There’s no doubt that mastering social media as an actor can be difficult. You want to post content that is interesting, useful and helps build you a loyal audience but there are so many different social media platforms that it can sometimes get overwhelming trying to keep on top of them all. So how do you figure out what to post? And how can what you post help to further and promote your career as an actor?

We’re going to break it down into an easy step-by-step guide so you can worry less about what you’re posting and focus more on what you love – acting! 

Step 1 – Choose a content category

When trying to create a cohesive and interesting social media presence as an actor, it can be hard to know exactly what to post. In our experience, the type of content that is perfect for you to post can be broken down into 5 categories, regardless of where you’re posting it. 

1 – Projects I’m working on

Any media that shows you rehearsing, auditioning, working or in the middle of a project. These kinds of posts help promote you as an actor – they show people that you’re busy, you’re working, and what’s more, you’re in demand! Being busy with work proves the quality of your acting, and will also prove your passion for your craft.

2 – Projects / people I love

It’s important to talk about yourself and what you’re doing, but it’s just as important to build a backstory and add some personality to your profile. Whether you are looking to use social media to increase your profile, help you network, or help you get jobs (or a combination of all of these), social networks are designed for sharing not only what you’re doing, but who you are. Sharing what inspires you, or what continues to motivate you helps your audience to understand you better.

3 – About me (as an actor)

There’s thousands, even millions, of actors in this world, with many of them vying for the same roles and same opportunities. When it comes to *really* standing out, you have to show what makes you unique – what you can bring to a role that nobody else can. Maybe you have a unique story to tell, maybe you are inspired by someone really eccentric, or maybe you have a real-life experience that makes you the person who can really stand out in a particular role… whatever it is that makes you YOU is worth highlighting!

4 – About me (as a person)

Just like showing off who you are as an actor, you also need to show who you are behind your job too!

Personality is what sets you apart from the rest. What you have to offer is special and unique – there is no other you in this world! So why not highlight what makes you uniquely you, and use it to your advantage? At the same time, personality is what draws people to you, creating relationships, friendships and professional contacts. Don’t be afraid to show who you are!

5 – Fun posts!

You want to show you’re serious, motivated, professional and passionate… but balance is the key to life and sometimes you have to cut loose!

Showing how you like to have fun, telling jokes, sharing memes (especially those related to your art), and general silliness is advised! The acting world is full of fun characters and eccentric personalities so don’t be afraid to show yours – you’re in the business of entertainment, after all! 😜

Step 2 – Choose your media

1 – Photo

Photos can be the easiest type of content to post – it’s quick, it’s easy, and you can get pretty amazing quality even on a smartphone.

Great for: selfies, action shots, behind-the-scenes, headshots, silly posts, etc. 

2 –  Video/ Gifs

More and more people these days like watching videos, with an amazing one-third of all online activity consisting of watching video! Whether it’s a short video, a Boomerang or a gif, your audience will always enjoy you posting some video content! 

Great for: showing auditions, acting, monologues, previews of shows or film, behind-the-scenes, showing your personality, etc.

3 – Link (to websites, blog posts etc)

If you have a blog or a website, or if you find something that’s so interesting that you feel you want to share it – go ahead! Links are especially good on Facebook, where people can easily click through to the website.

Great for: sharing your thoughts, sharing news about your industry, sharing links to other social media or your website, linking to projects you’re working on or involved in, promoting tickets to shows, etc.

Step 3 – Choose your hashtags

Hashtags are important when it comes to social media (especially Instagram and Twitter); in fact, posts with at least one hashtag have 12.6% more engagement than those without. Imagine how much more engagement you could get with more hashtags, all targeted specifically to your audience? The answer is – a lot more! And this could be the key to building an audience that really enjoys following you on social media!

Need help making your Instagram captions POP? CLICK to read how to write engaging Instagram captions

You can use online websites to help you find the most popular hashtags (particularly suited for your audience) at places like All-Hashtag.com and Hashtagify.me, but you can also find which hashtags are popular in your niche by analysing what other people in your niche are using. Be careful not to use too many or you can seem spammy and desperate for likes, which will turn people off. Sometimes less is more, but ultimately it’s up to you to decide which ones are effective and suit you.

Step 4 – Publish your post & respond to your audience!

You’ve followed the steps in this post and you’ve posted some GREAT content…. but your work’s not over!

Make sure you respond to all your comments and acknowledge everyone who engages with your content. It’s the sure way to build a relationship with your audience and get people coming back for more!

Still need content ideas? Download the free 31 Days of Instagram Content (For Actors) Calendar!