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Likes, Hearts, and Followers: Should I Post Content or Open Commissions?

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This is the question many artists ask themselves these days. Because, let’s be honest, at the end of the month, there are bills to pay, a family to support, and credit cards about to expire. And time always seems to be in short supply.

Let’s get straight to the point: Can we pay those bills with likes? Can we feed our family with hearts? The answer is a resounding no. And that’s something we need to accept when our time, a finite resource, is at stake. So, why do we feel envy when we see artists with thousands of followers and likes? Deep down, we think that if we could make 1 dollar from every follower or like, we’d be rich overnight. But reality is much more complicated than that.

In my career as an illustrator, I’ve seen how internet fame has changed. Before social media, being known online was something special, almost magical. But with the arrival of social platforms, fame seemed to become more democratic, although only on the surface. Those who joined Facebook or Instagram early managed to gather impressive amounts of followers. Those of us who joined later got stuck chasing the algorithm. But here’s where a key concept comes into play: the conversion rule.

The Conversion Rule

The conversion rule is a simple formula: out of your total active followers, only between 1% and 10% will be potential income generators. This means that if you have 1,000 active followers, only between 10 and 100 people might buy something from you. This is a universal principle, and you can check it by doing the math yourself.

But why emphasize the word “active”? Because it doesn’t matter if you have 10,000 followers on social media, if only a small fraction of them regularly interact (comments, likes, messages), those numbers aren’t as impressive as they seem. So, what should we do? Focus on gaining more followers or open commissions?

The Dilemma of Commissions

This is where the dilemma arises: if only 1% of your 500 followers buy a commission at 5 dollars, you’d make 25 dollars. But life costs much more than that. So, if you’re already panicking with this reality, don’t worry—the question is valid.

The solution is simple: stop doing what everyone else is doing. Don’t open commissions at the same price as other artists, don’t follow the same style, and don’t post the same content. Create something original. Your time is limited and valuable, and if you waste it creating empty content for likes, the conversion rate will be so low that monetizing even one follower will feel like a miracle.

Why Don’t Likes and Followers Work?

Social media not only hides the real data, but it also limits the reach of your content. Their business is selling ads, and you are the product. Spending all your time filling your social media with low-value content is an inefficient strategy. The follower numbers you see don’t always reflect reality, and obsessing over them is a trap.

So, what can you do with your followers? Instead of investing all your time in social media, dedicate it to creating your own project. If you enjoy storytelling, you can create a comic or illustrated book, and share the process on your platforms. That way, you’ll be investing in something that can generate long-term income.

Projects vs. Commissions

When your audience sees that you’re creating something valuable, your number of active followers will start to grow—not because you post pretty pictures, but because you’re sharing something meaningful. Change your focus: instead of concentrating on social media, concentrate on your personal project. This project is your trunk, and social media is just the branches. If the trunk is strong, the branches will grow naturally.

If you still think a project is too much work and prefer to open commissions, go ahead. But keep in mind that you won’t be creating something of your own. You’ll be drawing what someone else wants, and you’ll only get those 5 dollars. That’s not necessarily bad, but it won’t be something you can call “yours.”

The top artists who charge high prices for commissions didn’t get there just by randomly opening commissions. They invested time in important projects, and that effort gave them the recognition needed to justify those higher prices. Some worked for companies, but the key is that they invested their time wisely.

Your Time is Gold

In the end, time is your most valuable resource. Drawing the latest trend won’t pay your bills. Instead of spending your time creating superficial content, update your portfolio, contact editors, or send your resume to companies you admire. In the past, artists dreamed of working for Marvel, DC, Pixar, or Blizzard. Today, many are chasing the dopamine of likes and followers.

Some artists have turned their followers into a loyal fanbase, and their Patreon is filled with members. But many of them end up drawing characters from other companies, often in contexts they don’t control. It’s much more valuable to focus on creating original content that you can then share on your platforms.

Conclusion

  • Likes and hearts don’t pay the bills.
  • Not all your followers are active, and only between 1% and 10% will buy something from you.
  • Empty content on social media wastes your time.
  • Your time is your most important resource; invest it in your own projects or in freelance work that’s truly worth it.
  • Be original. As an artist, it’s up to you to create your career and live from it.

Remember: what’s trending today won’t be tomorrow, but the project you create today will remain relevant, no matter what happens to social media. Don’t become just another product of the platforms; be the artist who’s creating something unique and with passion.

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