Twitter For Musicians: How To Promote Your Music On Twitter!

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Twitter for musicians! So, you’ve released your album or EP and now want to learn how to promote on Twitter. Social media platforms like Twitter are ideal for finding listeners and fans. You can connect with people from all corners of the world and share snippets of your music journey.

Twitter is one of the best platforms for musicians to market their tracks. It boasts a wide and varied user base. And it’s in the top ten of the most visited websites globally. Learn how to promote on Twitter by utilizing Twitter Spaces and collaborating with influencers. Twitter will connect you with not only fans but also music industry professionals.

Several musicians have Twitter profiles. Renowned artists like Justin Bieber, Taylor Swift, and Katy Perry use the platform for marketing their music. Although their success can’t be credited entirely to Twitter, the platform may have led new fans to discover their music.  

You can use Twitter to skyrocket your music career as well. This post details various strategies to promote your songs and tips for successful music promotion. Let’s dive right in.

Twitter for Musicians: Understanding The Stats First 

Twitter isn’t the new kid on the block. The platform has been around since 2006. While it may be less shiny and appealing for musicians than TikTok and Instagram, it can be an ally.

People use Twitter to discuss trends and discover what’s happening in different industries, including the music industry. And users share their opinions, thoughts, and feelings about their discoveries.

Countless tracks and various artists became even more popular after Twitter users discovered them. For example, Lil Nas X became a trending musician on Twitter in 2019. He leveraged his popularity and used the platform to support the promotion of his hit song “Old Town Road”.

If you’re all about the numbers, here are some essential Twitter stats:

• According to Hootsuite’s Digital 2022 report, Twitter is the ninth most visited website worldwide. Therefore, your Twitter profile will rank higher on Google than on several other social media platforms. This means more people can discover you or your band when you promote your music on Twitter.
• Compared to other social media platforms, Twitter users repeatedly visit the website. The platform had 2.4 million user interactions in 2021, with 620 million of those being unique users. Also, it has 229 million monetizable daily active users.
• People aged 26-41 (Millennials) adore Twitter. They make up about 38% of Twitter users. If this age range is your target audience, Twitter is the ideal platform to promote your music.
• Millennials spend more time on the platform than Gen X and Gen Z users. However, it doesn’t mean the platform doesn’t have a diverse audience. For instance, Gen Z users spend an average of 1.14 hours on Twitter daily.

Twitter users are always searching for the latest updates. So they’ll be hunting for the newest releases from their favorite musicians. And they’ll be keen to discover new music from artists they’ve never heard of.

Twitter for Musicians 101

If you’re new to Twitter, you should learn how the platform functions and how to maximize its various features. That way, when you promote your music on Twitter, it’ll pay off.

Profile

Anyone can join Twitter and create a profile. You can customize the profile image, bio, and banner as preferred. To ensure that your presence on the platform is beneficial, ensure these elements represent your artist brand well.

All Twitter users have a unique handle with a “@” symbol in front of it. Your handle is just as important as your profile picture. So, make sure it’s related to your band name, making it easier for fans to find you on the platform.

Tweets

Words (or characters) are the essence of Twitter. When you’re building your following on the platform, you’ll post “tweets”.

These are short messages with a limit of 280 characters or less. Given the brief nature of tweets, you’re encouraged to keep what you’re saying precise and direct.

Besides text, tweets can include images, videos, GIFs, and external links. So, if you don’t have any wise words to impart, you can opt for a picture instead.

You can create a thread if you want to tell a long story on Twitter. This feature links multiple tweets and posts them as a series of tweets. Twitter users engage with tweets by:

• Liking – Tapping the heart-shaped button on a post.
• Retweeting – Sharing a post with their audience.
• Quote retweeting – Commenting and sharing a tweet.
• Replying – Leaving a comment on a tweet.

When users interact in any of these ways, your tweet will appear on their profile. Therefore, other users who visit their profile can discover your post and profile this way.

Unlike other social media platforms, you can't edit a tweet after posting it. Therefore, make sure you think your tweets through before publishing them. And ensure your spelling and grammar are on point.

Followers and Following

Your Twitter following is just as crucial as your followers on any other platform. It’s your network. Once someone follows you, they stay abreast of updates about your music and gigs.

Hashtags

Another Twitter feature is the humble hashtag (#). You’ll place this symbol in front of a word that describes the topic you’re discussing. And this will add your post to the collection of posts related to that searchable hashtag.

As such, using hashtags can expand your reach on the platform. Users can discover your songs and profile when you promote your music on Twitter with hashtags. They can also use your hashtag on a post to join the conversation.

Twitter Analytics

Twitter analytics provide insights into your tweet’s performance and your profile’s activity. You can see how many people saw your tweet. And you’ll know how many users viewed your profile. Several other valuable metrics on Twitter are helpful for musicians.

Twitter for Musicians: Music Promotion Strategies

How To Promote On Twitter: Now that you're familiar with the platform and its benefits let's look at strategies to promote your music on Twitter. Mix and match the following strategies. See what works for you or your band and brings you the best results. 

Strategy #1: Follow Potential Fans

Building your network and increasing your chances of people discovering your music begins with following potential fans. These people are likely to enjoy your music and become genuine listeners.

The best way to find potential fans on Twitter is by following the followers of similar artists. For instance, if your music is similar to Twenty One Pilots, follow their followers. These users have proven to like your type of music, so following them may pay off.

Once you follow some accounts, lead them to your website. You can achieve this when you promote your music on Twitter with external links. They can also visit your website by following the link in your bio.

When you funnel users from Twitter to your website, they can discover more of your music. Your website should be set up to get them interested. If not, then leading users there will be pointless.

Anyone drawn to your website from Twitter can sign up for your mailing list. Offer something free or exclusive, like signed merch or tickets, to entice them. You can then build a relationship with them and convert them into loyal fans.  

Strategy #2: Tweet Like You Mean It

Posting an occasional tweet to promote your music on Twitter won’t get you far. Few people will interact with you if you don't have an active presence on the platform.

This means you’ll have fewer people checking out your website and music. All your promotional and following efforts will be for nothing.

While tweeting consistently sounds like it’ll take significant time out of your day, it’ll pay off. Your followers (fans) want to feel connected to you. The stronger their sense of connection, the more they’ll share your music and engage with you. Here are some tweet ideas:

• Pre-album launch or tour graphics
• Music video trailers
• Polls
• New music announcements

You can also post shoutouts to venues, streaming platforms, and other artists. To tag a streaming platform, your music will have to be available on it first. And your music distributor can help you with this.

Sugo Music Group has your back if you don't have a distributor. With over 30 years of experience, they know their way around the music industry. They’ll ensure your music is available on all major streaming and download platforms.

Besides posting your own tweets, interact with your followers' tweets. Retweet relevant tweets about your music or band. Like and retweet tweets from other artists and music industry professionals. Also, reply to comments left on your posts.

Strategy #3: Take Advantage of Twitter Spaces

Since its launch, a few artists have made the most of Twitter Spaces. Taylor Swift used the feature to share a snippet of “Hey Stephen” to fans before the “Fearless (Taylor’s Version)” album release. And D-Nice hosted the official virtual after-party for the Grammys.

Twitter Spaces is the platform’s version of Clubhouse. It was launched to create a space where people and brands can engage in real-time audio discussions. 

You can capitalize on this unique feature to promote your music on Twitter. When you host a “space”, you will treat your fans to an exclusive experience. You can have a Q&A, live performance, or a launch party. 

Since its launch, a few artists have made the most of Twitter Spaces. Taylor Swift used the feature to share a snippet of “Hey Stephen” to fans before the “Fearless (Taylor’s Version)” album release. And D-Nice hosted the official virtual after-party for the Grammys. 

Twitter Spaces allows you to have authentic engagements with fans and followers. Use it to create momentum and buzz around an album launch. And make the most of it to speak to your fans on a personal level.

Strategy #4: Automate Your Tweets

One of Twitter's most valuable features is scheduling tweets. You can prepare promotional tweets in advance. And set a date and time for a tweet to be published on your feed.

Setting tweets on a schedule is a long-term strategy. Check Twitter Analytics to see which posts perform well and which don’t. The last thing you want is to automate tweets that won’t encourage engagement from your fans and followers.

This strategy is ideal if you don’t want to spend too much time on Twitter. However, don't forget to check-in. You still need to reply to comments, retweet others' tweets, and like your follower’s tweets.

Strategy #5: Pin Important Tweets

This is a low-effort strategy to promote your music on Twitter. If you have a tweet about an upcoming album launch or tour, pin it to your profile. This will prioritize the tweet and keep it at the top of your feed. That way, anyone who visits your profile will see it first.

Strategy #6: Use Hashtags

Adding hashtags to your posts is a great way to expand your reach on Twitter. When you add a popular hashtag to a tweet, people reading tweets related to that topic can discover you. You might also appear in Twitter’s search results.

While you can use trending and existing hashtags, you could also create some associated with your band. These might be for your band name, album name, or a popular song. Fans can then use your hashtags when sharing your music.

When you promote your music on Twitter, add at least 3 hashtags per post. If you use too many hashtags, it can look spammy. So keep it simple and precise.

Strategy #7: Run a Twitter Ad

Paid advertising is another strategy to promote your music on Twitter. You can reach a wider audience, and more people will discover your music.

Each ad you run should have a goal, such as driving traffic to your website or turning users into fans. You can also specify your target audience. Experiment with different ads to see what works for you or your band.

Strategy #8: Get Verified

A verified badge on your Twitter profile can boost your credibility and authority on the platform. This is especially true for musicians. It’ll make promoting your music on Twitter more rewarding.

Anyone can get their account verified. To increase your chances, pay attention to:

• Your activity on the platform. The more active you are, the higher your chances of getting the blue stamp of approval. This is because Twitter sees you as a valuable asset, driving engagement on the platform and keeping users around.
• Your profile picture and cover photo. Make sure you use images on your profile of yourself or album work from your most recent release.
• Directing traffic from your website to Twitter. Embed a follow button on your website to lead people to the platform.
• Your Pitch. Make sure your reason for verification not only includes benefits for you but also for other Twitter users.
• Your link submissions. You’ll need to submit at least two links during the verification process. Submit more than two.

Strategy #9: Collaborate With Twitter Influencers

The last strategy to promote your music on Twitter is to work with influencers. These are users with high engagement and consistent content. Collaborating with a Twitter influencer means they’ll share your music either on their feed or by creating a sponsored tweet.

You can discover music influencers on Twitter by searching on Google. Or you could search the platform itself. Once you find someone your brand can benefit from, get in touch to see if they’ll be a good fit.

Bear in mind that this is one of the paid promotional strategies. You’ll have to pay an influencer before they promote your music on Twitter.

Tips to Promote Your Music on Twitter 

If you want to be a hit on Twitter and have more people discover your music, keep the following tips in mind. 

1.   Twitter for Musicians: Shorten External Links

Since you’re limited to 280 characters per tweet, use them sparingly. Adding external links to your tweets counts towards the character count. Therefore, make them as short as possible. Use free tools like Bitly or TinyURL to shorten your links.

2.   Twitter for Musicians: Mix Up Your Tweets

While the goal is to get more people to listen to your music, don’t spam your followers with the same tweets. Mix them up by:

• Sharing highs and lows: You’re human. And you have good days and bad days. While your brand may be about radical positivity, you’re allowed to express your lows.
• Asking questions: Get your fans’ and followers’ opinions about your next album by asking for name suggestions. Alternatively, ask them about cities to include in your tour.
• Taking your followers and fans behind the scenes: If you're in the studio, snap a picture and post it. Or, while you're on tour, you can capture some backstage moments and tweet them.
• Sharing personal aspects of yourself or your band: Tweet about a playlist you can’t get enough of. Tell your followers and fans what you’re up to.

3.   Twitter for Musicians: Write a Tweet a Day

Writing a tweet daily is the best way to keep your account active. With an active account, your promotional efforts won’t go to waste.

4.   Twitter for Musicians: Set Up Your Profile for Success

Set up your profile well before interacting with fans. They'll see your profile picture, banner image, and bio first.

Make sure your banner image and profile picture represent you or your band. If you have a logo, use it as the profile picture. Your banner image can be a shot from a live performance or an image of you or your band.

A Twitter bio is a 160-character opportunity to convince someone to follow you. While their entire decision doesn’t hinge on your bio, it can help your cause.

Write a bio that tells people about you or your band, your primary genre, and your latest album or track. Make it exciting, and don't be afraid to show your personality.

You can also add a link to your website in your bio. If you have multiple links to share with your followers, you can include a Linktree.

5.   Twitter for Musicians: Unfollow Accounts Wisely

Sometimes an account you follow won’t follow you back. It happens. You can unfollow these accounts after some time if they don’t benefit you.

It’s recommended that you unfollow as many accounts as possible that don’t follow you back. The reason is that having a higher following count than your number of followers creates a negative impression on social media.

Some people may think your account isn’t worth following when you have 50 followers and a following of 1000 users. The last thing you want is people turning away from your account, so take the time to unfollow some accounts.

Automation tools make unfollowing people on Twitter much more manageable. Therefore, look into these instead of manually unfollowing people. A simple Google search should provide you with some options.

6.   Twitter for Musicians: Post Content Fit for Twitter

If you have a music video you want to post on Twitter, make sure it’s fit for the platform first. Twitter videos are limited to 2 minutes and 20 seconds. Since the typical music video is 3 minutes or longer, you'll have to be creative.

Create a trailer for your music video instead of posting it directly on the platform. Alternatively, you can add a link to a tweet that leads to the video on YouTube.

You can post long-form content on Twitter. However, sometimes, it's better to tailor your content to Twitter’s specifications. Here are the other specifications:

• Recommended aspect ratio: 16:9
• Tweet with a single image: 1200 x 675 pixels
• Tweet with two images: 700 x 800 pixels (both images)
• Tweet with four images: 1200 x 600 pixels (per image)

7.   Twitter for Musicians: Check Out Twitter’s Terms of Service

Every social media platform has rules users must abide by. To ensure your tweets are on the legal side, consult Twitter’s terms of service. It’ll tell you if there are any regulations for posting pictures, like album cover art.

Twitter for Musicians: The Bottom Line

Social media platforms give musicians access to fans they otherwise wouldn’t find using traditional marketing methods. You can create a Twitter profile today at no cost and start building your fan base.

Twitter is the ideal platform to promote your music because it has a large user base. It also has a mixed audience, and your profile will rank higher on Google than those on other platforms.

It’s the best place to network with fans, fellow artists, and music industry professionals. As long as you maintain an active presence, you’ll make a name for yourself in no time.

Make sure to follow potential fans, use Twitter Spaces to your advantage, and pin essential tweets to your profile. Also, consider getting your profile verified once you’ve established yourself.