Your Follower Count Matters: Truths Aspiring Actors Need to Hear About Social Media
by Chris Peterson
Let’s start with the uncomfortable truth. Yes, your follower count matters. No, it’s not the only thing that matters, but if you think social media is just a distraction or a popularity contest you can afford to ignore, you are missing a crucial part of today’s entertainment industry.
Because let’s be clear. This is a business. And while your acting teacher may remind you that comparison is the thief of joy, casting directors and producers are absolutely comparing. They are looking at you, they are Googling you, and they are almost certainly clicking through your Instagram before they call you in. This isn’t a maybe. It’s not a theory. It’s happening. Every day.
So let’s talk about it. Not in a fear-based, algorithm-chasing way. But in a smart, strategic, artist-forward way. Because this isn’t about becoming an influencer. This is about making sure that your online presence tells the same story as your headshot, your audition, and your resumé. This is about building a window into your work and your world that is open 24/7.
Choose your platforms wisely
You do not need to be on every app under the sun. But you do need to be somewhere—preferably somewhere people can find you. Instagram remains the industry’s visual portfolio. TikTok is a discovery engine that’s creating stars faster than any studio. LinkedIn, while often overlooked, is where voiceover agents, educational theatre reps, and corporate creatives are quietly recruiting talent. Pick two platforms that feel manageable, then commit to showing up. Even once a week.
The most successful actors I know on social media treat it like a digital rehearsal. They post consistently. They try new things. They show their work. They don’t wait until it’s perfect, because it never will be.
Tell a clear, authentic story
Think of your profile like a postcard. If a casting director or collaborator glances at your page for ten seconds, what do they take away? Do they know you’re an actor? Can they see your personality? Do they get a sense of what kind of stories you want to tell?
This doesn’t mean every post needs to be a professional headshot or a shameless plug. In fact, please don’t do that. What it does mean is curating your content in a way that feels honest, intentional, and aligned with your goals. Behind-the-scenes photos. Audition prep clips. Celebrating your classmates. Giving credit to the playwright or director who just changed your life. These are all ways of telling your story and inviting people into your world.
And let’s not forget—your story is your brand. Not in a gross, corporate way. In the sense that your story is what makes you different. Your identity, your voice, your values, your humor, your take on this moment. That is what people are following. So give them something worth staying for.
Know the difference between vulnerable and messy
Here’s where a lot of actors trip up. They think being authentic means being unfiltered. It doesn’t. You can be honest without oversharing. You can be vulnerable without melting down in the comments section. If you’re going to post about a bad audition or a rejection, make sure you’re doing it with clarity, not just catharsis.
Treat your social media the way you’d treat a live talkback or a post-show Q&A. You are being real, but you are still representing yourself professionally. You can be emotional without being chaotic. You can be funny without being cruel. You can be you without being reckless.
Engage with generosity
Social media is not just a megaphone. It is a conversation. And the actors who get the most out of it are the ones who treat it that way. Comment on your friends’ projects. Hype up your classmates. Repost work that moves you. Celebrate people who land roles you wanted. The more generous you are online, the more people will want to be in your orbit.
And don’t just engage with your peers. Follow the people you admire. Slide into DMs with a thoughtful compliment. Send a thank-you message when someone posts a resource that helped you. The internet is a room full of people. The way you behave in that room matters.
The follower count matters—but it’s not the whole story
Let’s go back to the numbers. Will 10,000 followers book you a role? Probably not. But will it help you get in the room, especially if you are new, unrepresented, or coming from a nontraditional background? Sometimes, yes. A strong social presence tells casting teams that people are interested in you. That you have an audience. That you are building something.
I once saw a student land a national commercial because the client loved their TikTok page. I’ve seen producers pick an understudy over a lead based on who had the higher reach online. I’ve seen an actor cast because their Instagram page told a better story than their resumé.
Is that fair? Maybe not. Is it real? Absolutely.
The good news is that this is something you can control. You can’t control whether a casting director likes your look. You can’t control whether your college does the show that’s right for you. But you can control what story your social media is telling about who you are and what you offer.
You are an artist. You are also a product. You are also a human being. And in 2025, all three of those realities exist at once online.
So treat your digital presence with respect. Don’t chase trends—build trust. Don’t mimic influencers—craft your identity. You don’t need to go viral. You need to be visible. You need to be thoughtful. And you need to show us what it means to be you.
Someone out there is already looking you up. The question is: what are they going to find?