How To Promote Your Music Video & Make It Go Viral!

With thousands of videos being uploaded every minute, how do you ensure your music video stands out from the crowd?

First things first, don't wait until the last minute to start promoting your masterpiece.

Be it a new sound effect for hip-hop artists.

Or, a royalty free track creators can use in their YouTube intros.

Build anticipation among your fans weeks before the release date.

This is as true today as it was for music videos in the 80s.

And now with modern tools at our disposal, creating anticipation is just a few clicks away.

Spread the word through social media teasers, email newsletters, and any other channels at your disposal. 

But promotion doesn't stop there.

So, how much is there to it?

Let’s look at a few ways you could promote your music videos and make it go viral!

1. How To Promote Your Music Video?
2. Promoting Your Music Videos on YouTube
3. Promoting Your Music Videos on Instagram
4. Best Examples of Music Video Promotion
   1. Renaissance by Beyoncé
   2. "Hit N' Run" by Prince
   3. Spotify Wrapped
   4. Wu-Tang Clan: Once Upon a Time in Shaolin
   5. "Syro" by Aphex Twin

How To Promote Your Music Video? 

Don’t wait until the day your video drops to start promoting! 

Now, let’s look at a few different ways:

• Pre-Release Buzz: Before launching your music video, build anticipation among your audience through various channels such as social media posts and email newsletters. Remind your fans multiple times about the release date to ensure they don't miss it.
• SEO Optimization: Optimize your video's metadata, including titles, descriptions, and tags, to improve its visibility on platforms like YouTube. Use eye-catching thumbnails and relevant keywords to attract viewers.

• Social Media Sharing: Share your music video across all your social media platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok. Encourage your followers to share the video with their networks, using compelling captions and calls-to-action.
• Non-Traditional Sharing: Explore sharing your music video on niche online forums, communities, and groups related to your genre or target audience. Engage with these communities and share your video in a genuine, non-spammy way.
• YouTube Ads: Consider running paid advertising campaigns on YouTube to reach a wider audience. Use targeting options to reach viewers who are likely to be interested in your music genre or similar artists.
• Influencer Engagement: Identify social media influencers or content creators who align with your music style or target audience. Reach out to them for potential collaborations or shoutouts to leverage their audience and reach new fans.
• Content Consistency: Maintain a consistent presence on social media by regularly posting engaging content such as behind-the-scenes footage, sneak peeks, live performances, or updates about upcoming releases. Consistency helps keep your audience engaged and interested in your music.

• Email Marketing: Build and nurture an email list of subscribers who are interested in your music. Use email marketing campaigns to share exclusive content, updates, and promotions, including your music video releases.
• Live Performances: Capitalize on live performances as opportunities to connect with your audience on a personal level. Engage with fans during live streams, concerts, or events, and promote your music video during these interactions.
• Collaboration and Promotion: Collaborate with other artists, producers, or content creators to cross-promote each other's work and reach new audiences. Seek press coverage from music blogs, websites, or local media outlets to generate buzz around your music video release. Additionally, run contests or giveaways to incentivize engagement and attract attention to your music.

Promoting Your Music Video on YouTube

So, you've poured your heart and soul into creating the best music video your mind can conjure.

But just hitting upload on YouTube won't cut it in today's sea of content.

With 500 hours of video uploaded every minute, your masterpiece could easily get lost.

Here's the lowdown on how to promote your music video on YouTube like a pro:

• Pre-release Buzz: Before the big day, start building anticipation. Tease your fans with snippets or announcements on social media. Get friends, fellow musicians, and even media outlets to share the excitement. Consider running a targeted Google Ads campaign to reach a wider audience. 
• Quality Matters: Upload the highest quality video possible. YouTube compresses files, so starting with a low-quality video won't do your brand any favors. 
• Titles and Descriptions: Nail your video's title format: "Artist Name - Song Name - Official Music Video/Lyric Video/Live." Craft a compelling description with credits, lyrics (if applicable), and links to your music and merch. 
• Hashtags and Keywords: Maximize discoverability with strategic hashtags and keywords. Think about what your fans are searching for and use tools like Keyword Tool to optimize your tags. 
• Leverage YouTube Ads: Dive into YouTube's ad options to boost visibility. Choose the right format and targeting options to reach your ideal audience. 
• Optimize Your Profile: Make a killer first impression with a well-designed channel. Optimize your banner, profile picture, and content organization. Don't forget to include links to your socials and website. 

• Spread the Word: Don't rely solely on YouTube. Engage with online communities, share teaser content on social media, and leverage platforms like SoundCloud and Reddit to connect with new fans. 
• Interact with Similar Channels: Build relationships with channels featuring similar music. Like, comment, and collaborate to tap into each other's audiences. 
• Find Your Audience: Pinch someone else's audience if you have to. Make cover videos of popular songs to attract attention and build your own fanbase. 
• Use YouTube SEO: Optimize your titles, descriptions, and tags with relevant keywords. Choose less competitive terms to improve your chances of getting seen. 
• Ride the Trends: Keep an eye on what's trending and find creative ways to incorporate popular topics into your videos. It's a shortcut to gaining exposure and growing your fanbase.

Promoting Your Music Videos on Instagram

Promoting your music video on Instagram is a must for any artist or band, given its vast user base of over 2.35 billion and its tight-knit music community.

Being active on Instagram not only helps with music promotion but also opens doors to new opportunities in the industry.

• Create an effective profile: Craft a concise yet informative bio, including your genre, location, upcoming releases, and contact information. Utilize the link section to direct users to your website, music, shows, and other social media platforms. 
• Content is king: Mix up your posts with engaging images and videos, particularly reels, to showcase your music and personality. Keep captions on-brand and interactive to engage your audience. 
• Utilize Instagram Stories: Provide a glimpse into your daily life and music journey, fostering a more personal connection with your fans. Use features like polls, questions, and countdowns to encourage interaction. 
• Hashtags: Use relevant hashtags to reach new audiences, but avoid going overboard to maintain authenticity. Experiment with different hashtags and monitor their effectiveness. 
• Plan and schedule your posts: Maintain consistency by planning and scheduling your posts in advance. Take inspiration from similar artists while adding your unique touch. 
• Utilize Instagram Ads: Target new fans based on their interests, location, and demographics using Instagram Ads. Experiment with different ad formats to maximize reach and engagement.

Best Examples of Music Video Promotion

1. Renaissance by Beyoncé

Beyoncé, the reigning queen of pop, keeps setting new standards in music marketing.

Remember when she dropped her self-titled album out of nowhere in 2013?

Yeah, that was groundbreaking. Then, she raised the bar even higher with 'Lemonade' in 2016, dropping it on Tidal and HBO as a visual album.

Now, with 'Renaissance' released in 2022, she's done it again, collaborating with top-notch producers and shaking up the music scene.

The album cover? Just as bold as her music.

Beyoncé isn't just dominating pop; she's become a universe of her own, and we're all here for it.

2. "Hit N' Run" by Prince

Prince, the Purple legend, pulled off a genius marketing move for his Hit N'Run tour.

Instead of the usual tour setup, he opted for surprise gigs in the UK, US, and Europe.

The catch? The venue was only revealed on the day of the show, spreading the word mainly through Twitter.

With die-hard fans sharing the excitement online, Prince relied on his stellar performances to draw crowds.

And boy, did it work like a charm!

3. Spotify Wrapped

Spotify's Wrapped campaign has become a staple in the music industry's digital scene, starting as a way for users to share their year in music.

Now, it's a big deal for both users and artists, with everyone flaunting their stats proudly.

For Spotify, it's a smart move to go viral during the holiday season when social media is flooded with festive content.

In 2020 alone, they racked up over 60 million shares from 90 million users – talk about a marketing win!

Plus, with initiatives like 'Found Them First,' Spotify keeps setting the bar high for music marketers everywhere.

4. Wu-Tang Clan: Once Upon a Time in Shaolin

The Wu-Tang Clan made history with their album 'Once Upon a Time in Shaolin,' touted as the most expensive piece of music ever.

This secretive project resulted in just one double CD copy, stored in a vault in Morocco and sold at auction with strict conditions – the buyer couldn't release it commercially until 2103.

The Wu-Tang producers, Rza and Cilvaringz, saw it as a response to the devaluation of music in the digital age, aiming to restore its exclusivity and spark debates about its future. 

5. "Syro' by Aphex Twin

Aphex Twin's 'Syro' dropped in 2014, marking his return after more than a decade.

Known for his elusive nature, the marketing campaign matched his style perfectly.

It kicked off with an Aphex blimp floating over London, followed by graffiti sightings in New York.

Then, things got mysterious with cryptic messages on the deep web, leaving fans scrambling to decode them. Just classic Aphex Twin, keeping us all on our toes!

Conclusion

It's evident that promoting your music video effectively requires a multi-faceted approach that encompasses pre-release buzz, SEO optimization, social media sharing, YouTube ads, influencer engagement, and more.

By strategically leveraging various promotional tactics and platforms, you can maximize visibility, engage your audience, and ultimately, increase the chances of your music video going viral.

Drawing inspiration from successful artists like Beyoncé, Prince, and Wu-Tang Clan, who have revolutionized music marketing with innovative campaigns, can provide valuable insights into creating your own promotional strategy.

So, whether you're an emerging artist or an established musician, implementing these proven techniques can help elevate your music video promotion efforts and propel your career to new heights.