3 dos and don'ts of music promotion: how to effectively grow your audience

Promoting your music is just as important as making great music. However, many artists fall into common traps that can waste time, money, and opportunities. To help you avoid mistakes and maximize your efforts, here are three key things not to do (dont's) and what you should do instead (do's) to grow your fanbase and get noticed in the industry.

DON’TS: Spam your music everywhere without a strategy

It’s tempting to post your song in every social media group, DM random people, or tag influencers and playlist curators in hopes of getting attention. However, spamming doesn’t build genuine engagement—it annoys people and can hurt your reputation.

What to do instead: Focus on targeted and organic promotion

Instead of spamming, take a strategic approach to promotion. Identify the right audience for your music and engage with them genuinely. Build relationships with curators, influencers, and potential fans before sending them your music. Use data-driven platforms like Matchfy to reach the right listeners instead of blasting links randomly.

DON’TS: Rely only on playlists for growth

Many artists believe that getting into big playlists is the key to success. While playlist placements can increase streams, they don’t always convert listeners into real fans. Streams without engagement won’t help you build a sustainable career.

What to do instead: Build a strong brand and engage with your audience

Rather than focusing only on playlists, create a brand identity that makes people connect with you. Engage with your fans through social media, live content, and direct communication. Build an active community around your music—fans who interact with your posts, come to your shows, and support your career long-term.

DON’TS: ignore content marketing and visuals

Simply uploading your song and hoping people find it is not enough. Music is consumed visually as much as sonically today. If you don’t create compelling visuals, engaging content, or a story around your release, your song might get lost in the noise.

What to do instead: Create high-quality content that enhances your music

Invest time in high-quality visuals—cover art, music videos, and promotional content. Use social media creatively: behind-the-scenes videos, short-form content (TikTok, Instagram Reels), and live performances help attract new listeners. If you can, collaborate with videographers and designers to build a strong visual identity.

If you're not someone who enjoys social media, doesn’t have time to create videos, or lacks the budget to work with communication agencies, we've put together a guide featuring six types of effortless videos that still deliver a strong message, increasing your chances of going viral.

You can find it at the following link

Final Thoughts

Successful music promotion requires strategy, patience, and consistency. Avoid spamming, over-relying on playlists, and neglecting visuals. Instead, focus on targeted promotion, audience engagement, and high-quality content.

If you’re looking for a platform to connect with the right curators, influencers, and industry professionals, Matchfy helps you take your promotion to the next level.