Short-form video rules the internet right now. 

TikTok, Instagram Reels, & YouTube Shorts are all great places for independent artists to create content that promotes their music. 

The toughest part is coming up with ideas to share. 

Lucky for you, I’ve been testing a few concepts to promote my own music. 

So here are 7 short-form video ideas to help you build your fanbase on TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, and beyond. 

#1 - the transition

This is a simple before-and-after transition that gives the viewer a quick payoff tied to a big moment in your song. 

I generally like to use something like the drop or a change from verse to chorus to achieve this in my videos. 

Watch an example here.

#2 - the b-roll

The b-roll is a lot like “the transition”, just without the “moment”. 

Instead of creating a single point of impact for your video, the idea here is to put together a montage of cool shots with the cuts timed to your song.

Much like “the transition”, this one is low-hanging fruit and can be thrown together quickly. 

Watch an example here. 

#3 - the skit

This is where things get a bit more complex. “The skit” is a great way to combine several different elements like b-roll, clever editing, and even some acting chops. 

At its core, this one is about hooking the viewer’s attention at the top so you can use that to bring attention to your song by the end of it. 

Pro-tip: I like to make sure my sight lines are right so it looks like there are actually multiple characters having a conversation with one another. It makes the whole thing more believable. 

Watch an example here. 

#4 - the deep thought

This one is simple: think of one thing that applies to your song and use it as a text overlay for your video. 

There are thousands of things you can use (e.g. something personal, something about the lyrics, production notes, etc.).

The possibilities here are endless. All you need is a little imagination. 

Watch an example here. 

#5 - the performance

There’s really nothing new about this one, just the format. Instead of creating a full music video for your track, just make a snippet. 

For me, this type of content is an opportunity to be a bit more of an artist and a bit less of a content creator. 

Artistic shots, multiple angles, and quality b-roll help a ton.

Watch an example here. 

#6 - the FX shot

This one is weird, but I still think it’s worth trying. 

I like to film a short, stationary shot and then doll it up in post-production with some creative editing. 

It helps to think outside the box on this one. See how different you can make it. 

Watch an example here. 

#7 - the trending sound

Sometimes you just need to play the game. 

Now, I’m no fan of endlessly searching for the right sound on TikTok, but sometimes a good one just falls in your lap (it also helps to have a wife who can give you the “what’s what” about TikTok). 

The trick here, for me, is to find a way to use the right audio to bring attention to my music in an entertaining way without being “preachy” or “salesy”.

Watch an example here. 

So these are a few ideas I’ve been testing. Because I’ve resolved to improve my short-form game in 2023, you can likely expect more of these to come as I continue to try new content. 

If there are any content types you’ve been using that you’d like to share, hit reply and let me know. They may just make it into the next edition. 

Until then, happy creating.

If you want to go dig into this topic a little further, watch this video I published last week.