As a musician, you know you’re supposed to be on Instagram. Everyone and their grandma is always harping on about how it’s essential for building your brand, connecting with fans, and all that jazz. But let’s be honest – sometimes it feels like you’re just shouting into the void, posting day after day with little to show for it.
Well, I’m here to tell you that Instagram doesn’t have to be a waste of your precious time and energy. With a few quick tips and some strategic thinking, you can start growing your followers and actually seeing some real results from your efforts. So put down that guitar for a minute, grab a notepad, and let’s dive in.
Key Takeaways for Instagram:
- Consistency is key when it comes to posting on Instagram
- Hashtags are your best friend for discoverability
- Engaging with your audience is just as important as posting great content
- Collaborating with other musicians can help you reach new fans
- Analyzing your insights can help you refine your strategy over time
Tip #1: Consistency is King
One of the biggest mistakes I see musicians making on Instagram is posting inconsistently. They’ll go on a posting spree for a week, then disappear for a month, then come back with a random video of their cat. Listen, I get it – life gets busy, and sometimes social media falls by the wayside. But if you want to grow your following on Instagram, consistency is absolutely key.
The algorithm favors accounts that post regularly, and your followers will come to expect a certain cadence of content from you. Aim to post at least once a day, or at the very least, a few times a week. But don’t just post for the sake of posting – make sure you’re sharing high-quality, engaging content that your audience will actually want to see.
Tip #2: Hashtag Like Your Life Depends On It
Hashtags are like the secret sauce of Instagram. They help your content get discovered by users who aren’t already following you, and they can be a great way to connect with other musicians and industry folks in your niche.
But here’s the thing – you can’t just slap a few random hashtags on your post and call it a day. You need to be strategic about which hashtags you’re using, and make sure they’re actually relevant to your content and your audience.
Some tips for using hashtags on Instagram effectively:
- Use a mix of broad and niche hashtags to reach different audiences
- Don’t use the same exact hashtags on every single post
- Create a branded hashtag for your music and encourage your fans to use it
- Search for hashtags used by other musicians in your genre and see what’s working for them
And don’t be afraid to use all 30 hashtags that Instagram allows – studies have shown that posts with 11 or more hashtags tend to get more engagement than those with fewer hashtags.
Tip #3: Engage, Engage, Engage
Here’s a harsh truth – if you’re not engaging with your audience on Instagram, you’re doing it wrong. It’s not enough to just post great content and hope that people will magically start following you. You need to be proactive about building relationships with your fans and other members of your community.
Some ways to engage on Instagram:
- Respond to every single comment on your posts (yes, even the weird ones)
- Ask questions in your captions to encourage conversation
- Run polls and Q&As in your Stories to get feedback from your followers
- Comment on and like posts from other musicians and industry folks in your niche
- Share things that are interesting, duh
The more you engage with your audience, the more invested they’ll become in your brand – and the more likely they’ll be to share your content with their own followers.
Tip #4: Collaborate and Conquer
One of the most powerful ways to grow your following on Instagram is by collaborating with other musicians and influencers in your niche. By partnering with other musicians and influencers, you can tap into new audiences and expose your music to a whole new set of fans.
Some ideas for collaborations:
- Host a joint livestream concert with another musician in your genre
- Create a remix or cover of another artist’s song and share it on your feed
- Participate in a song challenge or trend with other musicians
- Host a giveaway or contest with a group of musicians in your niche
The key is to find collaborators who have a similar audience to yours, but aren’t direct competitors. And don’t be afraid to think outside the box – some of the most successful Instagram collaborations are the ones that are unexpected and creative.
Tip #5: Analyze and Adjust
Finally, if you want to keep growing your following on Instagram, you need to be willing to analyze your results and adjust your strategy over time. The platform offers a ton of great insights into your audience and your content performance, and you’d be crazy not to take advantage of them.
Some metrics to pay attention to:
- Reach and impressions – how many people are seeing your content?
- Engagement rate – what percentage of your followers are liking, commenting, and sharing your posts?
- Follower growth – how quickly are you gaining new followers?
- Best-performing content – which posts get the most engagement and why?
- Audience demographics – who is your typical follower, and how can you cater to them?
By regularly reviewing your Instagram insights and making data-driven decisions about your content and strategy, you can refine your approach over time and start seeing some serious growth.
Instagram FAQs:
- How often should I be posting on Instagram? Aim for at least once a day, or at the very minimum, a few times a week. Consistency is key, but quality is just as important as quantity.
- Should I be using Instagram Stories and Reels? Absolutely! Stories and Reels are great ways to showcase your personality, share behind-the-scenes content, and engage with your audience in new ways.
- How do I get more followers on Instagram? Focus on creating high-quality, engaging content, using relevant hashtags, collaborating with other musicians, and engaging with your audience regularly. Growing your following takes time and effort, but it’s worth it in the long run.
Look, I know navigating the world of Instagram as a musician can be overwhelming. There’s no magic formula that will bring you instant Instagram fame and fortune. But by implementing these five quick tips and staying committed to the grind, you can start seeing some serious growth in your following and engagement.
Remember – Instagram is a marathon, not a sprint. You’re not going to wake up tomorrow with a million followers (unless you’re Beyonce, in which case, why are you reading this?). But by consistently showing up, putting in the work, and focusing on building real relationships with your fans, you can turn Instagram into a powerful tool for your music career.
Just do it.
Source Links:
- https://www.instagram.com/p/CMOyf_ej_ZJ/
- https://www.musiciansunion.org.uk/Home/Advice/Your-Career/Social-Media/10-Social-Media-Tips-for-Musicians
- https://www.musicindustryhowto.com/how-to-promote-your-music-on-instagram-musicians-guide/
