Summer is GOING DOWN! As we reach the end of a Global Pandemic, increasing likes on social media and up your engagement are possible in more creative ways.
I know it’s difficult to focus on interactions with fans on social media when all you want to do is treasure the sunny days of the season, or let’s be real – all you may want to do is survive another day… but this is prime time to be connecting with your fan base and increasing likes.
One of the biggest missteps many artists make is frantically trying to amass more and more potential fans while not paying enough attention to the ones that they already have. Followers aren’t things you collect, store away, and never tend to again.
Fans that you already have don’t need to be found and won over. They already support you and your brand, but they may not remain loyal followers if you do not engage with them. Tend to them with the same love and care as you do your garden this summer! Weed out the dead and uninteresting and water the best and most promising.
Why do this? Studies have proven that it is much more difficult to make a new client (read fan) than it is to get a fan that already knows and trusts you to purchase from you over and over again.
In my upcoming book The Ultimate Guide to Music Publicity, I talk specifically about how to get featured in blogs, playlists, & traditional media, and everything you need to know to master an effective and well rounded communication strategy for your music. Pre-order here.
I always suggest that, in measuring followers, the number one place to look is at your existing social networks and your email list and increase likes where people already like you.
Here are 9 fail-safe ways to augment and engage with your follower base by pulling from followers that you already know and who already trust and appreciate you and your music.
1. Get serious about your newsletter.
You probably spend more energy on social media but you should shore up your email if you haven’t. Don’t fret if you don’t have one yet. You can easily use MailChimp to set one up!
Send your newsletter out once per month. Be sure to be consistent. Track the effectiveness of your newsletter by monitoring your open, forward, and bounce rates. Read my Guide it WILL help you craft a great one.
Gather names and addresses you can add. Ask all of your friends if it’s OK with them that you add them to your mailing list so you aren’t mistaken for a spammer. That would be defeating the purpose.
2. Livestream Your Latest Record
Livestreams have really gained momentum since COVID shut down live shows. Send out invitations through your newsletter, ask your fans to share with their friends. Livestreams also allow your fans to respond to your music in real-time. You could even shoutout your biggest fans! It can help with increasing streams and likes!
3. Run a Spotify Pre Save Campaign
If you have a summer single dropping run a Spotify Pre save Campaign and post all over your social media profiles to get more fans engaged with you on that platform so you can shock the Spotify algorithm – use show.co or feature.fm to set one up!
4. Include a special offer on your website and on socials for a free exclusive track or video (or better yet – several)
To deliver a juicy bribe (download, merch, video, MP3) in exchange for an email address. Try Noisetrade! They rock.
5. Follow 25 new people a week on Twitter (or Instagram, or Facebook or ANYWHERE!)
Many of these newly followed people will follow you back and, as a result, your network will begin to grow, especially if you interact!
TIP: Be sure you have a link to your website on your Twitter homepage or Insta profile.
6. Send out personal direct messages to your most engaged followers
Ask if you can have their email addresses for your newsletter. This is a bit arduous, but the results will pay off. Do the same with any other networks you frequent. They may just help your algorithm by increasing likes and interaction.
7. Start an IGTV video series / TikTok and share your songs stories, and thoughts
Tumblr is great if you like blogging!
You can also start a podcast or a video series on TikTok and interview other artists with similar audiences. Ask them to share with their fans and followers. It doesn’t have to be a big production. It can be small, informal videos. Just have fun with it. Chances are the less you see this as a chore, the better it will be.
8. Ask for Interaction
TikTok and Instagram stories are great ways to pose questions or fun trivia for your fans to respond to. By letting them express themselves and respond to you, you are building a better and deeper connection AND increasing likes. They might even share your post with their friends!
9. Practice random acts of kindness online regularly
For example, introduce people who may benefit from knowing one another. Always start by asking “How can I help?” instead of “What can they give me?” A little kindness can go a long way and it will only take a moment to tag each other on social media.
I hope you found these tips helpful. Now go forth and increase likes! And I hope you can enjoy some normalcy this SUMMER 
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