With nearly a decade of experience specialising in guitarist reposting and being a part of their success story, we've learned what works and what doesn’t. Knowing how to build a great Instagram page for guitarists and understanding Instagram's rules is essential.
Growing your Instagram or any social media isn't quick. It takes time, and there's lots of competition. So don't expect to become famous overnight. But there are important steps you can take to grow your Instagram as a guitar player.
Instagram, like other social media, is all about visuals. If your video isn't interesting or appealing in the first few seconds, people will scroll past it. The time people spend watching your videos and how much they interact with them is really important. Basically, you have few seconds to leave a good impression. These things help your content get noticed on Instagram's "explore page" or in people's feeds as “suggested content”.
The more followers you have, the less likely your content will be shown to most of them. Basically your post will be shown to only a group of your followers for Instagram's algorithm to decide if your video is worth showing to more people or not. If someone likes your post or follow you, more likely they will see your next post at the top of their feed. So having any kind of engagement is really important to keep things going and keeping the momentum.
Play Covers:
Choosing what to play is crucial. Cover songs are recommended as they are familiar to audiences, even if they're unfamiliar with you. Stick to genres you genuinely enjoy to ensure you find joy in the playing process. You don’t need to be the best guitarist or show off your crazy shredding skills. Have some skill, tone, play simple and be musical - just don’t overreact. If you aim to expand your audience, focusing on cover songs is advisable.
Lighting:
Cameras perform poorly in low light conditions, so it's essential to find a well-lit location. Natural sunlight or a budget-friendly ring light are ideal options to start with. These enhancements instantly elevate the professionalism and attractiveness of your videos.
Video Orientation:
Consider the orientation of your video—will it be vertical or horizontal? Uploading horizontally filmed content as a reel sacrifices screen space, and editing horizontal footage into a reel often reduces video quality due to zooming. You can always take an example of already successful guitarists how they position themselves in front of camera.
Environment:
Before recording, ensure your surroundings are tidy and free of distractions. A clean backdrop focuses attention on you and your guitar playing, rather than on any clutter in the background.
Sound Quality:
Ensure the sound volume is adequate—not too loud or too soft. While a mobile phone microphone may suffice for solo performances without background music, achieving optimal audio quality alongside proper video positioning can be challenging. Consider investing in sound recording equipment for an improved audio experience.
Golden rule - play covers, lighting, quality video with positioning, keep the momentum!
Optimise Your Profile: Ensure your Instagram profile is complete and optimised. Use a clear profile picture, write a compelling bio that highlights your identity as a guitarist, and include relevant keywords such as your music genre and location.
Be Consistent: Consistency is key on Instagram. Post regularly to keep your audience engaged and attract new followers. Create a content schedule and stick to it to maintain a steady flow of posts.
Use Relevant Hashtags: Research and use popular and relevant hashtags in your posts to increase their discoverability. Include a mix of broad and niche hashtags related to guitar playing, music genres, and your specific style. You can comment hashtags under your post or add it to the caption.
Engage with Your Audience: Actively engage with your followers by responding to comments, liking and commenting on other users' posts, and participating in conversations within your niche community. This helps foster a sense of connection and loyalty among your audience. Just remember - don’t spam!
Collaborate with Others: Collaborate with fellow musicians and guitarists in your niche to reach a wider audience. Participate in shoutout exchanges, feature each other's content, or collaborate on joint projects to mutually benefit from each other's audiences.
Related content: Try to share behind-the-scenes glimpses of your music journey.
Track Your Performance: Keep track of your Instagram analytics to understand what types of content perform best and resonate most with your audience. Use this data to refine your content strategy and optimise your approach for maximum growth and engagement.
Tag Your Gear: Make sure you are tagging the brands you use in your content. If the gear is visible, brand might share your content or maybe it can lead to collaboration deals.
Promote Your Content: Sharing your Instagram posts and profile on other social media platforms is a smart move. If your content is already performing well on Instagram, it's likely to do well on other channels too. This means you can save money on advertising.
However, when you promote yourself on another page, remember that it's a whole new audience for you. You don't have any existing relationship with them like you do on your own page. They see guitar videos every day, so to grab their attention, we recommend promoting your cover songs. Just like on your own page, your post will initially be shown to a small group of followers. But once you get enough engagement, it'll be pushed to more followers, unlocking the full potential of the page you're promoting on.
By implementing these strategies and staying committed to building your presence on Instagram, you can effectively grow your channel as a guitarist and expand your reach within the music community.
Keep rocking and enjoy the process! 🤘
Juicyguitars