Been asked by lots of musicians recently about how best to use TikTok and been saving these explainers, so thought I would share a few to kick off this thread
Most musicians have misunderstood the assignment of social media
A digest of all the TikTok tips
- use Green Screen
- change location
- use cuts for energy
- lighting is important
- get a cheap sticky back phone case if you don’t have a stand
- open with a 3-5 second hook (think newspaper headline, throwing out a fact/opinion or asking a question you’re found to answer)
If you’re doing a piece to camera talking video, save the solution to the end
- be sure to introduce yourself to add credibility
- consider your call to action at the end
- cut out the pauses
Ideas for making 15 videos around one song
You don’t always need to follow the same format: try making a point, describing your point and summing up with some analysis
Musicians have always have always had to self promote and now you can craft your own narrative
How the algorithm works and how to hack it
How to improve your lighting
It’s not about viral songs. It’s about sharing your vibe and energy (maaaan). Just do it
Thought this was a nice example of a ‘how I make music / work in progress’ video that any musician could make
How to search to see what’s working in your nitch, I mean niche
How to think differently about TikTok and Insta
Recent changes to the algorithm mean you should focus on “original content” rather than trending audio
This account is a great example of how to promote a playlist
Or you could just hire this company
And this isn’t a tip but how lush is this account?!