How to promote your music on Instagram: 5 essential tips

With more than 1 billion active users, Instagram is bigger than any stadium you’ll ever play. This makes it an important space for musicians who want to not only connect with their fans but also reach new ones.

Instagram is a great platform for music promotion, hosting photos, videos and shopping content. It allows you to post pictures from your latest gigs, upload clips of music videos or concerts (sound on!) and embed links to your merch right in your photos and stories.

Think of Instagram music promotion not as a chore but as another way to interact with your fans, grow your audience and get your music out there. Read on to learn about the perks of using Instagram as a musician and how you can get started.

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Using Instagram for music

Social media allows you to connect with people all over the world and build a loyal audience that’s into your content – which, in this case, is your music.

Most Instagram users are between 18 and 44 years old. A very similar age range comprises the majority of music streaming service users. So, if you have a Spotify profile, it only makes sense to take advantage of Instagram’s reach to connect with potential fans.

No matter your target audience, you’re sure to pick up a few loyal followers on the ‘gram. A social media presence builds a more fulsome brand, allowing followers to connect with the people behind the music. Instagram is the platform to keep your fans informed on the latest from your band – and it’s perfect for your next marketing campaign, too.

5 tips for promoting your music on Instagram

Ready to learn how to promote music on Instagram? Use the following five tips as your guide.

1. Create a compelling bio

Your Instagram bio is your page’s first impression. You may only have 150 characters to work with, but you can do a lot with them. Use your bio to establish your brand and share new music promos or dates for an upcoming concert. If you have an Instagram business account, add your contact information and location in your bio so clients know where to find you.

Your bio can include a link to anything you want – but bios have a one-link limit. So get a Linktree URL that lets your followers branch out to all the other sites that make up your web presence. We even have a special link that connects with Spotify.

2. Use hashtags

Find new organic followers using relevant, industry-related hashtags in your bio and posts. When Instagram users search for these tags, they may stumble across your band and discover your music is just what they were missing in their playlists.

3. Interact with followers

To grow a more intimate connection with your audience, respond to your fans’ praise in the comments section, even with just a like. There’s nothing cooler to a fan than feeling seen by a musician they admire. And stay up on your direct messages – there may be business inquiries in there. We’d argue that one of the best ways to promote music is by keeping your fan base and industry admirers close.

4. Post Instagram Stories

Post videos of shows and music videos to your Stories. As a musician, you want your audience to be able to hear – and not just see – your content. Add some behind-the-scenes insight, like a jam session or your songwriting process, to connect more deeply with your fans. If you want to monetize this space, post about album sales, merch, and tickets. Drop a link to your ecommerce page on the products you have for sale.

5. Use Instagram Videos

Using Instagram Videos, you can share more than just a quick clip of your last live performance – you can post up to 60 minutes of it. Dedicated fans will love the opportunity to dive deeper into your content and see what they missed at your last show may just inspire them to buy a ticket to the next one.

How to make an Instagram marketing strategy

Once you’re a pro at Instagram music promotion, it’s time to monetize. Here are some tips for developing a marketing strategy that gets results.

• Set goals: Before you begin, know what you want to achieve. If you’re looking for more fans – which leads to more listens and ticket sales – maybe you want to partner with an influencer or another artist who can expand your reach by talking up your music. If your goal is to sell merchandise, you have to think about how to drive traffic to your ecommerce site. Knowing what you want to accomplish will give you direction.
• Configure an editorial calendar: Schedule your posts so your content is consistent and your fans don’t experience a lapse. A tool like Hootsuite – which allows users to manage their content on major platforms and schedule posts in batches – will help you stay organized, especially when it comes time to launch new releases and get your audience excited about your latest songs.
• Build a consistent brand: Your music may be so good that tickets practically sell themselves, but it doesn’t hurt to have an irresistible brand. Your Instagram account is a part of your branding, so be sure it aligns. Use your logo, colors, and fonts consistently. Instagram is a highly visual social media platform. Put this to your advantage by publishing high-quality, aesthetically-pleasing posts.

Get to posting

Social media is an excellent tool for music promotion and Instagram is one of the most popular platforms. If you don’t already have an account, it’s time to make one. If you do, make it even better.

Instagram is a visual platform, so strong visuals are a must. Get creative, incorporate your songs and fill your fans’ feeds with curated, brand-specific content. But don’t forget Instagram is just one tool in your arsenal – be sure to use your platform to uplift the rest of your content by linking to other social media and sites in your bio using a Linktree URL.