&TillyIf you’re a musician trying to get bigger on YouTube, you probably know how important viewer engagement is. Comments, likes, and shares don’t just make your channel look “cool” – they’re a major factor in whether and how YouTube recommends your videos to others. In very short, more engagement = more visibility. So, how do you encourage your audience to connect with your music? Here’s a friendly, no-nonsense guide to boosting engagement on your YouTube videos, specifically tailored for musicians and music-related channels.
So why does engagement matter?
YouTube’s algorithm thrives on activity. The more comments, likes, and shares your video gets, the more likely it is to appear in recommendations, search results, and even on the coveted homepage (for people interested in that particular topic, style, genre). (Not only) For musicians, engagement isn’t just about vanity numbers you can boast about – it’s about creating a community around your art. Your audience’s interaction shows that your music is engaging and can have the potential to build loyalty and turn casual viewers into fans.
How to get more YouTube video engagement
1. Ask questions
One of the simplest ways to spark engagement on YouTube and anywhere else is… to ask your audience questions. Think of it as starting a conversation, and try asking questions:
- In the video itself – from subtitles or cards to actual you talking in it. Questions like, “What’s your favorite track from this album?” with a video of all the tracks from your newest album, or “Did you catch that huge drums change at 2:09? We made 20 takes until we got it right” in a song can make your audience focus and potentially answer, too.
- In the description. Reinforce these (or other) questions, making it easy for viewers to answer, in the description under the video.
- In the comment section. Post your own comment asking for opinions, and pin it (more on pinning below), or just react to others with questions related to what they say.
Questions are a direct way to invite participation and show that you value your audience’s thoughts – so instead of replying with an emoji or a thumbs up, actually react and ask something as well.
2. Pin a comment
The top comment spot is valuable real estate. Use it wisely:
- Thank your viewers for watching and listening.
- Ask for feedback on the video, track, or something in it...
- Share behind-the-scenes info about the song or recording process.
- Promote an action like visiting your website or checking out your merch.
Pinned comments stand out and also signal that you’re involved and attentive. They’re also great for making key messages stand out.
3. Reply to EVERY comment
Engagement is a two-way street. Responding to comments shows your viewers that their input matters. Take it a step further by:
- Asking follow-up questions. “Glad you liked the bassline! What’s your favorite bass-driven track?”
- Sharing insights. “Thanks for noticing the bridge! Fun fact: I wrote it on a road trip.”
Your replies encourage more dialogue, which can snowball into a thriving comment section.
4. End with a CTA (call to action)
It’s a classic, but it works. A well-placed call to action at the end of your video can guide viewers to engage further. Some basic examples:
- “If you enjoyed this, hit that like button and let me know what you think in the comments!”
- “Subscribe for more tracks, and let me know which song you’d like me to cover next.”
Keep it casual and genuine; don’t just copy this, but give it your tone and personality – nobody likes a pushy or fake-feeling CTA. Frame it as an invitation to be part of your journey.
5. Use YouTube cards and end screens
Interactive features like cards and end screens are actually very underused tools for engagement:
- Link to another video. Add a card that says something like, “Check out the acoustic version of this track” or “Watch my behind-the-scenes vlog.” - whatever you DO have, no need to create something specifically for this (but you can, ofc, if you feel like it ^-^).
- Ask a clickable question. “What’s your favorite? Acoustic or original?”
These little big features keep viewers on your channel longer and invite them to interact with your content.
6. Ask for support… anywhere & everywhere
Sometimes the simplest strategy is just to ask. Share your video:
- On social media. Encourage your followers to watch and comment. You can honestly tell them it really helps.
- With friends and family. Share your latest work, showing you care, and ask them to leave a comment or at least an emoji to boost engagement. You can give your mom a call and explain, even guide her throughout – some quality family time with something that helps your music, too ;)
- In your newsletters. Include a direct link and ask subscribers for their thoughts.
Even a few comments from people you know can kickstart your engagement and make your video more shown to new viewers – and perhaps also more appealing.
Additional musician-friendly YouTube engagement tips
Use keywords and hashtags
SEO-optimize your YouTube video title, description, and tags with relevant keywords and hashtags. More about that HERE.
Create playlists
Group your videos into playlists based on themes, genres, album/setlist order, or moods. This not only organizes your channel but also encourages viewers to binge-watch, increasing overall engagement.
Collaborate
Partner with other musicians or creators in your genre. Collaborative songs mean both might promote their videos (how about having two versions and linking from one to another, and also cross-commenting) and bring both of your audiences to the other one’s channel, driving engagement on both ends.
Make engagement rewarding
Consider running a contest or a giveaway, like “The most upvoted comment wins a shoutout in my next video.”, “Three top comments get a piece of my merch for free.” or “The person with the coolest idea for the next cover song can create it with me.”
Track performance
Use YouTube Analytics to see which uploads actually *were* the most engaged and try to emulate that which made it happen.
All in all…
Engagement doesn’t (always ;) ) happen by accident (although, sometimes is does) – it’s mostly the result of intentional, audience-focused strategies. We often don’t realize it, but most people are so used to so much content that they simply need to be asked very particularly to actually act. Staying yourself and connecting with people who vibe with your content will make your audience feel connected – and the more connected your audience feels, the more they’ll come back for your next release + the more YouTube will help spread your music to new listeners.
P.S. There's a free YouTube Engagement calculator tool if you'd want to try it ^-^