Written By Petra Hule
Ten years ago no one could’ve predicted that this photo-sharing social media platform would become what it is today. Acquiring 100,000 users in the first week, to 1 million in two months and now, with over one billion monthly users, Instagram is accessible in 32 different languages and has developed into more than just a photo-sharing app.
In the beginning, things were simple, maybe too simple as we can see the possibilities within this app are endless. Instagram caters to everyone and anyone as it’s simple enough to use on a basic level and challenging at the same time for those who like to exploit all the possibilities on this free app. Mothers wanting to share photos with their 32 family member followers or businesses looking to promote their work, Instagram is a great place for both content creators or viewers.
How Instagram Benefits Musicians
So, how can Instagram be beneficial for musicians? One of the key components about this platform is a large amount of exposure it has to the world, plus, it doesn’t cost you a dime.
Free promotion is key as people are always looking to interact with new things on the app as opposed to seeing paper advertisements stapled to electricity poles. Gorilla marketing, anyone? The world is becoming more and more technological, so all the more reason to take advantage of this and make the most out of what the world of technology has to offer.
How To Set Up Your Musician Profile On Instagram
Here are some hot top tips on setting up your Instagram to get the exposure you’re after.
Musician Name & Handle
First things first, name and social tag. This is important as it’s the first thing users see and interact with so be sure to make it something common of yours where fans and others can easily find you, but don’t be afraid to have fun with it too and make it uniquely yours.
Profile Picture
Next up is a dope profile photo! Although it’s small and barely visible, a little goes a long way.
Elicit Tip: Match up your Instagram profile with the profile pictures you’re currently using for other channels. By matching the pictures, scouts, labels, or music blogs can find and match your profile easier.
Musician Bio
Next up, your bio. Bios are where you can briefly describe or include anything about you or the band. Links to websites can also be added, although Instagram only allows for one to be added there are ways around anything nowadays really. Briefly tell the world what you’re about or things you love or keep it simple with your next showing or dates for main events.
Branded Hashtags
Another feature that goes a long way is hashtags. Evolving from the usual #familyvacay2012, hashtags are another means of exposure as users are now able to follow hashtags.
Hashtags are a great addition to Instagram as anyone can use any hashtag or you can create your own. Creating your own hashtag allows your fans and other users to interact with you. One of the best Instagram hashtags for musicians are ones that are branded.
Maybe it’s your fanbase or even just your moniker, whatever it is, creating your own hashtag is another promotion tool. Plus, you can easily see who is using it, plus, it allows you to reach out and give back to your fans. You can use up to 30 hashtags, however, a good number would be five as you don’t want to overdo it.
Location
Be sure to utilize all of Instagram’s great features such as the location tool, where you can add a location to your post or seizing the moment with a great caption to it.
Another tip from me to you, don’t be disheartened if your first post doesn’t boom or the action on it is slow. The main thing is to start your profile and get noticed first, not recognized, there is a big difference. When people start to notice you as a musician and then notice you on Instagram, the follows, likes and activity will come, but they can’t interact much if you’re just starting out and your socials (all socials) are slacking.
Thought-Out Content
Give fans something to love or attach to such as behind-the-scenes photos, memories you want to share with the world, or people and things you support. Although this is a business profile, don’t be afraid to be personal about it too. These all lead to one thing, more follows and fans and the only way for your follow digits to increase is by to be active which includes:
- Instagram feed posts
- Stories
- Highlight reels
- Live tv reels
- Actively seeking out fan pages
How To Set Up A Business Profile On Instagram
Let’s talk business. A unique feature that Instagram has created is the ability to switch any account to a business or personal account.
We highly recommend the business profile as it allows you to see the behind-the-scenes interactions and viewers on your profile, which means more than just the likes and follows, as you can see when and who is viewing your profile. Here are the necessary steps to switch your Instagram over to a business profile.
- On your mobile device tap the settings icon in the top right-hand corner
- Scroll down and find Switch to Business Profile
- Set it up and complete all the information then you’re done
On top of all these tips be sure to check regularly on the feedback from your business profile stats as this will give you great insight as to when you should post based on when your users are most active.
Recommended Time To Post On Instagram For Musicians
According to Hootsuite research, the universal best time to post on Instagram is 11am on Wednesdays.
A good number of posts per week would be 3 to 4 posts, to begin with. They don’t have to be spaced out any strategical type of way, however, stray away from posting more than once a day.
Elicit Tip: As mentioned above, once you’ve established your business profile, you’ll be able to see your Instagram account’s analytics. These analytics will give you insight into what is working for your audience, including the best days and times that they are the most engaged.
Connect With Your Fans With Instagram
Socials are important for any musician as it’s the gateway into your lives which is what people want to see. Anyone can see you on stage singing and performing with the world at your feet, but fans and those that love and support you want to see more and know that you are only human too.
Socials have the ability to connect you with them on another level which allows them a feeling of connection and personability. Show them everything about you, as if you were sharing with your family your life, this includes your own experiences, but also your interests, hobbies, or upcoming events.