The 13 Biggest Mistakes Artists Make on Soundcloud

Virtually each energetic, relevant musician is now utilizing Soundcloud. And for those who aren’t… why aren’t you? The platform is an effective way to foster a community, to get suggestions in your tracks and to work together and showcase with individuals which are into the model that you’re. It’s simple, primarily free and may’t be missed within the repertoire of any musician that’s anticipating to make a reputation for himself.

Table of Contents

Mistake #1: Your URL Isn’t Constant With Different Platforms

The extension that your profile has on Soundcloud must be an identical to those you could have on different social media platforms. In the event you’re operating with www.fb.com/thebestbandever, you then need the identical ‘/thebestbandever’ extension in your Soundcloud account. You possibly can edit this in your account settings, beneath ‘Primary Profile’.

Mistake #2: Social Hyperlinks Are Missing, Completely

More and more more so, social media profiles have develop into the go-to of the younger generation. Nearly all of folks, and significantly the demographic of 15-25 years previous, instantly appears to be like to social media profiles when additional investigating an artist they’ve simply found. I’m certain you’ve come throughout a band that you just appreciated on Facebook, went to their ‘about’ part and found that there weren’t any hyperlinks to their different social media profiles there. Annoying right? So easy, but this key level is missed out on by so many acts.

Soundcloud has built-in the flexibility so as to add social media hyperlinks to your profile, and even provides the proper thumbnail photographs to the hyperlinks of the bigger websites. You possibly can edit these beneath your ‘Superior Profile’ settings. When setting these up, I like to recommend that you just limit the quantity of networks you employ. The important hyperlinks are: web site (www.thebestbandever.com), Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.

All the things else is irrelevant, and the extra choices you current to folks, the much less seemingly they’re to click on any of them.

Combine these steps, and get your profile wanting proper.

Mistake #3: And don’t add all the pieces!

For those that are new to your band, and music, you solely have a single shot at impressing them. You know the way it goes: in the event you uncover a brand new artist, you’ll give one monitor, perhaps two, a shot, and if these aren’t to your liking, you’ll transfer on. Due to this fact, it’s important that you simply don’t place every little thing you make in your Soundcloud account.

Certain, a Soundcloud add is much less definitive than a monitor distributed to iTunes or Beatport, nonetheless it’s nonetheless within the public area, and followers you win on Soundcloud can actually turn into paying clients for gigs and precise releases. Ideally, your profile ought to turn out to be a showcase of all of the wonderful completed work you’ve made and launched, so that each potential customer could be amazed and impressed by your prowess.

Mistake #4: Importing half-baked, ‘work in progress’ tracks.

When contemplating an add, consider it like this: Is that this prepared for release? Do I take into account this a completed observe? In that case, then go for it, put it up.

There can even be people who argue that they like inserting ‘work in progress’ tracks on their profiles, and that Soundcloud is the platform on which they be happy sufficient to do that and get some stay suggestions from their pals and followers. To that, I argue that almost all of the most important acts on the market don’t do it, and that the good thing about getting that reside suggestions can be far lower than that of giving an awesome impression off the bat.

Mistake #5: Fundamental Bio and Contact Data Is Missing.

A typical mistake I see bands make, is that they don’t present a brief and to-the-point biography, and a few contact data, on their profile. Now certain, we will all agree that when you’re an act with the fame and following the scale that deadmau5 has, you’ll get away with not caring. However if you happen to don’t, then higher type these items out.

Ideally, you place your content material e-mail tackle on prime, or that of your booker/supervisor, adopted with a brief bio of who you’re. The bio ought to be about 50-250 phrases, and appears greatest when written in third particular person. Embrace one thing about who you’re, what you do, any labels you’re related to, and combine some achievements. Some acts additionally wish to combine their gig agenda, or archive, nonetheless I really feel that’s pointless as nobody will look to your Soundcloud profile for that.

Mistake #6: Forgetting to Determine Your Genre

By way of style, all the time ensure to position the right style as the primary ‘Key phrase’ to the monitor. You need to do that, as a result of Soundcloud has an discover operate, which indexes all of the ‘trending’ tracks inside a specific genre. Soundcloud’s solely solution to outline the style is thru the keywords, and the primary one which’s embedded within the participant, is usually essentially the most worthwhile in figuring out that. Alternatively, the platform’s search function browses by way of keywords as nicely, so for those who seek for ‘electro’, it’ll discover tracks who’ve that phrase embedded in its title, key phrases and lastly description.

Different key phrases which can be essential to incorporate are the unique artist, related artists, file label and probably the place the place you’re from, or golf equipment you’ve played.

Apply a filter on what you add, and if you do determine to place one thing up, make it simply findable and recognizable.

Mistake #7: Not utilizing your account!

That is the most typical mistake I see artists make on Soundcloud. The vast majority of them use the platform each day, however don’t trouble to log into their very own account, and like and work together with the stuff they like.

An engaged and energetic account is more likely to foster a group, and also will power you to get a real really feel of the intricacies of the platform.

So, each time you employ it, log in, just like the tracks you’re keen on, and hold it buzzing.

Mistake #8: Replying as a bot would.

A real ‘thanks’ works, however forestall your self from typing the identical ‘thanks’ responses to quite a few comments. Personalize the stuff.

Mistake #9: Not replying to all comments

This is without doubt one of the most neglected, but strongest methods to harness the community side of Soundcloud.Reply to EVERY remark somebody makes on one among your tracks. It’s by far one of the simplest ways to get individuals to come back again to your profile, they usually’ll probably proceed beyond that (by checking your web site or different social-media platforms), as a result of it exhibits of real curiosity.

Doing that is easy: you go to one in every of your tracks, and also you click on on the little remark bubble indicator which reveals how many comments a monitor has. That’ll take you to a list of the comments, the place you possibly can click on on every of them to put a reply. Once you do, place feedback that truly make sense.

Mistake #10: Not including value in your comments.

While you comment on individuals their tracks (which it is best to actively do by the way in which… work together with the stuff and artists you really admire), be certain so as to add worth. A easy ‘Good’ or ‘Nice drop’ works, however doesn’t maintain as a lot worth as really giving some intricate suggestions. Don’t be hesitant to be important both. Normally, the more sincere and demanding suggestions is more more likely to get a dialogue began.

Elaborate and constructive comments could be dialog starters, and also will lead folks to take a look at your profile. And for those who do it this fashion, it’ll truly be real, and never from screaming for consideration.

Add worth, to get worth.