Did you know that there are a total of 1,300,000,000 users on YouTube? In fact, 300 hours of video are uploaded to the video sharing site every 60 seconds.
With numbers like those, how can you compete? If you’re a musician just starting your career, YouTube stardom might seem like a lofty goal, because unfortunately, talent isn’t enough. However, with the right techniques, you can grow your fan base quickly and easily.
According to YouTube musician Luke Conard Instagram and other social media sites are indispensable tools for online marketing. And that’s true whether you’re a plumber in Wichita or a talented singer-songwriter. Twitter is a wildly popular site with 310 million monthly active users. However, Instagram recently surpassed Twitter with 400 million monthly users.
Both social media platforms should be used to your advantage; however, to get the most out of your hard work, each site might require slightly different social media marketing techniques. Here are some tips on how to successfully promote your music on Instagram.
Tips for the YouTube Musician on Instagram
- Pictures vs. Hashtags
Yes, Instagram was designed to be a photo sharing social media platform. Therefore, your photos are the essential element that users are looking for. However, when it comes to growing your fan base and social media following, the photographs you post are really only a small part of the equation. People come for the photos, but how do they get there? Hashtags. Hashtags allow new fans to discover your account. It may sound counter-intuitive, but when it comes to building a social media presence as a musician on Instagram, you should focus 20% on pictures and 80% on hashtags.
- Photo Content Breakdown
The kinds of photos you post will determine the fundamental personality of your brand. You want to promote your music while still seeming relatable and fun, and you want to demonstrate your core values. People want to get to know you, and since a picture is worth a thousand words, what better way to represent yourself than through photographs? That being said, the general rule of thumb for a YouTube musician on Instagram is to post 50% music-related photos and 50% personal photos (goofy selfies, your favorite meals, your adorable kitten, etc).
- Choosing Your Hashtags
As mentioned above, hashtags are hugely important. They are the roads that lead Instagram users straight to your door. First, it is essential to determine your niche. What is your music genre? What other brands, bands, and trends do you want to be associated with? Figure out the demographic you are targeting and then determine what they are already searching for on Instagram. For instance, if I am the Beatles circa the mid-1960s, I might add the following hashtags to my photos promoting my new album: #theRollingStones, #theWho, #BritishPop. That way, Rolling Stones fans, The Who fans, and anyone searching for photos related to the British Invasion would come across my pictures.
Of course, the Beatles didn’t need any help from social media at the height of their groundbreaking stardom, but you do. As an aspiring musician on Instagram, you need to get your name out there in order to spark interest among the right audience. Choose your hashtags wisely and you’ll do just that.
- Follow, Like, Comment, Repeat
The most effective way to build your fan base is to engage with your audience. Like their photos, comment on them, and follow their accounts. Studies show that 77% of Twitter users feel more inclined towards a brand when their Tweet has been replied to. What do you want to bet the same goes for Instagram?
To see these great social media techniques firsthand, follow Luke Conard on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook. You can also check out his YouTube musician channel here.