20 Second Path to a Hit Song

Social networks have become the hub of music marketing but many artists dread the thought of working social networks. Facebook, Instagram and Tik Tok offer artists an incredible opportunity to connect direct to fans so why do so many abhor the thought of posting? If we traveled back in time 20 or 30 years, artists of that time would have eagerly jumped at any method of communicating directly with fans. Social Networks are an incredible tool that give artists an opportunity to speak directly to followers. I’d argue that many artist overthink social networks. They see the big influencers and viral posts and want that for themselves overnight. Just like most other things that lead to success, it does require a little effort so expecting overnight success is fantasy.

I’d offer some encouragement when it comes to social networking. Keep it simple, be consistent but don’t obsess. Currently, the key driver to a hit is 20 second video. Tik Tok is king but Instagram Reels and Youtube Shorts have upped their game and are growing quickly. Don’t overthink your strategy. Use that incredible video device (your phone) that we all keep near us to capture content. Add the hook of your song and wallah! You are now a marketing genius. Use the same hook for every video you post while the single is current. Many artist fear their followers will experience fatigue but I’d argue that your followers won’t tire of the hook as long as the video content is something new each time. Don’t over ask people to take action but instead let the hook do the work. Be patient. You are pounding the hooks into the minds of your followers just like radio does with listeners. Once the hook sticks, they will have to hear it more and will hopefully go to streaming platforms to add your song to their playlists. If your hook is as great as you think it is, it should do the work for you.