Originally posted on www.nikkisiixx.com
Written by Classic Smalls @ClassicSmalls

So can we all agree that damn near everybody and their uncle can rap and that all of them with access to a computer are most likely recording a mixtape as I write this? OK, now that we agree on that let me give you an example of a scenario that plays out much too often. Let’s skip pass the small talk and fast-forward to the day the rapper’s project is actually here. This is the day all of their friends and family receive that “Check out my music” text or email. The day complete strangers on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram get hit like an Uzi with the rapper’s music link. Often times begging us to check it out or my favorite line, “Click on the link in bio.” The music is uploaded. The cover art is uploaded. While everything seems ripe and ready for the rapper to catapult to stardom (in his or her mind), the Soundcloud numbers are saying, “Don’t quit your day job!” And from that point on, all this rapper seems to do is promote his or her project on Soundcloud. Why stop there? Why let your career stall and lose momentum? I’m going to tell you a few ways you can avoid being just another Soundcloud rapper.

Let’s be clear, Soundcloud is a great platform for artist; however, it takes a lot more than that to be successful.

If you are looking to promote your music on SoundCloud check out the 5 Proven Practices for SoundCloud Success. For instance, shooting a music video is a very important part of promoting your project. Per day, 1.5 million views on YouTube are for music videos alone. Artists are now getting signed off the buzz and number of views from their YouTube Channel. Once you set up your YouTube channel you will want to check out these 7 Ways to Optimize your YouTube Channel . People want to see you, so get in on this action immediately. Also, you need to hire a reputable publicist or music promotion company to help get your project out there. Your occasional tweets, posts, and status updates are not enough. Put your project in the hands of people with experience and you will see much better results. Another thing I suggest is getting your project out there offline. That means getting off your ass and off your computer or off your mobile device and actually network with other human beings face to face. Press up physical copies of your project and give them to DJ’s, you know the drill. Let’s not pretend like we don’t know how to operate without the Internet. Of course there are more ways and ideas you can use, I’m just scratching the surface. Now it’s all on you.

SM is an Author and Hip Hop artist from Harlem, NY.

Connect with Classic Smalls
Twitter.com/ClassicSmalls | Instagram.com/ClassicSmalls