SoundCloud tags are valuable terms that you can include in labeling your posts, which makes it easier for users to find your music. These tags are vital features that boost music exposure by signaling SoundCloud’s algorithm to display your music to any audience who searches for such words. Every artist or creator should make use of relevant tags when uploading songs on SoundCloud, as it is the key to reaching a wider audience.
It also helps to define your music genre and enhances your discoverability on the platform, which can also yield more views, plays, likes, and so on. However, when using tags, you must use them correctly. In this article, we will share with you a complete guide on how to use SoundCloud tags to get more exposure.
Are SoundCloud Tags the Same Hashtags?
In one line, yes! SoundCloud tags are the same as hashtags, as both of them allow users to find your content easily on a platform. It’s understandable if you find that hard to believe, and that’s why we’re going to clarify this concept with an example. Let’s say you’re an Instagram influencer, and most of your posts are about fitness and fashion trends.
Now, whenever you upload a post, you add popular hashtags of your niche, which helps the SoundCloud algorithm recognize your post’s genre and place it in front of the right audience. Similarly, when you upload a track on SoundCloud, you add tags that define your music’s genre, mood, category, etc.
Later, when someone searches for that specific genre, the SoundCloud algorithm will show your track in the search results, hence presenting it to interested audience. See, both serve the same purpose! Both categorize and classify content based on its nature.
Now, we don’t know how important hashtags are on Instagram, but we do know that without tags, it would be impossible to find a song in the massive archives of SoundCloud that hold more than 125 million tracks.
Will using Tags Help Increase Exposure?
Of course! Using tags can help you get exposure on SoundCloud and on a whole new level at that. Why? Because tags ensure that your music reaches the right audience and thus help you reach more target audiences. This relationship between tags and exposure is because of the SoundCloud algorithm, which observes listeners’ choices and recognizes their taste in music.
Once it understands a listener’s choice, the algorithm will start suggesting songs it deems fit for the listener’s taste. For example, you are a producer who makes therapeutic music for meditation and puts relevant tags in your track while uploading it.
Now, the SoundCloud algorithm will register your track in that category and will recommend it to listeners who are interested in such music. So, the usage of accurate tags increases your chances of getting discovered by your target audience, and growing on SoundCloud gives you more exposure to potential followers and interested listeners.
Best SoundCloud Tags to Get Plays
The bottom line about SoundCloud plays is that the more they are, the better it is for the artist, and that’s why people wonder: What are the best SoundCloud tags to get more plays? The thing is that there’s no one correct answer to this question, and for a very valid reason.
Every track is different, so there can’t be a set of universal tags that you can use to get more exposure to the audience and hoard plays from them. However, there’s one thing that you can do to increase plays on your tracks. While uploading a track, make sure to add some vague and universal tags to increase its searchability and to cover more audience.
For example, if you’re uploading a heavy metal track, then add tags like Blues and Pop, etc., to widen your track’s artistic criteria. When you do this, your track will also show up under these categories and get plays from the audience who has recently discovered your music.
Experts say that the best tags are those that are carefully researched and sit perfectly with your track. That’s why you spend time researching and finding the right tags for your music in order to get more plays. [Note: some of the most searched tags on SoundCloud are Breaks, Dubstep, House, Indie, Metal, Pop, Rap, Rock, Happy, Dark, and Study.]
How Do You Add Hashtags to SoundCloud?
Now that you know the importance and effectiveness of SoundCloud tags, it’s time to see how they can be added to a track. Hashtags can be added while you’re uploading a track or can be added later by clicking on the “Edit” button for that track.
- It’s just a simple two-step process explained as follows.
- While you’re on the upload form, navigate to the “Additional Tags” box.
Paste the hashtag that you want to add to the track and then press enter. Add all the relevant tags in this way and then save the track. Again, make sure to pick the right tags because they can seriously mess up the reach of your track if you are not careful.
Take your time, find the relevant and popular hashtags of your niche, and add them to your track in order to gain exposure and some extra plays.
How Does Tagging Help the SoundCloud Algorithm?
Like many other media platforms, SoundCloud has its own algorithm. The Explore pages present users with the best types of content that match their search interests. In the same way, SoundCloud’s algorithm is streamlined to provide search results from existing music in various categories, whether hip hop, disco, and so on, to satisfy searchers’ mood cravings entirely.
This is why it is most important that creators do not just use popular tags but include only tags that are accurate and specific to their categories. This will help you attract the right audience and provide you with higher track ranks. Never use unrelated tags; just focus on appropriate tags that can guarantee you more clicks and plays!
How to Use Different SoundCloud Tags?
With the “Additional Tags” feature on SoundCloud, you can include your tags. You can do this by answering the following questions: What vibe does the track give? What mood is the track perfect for? Working out? Summer hit? Sleepy? Night sounds? Sulkiness? Excitement? And so on.
Just find the appropriate frame of mind that the tracksuits, as well as other relevant and popular words that users search for, and include them as tags. Some popular tags include #happy, #study, and #dark. Note that using a tag that is not frequently searched for by users is a total waste of slots.
So, ensure that you don’t just include any random tags but use more relevant tags. If you are not sure which tags to use, you can check out other popular artists in your niche to see what tags they are using. Also, try to be specific when tagging your tunes.
Conclusion
Considering the large amount of content being shared on SoundCloud today, the success of your SoundCloud music depends on how easy it is for users to find it. This is why, more than ever, it is now crucial that you effectively utilize SoundCloud tags. We have provided this guide to share effective ways to make use of tags on SoundCloud. Read through and use them right. Good Luck!
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