In the age of social media, TikTok has emerged as a powerful platform for musicians to promote their music and potentially go viral. Here’s a comprehensive guide on how to leverage TikTok to boost your music career:
1. Release Your Music on TikTok
The first step is to make your music available on TikTok. You can do this easily by signing up with a music distributor like Ditto Music. Once you’ve uploaded your music, it becomes accessible to TikTok users, allowing them to use it in their videos.
2. Utilize a TikTok Promotion Platform
Consider using a dedicated promotion platform like SoundCampaign to increase your chances of going viral on TikTok. Here’s how it works:
- Create a TikTok campaign by adding your TikTok sound, video concept, trends, and relevant hashtags.
- TikTok creators will create videos featuring your song.
- Monitor the campaign through real-time analytics and comprehensive reports.
SoundCampaign’s data-driven approach and influencer targeting can help your music gain momentum, resulting in more views, shares, and likes, potentially leading to virality.
3. Focus on TikTok-Friendly Tracks
To go viral on TikTok, your music needs to be TikTok-friendly. This means it should have the following characteristics:
- An optimal duration of around 15 seconds.
- Catchy and relatable elements that inspire users to create videos around it.
- Consider repurposing older, suitable tracks to TikTok if they’re unavailable. You can add existing releases to TikTok for free through Ditto Music.
4. Create a Perfect TikTok Snippet
Craft a captivating 30-second snippet of your song that users can easily incorporate into their videos. The catchier your snippet, the more likely it will become a trend.
5. Use a Mix of Hashtags
Hashtags play a vital role on TikTok. Include a mix of popular and relevant hashtags to increase the chances of your video appearing in TikTok’s “Discover” and “For You” tabs. You can also piggyback on trending hashtags to expand your reach.
6. Keep an Eye on Trending Audio Tags
Explore TikTok’s #TrendAlert page to discover the latest and most popular trends. Aligning your content with these trends can boost your visibility.
7. Create Challenges & Contests
Encourage your followers to participate in challenges related to your track, using a specific hashtag. Challenges often go viral when they’re fun and allow for creative interpretations. Consider running contests with enticing prizes to boost engagement.
8. Follow and Engage
Start following other TikTok users, especially musicians and influencers. Engage with content creators, gain insights into what’s trending, and generate content ideas. Collaboration with other musicians or influencers can also help expand your reach.
9. Try Duets
Duets are an excellent way to engage with other TikTok users. Collaborate with fellow creators by using the Duet feature, allowing you to reach new audiences.
10. Embrace Authenticity
TikTok thrives on authenticity. Don’t obsess over perfect lighting and framing; focus on creating fun and relatable content that inspires others to join your trend or challenge.
11. Visuals and Memes Matter
Engaging visuals and relatable content often perform well on TikTok. Videos don’t need to be professionally shot, but they should be engaging, interesting, funny, or inspiring. A snippet of your track turned into a 15-second video can have viral potential.
12. Share Across Other Platforms
Extend your reach by sharing your TikTok content on other social platforms. You can easily share TikTok videos to Instagram Stories, expanding your audience.
13. Start Local, Go Global
Harness the power of local content to engage new fans in your area. Showcase your hometown or tag locations when on tour. TikTok users respond well to content they can personally relate to.
14. Use TikTok Analytics
TikTok offers in-app analytics to monitor video views, likes, comments, and more. Use these insights to refine your content strategy and understand what resonates with your audience.
15. Convert Followers into Music Fans
Ultimately, your goal is to turn TikTok viewers into dedicated music fans. Utilize TikTok’s song page, which includes links to streaming platforms like Spotify and Apple Music. Encourage users to listen to the full version of your song and follow you on TikTok.
By following these strategies, you can effectively promote your music on TikTok and increase your chances of going viral on this popular platform.