that underwater fun and games?