6 Eye-Opening Tips On Using Social Media

Social media can be a powerful tool for actors but it comes with risks. Furthermore, social media is not for everybody. And, just because you may love any positive attention you get from acting, that does not mean social media is for you. In this blog post, we will explore the pros and cons of actors leveraging social media for their career goals, and how they can maximize the advantages while minimizing the risks. We will also talk about avoiding social media when it is not for you. Because you can use other marketing strategies instead.

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Do You Need Social Media?

Should an actor have an online presence? If not, how to compete in a market where casting can find thousands of actors with a click on a hashtag? If yes, how much time should I dedicate to it? What if I hate social media and waste time with it? What if I love it so much that acting has to take the back seat?

It’s undeniable. If you do not exist on the internet, you do not exist in the entertainment business. Unless, of course, you have established yourself well enough that casting, producers, directors, and fellow actors remember you immediately when they hear your name. Now, honestly… what are the odds they do? The truth is… social media is a free marketing tool. However, it is not the only marketing tool available for actors. We will be talking more about alternatives later in this post.

Keep this in mind: until a few years ago, using social media was considered tacky for actors. It was not until around the time a small handful of celebrities broke the rules and started dominating Twitter that actors decided to join the bandwagon.

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Tip #1 – Actors Are Not Influencers

Social Media was “a reality start thing,” and actors were told by their reps to do the exact opposite of what reality stars did. Serious actors were only supposed to show up in character or talk about acting. Once they became famous, they could share bits about their personal lives. But sharing the behind-the-scenes and the struggles of acting was a no-no. No one wanted to demystify actors.

But that changed. When reality stars started monetizing social media, they created the concept of “the influencer.” As time went by, people with a large number of followers strengthened that concept. Actors continued to hear from their reps that they should not be on social media. Influencers were regular people with followers, not actors. And we were not supposed to get ourselves mixed with them.

It was not until actors on TV commercials were no longer the only marketing option for advertisers that influencers started getting the respect of agents. Once reps took notice of how much money there is to make from representing influencers they started looking at social media differently. And once reps were open to it, they started helping actors create marketing strategies using social media.   

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Tip #2 – The Advantages 

First, let’s talk about what social media can do for actors: free marketing. You can be your publicist. You can network and connect with industry peers. Heck, you can even audition! It is your free talent showcase. Think about it: posting your comedy clips on TikTok costs nothing. Uploading them to Actors Access, on the other hand, can add up to your budget. With social media, you can explore your branding, your target audience, your talent, and your passions. You can also share your hobbies and related skills like singing, baking, and doing martial arts. You can even use social media as a platform for activism. Create your content from home, and you can collaborate with others and reach more viewers. Social media can be a low-cost, great return on investment use of an actor’s downtime. 

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Tip #3 – Actors Don’t Post For Impressions

You can use social media as an actor without worrying about follower count. After all, you are not an influencer. So, you can have as few followers as any non-famous person. And that should not deter you or embarrass you in any way. Naturally, famous actors will have a large following. But even some famous actors have fewer followers than certain influencers. Your social media should show your life and your journey as an actor at the very stage you are right now. As you grow in the business, followers will add up. Still, that number should not be your concern. Rather, you should look at it as a reflection of your journey.

Casting directors for TV and big-budget films do not care about how big an actor’s online presence is. Not. At. All. Independent filmmakers, on the other hand, might care a little. That is because a high follower count may help them get eyes on their movie. Still, remember they hired you for your acting skills. Otherwise, they would have offered the role to an influencer. That said, don’t make yourself look bad on social media. You never know who is peeking at it, and a casting director might be, just out of curiosity about your personality outside of acting.

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Tip #4 – The Disadvantages

There are downsides to social media for actors for sure. Let’s talk about them. First and foremost, we are living in the age of cancel culture. An honest but controversial point of view posted on social media may get you unwanted, negative attention and ruin your reputation. It has happened to famous people and it can certainly happen to anyone whose name just started being recognized. If you are constantly putting your foot in your mouth, consider staying out of social media. Alternatively, you can let your reps or a PR team handle it for you.

Another downside is the time social media can consume. If you have a day job and a family, you don’t have a lot of time to spare, and social media requires at least some time. When you are barely able to make time for your auditions and acting classes, you may need to forget about adding social media to your task list. Especially if posting is distracting you from your goals, such as getting better at acting. As an actor, you need to be working on your craft, and dedicating as much time as possible to it. If time is a rare commodity in your life, remember to prioritize it toward actual acting goals, not social media.

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Tip #5 – How to Effectively Use Social Media as an Actor

If you decide that social media is for you, remember you are not an influencer. Showcase yourself as an actor at the very stage you are in your journey. There is no need to pretend you are more famous than you are. Honesty gets you quality content. And, if casting or a TV showrunner ever peaks at your content, they will appreciate it because you don’t pretend to be something you are not.

Be proud to be an actor, even if that means you have just started taking acting classes for the first time. As you move ahead in your journey, your content will get more and more interesting. You may attract positive engagement from fellow actors on the same stage and even from your first fans!

Take advantage of the platform to show your skills. Acting, of course. But also, any special abilities such as a different language you speak, a sport you play, or an accent you can pull. Keep it clean: you may still show your cat, your self-cooked meal, or the unkempt corner of your small apartment. But make sure they do not distract followers from your journey as an actor.

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Tip #6 – Social Media May Not Be For You

If you dislike and prefer to stay away from Instagram, TikTok, or any social media, that is perfectly fine. Having a nicely built profile on Actors Access and IMDb is all you need in this industry to get work. A website with some information about your career can also be helpful and does not require constant updates. Over time, you may find ways to connect with industry peers in person, in classes, or through fellow actors. 

Some agents have a social media department that their clients utilize. When and if your reps decide you should have an online presence, you can delegate that to an assistant or a PR team. That is a great way to be on social media without actually being in it.

You are not an influencer and you don’t have to be. You are an actor and a person with your privacy preferences. If you do not like sharing your personal life, there is nothing wrong with that. You can remain one of the mysterious actors whose personal lives your fans know very little about. Keep your focus on acting, and don’t let anyone tell you that you are not being smart about your career because you are not on social media.

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Conclusion

Using social media as an actor can be a powerful marketing tool but also comes with its risks and potential downsides. The decision to use it or not is a personal one and should be left up to the actor. If the actor chooses to use it, they should make sure they use it to showcase their acting and hone their craft while avoiding the potential pitfalls that come with it.

On the other hand, if an actor does not feel comfortable using it, it doesn’t mean they cannot be successful. It means they have to explore alternative marketing strategies and remain focused on perfecting their craft.

There is no one-size-fits-all approach to a career in acting. It’s all about self-awareness, being true to yourself, and knowing which strategies fit your personal and professional goals best. 

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