7 TikTok Tips for Musicians
So many artists want to know how to be successful musicians on TikTok. It’s not as difficult as it may seem — it just takes hard work and dedication! After working with a handful of musicians to strengthen their TikTok and Instagram presence, I’ve compiled a list of tips and tricks to master TikTok for musicians in 2023.
Before we get into the details, let’s set a foundation. We need to understand why TikTok is suitable for growing your audience.
Is TikTok Good for Musicians?
For musicians, TikTok presents a unique opportunity to gain exposure and reach a wider audience. The platform’s algorithm promotes content that is popular among users, which means that a viral TikTok video can lead to a significant increase in streams and followers for an artist.
Additionally, TikTok offers a variety of creative tools and features that allow musicians to showcase their talents and connect with their audience in new ways. For example, the platform’s “Duet” feature allows users to collaborate on videos with other TikTok users, which can be a great way for musicians to connect with and promote other artists in their genre.
One of the most popular ways musicians use TikTok is to launch a viral challenge. TikTok challenges are when a user creates a video using a specific song, hashtag, or trend and encourages other users to join in and create their own videos using the same song, hashtag, or trend. This can lead to a surge in popularity for a song, and in turn, the artist.
However, there are also some drawbacks to using TikTok as a musician. The platform’s algorithm can be unpredictable, making it difficult for artists to gain traction without a significant following. Additionally, the platform’s emphasis on short-form content can make it challenging for musicians to share more in-depth and meaningful content with their audience.
But the important thing is to try! You’ll never know if TikTok is worth it for you as a musician or music producer without posting a single thing. I encourage you to try out some of these TikTok content ideas for music producers, singer-songwriters, and performers to test the waters.
TikTok Content Ideas for Musicians
TikTok has quickly become one of the most popular social media platforms, with over 1 billion active users worldwide. As a musician, you can use TikTok to promote your music, connect with fans, and even gain new fans. Here are some tips for using TikTok as a musician:
#1. Create a Catchy Profile
Your profile is the first thing people will see when they come across your account, so make sure it’s eye-catching and informative. Use a clear profile picture and write a bio that tells people who you are and what you do.
At first, it will be difficult to stand out from the crowd — that’s normal. During the initial phases of growth, it’s more important to focus on consistency in the frequency of posting, and the style of posts.
So don’t change up the types of videos you create too often. If you have a concept you’d like to try out, give it a few attempts before deciding it doesn’t work. You’ll likely never get it right on the first try, so don’t give up too soon!
#2. Use Great Hashtags
Hashtags are a great way to get your content seen by more people. Use popular hashtags related to your music, such as #music #singer #songwriter, to increase your visibility.
If you feel like your hashtag strategy is struggling, you may need to adapt to the new algorithm. Social media platforms frequently change their algorithms, so it’s important to adapt your strategy as well to keep growing.
#3. Collaborate with Other Musicians
TikTok is a great platform for collaboration. Reach out to other musicians on the platform and see if they would be interested in creating a video together. This can help you gain new fans and expand your reach.
The overlap of fans can help you establish your positioning in the market, showing new followers the artists you’re similar to. It also allows you to relate with your fans by showing them that you also listen to music!
#4. Share Behind-the-Scenes Content
Fans love to see the process behind the music, so share behind-the-scenes footage of yourself writing, recording, and performing.
This is a big chunk of my content calendars. Not only does it make your followers feel like they’re getting an inside scoop, but it also builds on your branding from multiple angles. Using multiple angles to highlight your brand is crucial if you want to strengthen follower loyalty.
Suggested: 365 Social Media Post Ideas for Musicians (for Instagram and TikTok)
#5. Use the Lip-Sync Feature
TikTok’s lip-sync feature is a fun way to show off your music. Record yourself lip-syncing to one of your songs and share it on the platform.
Using platform features, in general, helps show TikTok (and Instagram) that you’re a loyal platform user. The algorithm loves people who use the app, so prove to them that you do.
#6. Run a Contest or Challenge
TikTok is a great platform for running contests and challenges. Consider running a contest where fans can win prizes for creating their own TikTok video featuring your music.
You can choose your own adventure here. In need of album artwork? Make it a contest! In need of a music video? Ask for submissions!
#7. Be Consistent!
As with any social media platform, consistency is key. Try to post regularly and engage with your fans to keep them interested and coming back for more.
As I’ve mentioned before, you likely won’t get results on your first try. Being consistent with your posting, strategy, and style really helps both you and your fans. You get to spend more time admiring the details, nuisances, and pitfalls of your strategy, and followers are constantly reminded of who you are.
Conclusion
By following these tips, you can use TikTok to promote your music, connect with fans, and gain new fans. Remember to have fun and be creative with your content; you’ll surely see success on the platform.
If you found this article helpful, please consider buying me a coffee as a token of your appreciation. It helps keep me fueled and inspired to continue creating content for you!