Since its inception in 2008, SoundCloud has emerged as one of the most versatile and popular music streaming platforms in the world. It has more than 200 million active users and the number grows every day. And that is not counting people who listen to music without logging in.
If you are a music creator from any genre and style, an account here is a must for your popularity and career. If you want to buy SoundCloud plays, there are hundreds of options available on the internet. On the other hand, if you want more SoundCloud plays for free, visit this post for tips on how to do that.
However, merely getting plays and comments will not be enough. To make sure you get traction and gain popularity, you will need to be diligent and vigilant. If you get your music noticed and it reaches the ears of a record producer, you might even get an offer, kickstarting your career into high gear. Thus, read on to discover 5 proven ways that will help you bring your music into the limelight. A few of these tips come straight from the official SoundCloud blog itself and thus, guaranteed to work.
Become unique
SoundCloud’s Global Head of Music says you need to make great music before anything else. I agree. And I add my two cents to her advice by saying that you need to make unique music. People press replay often. Thus, your tracks will quickly turn bland if your style is not exceptional.
To improve your quality, practice. A rapper needs to write often, and a singer must push their voice to its limits. Do not settle for what you create one day. Instead, explore every single genre and brand of music before you find a style so fresh and unique that users cannot stop hitting play. A major part of this process of improving oneself is researching and following other artists who regularly release quality beats. Gradually, you will evolve into a refined creator and artist yourself.
Show your music some love
The creative process does not end with you clicking the “Save” button on your mixing software. It continues right up to the moment you are finally popular. So, keep showering your tracks with love all the way.
After you have created a track that resonates with your heart, pay attention to the upload process. Find a high-quality artwork for the album and give it a beautiful, eye-catching description. Further, be consistent and professional while uploading other info like the genre. SoundCloud says it is best to select just one genre and add the remaining information through tags. Otherwise, you run the risk of confusing their algorithm which will greatly reduce visibility.
Stop being shy and create history
Each artist’s name brings with it a certain sense of what he is most well known for. Picasso had his style, and Elvis Presley was a musician of his style. My point is that you should try to be a trendsetter and march in your lane. People notice automatically when you are standing in the lead of something exciting and brand new.
Experiment with your talent, creative process, voice, and change your usual style into something else. With time, you will find sure footing on a unique and fresh music style, which will automatically create engagement for you.
Note that this point works best when you have already established yourself quite a bit. If you start uploading experimental tracks too soon, they might not receive as much traction as you were hoping for. Come up with a clever strategy to gradually build up a trend you can set and lead.
Be a good, kind, and nice person
I simply cannot give this advice enough, no matter which social media platform you are working on. Engage. And engage more.
Hoping for the best after simply uploading your tracks will not do the trick. There is no one out there to do your job for you. Your connections and efforts in the SoundCloud community will matter significantly in the long run.
Build your connections by collaborating with other artists you can resonate with. If you cannot find collaborators at the moment, then just be nice and help others by reposting and sharing their content. Send some likes and insightful comments their ways, or just be nice and tell them they have done an amazing job.
Let other communities find out about your passion as well.
Being popular on SoundCloud is well and good. But the musical community does not end there. Connect your other social media accounts and share a link to your tracks there. A Facebook page is the bare minimum you must do.
Take it a step further and create your website once you feel ready for it. It is easy and the cost to benefit ratio is negligible. Also, request your fans to share your tracks and ask them what they think. If they feel like their opinions are valued, they will start listening to your tracks more.
Get the right equipment
You can, of course, create music on your computer by using stock sounds. But audiences, particularly seasoned audiophiles, can spot these from a mile off.
If you really want to have an impact on SoundCloud, you’ll need to be a little more generous in your spending on equipment. You’ll want to get staples, such as an effects pedal, as well as other kit, including stereo loopers, MIDI foot controllers, and possibly studio microphones if you want to record live.
When you have the right equipment, it is much easier to make your music sound original. You’re no longer relying on stock sounds and mixing software. You’re actually able to record your music live and organically.
Conclusion
In a nutshell, you need to create unique music, show it some love, experiment, and research till you find your way, and then collaborate and engage.
Follow these steps and it will not be long before you start getting noticed.
