Music marketing is not good music marketing if you’re not making the most of you’re not making the most of your Instagram. Social media has changed a lot over the years that it’s not enough you got a Facebook page with thousands of followers.
I don’t know if it’s just me– that I unfollowed too many friends– but it seems like it’s just much quieter on Facebook for the last two years that I can sometimes hear crickets. I used to get hundreds of likes per post , but now I’m lucky if I get 50 likes. If you’ve been on Facebook lately, I’m sure you’ve noticed that too.
So what’s happening?
According to Forbes,
As Facebook Shifts, Instagram Emerges As A New Home For Brands
The photo-based network added 100 million users in just five months last year—rivaling Facebook’s growth numbers—and now boasts 800 million monthly users. With an audience that skews young (a majority of users are reported to be under 30) and is also fiercely brand conscious (53% of users follow brands), Instagram is quietly emerging as the new home for companies seeking an impact on social media.
Because of this switch, we should make sure that we’re maximizing our Instagram accounts. Here are some ways you can use Instagram for your music marketing:
Secure your name
The first thing you need to do is secure your handle, as soon as you have a band name. If you are even vaguely considering promoting via Instagram, you want to secure your unique band name before somebody else does! Instagram does have a trademark policy that is worth reading.
Your profile photo should reflect your music/ band
Make sure that your profile photo is the best photo that represents your music. Although it’s just a small round button, it’s very important. It’s how your fans will recognize you. But more than that, it’s your brand right there. Consider it to be as important as your logo.
Be consistent with the type of content you share
Consistency is key in building your followers over time and having a good music marketing strategy. Decide on what type of content you will be sharing. To make your life easier, look up bands that you consider similar to your own.
What sort of content is working for them? Since you’re a musician, it is mandatory that you give updates of what you’re working on, your gigs and all of that. But it’s equally important that you show something else– who you are aside from your music.
You may test which aspects of your life you want to share and the followers would respond to then later narrow down to only a few types of posts so you’re not all over the place. A good brand requires consistency.
Decide on the overall look of your photos
If you post b&w photos, and they match with your brand…and you like them and your audience likes them, then maybe you have to make all your posts black and white. How your profile looks visually because Instagram is a visual app. Photos and design matter a lot.
Post consistently
Post at least one post a day. To make your life easier, create some of your posts and schedule them ahead of time with apps such as Hootsuite. This makes sure that you at least have something on your social media when you get busy with life.
Use the right hashtags
Think of hashtags that both represent your brand and what your fans are searching for on Instagram. Use an analytics tool such as Iconosquare to see which hashtags are popular among your fans. Switch out your hashtags every few months to keep them fresh and correlate with your fans’ interests.
Use analytics apps
There are several apps available that will help you keep track of your engagement on Instagram. You can use this information to figure out what content works and appeals to your audience. Socialmediatoday.com lists 5 of the best Instagram analytics tools.
Make sure you make the most of your Instagram page. Not doing so would be such a waste of opportunity as Instagram is becoming the #1 place for brands. Good luck!
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James Hill is a veteran of the music industry. He first worked at Warner Reprise Records then later joined Interscope/ Geffen Records where he managed producers and songwriters and got his first platinum record for Keyshia Cole’s The Way It Is. He is now helping indie artists with branding and manufacturing through his company Unified Manufacturing, a CD/DVD/vinyl and merch company in LA.
