I cracked the Spotify Algorithm (15,000+ streams) with a $1 Facebook Ad

Summary

In this video, the artist demonstrates how running a Facebook and Instagram ad campaign with just $1 a day can lead to impressive results. With a total spend of $46, the campaign generated over 15,000 streams, 6,000 listeners, and significant boosts in Spotify's 'Discover Weekly.' The artist shares the strategy of targeting tier 3 locations, using effective ad creatives, and maintaining consistent ad spending over time. The key takeaway is that a small, sustained budget can drive momentum, proving that effective music promotion doesn’t require a large investment to see meaningful growth.

Takeaways

• 😀 Running a $1/day Facebook/Instagram ad campaign can drive significant results for music promotion, including thousands of streams and listeners.
• 📈 Even a small budget, like $46 over almost two months, can reach thousands of people and generate substantial impressions.
• 🎵 Consistency is key. Keeping the ad running over time helps build momentum, leading to increased streams and playlist additions.
• 🔄 The algorithm begins to compound results. The more the ad runs, the more visibility the music gets, especially with a Discover Weekly push.
• 💡 Discover Weekly boosts are tied to the song’s popularity score. Even with a score of 26%, the ad can trigger a boost in visibility.
• 💰 The $1/day strategy is highly cost-effective, and if the ad is performing well, there's no reason to turn it off – you can cruise at a low budget.
• 🎯 Targeting specific tiers (e.g., Tier 3) and age ranges (22-49) with a focus on genre interests (house and tech house) increases ad effectiveness.
• 📊 Facebook Ads Manager allows for simple and effective ad setups, such as selecting manual placements across Facebook and Instagram feeds and stories.
• 🖼 Ad visuals should be simple but striking. Using album artwork on a spinning vinyl with a pixelated background has proven to be effective.
• 📝 Writing concise, engaging ad copy that directly invites listeners to 'Click, listen, and enjoy!' leads to more interaction and better ad performance.
• ⚙️ Utilizing AI tools for ad copywriting suggestions can speed up the creative process and help you generate more engaging text.

Q & A

What is the main takeaway from this video about running ads on social media?

The main takeaway is that you can get significant results from running ads on Facebook and Instagram with just a $1 per day budget. Consistency and targeting the right audience are key to success, even with a low spend.

How much did the creator spend in total on the ad campaign, and over what period?

The creator spent a total of $46 on the ad campaign, running from March 27th to May 11th—just under two months.

What were the results of the ad campaign in terms of streams and listeners?

The results included 15,000 streams, 6,000 listeners, and 587 saves, with an average of 2.4 streams per listener.

What is the significance of the Discover Weekly boost in the campaign?

The Discover Weekly boost was crucial for increasing the song's visibility on Spotify. The creator saw a dramatic increase in streams after receiving the boost, which typically happens when the popularity score reaches around 28-30%.

How did the ad budget affect the visibility and results of the song?

By spending just $1 a day, the creator managed to maintain momentum for the song, which helped increase its visibility on platforms like Spotify, without needing a high ad spend. The consistent low-budget ads worked over time to compound the song's success.

What targeting strategy did the creator use for the ad campaign?

The creator used tier 3 targeting, focusing on specific countries where they wanted to reach listeners, and targeted people aged 22-49. The ad placements included Facebook and Instagram feeds, stories, video feeds, and more.

Why does the creator recommend keeping the ad running even after the initial promotion phase?

The creator recommends keeping the ad running because maintaining low-budget ads helps to keep the momentum going. Even with minimal spend, it continues to generate positive results and valuable data for platforms like Spotify.

What does the creator mean by the 'algorithmic gods' of Spotify?

By 'algorithmic gods,' the creator refers to Spotify’s recommendation system, which pushes songs to new listeners based on factors like popularity score and engagement. When the algorithm picks up on a song, it can significantly increase its visibility.

What was the creator’s ad creative, and why was it effective?

The ad creative featured the album artwork on a spinning vinyl with simple graphic effects in the background. This minimalistic and visually appealing design worked well to catch attention and convey the music’s vibe effectively.

What advice does the creator give to artists starting out with small ad budgets?

The creator advises artists to start with a higher ad budget for their release to build momentum and then reduce the spend to $1 per day once the song has gained some traction. This approach allows for long-term exposure without overspending.