Making and disseminating music has come a long way. Creatives and artists can now get their work heard, thanks to streaming platforms like SoundCloud. You don’t need to be signed to a big label to get your music heard – if you know how to correctly use these platforms.

Once you are on the platform, you’re probably wondering how you can boost SoundCloud plays. You have your music, but how do you get your target audience to notice it and listen to it?

That’s exactly what this article will help you with. Read on to find strategies from seasoned SoundCloud users.

Why Choose SoundCloud?

There are so many streaming platforms out there. Using all of them is advantageous but it can also be draining. When you are starting out, you might want to focus on just a few platforms so you don’t spread yourself too thin.

You might be wondering why SoundCloud is one of the best options for putting your music out there. The following are actually just some of the advantages:

1. Starting is Easy

SoundCloud is very beginner-friendly, so, if you are new to streaming platforms and still figuring out your way around, this platform is a good choice for you. It’s also easy for listeners to navigate their way around. The way it is presented is user-friendly, making this a preferred option by many when it comes to streaming music.

2. It Has a Low-Budget Appeal

Not yet having videos for your music does not mean you are sacrificing quality. You can still create that high-quality branding for your music through streaming platforms like SoundCloud.

3. Good Shareability Good

SoundCloud makes sharing music easy. – users can quickly distribute music that they like. They can also repost your music, which can help you quickly grow your audience.

4. You Can Actually Make Money

It’s not just for indie musicians. It can also be a great platform for producers and DJs to earn some serious money.

Why Should You Get More SoundCloud Plays?

Before we get down to the strategies on how you can increase your plays, start by finding out why it’s important that you get those numbers up. What does bigger numbers for SoundCloud plays mean?

• More Exposure. Obviously, getting more plays for your music can mean more exposure. You will get your name out there and have a chance of building a bigger audience, meaning greater chances for success.
• Getting Signed to a Label. If your goal as an indie musician is to someday find a bigger platform to get your music out there, it’s a good idea to increase your SoundCloud plays, as you never know who is listening. If a song gains enough traction, bigger labels and companies will take an interest.
• You Can Generate Revenue. More streams mean higher income. More downloads also equal increased sales.
• It Helps You Improve Your Music. When you are getting feedback from real people who listen to your music, it gives you a better idea of how to improve it. You can take feedback into account and see what areas you can still improve.
• It Creates Opportunities for Collaboration. As an artist with music that is already out there and listened to by users, other artists will also take an interest in the music you put out. It can then lead to collaborations, a good stepping stone towards building a larger audience.

Monetizing Your Music on SoundCloud

SoundCloud is one of those platforms that has a monetization option. As an artist, you can input audio ads in your tracks. It’s similar to YouTube’s ads’ system. The more plays you get, the higher your earnings. Just keep in mind that everyone who listens to your music will also hear the advertising.

Tried and Tested Tips on How You Can Get More Plays on Your Music

1. Create High-Quality Music

Don’t just aim for a new audience. Make sure the ones who already listened to your music will come back and listen to it again. And to achieve that, you need to make sure your music is worth listening to.

What makes music great? There has to be a good balance between the production, the lyrics (or songwriting) and the quality of the sound. Don’t be afraid to experiment with different genres to see what suits you best. This will allow you to find a sound that is all you.

Today, you can find a lot of programs that will allow you to ante up your music creation. You can also take courses that will help you hone your craft.

2. Choose a Genre and Develop an Identity

When you look at popular musicians, what do you see? You’re not only seeing their faces but their brand as a whole. When you take a look at different types of music, you already know which musicians fit in that genre.

So, be clear about your music identity and stick to it – at least while you are still building your image. That way, it’s easier to identify you amongst thousands of other aspiring musicians.

3. Collaborate

Don’t hesitate to reach out to other artists and offer to collaborate with them. You can show them demos of your music and see which artists will work well with your music style.

Collaboration is not just a way to improve your play numbers, but can also help evolve your artistry. By teaming up with other musicians, you can broaden your network and your perspective on music. This can be good for budding artists who haven’t yet found their unique identity.

4. Use Email Marketing

Email marketing in this day and age? Yes, it’s actually still effective. Here’s the thing: everyone has an email address. So, yes: using email marketing can help you reach out to more potential listeners. You can even reach out to labels through email. You would be surprised how many artists were able to boost their plays through email marketing alone.

So, how do you create an email that will effectively increase your plays? First, identify the purpose of the email. Is it to get users to listen to your music or to introduce yourself as an upcoming artist?

Keep it short but full of information. As you probably know, people have short attention spans when it comes to emails. You don’t want your email to be full of fluff or they will just gloss over it or skip it entirely. Wisely use what little time they devote to reading emails.

Make sure your link is visible and working. You don’t want to send them to a broken link. Test it multiple times before hitting send. A visible link will make it easier for the recipients to get to the music. Another good thing to do is to add a download feature.

Connect with the reader – don’t just send a link and call it a day. Write your email in such a way that it appeals to them on a more personal level. This is why it’s important who your target audience is and what they usually listen to. It wouldn’t take a lot of effort to get them interested in a genre or a type of music that they already find appealing.

Make your email sound more personal. There’s nothing more annoying than receiving an email that sounds generic. Don’t forget to follow up after a week or two.

So, how do you gather email addresses?  You can use platforms like The Artist Union or ToneDen. After creating your list, consider using email marketing services that can help you with your email marketing.

5. Use Repost Chains

If you haven’t yet tried SoundCloud’s repost chain, now is the best time to give it a go. It allows you to leverage multiple accounts; basically, you have a group of SoundCloud users that reposts your track. This will be automatically done at specific hours of the day. Think of it as your very own music planner. You can use this to ensure that you are getting your music out there without actually staying in front of your computer all day.

When you network, you can ask others to be your buddy in the repost chains. You can all leverage each other’s followers.

If you don’t have a network to join right now, check out social media pages, such as Facebook, that have groups with members looking for people to join their chain. However, many of these people have a minimum requirement for followers.

6. Make Your Music Easier to Discover

As you know, SoundCloud now has a Discover feature. The goal is to get your music in there. You can do that by trying some metadata strategies to allow SoundCloud to categorize the type of music you are producing.

Also, check your genre tag to see if it is the right category. You can also use track tags that are relevant to your music. Make sure your tracks are also correctly named and that you have a succinct but specific description that best fits your music.

7. Create Beautiful Album Art

When you eat food, you also eat with your eyes. In the same way, when we consume music, visuals matter. We stop scrolling to marvel at beautiful album art, which can pique interest. Think of it as a painting in a museum. You stop and stare.

So, go ahead and make your album art as beautiful as you can. Hire artists to create it. Take the best photos for the cover.

8. Use Social Media to Your Advantage

Building links is also important for SoundCloud music. You would want to use your other platforms to increase your plays. Direct your Facebook, Twitter, TikTok or even Instagram followers to your SoundCloud page.

9. Regularly Update

Having a steady presence in the industry can help with consistent growth. Don’t just drop music and fall off the face of the planet. Your listeners will want to know what is happening with you. It doesn’t hurt to reach out to them, answer their messages and engage with them. Follow other artists, as well, and reach out to them.

Conclusion

SoundCloud is, indeed, an effective tool that can propel you to popularity. The key is learning how to use it. Don’t be afraid to try out different things, both when it comes to your SoundCloud marketing strategies and your music. Since both are also constantly evolving, it only makes sense to stay one step ahead of them.