Creating music and not on TikTok yet? That’s a missed opportunity! In this guide, we’ll explore how this app can effectively boost your musical presence online.
What is TikTok?
TikTok is a leading platform for short mobile videos, designed to spark creativity and bring joy. Launched in 2016 by the Chinese company ByteDance, it quickly gained traction by acquiring the app musical.ly in 2017, which already had over 200 million users. As of 2024, TikTok remains one of the most downloaded apps globally, with billions of downloads.
TikTok’s content ranges from parody music videos to educational clips. Categories like fashion, challenges, culture, beauty, comedy, and life hacks are particularly popular. This variety makes TikTok a treasure trove of unique and engaging content that can inform and entertain users.
Promoting Your Music on TikTok
Is TikTok suitable for music promotion? Absolutely! Here are some strategies to help your music reach a wider audience:
- Align with Popular Categories: TikTok’s algorithm suggests content based on user preferences. Identify popular categories where you can integrate your music. Whether it’s parodies, dance routines, or behind-the-scenes studio sessions, find your niche and create relevant content.
- Highlight the Perfect Moment: TikTok videos can be up to 60 seconds long. Select a segment of your song with viral potential. For instance, Kreepa’s “Oh No” became a sensation because users loved the dramatic intro, leading to over 13 million videos using that snippet.
- Use Relevant Hashtags: To maximize reach, use trending hashtags. Check the Discover tab regularly to see which hashtags are popular. However, don’t overdo it – TikTok suggests using 3-4 relevant hashtags per video.
- Feature Your Music in Videos: Ensure your song is available in TikTok’s music library. This way, when you or others use it, the video is tagged with the official sound, helping it appear alongside other videos using the same track.
- Create Challenges: Challenges are hugely popular on TikTok. Create a fun challenge featuring your music and encourage your followers to participate. For example, the The Don’t Rush Challenge is one of the most popular challenges on TikTok.
In this viral TikTok challenge, users must shoot their videos while applying makeup. Then, they have to fast-forward that video and share the hilarious result on TikTok. - Be Spontaneous and Authentic: TikTok thrives on authenticity. Take a cue from Nathan Apodaca, whose casual skateboarding video with Fleetwood Mac’s “Dreams” playing in the background went viral, amassing nearly 80 million views and reviving interest in the classic song.
- Build Anticipation: Tease new releases with short previews. Arek Kłusowski’s strategy of posting the first 15 seconds of his single “Antarktyda” days before its release resulted in over 95,000 views.
- Post Regularly: Consistency is key on TikTok. Regularly update your profile with new content. Aim to post 2-3 times a week to keep your audience engaged.
Leveraging Royalty-Free Samples
Platforms like slooply.com and r-loops.com are invaluable for musicians. They offer a wide array of royalty-free samples, allowing you to create music without worrying about additional costs or legal issues. This makes it easier to produce high-quality tracks and share them on platforms like TikTok.
TikTok continues to grow, providing an ever-expanding stage for artists. Utilize these tips to harness its potential and share your music with a global audience!
