He’s On All the Platforms | Stephen Salter | Episode 774

Stephen Salter | Episode 774

Stephen Salter Pottery was founded in 2018 in Rockwall, Texas. Currently running and selling out of San Marcos Texas. When in college Stephen found his love for ceramic art when taking an elective class with Julie Blackstone. Very quickly it became one of the big centers of Stephen’s life. Stephen started by selling custom work and doing shows, in 2021 he moved to San Marcos to apprentice at The Barn Pottery. Stephen now lives and works in San Marcos continuing his ceramic business with a focus in functional pottery.

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Why has social media been good for you?

Social media is free. Well, of course we play by giving our information for ads, but as far as an artist we can post our things and get out there and how it goes is determined by the algorithm and what not. But I think social media is a blessing for the artist as far as getting in connection with your fan base.

And it allows you to build a fan base, correct?

Definitely. Definitely.

How do you like Facebook for a platform for what you are trying to do? Does it work well for your ceramics?

You know Facebook really just seems to be mostly people that I know. Because when I very first started I think Facebook was probably my first page and mostly family, friends, and the network that branched off them. I think I do have some new followers that I met and handed out my card. But I feel like Facebook is more of a personal thing where people get in touch with me on Messages, you know. I do post on there but I don’t stress it that much.

How has Instagram been working for you?

Instagram is good. I can’t say anything bad about Instagram, besides the fact that I need to push it harder. I don’t push Instagram hard enough. I need to start pushing the reels and I need to start pushing a few different things that Instagram has going on. I think Instagram is a great thing. I think it is the artist’s portfolio of 2021 or the last few years especially. If you are a photographer or actress or anything artistic you are going to want to put your things on Instagram because most people have it . I feel like most generations do have it. I guess different ones draw different age groups primarily, but I feel like most people have Instagram. It’s a great place for people to get a hold of me too. I think the messaging on Instagram is great.

I am curious about how you view your Etsy page.

I view the Etsy page kind of like Instagram. I need to push it a lot harder. I did a lot of custom orders so most of my drive was unseen from the public. It wasn’t making batches and trying to sell the batches. Which is great because they are automatic sales. I have a lot of things coming. I have quite a lot of things lined up for Christmas that’s already finished out. I think Etsy is great for a person just starting out online. I heard Shopify is a little bit better. But as far as Etsy, I like it. I don’t have as many sales on there as some people but from what I have sold has been great.

How do you view your website in relationship to social media and the other platforms?

I think your website is very important. I think your website is like a really professional portfolio that you can really control. I am currently stripping mine down and I am in YouTube college right now learning how to do website design. So I am getting educated by a few videos and it is going pretty good. I think a website visit is kind of important and it is a direct way for someone to get a hold of you in a professional manner. If someone messages you through your website you know it is a pretty serious conversation . On Instagram when they are sending you the hearts and what not, they are appreciating it, but they are not necessarily trying to buy it, but when someone comes to your website they are probably looking more so to buy something.

Tell me about your relationship with TikTok and how it works with your ceramics and building a fan base?

I think the TikTok thing as far as an artist, my story is the same as a lot of other artists. You know, when TIkTok first came around I just kind of blew it off, which I am never going to do about an app again because you kind of want to jump on those things early. . I first thought it was just a silly dancing app of course, when it first came out and seeing the ads everywhere was just kind of annoying. And then I let it go and didn’t’ do anything on it and then Covid hit .and I was playing Xbox with one of my friends and he encouraged me to post on TIkTok and I posted a simple little video and it had 600 views with zero followers and I thought, Is this real? So for a solid year I posted every single day and kind of learned this does better than this, you know, you just kind of got to learn about all that. You just kind of figure out what TikTok likes. I feel like on Instagram artists try to keep things really clean but TikTok is a great place to share more light-hearted moments and show other aspects of the process.