Why Facebook Isn't Good Enough

Small galleries and artists alike need a website. A website is like a business card. It's a way of letting the world know that you exist, and that you have art of some kind you want to share.  And you  need to keep it up-to-date so that the world will know what you are doing, what book you've written, where you will be exhibiting your arts, where you will be playing music next.

There are several platforms where you can get a free website such as Weebly or Wix, and they are easy to use. Sonoran Arts Network is on the Weebly platform. (Design faults and shortcomings are the responsibility of the editor, not Weebly!)

I feel especially frustrated when I see artists who only have a Facebook page, but no website. Having a page on Facebook isn't good enough.

Facebook fans don't seem realize that there is a world out there beyond Facebook.  Many people use the internet and yet they do not have Facebook accounts. They will never see your art if you are only on Facebook.   And even if you do have a Facebook account, don't assume that your friends are seeing your FB posts. Facebook has an algorithm to select which posts you see, and which of your posts are seen. Research indicates that you'll see only 15% of what is posted. You will never see everything that all your friends have posted.

I have a strong preference for Google + as a social media platform. Not only is there no algorithm censoring some posts and not others, we're not badgered constantly to buy ads on G+.  The display of work for artists just looks better on Google +. Sonoran Arts Network has a Google + page. And Sonoran Arts Network is on Facebook, too, because Facebook, like death and taxes, is unavoidable. It was first, but it's not the best social media.

There are, of course, limitations to depending too much on any social media platform, and limitations to being on-line 24-7. There is a world out there as we can see in this painting by (left) by artist Pawel Kuczynsk.   Why limit yourself to Facebook? Why not go through the door?

 So please, if you are serious about your art, then establish your own website.

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