How does posting varied content help grow my Instagram following even if it's not all art?

Instagram analyzes every post and, based on massive data, knows which users will likely respond to specific content types. When you post something new or different—say, a painted guitar when you normally do abstract botanicals, or a personal hobby—Instagram tests it with people who’ve never been exposed to you, looking for positive signals. Each piece of varied content is essentially an arrow you’re firing into new audience territories. Some will hit, some will miss. Some will attract people who never buy art, and that’s fine—but you’re spreading your reach across wider interest categories. This exposure to disparate communities is how you discover unexpected collector audiences and grow beyond your existing follower base.

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Asked by artists seeking to expand their Instagram presence · Answered by Patrick Shanahan · art-marketing-podcast · 2025-08-22