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By adding music to your Instagram posts, you can make your content more engaging. Whether you’re looking to set the mood for a video, highlight a key moment or simply enhance a picture, Instagram offers different ways to incorporate music.
In this post, we’ll provide a step-by-step guide on how to add music to Instagram, ensuring you make the most of this powerful feature.
Music can make anything better, including your Instagram publications. For 48% of Americans, it’s “very” important to keep up to date with music, and within that audience, 40% use Instagram as a source to find new music.
Through reels, stories and posts, users not only discover new music, but it’s a simple way to engage them with your content and with your brand partnerships. Here are some additional benefits of adding music to your posts:
Adding music to your Instagram posts can create a more immersive experience by adding another layer of depth to your content. Sometimes a single photo can be too simple, but with music, it adds the perfect vibe to evoke emotions and set the mood.
With the rise of platforms like TikTok, where music is central, Instagram has also seen an increase in the importance of music. Users now expect an immersive experience, and incorporating music into posts aligns with this trend.
This multi-sensory approach helps your audience connect with your content, transforming a simple visual into a captivating experience.
Warner Music is the perfect example of this. Instead of announcing their artists’ new releases, they make a post with a snippet of the actual music, allowing users to hear and feel the vibe instantly.
Adding music to your Instagram publications is a great strategy to keep users engaged. Instagram’s algorithm is designed to highlight content that generates high engagement. Posts with music tend to perform better in terms of visibility and reach, as they are more likely to stop users from scrolling and keep them engaged longer.
Starbucks enhances its Instagram reels by incorporating different types of music, such as upbeat tracks for its lively coffee-making clips or smooth jazz for cozy, relaxing moments in its cafes. This musical variety keeps its content fresh and appealing.
By incorporating popular or trending music into your Instagram content, you tap into the current buzz and appeal of that audio, making your posts more relevant and discoverable.
When users search for or interact with trending music, they’re more likely to come across your videos if you’re using that same audio. This strategy not only helps your content stay current but also improves its visibility within the broader Instagram community.
Adding music to your Instagram post is fast and easy. Let’s go over the 5 main steps:
The first step is to upload the photo of your choice.
Tap on “Next.”
After you upload your photo, the next step is to tap on “Add Music”
In this step, you have three different alternatives:
Once you have your song, the next step is to adjust it to fit your post properly. This means selecting the duration of the song and the specific section you want to add.
To add the duration, simply tap on the “30 button”
You can adjust it, choosing between 5 to 90 seconds. Once it ends, the song loops.
Tap on “Done” and go to the colored bar. Here you can drag the bar to the part of the song you want to play. Once you’ve made the adjustments, tap “Done”
Ensure you’ve set the proper caption and the song is properly added.
If everything looks good to go, it’s time to post!
Besides, posts Instagram also allows you to add music on Reels and Stories. Here’s how to do it:
To add music to an Instagram Reel, first upload the reel (or create it). Then, tap on the music logo.
For Instagram reels, you can add your own audio, such as voiceover (with the mic logo) or browse from Instagram’s music library.
You can choose your favorite songs and browse through recommendations and playlists.
To add music to Instagram stories, upload your story and click on the music logo.
You’ll have similar options to the post and reel, choosing from different song options and adjusting the clip.
Now that you know how to add music to your Instagram post, it’s time to take it to the next level with these expert tips:
Keep an eye on trending music and audio tracks on Instagram. Using popular or trending music can increase your chances of appearing in search results and getting more engagement from users who are exploring those trends.
If a track is trending, it means a lot of Instagram users are into it. Using that same popular music in your post can grab people’s attention because they already know and like the tune.
Having a list of pre-saved tracks can be a real time-saver when you're ready to post but unsure which song to choose. As a content creator who frequently publishes, maintaining a curated playlist is as useful as having a content calendar.
This pre-saved list streamlines your workflow, allowing you to quickly select the perfect track and keep your content fresh and engaging.
To save audio on Instagram, you first select the audio you want and tap on the bookmark logo.
Then go to Settings and tap on “Saved”
Here you’ll find both posts that you’ve saved, as well as all the tracks.
Sync the music with key moments in your video to maximize its impact. By aligning the beat of the music with transitions or important scenes, you make your content more engaging and cohesive.
For example, if you’re doing a cooking tutorial, you could match the rhythm of music with the sizzle of ingredients hitting the pan.
To navigate the Instagram music library, start by opening the Instagram app and creating a Story or Reel. Tap the sticker icon for Stories or the music note icon for Reels. This opens the music library, where you can browse by popular tracks, genres, or moods.
Once you find a song, select it to add to your content, adjusting the clip to the desired part of the song using the slider.
To search for specific songs, use the search bar at the top of the music library. Enter the song title, artist name, or relevant keywords. Instagram will display matching results, allowing you to preview and select the desired track.
Currently, you cannot add your own music directly to Instagram's music library. However, you can add original music to your videos before uploading them to Instagram. Use third-party video editing tools to incorporate your music, then upload the edited video to Instagram Stories or Reels.
When using music on Instagram, adhere to copyright rules by selecting tracks from Instagram’s licensed library, ensuring compliance and avoiding penalties.
Unauthorized music use can result in muted content or account issues. Opt for royalty-free music or properly licensed tracks for content outside Instagram's library to stay within legal boundaries. Instagram’s library simplifies the process, offering pre-cleared songs that are safe to use in your Stories and Reels.
Incorporating music into your Instagram posts can elevate your content and enhance viewer engagement. By carefully selecting tracks that complement your visuals, staying on top of trends, and syncing music with key moments, you create a richer, more immersive experience for your audience.
With these strategies, you'll not only capture attention but also foster a deeper connection with your followers.
