With over 500 million users, Spotify (Spotify Streams) is a powerful platform for independent artists. But
getting your music heard isn’t just about uploading tracks—it requires smart
marketing, engagement, and strategic use of Spotify’s tools. Whether you’re an
emerging artist or looking to refine your approach, this guide will help you increase
your streams and build a loyal and supportive fanbase.
Optimise Your Spotify Profile for Maximum
Engagement
Your Spotify profile is your digital storefront. A polished, professional profile can
encourage listeners to hit play and follow you for good. Here’s how to optimise it:
Claim and Customise Your Profile
- Use Spotify for Artists to claim your profile and gain control over updates.
- Write a compelling bio with keywords like “independent artist” and your genre.
- Upload high-quality images and update your social media links.
- Utilise the Artist Pick feature to pin your latest release or a curated playlist.
Leverage Your Profile to Convert Listeners into Fans
- Keep your discography organised, ensuring your latest release is easy to find.
- Pin fan favourite tracks to attract new listeners.
- Add a call-to-action in your bio, such as “Follow me for new releases!”
Get Featured on Spotify Streams Playlists
Playlists are the secret sauce for organic Spotify growth. Getting placed in the right playlists can skyrocket your streams.
A. Submit to Official Spotify Playlists
- Use Spotify for artists playlist submission tool for unreleased tracks.
- Submit your song at least 7 days before release for editorial consideration.
B. Create and Curate Your Very Own Playlists
- Add your music to a playlist featuring popular tracks in your genre.
- Update your playlist regularly and promote it across social media.
- Collaborate with other artists to curate playlists together and expand reach.
- Encourage fans to add your songs to their personal playlists for algorithmic
- boosts.
Your Spotify growth doesn’t just happen on the platform—social media plays a huge role in driving streams.
- Share your Spotify links on Instagram, TikTok, Twitter, and Facebook.
- Use Instagram Stories & TikTok Reels to showcase your music.
- Run countdowns, giveaways, and challenges before a release to hype your
- audience.
- Partner with influencers and other artists for cross-promotion.
B. Email Marketing & Website Optimisation
- Build an email list and send exclusive content, tour updates, and new music alerts.
- Embed Spotify widgets on your website or blog.
- Offer a freebie (like a behind-the-scenes video or lyrics sheet) in exchange for email sign-ups.
Spotify offers built-in tools to help artists get noticed. Make the most of them!
A. Spotify Marquee Ads
Invest in Spotify Marquee to run in-app promotions for your new releases.
B. Use Spotify Discovery Mode
- Opt into Discovery Mode to increase the likelihood of your song appearing in personalised playlists, Spotify Radio, and Autoplay.
- Test different songs in Discovery Mode to see which performs best in algorithmic recommendations.
Engage with Your Fans to Increase Spotify Streams
A strong connection with your audience encourages repeat streams and word-of-mouth marketing.
- Reply to comments and messages on social media.
- Hosting live Q&A sessions on Instagram or Twitch.
- Share behind-the-scenes content about your music process and inspiration.
- Encourage user-generated content by asking fans to share videos using your music.
Track Your Progress with Spotify for Artists Analytics
Use Spotify for Artists to monitor your streaming data and refine your marketing approach.
- Analyse your audience (location, demographics, listening habits).
- Identify top-performing tracks and adjust promotional efforts accordingly.
- Compare playlist ads and algorithmic streams to refine your submission strategy.
Avoid Unethical Practices to get Spotify Streams (No Fakes!)
Buying streams or using bots can lead to serious penalties, including song removal or bans.
Focus on Organic Growth:
- Engage with real fans through playlisting, social media, and collaborations.
- Leverage marketing tools instead of shortcuts.
- Use data to refine your strategy rather than relying on artificial numbers.
Collaborate with Other Artists and Influencers
Cross-promotion with other musicians can help you reach new audiences.
- Feature on each other’s tracks to share fan bases.
- Do Instagram or TikTok collabs to boost visibility.
- Shoutouts to each other’s new releases via social media and mailing lists.
Conclusion
Increasing your Spotify streams takes consistency, strategy, and engagement. From
optimising your profile to leveraging Spotify’s tools and social media, these proven
techniques can help you expand your reach and grow your fanbase.
Which of these strategies have you tried? Share your experience in the comments!
