Instagram is one of the largest social networks out there with over 1,4 billion monthly active users. As an independent artist, this platform is perfect for building up a following, interacting with fans, and even promoting your music, so set up that Instagram account and let’s talk about some strategies you can use to reach your goals!
The number one distinct feature offered by Instagram compared to other social networks are photos and videos. Unlike Facebook or Twitter, Instagram doesn’t allow posting text without visuals, which makes it the number one Visual network in the world.
This is ideal for artists as they can consistently share photos of their work, and lifestyle, but also short, medium, or longer videos, perfectly suitable for music videos or even full live concerts.
Aesthetics are crucial on Instagram. To optimize their branding strategies, artists have to make full use of “stories” and “feeds” features in order to increase their visibility to new fans. The great thing about Instagram is that even without spending money on ads, profiles will be visible to the rest of the users, and artists should certainly tap into that huge exposure potential.
Interaction and engagement
Interaction is key; liking, commenting, sharing, and everything else you can do to interact with your audience and other artists is an essential part of the entire platform.
As the platform works with engagement pings, every time you interact with someone a notification is pinged to the user. This means that your name will pop up. Making this a numbers game, artists everywhere need to understand that the engagement factor is a reciprocal process. As you increase your interaction with others, the higher the probability of them engage your profile.
One of the most useful marketing tools in the world, Instagram is the perfect network to publicize music, but also build and grow a community of followers. Hand in hand with your Virtual Publicist, your Instagram account becomes the nexus of your community, where you not only announce but redirect the fans from one platform to the next. Perfect for independent artists, Instagram works in a similar fashion as Twitter does, with a “#” feature to help an artist’s posts be identified and suggested to the right audience, as well as a “tags” feature to have a person appear in your post. Comments on posts and likes will also help a post gain more visibility to an expanded audience.
The Ultimate Instagram Guide: Hashtags
Always use hashtags while posting. Hashtags should be short, concise, and relevant, but they are a necessity because a lot of users search for things through hashtags.
Get comfortable using Instagram Reels: this is a fun feature where you can share 30 seconds of your track with visuals, which is practically perfect for musicians to promote their songs and lead users to find them on streaming platforms.
Never undervalue the power of a straightforward Instagram hashtag.
It is essential for expanding your Instagram reach and growing your following.
According to data on Instagram usage done by Simply Measured, 88% of brand posts have at least one hashtag, and those posts receive an average of 12.6% more engagement than those without.
Online hashtag usage started in 1988 on a service called IRC, or Internet Relay Chat.People used hashtags for the same purpose they do today — to categorize messages and other content — even in that primitive internet era.
IG Live the ultimate video content
A cool feature of Instagram you can make use of as an artist is the IGTV, where you are free to create your own series. This is a great opportunity to bring together a community of people who enjoy your content specifically and who will come back regularly.
Going Live is another awesome feature you can use to interact with fans. There are a multitude of options of what you could do in your Live videos so be as creative as you can!
The social media juggernaut cornered the live-streaming market with Instagram Live. Instagram Live lets you produce live broadcasts, just like live videos on Periscope, Facebook, and Youtube. You can use Instagram Live to connect with audiences in a variety of ways and get new followers in addition to using it to create broadcasts.
Why Should Instagram Live Be Part of Your Strategy?
One of the finest ways to interact with your fans in a direct, open, and genuine way on Instagram is to go live.
Instagram Live is an entirely unedited broadcast that your followers may watch and interact with, in contrast to pre-recorded Instagram Stories. This can be a terrific method to show your audience the more approachable side of your brand.
That’s not all, either. One of Instagram’s most participatory video platforms, Instagram Live enables viewers to post comments and inquiries in real-time. This may be a very useful tool for strengthening the bond between your brand and potential followers, enabling you to get insightful feedback directly from the people who matter the most!
Hosting an Instagram Live can also increase your chance to get recognized on the platform. For instance, your followers will receive an in-app notice each time you go live on Instagram, and your Live will be promoted to the top of their feed on Instagram Stories. With Virtual Publicist in hand, you can find the most relevant guests in the industry by focusing your search on journalists and music bloggers who can join your broadcast.
With all of this in mind, Instagram Live is a fantastic tool for growing your audience, promoting your brand, and engaging with potential followers.
Complete your profile with a website
Keep in mind that in order to market, promote, and sell your merch on Instagram, artists need an official website. To add Shopping Tags to your posts, tap Add Photo — add a caption — Tag Products — pick the photo — search for product — select product — Done — Share. You can also use Stickers to sell your music and merch.
Use Virtual Publicist to get most out of your account. By connecting your Instagram profile with your VP account, you’ll allow our platform to pull insights on all kinds of metrics like engagement rates, reach, and more.
With the best place to reach function, you will no longer have the long waiting times that come with a pitching cycle. You’ll know if your target is going to respond right away or not.