Instagram is an extremely valuable platform that enables artists to connect with their audience and grow their fanbases. As the platform continues to evolve, artists have more ways than ever to get their music and content in front of new potential fans.

Instagram Reels has provided artists with another way to improve their content strategy on the platform and to get their music in front of new people. But as is true with any good platform or tool, you only get out of it what you put into it. Where here today to help you make sure that you are fully utilizing Instagram.

As our title indicates, we are looking at two ways that you can use Reels to grow your fanbase in 2021 and beyond.

1. Upping Your Content Game By Using Your Music on Instagram Reels
2. Getting Other Users to Use Your Music on Reels to Grow Your Exposure

This two-step strategy will take some work, but we can guarantee that in the end, the proverbial juice is worth the squeeze here. First, we’ll look at using your own music to create a better content strategy on reels. Second, we’ll look at how to make your music available to others to be used.

However, before we get too far down that road, let’s talk about what Reels are first.

Understanding Instagram Reels & Their Functionality

We assume most of you are familiar with Instagram Reels, but just to make sure we’re all on a level playing field here, let’s talk about what they are. We’ll let Instagram explain it in their own words.

“Reels invites you to create fun videos to share with your friends or anyone on Instagram. Record and edit multi-clip videos with audio, effects, and new creative tools”

Pretty straightforward. If you don’t use Instagram a ton, it’s very similar to TikTok and Vine. Reels also has their own feed which is where the value comes for artists. You can now create engaging content and get it in front of new audiences.

But, just because you can get your content and music in front of new people, it does not mean that you will be effective in doing so. That’s why we’re here.

Upping Your Content Game By Using Your Music on Instagram Reels

If you are familiar with our work, then you know that we often preach re-purposing content and being creative with your content. A song shouldn’t be a single asset for you to market. It should give you the ability to make multiple pieces of content.

If you use a music distributor, like Songflowr, then you will have your music available to use on Reels. As you go through the creation process, here are a few things to consider.

1. Think of your users. What content will engage them? Should you use your music in a funny skit? Should you create a dance trend? Should you do a lip-sync? Etc.
2. Highlight the best parts of your songs. You have a short window to draw in listeners. Use the best parts of your song that will highlight what you want listeners to hear.
3. Be prepared to test out ideas. The best way to find out what works best is to test out ideas and see what resonates with users.
4. Track data. As always, let data be your guide. Track your tests, learn what works, copy that formula, grow your fanbase.

You will find your grove as you get more familiar with this media form and the process. But remember, these are a great opportunity for you to get in front of potential fans. Get creative and find what works best for your fans, for you, and for your music.

Getting Other Users to Use Your Music on Reels to Grow Your Exposure

While both of these ideas for Reels are great opportunities for you, the ultimate goal is to get other users to make Reels using your music and then watch your songs get viral exposure. If you are a Reels user or TikTok user, you have seen obscure songs come out of nowhere and help an artist explode in popularity.

The last section is a tie-in to our best practices to make this happen. For example, creating something like a dance trend is a great way to encourage users to share your song. Really, any sort of challenge that encourages participation is what you want to do.

Secondly, don’t let your ego get in the way, and be willing to ask your fans to share your music via Reels. Social media is an incredible opportunity to connect with your audience. Ask fans to share songs that they like, or mean something to them. When they do, share it to your story. Comment on them, tag them in your shares of it, etc. Use it as another opportunity to engage with them.

Lastly, Instagram gives you the chance to claim your music if someone has uploaded it themselves. Through Instagram’s claim attribution process, you can claim your music if it has been uploaded by a user and it will tie it back to your music.

These three strategies will help you grow your branding presence on Instagram and it will lead to more fans for you in the end.

Get Started with Instagram Reels

If we can give you two pieces of high-level advice here it’s this. This process, like most marketing efforts, is a long-term play. Sure, we all hope for that instant viral success, but outside of that, we are just trying to get a bit better each day and add a few more fans at a time.

Secondly, action is the best path. We can plan complex marketing strategies to death, but ultimately getting them into action is what we need to do. Start testing out ideas, start tracking results, and start growing your fanbase. It really is that simple. Don’t waste time overthinking, just start creating. Find out what is working and double down on those strategies.

We hope this helps, and as always, reach out to us if you have any questions.