Artists are skittish about sharing images online, but so many artists aren't even taking basic steps to claim credit for their work.
Let's take Facebook for example.
Photo Album Descriptions
Take a close look at your photo albums on your Facebook fan page. Notice that you don't see titles, your name or © notice on the main album page. You only see thumbnails.
For this reason, it's valuable to have a strong description for the album. Go into your album and then Edit Album to add a description. I would add your name, © notice, a few descriptive words about the images in that album, and perhaps your website URL.
Unfortunately, Facebook shows the description at the bottom rather than the top of the album page, but at least it's there if you add it.
Image Credit Lines
Now that you have a good album description, it's critical to do the same for each image. You need to add a complete credit line in the image description. Enter this information in the caption for every piece of artwork you post on Facebook.
Your credit line isn't just a title, but also includes the dimensions (HxWxD), media, and copyright date. Oh, yes, and also your name. Your name! If your image is shared anywhere on Facebook, you want this information to be visible.
See how Lisa Call has done this for her textile paintings.
It's also best practices to include the credit line when you feature images on your wall, rather through an album.
Want credit for your art? Post it, yes! But finish the job by adding the complete credit line in the caption.
Just as you wouldn't hang your art without a label, you shouldn't post it anywhere without this information.
Immerse Yourself in Social Media for 1 Day
We're going to be focusing on all kinds of Facebook tips and tricks in the Art Biz Coach Social Media Immersion workshop in Philadelphia on Saturday, November 5. We have an entire day to talk Facebook, blogs, Twitter, and whatever other questions arise. Please join us! Get the bonuses and save $30 when you register by September 29. Read more and register here.
About the Guest Blogger
Alyson B. Stanfield is an artist advocate and marketing consultant who helps artists find bigger audiences for their work. She's the founder of Art Biz Coach and Art Biz Blog and the author of I'd Rather Be in the Studio: The Artist's No-Excuse Guide to Self-Promotion. She's coming to Pennsylvania from her home in Colorado especially for the Social Media Immersion event on November 5.
Thank you Alyson for being a guest blogger on the Daily Painters of Pennsylvania.
5 comments:
Great information. Thanks so much for sharing Alyson!
Mary Beth, it's great you were able to get a post from Alyson. I know I'll be learning a lot from her in Philly. My husband and I both are enrolled in this one.
I plan on attending also. Still need to get a ticket.
Alyson - thank you for posting on the DPP blog. This information is something all of us can use. I look forward to finally meeting you in person in November!
Thank you for this invaluable information!
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