Social media has dramatically transformed the music industry over the years, revolutionizing how music is consumed, shared, and utilized. It has also made music more accessible and engaging than ever.
A study by Musicwatch shows that nine out of 10 regular social media users actively partake in music-related activity. The data clearly indicates that musicians have the upper hand, and that social media is more than superficial and fleeting digital commodities.
Whether you’re an emerging or a struggling band, the following five ways can help you tap into social media to establish a powerful presence in the music scene and catapult your band to success.
Focus on Engagement & Building Excitement
There’s much you can learn from a band like Snarky Puppy and their social media presence.
While sharing direct links to your band’s products or albums might seem harmless, turning your platforms into sales channels will only drive your audience away and reduce your follower count.
As Metrixa Blog says:
Social media channels are full of businesses trying their hardest to sell their products and services to an audience that isn’t listening. As a result, the business receives low engagement and conversion rates and wastes valuable marketing budgets on channels that do not deliver returns.
There is a way to sell on social media, but you’ve got to do it the right way. Focusing on engagement first is generally the winning strategy.
There is a way to sell on social media, but you’ve got to do it the right way. Focusing on engagement first is generally the winning strategy. Click To TweetFor your band to gain traction online, you must make your brand as relatable as possible. Curating high-quality and interesting content is the key to keeping your fans excited and engaged.
Share lifestyle content such as band practice videos or daily life updates from all members. Showcase your band’s strengths using meaningful and well-curated posts that will engage your fans. If you want to widen your fan base online, you must cultivate an authentic, consistent voice.
Authenticity is one of the strengths of music influencers with strong social media presence, as they have perfected the art of sharing their talent while staying true to themselves.
Quality Trumps Quantity
While being authentic and relatable should be the focus of your content, sharing substandard materials will only make your band unattractive and mediocre.
Even if you have a funny but blurry video of a band mate snoring loudly, avoid posting it to drive engagement, as no one wants to watch a poorly made and disturbing video reel. Share high-quality, engaging, and relevant content that is strong enough to rise above the rest.
(Unless, of course, blurry and lo-fi content is on brand for you.)
If you don’t have the time or skills to create high-quality content or take visually appealing images, consider working with professionals, freelancers, or agencies.
If your band’s budget is limited, take the time to learn the basic editing tools that will make your group look more professional without draining your finances.
Tailor Your Posts to the Platform
A common mistake musicians make is treating all social media platforms as equals. What may work on Facebook might not necessarily be effective for Twitter or Instagram.
A common mistake musicians make is treating all social media platforms as equals. What may work on Facebook might not necessarily be effective for Twitter or Instagram. Click To TweetConsider your target audience and how they engage with other musicians. For your band’s fan base to grow organically, you must know how each social media channel works.
For instance:
- If you want your followers to share your music, you can create short TikTok content using snippets of your forthcoming songs.
- If you have a YouTube account, start a vlog, use YouTube music for free, and share covers from famous artists to help increase your fan base.
- To increase your Twitter followers, use relevant and popular hashtags to your advantage.
- Post your visual content to Instagram, as it’s more likely to drive engagement than other platforms like Facebook.
Remember that these social media channels have their respective targeting algorithms designed to enhance user experience, so it is crucial that you optimize your content to ensure that it gets seen by a broad range of audience.
Level Up with Social Media Collaborations
Lindsey Stirling and Amy Lee? Seems like a collaboration made in heaven, and fans seem to agree.
If your band is just starting, you might find it challenging to get your talents seen and heard by others. Working with like-minded musicians can help you reach a broader and more diverse audience that your band otherwise wouldn’t have access to.
Reach out to local musicians within your area and consider doing a live stream together. You can also go live on each other’s socials and film impromptu interviews.
While collaboration is a great strategy to attract new followers and retain existing ones, you must do your research to avoid collaborating with artists who don’t fit your brand. To spare your band of unnecessary stress and disappointment, get to know the artist you want to partner with before setting up a time and date.
Band Growth Social Media Conclusion, Show Up & Engage
Even if you have well-curated posts, without healthy fan engagement, you won’t be able to establish your brand. While responding to every follower comment is impossible, you must show your fans that you care. Remember that the strongest social media accounts belong to musicians who actively acknowledge their fans’ existence.
The strongest social media accounts belong to musicians who actively acknowledge their fans’ existence. Click To TweetLeveraging social media for your band’s success need not be difficult. Remember to follow these tips and enjoy the process.
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