I’m getting tired of the ”reblog” dont just “like” other people’s art” posts…
how about we stop guilt tripping followers to get notes???
THIS ALL THE WAY
Yeah, not like artists need to make a living or anything and if you like the image so much, why not reblog it and share it with others since likes literally are just for either saving it for later or for liking if you already reblogged? I understand if someone hit the post limit and are just liking something to come back to it later. However, why just like a post so you can go “this is nice” when you can go “this is nice I like it, OTHER PEOPLE LOOK!”
As someone who makes a living doing art? This isn’t about trying to guilt trip you. This is about advertisement and appreciation.
When I post my work up for folks to see I encourage sharing because it’s nice when people see my work and while the first person who reblogs it might not be my customer, their followers might. I’ve reblogged folks work before because “This is pretty and you know what? I can’t support them right now, I can’t afford to buy their stuff but maybe one of my followers will take interest!”
Seeing a like is nice and it can help an artist’s self esteem and make them smile. A reblog carries more weight because not only does it say “I like it!” it says “I like this thing SO MUCH that I want to share it with others!” It is a much more tangible method of support.
I do a lot of self advertising in different ways but I also get a lot of customers by word of mouth. Someone buys from me and shows what they got to a friend or makes a post about it and then their friend, in turn, buys something. Some of mine and my fiance’s scribble-liberty‘s long term customers came to us this way. Heck, Twitter shoutouts get me a lot of icon commissions because folks update their icon and mention it and then other people ask about where it came from.
Are there artists that are going to be angry when they put things out and no one reblogs it? Yes. Are there going to be some that aren’t nice about how they ask for reblogs? Yes. But take a moment to see it from their perspective here. They might put a lot of work into that thing they made. They might be struggling with getting work. They might be trying to sell their work. For these folks seeing you like their post instead of reblogging it says “Well…..it’s good….but not good enough.” I cannot tell you how many artists I know that internalize this. Some of my favorite artists think that they must be awful at art because “No one reblogs it.”
And I’m also going to state right now:
This is not always about being popular. This isn’t high school. This is the internet. These people have a MUCH larger range of reasons for doing things than just popularity.
Will there be artists that do it just for that? Yes. Is that what every single artist is doing it for? No.
I make art as my job. If something I make gets popular then that’s great for me because it means more traffic and potentially, more sales. Which means bills can be paid and necessities purchased.
Art is a service. We do like to do it but it is a service. If someone is selling it? It’s their job. Reblogging is an excellent way of not only showing you appreciate this service but also showing the artist that you think their work deserves support.
It’s not intended to be “GOD REBLOG MY SHIT OR ELSE” it’s just frustrated people asking “If you like my work why not share it? Why not support it? Am I really that bad?”
And this post is also not intended to guilt trip you. It’s intended to explain why it is that some artists ask for reblogs. Because when folks share what we do? It helps some of us make a living. Probably more of us than you think.
Are there things that I, as an artist, like and don’t reblog? On the very rare occasion and usually smut art that is something I don’t necessarily want to share with my followers. But most of the time I hit the like and the reblog because “HAVE YOU SEEN THIS COOL NEW THING SOMEONE DID WOW!!”
I’d also like to end this with a legit question though.
“Why are you okay with reblogging the cute cat video or the funny gif or the horoscope text posts but you don’t feel inclined to reblog someone’s art?”
How is it bad to ask for notes? I see people do it all the time for every other kind of post. Why not art? This website has so much reliance on images. And beyond that, I fail to understand how asking for a reblog instead of a like is “asking for notes” in the first place. A like is one note. A reblog is one note. The only difference is, other people can see it. I don’t think that’s a greedy thing to ask for to get your art out there. If you like it enough to give it a like in the first place, there’s no reason to assume no one else will. Pass it on.
Not asking for anything, personally, since I am not struggling like I know some people do, but these are decent things to keep in mind when doing the note crap on someone’s personal art tumblr vs a lol blog you follow as well.
Y’all, I put every friggin’ cent I make on my metalwork commissions towards buying metalwork supplies, or stockpiling shelf groceries so I can at least eat during the weeks I don’t get new orders.
I’m very fortunate to get to live rent free with my mother, and to have a grandmother who cares enough to send me some money here and there, but it’s pennies compared to the amount I need to cover meds, hygiene accoutrements, and food. I literally live off of my commission money.
Reblogs work wonders, people. They broaden viewership, and increase the slight chances of an artist actually courting new customers.
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