SoundCloud has long been a haven for artists and musicians. Despite the fact that the landscape of the music industry and the music distribution scene have changed a lot over the past few years, SoundCloud remains one of the main voices in the industry.

However, many artists are trying to learn how to get more views on SoundCloud and build a loyal audience of SoundCloud subscribers. After all, building an audience on any platform, let alone one as big as SoundCloud, can be challenging.

Luckily, we've created a comprehensive guide to help you build your SoundCloud community. Below, we'll share strategies to help you grow your organic SoundCloud followers and fanbase far beyond the community.

8 Ways to Earn Real Followers on SoundCloud
Here are some strategies to help you earn real views and followers on SoundCloud. Note that these methods are not necessarily simple and are not a "quick fix". It takes time to build a real, authentic audience. However, if you follow these strategies carefully, your music is sure to be heard.

1. Exceptional music comes first
It may seem pointless, but undoubtedly the best way to grow your SoundCloud account is to make exceptionally good music. High-quality music speaks for itself in a world where virtually anyone can access a DAW as long as they have internet access. The music market is oversaturated, which means that your music doesn't just have to be good, it has to be great to have a chance of success.

Unfortunately, many musicians distort the process. Aspiring artists often create their own music, usually just a few songs, upload it to platforms, and then expect the project to explode thanks to divine intervention. The image of "night" success, of course, misleads musicians, since everything is rarely so simple. Even debuting or "aspiring" artists under labels can be signed and developed for years, despite the fact that they have just appeared in public.

You need to create music that will automatically make the listener want more – not just the music, but you and your story. This means that you have to make a lot of music until you have a voice that's unique and polished enough to evoke genuine intrigue.

Music marketing is certainly an important part of the process, but it's a waste of time if your music isn't up to par. If you've just started making music, take the trouble to find reviews from other artists and hone your skills.

Focus all your energy on making great music before worrying about attracting listeners through marketing. It will be a waste of time, energy, and possibly money if you work on marketing before you create the most perfect version of your creativity.

2. Make sure your metadata is verified
Once you're ready to share your music, make sure you provide all the necessary details when uploading to SoundCloud. Since Sound Cloud uses an algorithm to serve tracks to users, the more accurate your download is, the more likely it is to reach your target audience. For example, consider a successful track:

This track by aspiring singer Sophia Mills is correctly credited, has an intriguing cover art, and a descriptive genre (#AlternativeRock) that will likely help the track reach her target audience. Sophia's new profile art also coincides with the theme of her new release, adding to its production value.

Sofia is a popular artist on the platform, so she most likely doesn't need to use additional hashtags or create a complicated description for her track. However, you certainly can! Include links where fans can find you on other platforms, and don't be afraid to add other relevant tags.

You can also let fans download it for free or purchase the track through another platform like iTunes or Bandcamp. Before publishing, be sure to tag all collaborators.

3. Create anticipation for your release
Too many artists focus only on the day of release. If you want your music to get more views, then as a general rule, you should start promoting your music at least a couple of weeks before release on all platforms, not just SoundCloud.

One of the features of SoundCloud that you can use at this time is the "private links" option. Upload your song about 2-3 weeks before the release day and set it as a private link instead of a public one. You can also set a scheduled release so that it automatically switches to a public link on the day of release.

In the weeks leading up to release day, you can use this private link to earn views on SoundCloud before the official release, connect with curators, and reward loyal fans. For example, you can provide early listening to any fan who will take the time to save your song beforehand. You can also upload your private link to sites like SubmitHub, where you can offer your track to curators.

This will bring you legitimate views on SoundCloud and can lead to some extra hype on release day, which is always a good thing! However, make sure you don't let your promotions on SoundCloud dry up after the release day has passed. The best thing you can do for your music is to maintain marketing momentum.

4. Expose yourself everywhere and everywhere
It may seem counterintuitive, but in order to attract SoundCloud users, you need to attract listeners on various platforms. To become a sought-after musician, you need to make yourself known. Here are a few platforms where you should develop your presence:

TikTok
TikTok undoubtedly has a strong foothold in the music industry. Tracks posted on TikTok gain more listeners than those shown on radio stations, so it's crucial that you put a little time and energy into posting short-format video content on the platform.

YouTube
It may surprise you, but YouTube is actually one of the world's largest music streaming platforms. Whether you're out there creating music videos or short-form content with Reels, it's worth your time.

Instagram
Instagram may no longer have the same brilliance, but its main competitor Tiktok is forcing the platform to prioritize organic reach. It's also one of the few photo-based platforms, so it can give you a new way to connect with a different group of fans and other artists.

Facebook
Facebook may seem archaic to some, but the platform's interest in Web3 and the collapse of the metaverse can prove to be a valuable resource for artists who invest in the community.

Twitter
Twitter is another great place to bring fans together and easily share links between fans and friends. You can easily direct traffic to SoundCloud tracks through this texting platform.

Reddit
Forums like Reddit have unique communities that can interact with your music in new ways. Be sure to connect with other artists and find your niche in this community.

Discord
The presence of musicians on Discord only grows over time. Connect directly with your audience by building your own artist community and server.

Managing other platforms can be overwhelming, so don't worry if you feel like some platforms are stronger than others. It's natural, and as long as you're present at each of them, don't feel like you have to overload each of them with the same content. Many artists prefer to devote most of their energy to one or two platforms and only occasionally post information on others. The key is to find something that's right for you.

5. Build a community
It goes without saying that in order to get a little, you need to give a little. Be not only a producer on SoundCloud, but also a consumer. Not only will this help you connect with other artists, but it will also allow you to discover new music first-hand, which can be used to build your own artist strategy. Here are some ways to get started:

Engagement begets engagement
If you haven't built your fanbase yet, you may need to start by connecting with other artists in the same boat. Take the time to listen to other artists' music and pay attention to what makes one artist stand out from another. You'll see that you'll have more listeners if you sit down and take the time to play other people's music.

Don't just spam people – other writers may well tell if you've actually listened to a song or not. Instead, focus your energy on fewer accounts, but listen and comment thoughtfully. Such interaction is much more likely to lead to the development of relationships and mutual support, rather than irritation at best.

Listen to your listeners
It goes without saying that your creative vision should come first. However, if you find that many listeners give you some tips on how you can improve your sound, try your best to incorporate this feedback in an authentic way. Listeners love to participate in the process, and this can help create more anticipation for your next batch of tracks on SoundCloud.

Promotion Circles
Promotion circles can be a great way to interact with other SoundCloud artists and support each other together. These networks can be created by reaching out to individual artists and bringing the group together. The main thing is that each participant provides mutual support. No one should "buy followers" or SoundCloud streams. Ideally, everyone in your promotion circle is genuinely excited about each other's music.

Cooperate
When it comes to working on SoundCloud or simply being creative as an aspiring artist, it's incredibly important to collaborate with other musicians. Whether you're making music with other SoundCloud users or musicians in your circle, making music with other people gives you the opportunity to grow in a whole new way.

In addition, such tracks have a huge potential for cross-promotion. Two heads are better than one, especially when both of you can access a completely different audience through each other. If you don't know anyone who would be willing to collaborate yet, contact other authors! The worst thing that can happen is that they give up and you move on to the next endeavor.

6. Find curators
You may need to wear a detective hat, but if you can find SoundCloud playlist curators through social media or otherwise, be sure to contact them! A basic DSP playlist in places like SoundCloud, Spotify, or others can grow into hundreds of real listeners who will hopefully become fans.

Contacting these influencers can be tricky for an independent performer, but you can do it through sites like Submithub or try reaching out to curators directly. When contacting curators, be brief and provide a direct link to your music. This is where a feature like a private link to SoundCloud comes in handy.

7. Consider Legal Paid Promotion
It's important to note that legitimate paid promotion can help a great track reach new heights, but it won't be worth the investment if the music can't hold its ground. You should also keep an eye on the artist. Sites that offer free followers are rarely legitimate, and you don't want to inadvertently buy fake views on SoundCloud.

Ultimately, even if the number of views on SoundCloud boosts your ego, only real views on SoundCloud will lead to a music career. Investing in "bot" services is a misuse of energy and will only skew your valuable analytics, which is one of the most important tools at the disposal of artists.

That said, if you have a small marketing budget and want to get more real views on SoundCloud, here are some resources you might find helpful:

Soundcloud Promotion Service
It's worth noting that SoundCloud now provides its own promotion service. This feature is only available to artists who monetize SoundCloud through SoundCloud Premier, Repost Select, or Repost by SoundCloud. The minimum spend amount is $25 per campaign, and you'll have to wait about a week between setting up the campaign and its start date, further reaffirming the importance of uploading your music well before release day.

Social Media Advertising
You can run ads on sites like Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok to help increase your followers and bring different audiences to your music. There are plenty of tutorials on YouTube on how to set up such campaigns, but be aware that it may take a lot of testing to find your target audience. It may be helpful to create a music landing page to promote your SoundCloud profile and other DSP profiles with a service like ToneDen.

PR & Agencies
It's safe to say that PR and music culture have far less influence in the blogosphere than they did even a couple of years ago. However, a select few blogs still punch through artists and help them build credibility in audiophile circles. PR doesn't always translate into earning views on SoundCloud, but it can be a worthwhile investment in your long-term career depending on your sound and intentions.

Advertising agencies can help you better target your advertising campaigns so that you can get the most bang for your buck by converting viewers into members of your audience. However, professional advertising campaigns can be quite expensive. Even if you can't afford such services as an aspiring artist, it's worth keeping a note of them for the future.

6. Find curators
You may need to wear a detective hat, but if you can find SoundCloud playlist curators through social media or otherwise, be sure to contact them! A basic DSP playlist in places like SoundCloud, Spotify, or others can grow into hundreds of real listeners who will hopefully become fans.

Contacting these influencers can be tricky for an independent performer, but you can do it through sites like Submithub or try reaching out to curators directly. When contacting curators, be brief and provide a direct link to your music. This is where a feature like a private link to SoundCloud comes in handy.

7. Consider Legal Paid Promotion
It's important to note that legitimate paid promotion can help a great track reach new heights, but it won't be worth the investment if the music can't hold its ground. You should also keep an eye on the artist. Sites that offer free followers are rarely legitimate, and you don't want to inadvertently buy fake views on SoundCloud.

Ultimately, even if the number of views on SoundCloud boosts your ego, only real views on SoundCloud will lead to a music career. Investing in "bot" services is a misuse of energy and will only skew your valuable analytics, which is one of the most important tools at the disposal of artists.

That said, if you have a small marketing budget and want to get more real views on SoundCloud, here are some resources you might find helpful:

Soundcloud Promotion Service
It's worth noting that SoundCloud now provides its own promotion service. This feature is only available to artists who monetize SoundCloud through SoundCloud Premier, Repost Select, or Repost by SoundCloud. The minimum spend amount is $25 per campaign, and you'll have to wait about a week between setting up the campaign and its start date, further reaffirming the importance of uploading your music well before release day.

Social Media Advertising
You can run ads on sites like Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok to help increase your followers and bring different audiences to your music. There are plenty of tutorials on YouTube on how to set up such campaigns, but be aware that it may take a lot of testing to find your target audience. It may be helpful to create a music landing page to promote your SoundCloud profile and other DSP profiles with a service like ToneDen.

PR & Agencies
It's safe to say that PR and music culture have far less influence in the blogosphere than they did even a couple of years ago. However, a select few blogs still punch through artists and help them build credibility in audiophile circles. PR doesn't always translate into earning views on SoundCloud, but it can be a worthwhile investment in your long-term career depending on your sound and intentions.

Advertising agencies can help you better target your advertising campaigns so that you can get the most bang for your buck by converting viewers into members of your audience. However, professional advertising campaigns can be quite expensive. Even if you can't afford such services as an aspiring artist, it's worth keeping a note of them for the future.

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