Kate Kvasnicka: Growing an Art Business on Instagram through Authentic Connections

In this episode of The Art Coaching Club podcast, host Hayley Price interviews artist Kate Kvasnicka (Kate K.), who shares her strategic approach to using Instagram to build genuine connections with followers and drive sales. Kate, a full-time professional working at a Fortune 500 company, discusses how her business background has helped her leverage Instagram to grow her art career as a side passion.

Kate's Background: From Facebook Marketplace to Strategic Art Sales

Originally from South Carolina, Kate Kvasnicka attended the College of Charleston and now resides in Richmond, Virginia, with her family. She began selling her artwork on Facebook Marketplace during the COVID-19 pandemic, which sparked the launch of her Instagram account and website. Although art is not her full-time career, Kate's background in business has helped her approach it with a strategic mindset, focusing on key elements like pricing, marketing, and scaling.

Leveraging Instagram: A Strategy for Building Genuine Relationships

One of the key highlights of this interview is Kate’s detailed process for using Instagram not just to showcase her art, but to build meaningful relationships with followers and convert them into repeat buyers. She emphasizes that her strategy is about creating real connections, not just pushing sales. Here are her main steps for leveraging Instagram:

1. Identify and Nurture Warm Leads: Kate begins by closely observing who is engaging with her posts—liking, commenting, and watching stories. She adds these individuals to her "close friends" list or keeps track of them in a separate collection.

2. Engage Regularly: Once she’s identified her warm leads, Kate makes a conscious effort to interact with them regularly. This includes liking their content, starting conversations, and offering sneak peeks or exclusive offers to make them feel valued.

3. Validate Interest and Build Anticipation: In the weeks leading up to a new collection launch, Kate uses Instagram features like polls and links to gauge interest and build excitement. This allows her to tailor her launch strategy based on real-time feedback from her audience.

4. Make Strategic Offers: Rather than mass-marketing to all her followers, Kate focuses on a small, highly engaged group, offering them exclusive deals or early access to her collections. She believes this method creates more personal and lasting customer relationships.

Focusing on Mindset and Balance

As Kate continues to grow her art business, she reflects on the importance of mindset and maintaining balance. She admits that it’s easy to get caught up in comparing yourself to others or overcommitting to various projects, but she has learned to be more intentional about celebrating her small wins. For Kate, finding success in her art business is more about focusing on what’s working and learning from mistakes, rather than striving for perfection.

Conclusion: A Practical, Relationship-Based Approach to Growing an Art Business

Kate Kvasnicka's interview offers a practical and strategic guide for artists looking to grow their business on Instagram. By focusing on building genuine relationships with engaged followers, Kate has created a sustainable art business that doesn’t rely on a massive following but instead nurtures a smaller, dedicated group of collectors. Her approach is a testament to the power of authenticity, consistency, and strategic engagement.

For artists looking to grow their businesses, Kate’s key takeaways include the importance of tracking and nurturing warm leads, being intentional with engagement, and balancing growth with mindset and personal well-being.

You can follow Kate Kvasnicka on Instagram at @katekvasnickaart to see more of her work and learn from her strategic approach to art sales.