5 Steps To A Perfect Social Marketing Plan
Your album is ready, but where do you start with social media? Every artist right now is aware of the impact their socials have on their album/single release but you might not always know where to start planning and how to make sure your release has the most impact.
Step one: Create a Timeline
Give yourself plenty of time before and after the release to focus on your social posts around the release. Usually one to two months before and at least a month after. A good social release cycle is around 4-5 months. Creating a timeline of when to announce, when to release, and a consistent schedule of posting allows you to know what you're posting every day and how much content you need to create.
Step two: Do a content deep dive
Make a content folder in app (Instagram, TikTok etc.) and start saving posts you like to draw inspiration from. Create content pillars that align with your taste and this project. This could include trending content, day in the life content, music promo, behind the scenes, anything you can think of that would fit the vibe of the project. This also means detailing which social platforms you're going to use and the consistency of posting.
Recommended consistency:
Instagram reels - 2-3 times a week
Instagram feed - 2-3 times per week
Instagram stories - daily.
TikTok - 1-2 posts daily
Facebook - 2-3 posts per week
X/Bluesky/Threads - daily
YouTube Shorts - daily
Step three: Gather assets
The worst part is creating the content and sticking with a consistent schedule. This means planning photo shoots and getting graphics ready. Your plan should include any album art, social skins, music videos, graphics for announcing, and graphics for when the project drops. Give this plenty of time to plan and edit.
Step four: Plan it all out
Everyday should have a planned post. In your social calendar, detail what is posted every day and include any important days like "announce project," "music video teaser," "trend," and "day in the life." There's no detail too small. Every week look at trends and see how they can apply to your release and your life. Remember you shouldn't be doing promo every single day, make sure your content is also planned around your life and your community.
Step five: Engage with your community
Speaking of community, don't just post and leave it. Part of social media is fostering a community, engaging with people in your scene and responding to fans. Social media is a two-way street, and you can't just be shouting to pre-save your song; you have to grow your community. Always remember there is no end to your promo cycle; a song doesn't die after it's released, so keep posting about it even when the release cycle is over; you never know what will hit the algorithm later.
