As one of the largest video-sharing platforms in the world, YouTube presents a tremendous opportunity for music artists to promote their songs and reach a wider audience.
By utilizing the platform’s vast reach and advanced targeting options, music artists can effectively market their music to specific demographics, regions, and interests, increasing their chances of gaining exposure, building a fan base, and ultimately, achieving success in the music industry.
Here are some proven ways to help you expand your reach, visibility and connect with fans in a more personal way.
Work on your profile
People ignore this bit, but it does play a pivotal role in selling your music. vTo make a strong first impression on your audience, it’s important to optimize your YouTube profile. This means taking the time to ensure that your channel looks professional and visually appealing. To help you get started, we have provided a helpful checklist to cover the basics.
Firstly, your YouTube channel should have a well-designed banner image that is optimized for the platform. This will make your channel more visually appealing and help to convey your brand identity. Additionally, you should have a great profile photo or logo that is easily recognizable and represents your brand.
It’s also important to organize your content effectively by creating playlists or thematic sections for specific types of videos. This will make it easier for your audience to find the content they are looking for and improve their viewing experience.
Make sure to include links to your social media accounts and official website on your channel page. This will help to expand your reach and drive traffic to your other online platforms.
In your ‘About’ section, include a clear statement about your mission and voice as an artist, as well as any relevant hashtags that could help the algorithm pick up your channel. This will provide your audience with a better understanding of your brand and what you have to offer.
Finally, use high-quality thumbnails for your videos, either by using the ones suggested by YouTube or by customizing them yourself using tools like Canva and Adobe. This will help your videos stand out and encourage your audience to click and watch.
Develop an upload schedule.
Apprise Music recommends establishing a consistent and regular upload schedule for your video content. This approach allows your fans and subscribers to anticipate your new releases, which helps to maintain their interest and loyalty.
While it may be tempting to upload videos frequently, it’s essential to strike a balance between quality and quantity. Overcommitting and missing deadlines can lead to disappointment and a loss of trust from your audience. Therefore, it’s crucial to set realistic goals for yourself that you can achieve.
You should consider your schedule carefully and aim to upload videos that meet your standards. A minimum of one video per month is recommended, as it keeps your audience engaged and informed of your channel’s activity.
Use the right Keywords
Search engine optimization, or SEO for short, is a powerful tool that can help take your video content to the next level. By understanding the phrases and keywords that people are searching for, you can increase your viewership and gain more fans.
But how exactly do you tap into this powerful strategy? It all starts with finding the perfect keywords to use within your video content. With YouTube, you can take advantage of these keywords by using them in your video title, description, and tags.
However, it’s important to remember that not all keywords are created equal. While some may have a high search volume, they may also have a lot of competition, making it difficult for your video to stand out. Instead, try targeting keywords that are less competitive, giving your video a better chance of getting seen by the right audience.
YouTube paid Ads
If you’re looking to increase your visibility on YouTube, consider utilizing YouTube paid advertising as a powerful promotional tool. With YouTube’s fantastic targeting options, you can optimize your budget to reach the right audience. And increase it with time. Analyze the return on investment and use this feedback to inform your basic ad strategy. Experiment with different ad formats to determine which ones work best for promoting your music. Remember, it’s important to continue testing and refining your approach over time to achieve the best results.
Call to Action tool
A ‘Call to Action’ or CTA is a powerful tool that can greatly enhance your video’s effectiveness in engaging your audience and achieving your desired outcomes. It’s a way of directing users to take specific actions before, during, or after watching your video. By providing clear instructions and prompting viewers to take action, you can increase engagement and drive more traffic to your channel or website.
There are several ways to incorporate CTAs in your video. One popular approach is to include a pop-up during the video, which appears at a specific point and encourages viewers to take a specific action, such as subscribing to your channel or visiting your website. Another option is to include a link in the description bar, which viewers can click on to be directed to a specific page or resource. Lastly, you can include a link at the end of your video, which encourages viewers to take action once they’ve finished watching.
When creating your CTAs, it’s important to make them clear, concise, and relevant to your video’s content. Consider what action you want your viewers to take and how it aligns with your overall goals. For example, if your goal is to increase your subscriber base, then your CTA might prompt viewers to subscribe to your channel to never miss a new video. If you want to promote a specific product or service, then your CTA might encourage viewers to visit your website to learn more.
Credit: Akua Karle Okyere
