How to Promote Your Song With Short Videos on TikTok and Reels

Releasing a song is one thing. Getting people to hear it is another. Short videos on TikTok, Instagram Reels and YouTube Shorts are the easiest way for a lot of artists to find new listeners. Here's how to do it without it feeling like an ad.

1. Open with your strongest part

People scroll fast. So don't start your video with an intro, start with the part that sticks. Usually that's your hook or your best line. Not sure which part that is? Play your song for a few people and ask what they remember. How to write a strong hook is in how to write a hook that sticks.

2. Make several versions of the same idea

You can't know in advance which video will hit. So make a few variations: a different part of the song, a different first line on screen, a different location. Spread them over a few days and see which one does best.

3. Ideas you can make right away

• Performance: you rapping or singing your hook, just on your phone.
• Lyrics on screen: your best line big on screen, with the song underneath.
• Behind the scenes: a clip from the studio, your first take or how the beat came together.
• Before and after: your raw recording next to the mixed version.
• An alternate version: a slowed or sped up version of your hook. Make one quickly with the free slowed + reverb maker.

4. Make sure your song can be used as a sound

Many distributors also deliver your song to TikTok and Instagram, so it shows up as a sound in the app. Check with your distributor that this is switched on. Then other people can put your song under their own videos, which is exactly what you want.

5. Keep posting, also after release

One video isn't a campaign. Start a few weeks before your release and keep going once the song is out. Reply to comments, make a video answering a question and put a link to your song or pre-save in your bio. What to do when is in the four-week release plan.

6. Don't forget Spotify itself

On Spotify you can add a Canvas: a short clip that plays with your song. Your short videos can inspire it, but stick to Spotify's own rules. Read how to claim Spotify for Artists.

Looking for a beat for your next song? Browse all beats.

FAQ

Which part of my song should I use?

The part that sticks the most, usually your hook or your strongest line. Open your video with it.

How many videos should I make?

More than one. Make a few variations of the same idea and see which works best.

Does a slowed or sped up version work?

Often, especially as a sound under videos. Just try it next to your original version.