Help & Suggestions
It goes without saying that some prompts are pretty easy and an idea may instantly spring to mind! But there are also those which are a little more difficult to interpret! Some of these prompts are deliberately kept vague so that you can interpret them as you wish and so it allows for a wider variety of posts! This page is to help you find your way with those prompts that are a little more difficult. Listed below you'll find the full list of prompts and a brief explanation of my thinking behind them and a few suggestions on ways that you can use them. These are just ideas and I'm not saying you should follow these! I'd like you to interpret them in your own way! Just think of this as a little help if you are a bit stuck! The prompts marked with ★ symbols indicate the posts that would work well as pinned posts on your profile.
2nd - About you/brand ★ - Introduce yourself and your creative business although there is no pressure to share your face if you don’t want to! How long ago was it that you last talked about your brand? Do new followers know what there is to know about you or your brand? Where did your brand come from? How did it come about? What is it about? Is there a story behind it? How did you decide on the name? What are your brand values? What do you stand for? Tell us everything there is to know about you or your brand! There’s no right or wrong way to do this.
4th - Behind the scenes - What would it look like if you had a camera crew follow you around all day? Take a few snaps and make a carousel of what you get up to! Or perhaps create a small reel of all of the tasks you have to do. Or maybe jump on stories and fill us in throughout the day with what you’re up to! Share glimpses of your studio, workspace, tools in use, or daily routine. This is about showing the reality behind your creative business. Make it as authentic as possible!
6th - Trial & Error - This one is all about learning, mistakes, and experimentation! Share something that you’ve been experimenting with that took many takes to get right, something that went completely wrong or a happy accident lead to a break through. Or a problem you’ve been facing that you’ve solved through trial and error.
9th - What you make ★ - This is a simple straightforward show and tell. This is a chance to share your work clearly and confidently. You might want to show a finished product, a collection, or a carousel showcasing different ranges. Think about how you’d explain your work to someone new that didn’t know who you are or what you make.
11th - Why you make - Share the reason that you’re a maker! Was it a choice? An accident? Or something you fell into. How did you get here? Why do you continue to do it? What do you love about it? How does it motivate you? Why does it matter so much to you?
13th - Currently working on - What is on your to do list? Are you close to finishing something? What is it? Share what’s on your desk today. Show a work-in-progress, a new idea, or the beginnings of a new project. Use it as an opportunity to gather feedback. If showing something you’re working on isn’t possible perhaps look at what skills you’re currently working on instead. Are you practising a specific skill? How are you doing that?
16th - Who is it for ★ - Talk about the people your work is made for. Who did you have in mind when you designed and made this product/range/collection/business. You might describe your ideal customer, the kinds of clients you love working with, or the lifestyle your work fits into.
18th - Design details - Are there any details on your products that deserve a mention or that are easily overlooked? Highlight textures, patterns, colour choices, finishes, or thoughtful touches. Is there a detail you really like adding to a product? Perhaps it's a label, a stamp, or a hidden message. Or maybe a character singled out from an illustration. Focus on the small things, something that could be overlooked or something that you particularly like or is special.
20th - Challenges & wins - This is a good one to reflect on the realities of running a creative business. Share a challenge you’ve faced, a recent win, or a lesson learned. Big or small, these moments help others feel less alone and more connected. Share multiple things using a carousel or just focus on one particular thing. The choice is yours.
23rd - How it’s made ★ - Show us how you make something! I’m not saying give us a step by step tutorial but just a little sneak peek behind the scenes of you at work. Perhaps it's as simple as holding a pen or paint brush. Or perhaps you’ve covered your workshop in saw dust or you are completely covered in clay from throwing pots. Show us how your work comes together. From materials and techniques to time, care, and craft, this is your chance to reveal the process behind the finished result. This helps others understand the value of your work.
25th - Revisit - This is a chance to look back and see how far you have come, revisit an old piece of work or to notice change and or growth. What was the first product you ever created? How have you changed? Maybe you still make it? Has your style changed?
27th - FAQ - Answer a question you’re often asked (for me this is always ‘what printer do you have?’) But for you this could be about your process, pricing, timelines, custom work, materials, or anything else that comes up regularly.
30th - Where to find me ★ - Where can we find you and your work? Do you have a website? Are you on Etsy? Do you have lots of bricks and mortar stockists or even your own high street store? Do you have a mailing list where people can access exclusive content and discount codes? This is the prompt to plug all the places where people can find you outside of Instagram. Make it easy for people to connect and find you. Alternatively, if that isn’t something you want to talk about then feel free to tell people where in the world you’re from, where you make your creations, where you like to spend your time, the list goes on!