Hitting your first 1,000 streams on Spotify can be pretty tough as an artist, but with a set release plan you can achieve these goals. We will go through 5 top tips on how you can reach your streaming goals!
Before you hit 1,000 Spotify streams… well it looks poor. It shows you have less than 1,000 streams. This makes it look like no one is paying attention to your music, which is not what you want. Hitting your streaming goals is all about marketing!
Planning is the problem that all artists face. It is the boring side of a release, yet it’s the most important. When you are sitting down to set a release date, make sure it is far enough in advance that you can create an effective and solid plan for you release. Doing so will help with improving your Spotify stream results.
So in this article we will look over my Top 5 tips to getting the first 1,000 streams for your release!
Tip 1: Pre Saves & Pre Playlist Submissions
As you upload your track to streaming platforms, most platforms will give you the option to get a pre save link. It’s just like an iTunes preorder, except Spotify subscribers don’t have to pay for the pre save. This allows you to plug your song to audiences that are interested in the release, and they can then pre save it ready for release day.
Prior to your release you can submit your track to the official Spotify playlists. To ensure you have a higher chance of being discovered for the playlist, give yourself 3 to 4 weeks prior to the release when you go for submission.
Tip 2: Playlists
It release day and fans are streaming your release, they are buzzing from it… but you can’t discover any more fans? The best place is to target playlists. There are many ways to get your track to playlist creators. There is a free route which you can message creators directly, or go to free submission sites. Then the paid route is utilising sites such, as Playlist city to submit your track to playlists. Although this does NOT guarantee that you will get on a Spotify playlist.
Whether you are going down the route of paying for playlists, or not, it is important you make things easy. Understand the mood and genre of your track.
If you can’t seem to feature on other playlists, then there is nothing stopping you from creating your own. Create you own playlist filled with local artists and your musical inspirations. This creates a playlist that your release will truly fit into.
Submit your music to our Spotify playlists HERE!
Tip 3: Plug Your Social Media
PLUG YOUR SOCIAL MEDIA! Shout it from the heavens. You need to make sure everyone knows about your new release. Make you sure add links all over your social media so that people can easily access your music. Utilise links in your bio, or pinned posts and tweets! If you are using a link tree then make sure you update this in your tree.
Just remember that your audiences have different lives. They will log on at different times of the day, so make sure you cater for everyone. This is especially important on Twitter. You must tweet more to be seen, and at various points during the day. You must aim to cover all available audiences, so that everyone knows that you have a big release!
TIP 4: Run Social Media Ads
So far everything could be done for free, but let’s talk money… more specifically adverts. Running a social media campaign can play a big impact in the overall outcome of your release. With a social media advert, you can make sure your posts appear. This can be to the audience you already have, or to a BRAND NEW audience. Be sure to work out who your target audience is, otherwise you will waste your time and money.
TIP 5: Slide Into DMs
Spotify streams are counted when someone listens to your track for 30 seconds. So the final tip I have for you is to slide into peoples DMs.
You all having friends and family that are willing to support you. On release day, check in on them. Make sure you let them know about your release. These are your friends and family, most of them will surely listen.
Sliding into the DMs of your fans can have a different feeling and impact. When your fans receive a message from you they feel like you notice them and care about them. That is your way of saying “Hey I notice you, and I value you as a fan”. These are the types of people that will spin your song over and over and over and over again! A quick little message has a massive impact to your fan.
A Conclusion With A Warning!
5 tips on how to hit your first 1000 streams on Spotify. But I must issue a warning around hitting high streams. Do NOT use bots. This may look good at first, but you will be found out and it can stunt your growth and discovery of your music. As long as you follow these 5 tips, I promise you that you will see an improvement in your goal to hit your first 1,000 Spotify streams.
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Written By Jake Marshall