Top Ten Social Media Tips
In our previous Harnessing Social Media blog, we talked about all the ways social media can help you and how to take advantage of those opportunities. Now, let’s go over the ten most important social media tips and tricks to help you stand out to casting, whether you’ve got 50 followers or 5000.
Which sites? The most important (and popular) platform for actors is Instagram. It’s a great way to showcase all your information, from a quick bio to headshots to reels of your work. Facebook is less necessary, though you should check and make sure it’s not too out-of-date. You can even set your Instagram posts to automatically post on Facebook! Generally, it’s important to give all your socials a quick comb, from Instagram to LinkedIn, to make sure your branding is consistent and professional.
If you’re more interested in the content creation side of things (like sharing comedy sketches, day-in-the-life, or performance videos), then TikTok, Instagram Reels, Facebook Shorts, and YouTube shorts are the places to post. If you want to make longer form content (over 3 minutes or so) regular old YouTube does the job!
The Right Username. It’s so simple, but make sure your social media handles use your name! If your profiles do not have your name in them, it’s harder for casting or other creatives to find you online. If your name is taken, you can add symbols or other words like acting/performer, so you can still be easily found!
Use Your Profile Photo. Add your headshot or another photo that really represents you and clearly shows your face as your profile picture. It reinforces your branding and, again, makes you easily identifiable for any industry professionals looking for your social media platforms!
Post Headshots & Reels. These are your best branding materials for casting. Make sure your headshots and/or performance reels are easily accessible on your social media accounts. On Instagram, you can even “pin” posts to the top of your profile, so it’s a smart idea to pin your headshots, a performance reel, a recap of a favorite project, or anything else that shows off your best work.
Story Highlights. Take advantage of story highlights on Instagram! These are curated collections of your previous Instagram story posts that live at the top of your profile. You can use these to highlights stories you posted about previous projects, networking events, or self-tape practice! You can easily create or add to these when you go to your profile page.
Highlight Representation. If you have an agent or manager, add their name and what they represent you for into your bio. Sometimes, they might have their own social media accounts–don’t be afraid to tag them! Of course, if your representation says differently, follow their guidelines, but otherwise it’s a great way to shout out your team and share who you’re working with.
Use your Biography. Besides representation, here’s some other important information you can add into your bio.
What you do (acting, voiceover, stunts, etc.)
Where you’re based… just the closest major city works. If you’re bicoastal or often between multiple cities, you can list them out!
Your unions, if you’re in them, like Sag-AFTRA, AEA, or AGVA
Current or past projects that you’re best known for!
Add links. In your bio on Instagram, you can include a link. Use that to link your actor’s website or your casting profiles! Many performers create a “linktree” which allows them to include multiple links in one, adding in demo reels, Actor’s Access, IMDb, and any other professional materials you’d want to share.
Respect NDAs! Nothing is worse than damaging your reputation and even getting into legal trouble for posting about a project you aren’t supposed to. If you signed an NDA, unless you’ve specifically been given approval to post, do not post about the project. Wait until everything has aired, and even then, proceed with caution when posting BTS material of a project. It’s always better to be cautious and get the ‘okay’ first for what you’re posting.
Thank your team. Once you are able to post about a project, make sure to thank everyone who was part of making it happen for you! Your manager/agent, the casting director, the creative team you worked with—we couldn't do it without them! Fostering community and appreciation for your fellow creatives improves your relationships and as a result, your art.
Overall, what matters most is consistency, professionalism, and a positive energy across your platforms. You don’t need to post every day or have thousands of followers to stand out! With these ten tips, you’ve got everything you need to have a strong online presence as an actor and make a great impression on other creatives!