Welcome to the world of Instagram, a social media platform that has taken the world by storm with its visually appealing content and vast user base. If you're a business or an influencer looking to expand your reach and engage with your followers, you'll likely have asked the question: "What's the best time to post on Instagram?" With so many variables at play, including time zones, algorithms, and user behavior, it can be a daunting task to figure out the optimal posting schedule. However, fear not, as we've delved into the latest data and trends to bring you the ultimate guide to the best time to post on Instagram in 2023.

From analyzing peak engagement times for various industries to exploring the impact of Instagram's latest updates, we'll take a deep dive into the world of Instagram posting and equip you with the knowledge to make informed decisions about your social media strategy. So, let's dive in and discover the best times to post on Instagram in 2023!

How Do You Determine the Best Time to Post on Social Media?

Here are some important factors to consider when determining the best time to post on your social media to get the most out of it. Shares, page views, likes and comments, it all needs the perfect timing.

If you're an individual thinking of posting an Instagram Story without a plan, there isn't a particular ideal time to do so. However, if you're running a business and want your followers to see your Story and visit your business page or an online store, then there are specific time frames for maximizing engagement. Your posting schedule should align with your ultimate goals, which may include boosting page views, raising brand awareness, gaining more followers, selling your products or services, or increasing engagement in the comments section.

Plan Out Your Instagram Posts

We all agree about the importance of a well-planned Instagram posting schedule, let's dive into how to effectively plan out your Instagram posts.

• Set your goals: First and foremost, establish your objectives for your Instagram account. What are you hoping to achieve with your posts? Whether it's increasing your follower count or promoting your brand, it's essential to have a clear direction before creating your content.
• Research your audience: Understanding your target audience is crucial to creating content that resonates with them. Research your audience's interests, preferences, and behaviors to tailor your content accordingly.
• Plan your content: Now that you know your goals and audience, it's time to plan your content. Determine what type of content you'll be posting, such as images, videos, or a combination of both. You can also create a content calendar to organize your posts and ensure a consistent posting schedule.
• Consider your captions: Your captions are just as important as your visuals. Use captions to tell a story, share information, or ask for engagement from your audience. You can also use relevant hashtags to reach a broader audience.
• Use scheduling tools: Scheduling tools online can help you schedule your posts in advance, allowing you to plan and execute your content strategy efficiently.

By following these steps, you can create a strategic and effective Instagram posting plan that engages your audience, builds your brand, and achieves your goals.

Best times to post on each day of the week (as measured in US Pacific Time):

• Monday, 12:00 p.m.
• Tuesday, 9:00 a.m.
• Wednesday at 11:00 a.m.
• Thursday at 11:00 a.m.
• Friday, 2:00 p.m.
• Saturday, 9:00 a.m.
• Sunday, 7:00 p.m.

On Monday, the best time to post on Instagram is early in the morning or around noon. Users typically begin their week with a bang at work. By lunchtime, they might want to take a break by scrolling through their feed.

On Tuesday, the best time to post on Instagram is between 8 and 10 a.m. Engagement is high in the morning.

The best time to post on Instagram on Wednesday is around 11:00 a.m.

On Thursday, 12:00 p.m. seems to be the most optimal option. On any weekday, the 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. time span is ideal for high engagement rate.

On Friday, 2:00 PM is the best time. From 7 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. on Friday, engagement is constant throughout the morning and lunchtime.

On Saturday, at 9:00 a.m., before people begin their offline weekend plans!

On Sunday, the best time to post on Instagram is 7:00 p.m., late afternoon to evening.

If you're new to Instagram and don't have a lot of previous data or audience insights to work with, try posting during these peak times. As your account grows, you can adjust your posting schedule to match the activity patterns of your target audience.

Depending on your goals, your approach to scheduling Instagram posts may differ. 

First, consider the type of performance you want to achieve: is it brand awareness or engagement. Which of your posts received the most views? When did you share them? And how do these posts differ from those that received less likes? What do the statistics say about your most compelling content?

Instagram insights and analytics are your most reliable source of information here. Based on your past performance, you can determine the best times and days of the week to plan out your posting schedule. Examine your social media posts from the previous 30 days and compute the average impressions or engagement rate per day and hour. Based on your performance objectives, you can choose the best time slots accordingly.

Hourly Analytics for Online Followers

Examine when your target audience is most active online to see when your followers may scroll through your post on their feed. For this, you must be at least acquainted with your target audience. If you're targeting entertainment or sports fans, their social media usage may differ significantly from that of businesses or tech executives who wake up early in the morning. This analysis allows you to test different strategies by targeting specific time slots of your Instagram followers.

Consider when your competitors are posting

Your competitors may be performing some of the same calculations and experiments that you are. Investigate the time slot that your competitors usually target. Make a note to publish during times when your audience is online and your competitors are mostly inactive to increase your visibility. Consider the following key actions: create, plan, publish, and engage, analyze and expand. Schedule posts that will always pique your audience's interest to meet your goals while retaining and growing your audience. Post the best content at the right time. You can automate your posts so that content is distributed even when no one is available to post it manually.

Maintain and adjust

Taking the time to review the numbers is one of the simplest ways to increase your reach. The world changes, and so do audience habits. Make a calendar reminder to review your results and make adjustments on a regular basis.

Show up on a consistent basis over time

To reap all the benefits of the knowledge about your target audience, you must be systematic in your posting. Certainly, if you post a few hours earlier than usual every now and then, you might not notice a startling increase. The timing of your regular Instagram posts, on the other hand, does matter, and consistent scheduling will give you the ability to move the needle over time. When your audience becomes accustomed to seeing your brand appear on their feed, they will automatically engage. Maintaining your presence on Instagram promotes the development of credibility, trust, and builds deeper connection with your audience.

The days of the week

The audience's use of social media is influenced by the days of the week. You might want to target B2B customers during workdays and work hours, while B2C customers should be targeted during weekends, breaks, and off-work hours.

Time zone 

If you have a global audience, based outside of the "usual" time zones, or not covered within your time boundaries, your posting schedule should align with your audience's time zone and routine of using social media. Instead of setting alarms, consider automating your Instagram posts. An Instagram scheduler can assist you in ensuring that your posts are published at the appropriate time every day.

Test and improve

Every specific audience is unique. In order to get what they want from social media, different audiences choose different times to be active. They also change such time frames according to the changes happening within the niche they belong to. Think football fans during the World Cup VS during UEFA. You must conduct A/B testing with your posting times and evaluate the results over a specific duration to see which times work best for the highest engagements from your desired audience.

Conclusion

In conclusion, determining the best times to post on Instagram is a crucial aspect of any successful social media strategy. By understanding your audience's behaviors, analyzing engagement data, and keeping up with the latest trends and updates, you can create a posting schedule that maximizes your reach, boosts engagement, and ultimately helps you achieve your goals.

Remember, there's no one-size-fits-all approach to Instagram posting, and what works for one account may not work for another. The key is to experiment, track your results, and continually refine your strategy based on your audience's response.

So, whether you're a business owner, influencer, or content creator, take the time to plan out your Instagram posts strategically. By doing so, you'll not only increase your visibility and reach but also build a stronger connection with your audience and achieve long-term success on the platform.

Welcome to the world of TikTok, a social media platform that has taken the world by storm with its short-form video content and vast user base. If you're a regular user of the app, you may have noticed that certain features, such as sending virtual gifts to creators, require coins. But how do you get coins on TikTok, and what are they used for?

In this blog post, we'll take a deep dive into the world of TikTok coins and explore how you can obtain them. From purchasing coins with real money to participating in TikTok's virtual gifting program, we'll cover everything you need to know about this virtual currency and how to use it on the app. So, whether you're a TikTok user looking to show support to your favorite creators or a creator looking to monetize your content, keep reading to discover the ins and outs of TikTok coins.

What are TikTok Coins?

TikTok coins are a virtual currency used on the app that allows users to purchase digital gifts for their favorite creators. These gifts can then be redeemed for real money by the creator. TikTok coins can be purchased with real money, and the cost varies depending on the package you choose. The more coins you buy, the lower the cost per coin. For example, at the time of writing, 100 coins cost $0.99, while 10,000 coins cost $99.99.

The virtual gifts that you can send using TikTok coins range from simple emojis to more elaborate animations and effects. Some of the most popular gifts include the "Love Bang" and "Drama Queen" effects, which feature flashy animations and sound effects that play when a user receives them. It's important to note that TikTok takes a percentage of the earnings from virtual gifts purchased using coins. The exact percentage varies depending on the region and payment method, but it's typically around 50%. The other 50% goes to the creator as a form of monetization for their content.

Overall, TikTok coins provide a way for users to support their favorite creators while also allowing creators to earn money for their content. Whether you're a viewer or a creator, understanding how TikTok coins work is essential to making the most of the app's features and building a strong community on the platform.

What are TikTok Coins used for?

TikTok Coins are used to buy virtual gifts that can be sent to other TikTok users as a way of showing appreciation for their content. The virtual gifts include animations and graphics that can be used to highlight a user's comment, message or live-stream. When a user sends a gift, the recipient receives the virtual gift and can convert it into real money. The value of the gift varies depending on the number of coins spent on it, with more expensive gifts offering a greater reward for the user receiving them.

TikTok Coins are part of the platform's monetization system, allowing users to support their favorite content creators and for those creators to earn money for their content. TikTok takes a percentage of the revenue generated by the gifts, with the rest going to the content creator. In addition to buying gifts, TikTok Coins can also be used to purchase in-app items, such as filters and effects, which can be used to enhance a user's videos. However, the primary use of TikTok Coins is to send virtual gifts to other users.

If you have a post that you want to go viral, you can promote the post using TikTok coins. If you also want to boost your video to go across a large audience, you can use the TikTok Promote feature. The feature cost varies depending on the amount based on the time your post should run and the target audience (the number of views). If you are a creator using TikTok to advertise or generate revenue, the TikTok Promote feature is a valuable tool.

How To Buy TikTok Coins

Let us first go through how to buy coins the normal way.

• Launch TikTok and log into your account. Navigate to the profile by tapping the “Me” icon on the bottom right corner.
• Tap the three dots in the top right corner to open the settings menu.
• Select “Balance” to access the TikTok Coin purchase screen where you will see your current coin balance.
• Tap on the amount before your preferred coins to recharge. Note that there are different coin lists and associated amounts before them.
• After selecting the amount you want, tap on it to purchase, then confirm the purchase on your mobile device.

Consider the different types of amounts on various coins you can buy. There are seven coins in total with the value of:

• 65 coins are worth $0.99
• 330 coins are worth $4.99
• 660 coins are worth $9.99
• 1321 coins are worth $19.99
• 3303 coins are worth $49.99
• 6607 coins are worth $99.99
• 16500 coins are worth $249.99

TikTok has a reward system in place that is meant to encourage users to buy coins. For instance, as a first-timer, while watching TikTok Live content, you get a Welcome Pack. The pack is worth $0.99 which includes 65 coins plus 45 extra and an 80% discount on a unique gift, and a badge that appears next to your TikTok name for 24 hours. You can purchase coins using different pay channels including PayPal, Credit card, Google Pay and Apple Pay.

How to Get TikTok Coins for Free

Getting free TikTok coins for free using the methods below can be exciting, however, kindly be aware that none of the methods discussed below is a guaranteed surefire method. The most guaranteed way to get TikTok coins is to purchase them with your money. So you know, TikTok relies on coins to generate revenue, hence giving them away for nothing is an uncommon event.

However, according to some users, TikTok rewarded them through some of the ways mentioned below. We, therefore, reiterate that the outcome is not guaranteed. The methods include:

• Get TikTok Gifts: The first and simplest way to get TikTok coins is to receive them as gifts. Users do appreciate content makers for their efforts by sending them TikTok gifts. Different gifts are worth different coins, for example, a Rose represents 1 coin whereas a Hat and moustache represent 99 coins. 

If you need such gifts or rewards, invest your time and create contents that would motivate followers to send you coins. However, do not be discouraged if you did not get anything or got a paltry coin for a video that took you hours to make. Remember, none of the methods is guaranteed.

• Participate In TikTok Challenge: Participating in TikTok Challenges is another way of getting gifts from others. If your TikTok challenge videos are funny enough or greatly interpret the challenge, TikTokers might send you tips in the form of TikTok coins. Dare to take challenges and see how far you will go in getting rewarded for your efforts and creativity.

Challenges come on a routine basis. You can respond to the latest trends on TikTok that many users have jumped on. Examples of challenges in the past include the dangerous Blackout Challenge, the delectable Don’t Rush Challenge, the ill-fated Milk Crate Challenge, the sensual Silhouette Challenge and so on.

If you need to try any challenge, you can choose these trending ones via TikTok and try your hands on them.

• Grow Your TikTok Followers: One simple way to get more views for your TikTok videos is to have more followers. The more your followers, the more people see your Live videos. Recall that TikTok coins are meant to support users, hence if more people see your Live videos, the possibility of getting support becomes high. Also, when your followers are much the little coins each gives becomes a huge stack based on the Law of Large number used in Insurance. The Law of Large Number means, a little sum of money a large group of people bring grows into a huge amount of money to pay claims.

Growing your TikTok followers can be a challenging task, but several strategies can help you increase your visibility on the platform and attract more followers. Here are some tips to help you grow your TikTok followers:

• Consistently post high-quality content.
• Use relevant hashtags.
• Participate in trends and challenges.
• Collaborate with other TikTok users.
• Engage with your audience.
• Promote your TikTok profile on other social media platforms.
• Use TikTok ads.

Remember that building a following on TikTok takes time and dedication. Stay consistent, be patient, and keep experimenting with new content and strategies to see what works best for you.

• TikTok Coin Hacks: Before we proceed to this next step, we must warn you regarding the next method. You shouldn't engage in this method because it might result in you getting banned. This method is not official, hence TikTok frowns at it, so proceed with caution.

There are some Third-Party Apps on mostly Android platforms that allows you to hack TikTok and produce coins for free. TikTok has taken the bull by the horn to start a crackdown on the tools. Many people have received temporary bans from TikTok or permanent ones. Coins are in-app currencies, hence using these tools is theft or fraud.

Conclusion

As you have seen, the surefire method for receiving coins is to legally purchase them. You can buy as much as you want depending on your budget. There are other methods to get coins though. One of them is to participate in activities that allows users to reward you. Mind you, the coins might not readily come when you start, but that does not have to discourage you. They will come, just focus on having fun using TikTok and the reward will follow sooner than later.

Instagram has always been committed to its mission of uplifting the creators on the platform to new heights. This has been a continuum year after year, with evident improvements in the tools and services they offer. In order to support influencers and creators, Instagram improved the creator marketplace functionality and introduced multiple innovative features. Some of these are subscriptions, a creator's portfolio, support badges, achievements, and reel bonuses. 2023 is yet another year of the social media platform working on multiple new updates in order to make the UX more sophisticated and satisfying.

We will take a closer look at the user statistics, demographics, ad statistics, overall engagements, Story and Reel stats, marketing and business activities that have taken place for the last couple on month. Instagram continues to add value to the experience of being on the platform for its users with every single update that is being rolled out. Instead of changing platform updates on Meta, raw data shows exactly where Instagram stands right now. It also gives insight into the direction the changes will likely taken in the upcoming years.

User statistics 

There are more than 2 billion active users on the application, with around 1.4 million users using it on a daily basis. According to the latest Meta earnings call, more than 2 billion people now use the platform monthly. This is quite impressive in relation to the constant competition Instagram faces from other social media platforms (especially of the similar niche, which is visual. Think Tik-Tok, YouTube, Pinterest). Let us break down the demographics that make up the wide range of users on Instagram. 

Demographics Statistics 

Gender 

Alongside male and female, there are multiple other gender options that are available for Meta reporting. However, the stats mostly focus on the former two. The platform has a slightly higher number of male users compared to females. Instagram's audience is 52.2% male and 47.8% female. This is different from previous years, when the audience was a little bit more dominated by females. About 9.5% of Instagram users may be bots. This is 95 million of the user population. This on the average will cost marketers $1.3 billion. Of the 4.48 billion internet users worldwide, approximately 30.94% regularly use Instagram. 21% of Instagram users log in weekly, while 16% log in less often than that. 

Age Range

• IG users between the ages of 16 and 24 prefer Instagram to all other social platforms. If that’s an age group you’d like to reach to, then Instagram is the place you want to focus your SMM strategy.
• Women between the ages of 25-34 also prefer to use Instagram to all the other social media platforms, although men in this age range prefer Facebook. 
• Pew Research also found that almost half of Americans aged 18 and older make use of the platform.
• Gen Z, 61% of people between the ages of 12-17 use Instagram weekly. This is an increase of 4% from last year's statistics. This clearly shows that social media is shifting in this aspect of the demographic. 
• In summary, Instagram users are under 34 years of age. 

Location:

India ranks for the highest location of most Instagram users in the world with 249 million population. This number is followed by the 147 million users who log in from the United States. Brazil comes in third place with 117 million, followed by Indonesia and Turkey. This information will help you define your target audience on the platform. A valuable insight for SMM strategists planning for implementing new ways of localization or going global.

Usage Stats

Instagram is used by 25.31% of the world’s population. Instagram has experienced growing usage in the platform over the years with an annual increase of 5.79% from 2021. On the average usage time spent on the application, Instagram ranks fifth amongst all social platforms. YouTube ranks the highest under this ranking. Instagram Users spend an average of 11.7 hours on the application every month. If you do the divisions, that is almost half a day users spend on the platform consuming content. In 2022, Instagram ranked higher than TikTok in terms of stage time spent. However, e-marketers project that by 2024, they will be tied. 

Story Statistics 

Audience: 

The Instagram story fervor is still going strong, with 70% of Instagram users watching them on a daily basis, so now is a good time to start using Instagram stories in your marketing plan, if you haven’t already done so. 4% of Instagram users post stories daily. The daily active users on Stories reach 500 million. The potential audience that can view ads on Instagram stories is 996 million. To better explain this, you have the potential of reaching 1.32 billion users on your main feed. However, this does not necessarily mean that the main feed is better for placing ads. You just need to know where your audience spends most of their time. To get a better idea of which of these gets more attention from your audience, you can simply check your Instagram analytics. It will provide you with useful data to select the best place to leverage on.

Brand Stories: 

Brands on average post 17 stories per month. This should encourage you to cut yourself some slack. Statistics show that even the most active brands do not post stories every other day. However, when it comes to branding your Story correctly, it takes a lot of time and resources, so such numbers make sense for businesses. Nevertheless, Story is an amazing feature that has become a necessity in a SMM strategy.

Reels Statistics 

View: 

The potential audience that views Instagram reels reaches up to 758.5 million users. As mentioned earlier, feed ads have the potential to reach up to 1.32 billion people and Stories can reach up to 996 million users. It is expected for these numbers to change in the coming years as reels are becoming more and more mainstream. These statistics show that reels have an average reach engagement rate of 1.95%. In total, 71.9% of the content on Instagram remains photo posts. 

Resharing: 

On average, people reshare videos 1 billion times a day through direct messages. Reels have been established as the best way to put your brand in front of people who do not already follow your account. This is important to note because it's another way through which you can expand your reach. If you haven’t started using reels to your advantage, now is the time to do so.

Average usage time: 

People scroll around watching reels the majority of the time they spend on the platform. Reels take up to 30% of the total time of using Instagram for most. Based on statistics, this number is going up faster than expected. If you do not already have a strategy in place for Instagram reels, make 2023 your year to break into this fast-growing in-built tool. One way you can use the statistics to your advantage is to keep important content in your highlights. By doing so, every time a new user visits your Instagram profile, they can check out relevant Reels (and Stories). Combining the two is also a great option.

Business Statistics 

Instagram is ranked as the No. 1 social media platform for people when it comes to connecting with brands. No wondering if Instagram is worth a shot for your business. The answer is a definite yes! Instagram has created ways for business owners to expand their businesses online in a more effective way than any other social media platform. You can create shippable feeds, tag products on reels, stories, and posts, create your own store, and so much more. As a business owner, you can even optimize your bio to make it professional yet remain personal. You can include a link to your business page and direct more people to it. 

More than 25 million businesses use Instagram to advertise their products and services. 90% of accounts follow at least one business profile on Instagram. Monthly, over 150 million people use Instagram to relate directly with businesses. 36% of businesses use Stories to promote their products. 81% of Instagram users use the application to research new products and services. 98% of fashion brands make use of Instagram. 93% of marketers have used Instagram to gain more customers. 74% of marketers want to reach new customers, 69% want to improve brand awareness, and 46% want to host sales. A survey shows that 62% of users say they are more interested in a brand when they see it in their Stories.

Instagram Engagements

Engagement rates on Instagram are at a high level thanks to the power of reels. Instagram has moved from being a photo-only sharing app to a video-sharing platform. This made Instagram emphasize the use of both long-form and short-form video content. Statistics show the importance of using "real faces" in creating video content for promotion, has generated higher engagements. Since the introduction of video content on the platforms, Instagram has seen an 80% increase in the time users spend on the platform.

Still on the emphasis on using real face, statistics show that they perform almost 40% better than content creators that never show their "face" (not literally, showing their life, brand, products, ect). The average engagement rate for photo posts is 0.81%, video post is 0.61% while carousel posts are 1.08%. Short-form video content (Reels) has 22% more interaction on the platform than long-form video content. A total of 2 billion people interact with it every month. The highest Instagram reels engagement rates belong to the accounts with less than 5,000 followers, reaching up to 3.79% on average. Business accounts with less than 10,000 followers have a 1.11% engagement rate on average. Business accounts with followers ranging from 10,000 to 100,000 have an engagement rate of 0.93%.

Likes & Hashtags: 

A total of 1.2 billion likes are received on Instagram every day. Users like 4.2 billion posts on Instagram on a daily basis. Longer captions get better engagement than shorter ones. Tagging a location in your posts also gets 79% more engagement than those without tags. 

Ad statistics 

Instagram provides you with a wide range of advertising features that help promote your business in a non-intrusive way. Your ads can be targeted at different demographics. Before you start using ads, consider pitching your best-performing posts. Instagram ads have the potential to reach 849.3 million users on the platform. Marketers spend 69% of their budget on influencer marketing on Instagram. The revenue from Instagram Story ads is predicted to increase to a whooping $20.03 billion in 2023.

Conclusion

Here's a quick sum up of the updated Instagram statistics for the year 2023 so far. Use them to plan your posts, schedule your activity, improve your business, and get the desired outcome from the platform. Instagram does not seem to be declining any time soon, but it's interesting to see what direction the platform is going to take after being acquired by Meta and continuously offering effective changes to its interface and operation.

Music today is more accessible to everyone than ever before. Music of different genres are available in playlists for various purposes like working out, studying, partying, different moods or. With availability comes the need of artists to get their own music to the listening ears of millions of people all over the world. For listeners, there's a need for discovering new tracks and having access to their favorite works. That is the main purpose of music platforms that serve the same purpose but in different ways. 

When choosing the right platform, users look for certain qualities. If you want to choose a musical platform as a new artist, your decision will be based on how easy it is for people to discover your music, as well as the monetization. For listeners on the other hand, user interface and listening plans are more important. Soundcloud and Spotify are the two leading streaming services with basically no real competition. On what basis can you make a selection between the two? Compare both platforms according to some of the most crucial deciding factors as a listener or an artist planning to put yourself out there through either of them. 

Ease of Use

The first on the list has to be the ease of use, referring to how easy it is to navigate the platform. Having a comfortable, easy user interface is important because it helps listeners find whatever they are looking for quickly. It also makes discovering new music more enjoyable, as well as tailoring personal profile and engaging with the others.

Soundcloud: Starting from the signup page, Soundcloud is pretty easy to use. Users who are not familiar with the platform may find it difficult to navigate the dashboard on the desktop website, however the app has a fairly easy interface.  

Spotify: Over the years, the dashboard and features of Spotify have been updated to fit any device. No matter where you are listening, Spotify is straightforward to use. Without unnecessary taps, you will be able to access your library and stream playlists. Spotify is constantly changing its interface to make it look better.

Subscriptions on Spotify and SoundCloud

Both, Spotify and SoundCloud offer different payment options. Payments, royalties, monetization is a huge deciding factor in whether you use a certain streaming platform or not. The benefits or disadvantages vary depending on who is choosing too.

Spotify

Free plan: you can access all music on Spotify's free plan from their library of over 100 million tracks and 5 million podcast titles. Unfortunately, there are also many features that you cannot access while using a free plan, ad free listening or free skip number being some of them. You cannot download songs on a free plan, nor can you get the highest audio quality.

Paid plans: Spotify's paid plans vary according to the price, ranging from $5 to $15. You can link up to six accounts on a single premium plan. Spotify even has a special premium offer for students. Depending on your budget, the platform can provide a good value for money. Plus first three months are free and you get to cancel any time without any charge. In addition to streaming all music and giving you access to download songs for later, Spotify paid plans can get you enhanced playlists, the highest sound quality, and group sessions. 

SoundCloud

Free plan: There are two categories of subscription plans on SoundCloud. Those for the artists and for listeners. For artists, there is only one free plan, the Next Plan. With the Next Plan, you can upload three hours worth of tracks, share music with collaborators, and get basic fan insights. However, you cannot share your music on other platforms, get paid, or get a profile badge. Listeners can listen to your work without paying. For listeners, the main issues are the advertisements and the limited music library access.

Paid plans: Again, there are two categories for listeners and artists. Artist plans range from $2.50 to $12.00 per month. You can share music on other platforms and get paid through streaming services and collaborators with a premium subscription. You will also get access to mastering credits, partner offers, and tools to track your music. For listeners, the basic paid plan offers an ad-free listening experience and an offline listening option. Other, costlier plans offer you access to full SoundCloud storage, high-quality audio, and even, DJ integration tools. 

High Sound Quality

Some platforms often offer features such as high-resolution audio and surround sound capabilities, which can further enhance the listening experience. These features allow listeners to experience music on a deeper level, as they can pick up on nuances in the audio that would otherwise not be heard. Additionally, high sound quality can create a more immersive experience for listeners as they can hear sound from multiple directions. Spotify and Soundcloud have similar sound quality. Sound quality mostly depends on an internet connection because all music has to reach a certain quality before it can be uploaded. You can also turn up the audio quality for a better listening experience or turn it down to save data. 

Advertising

Music streaming platforms are becoming increasingly popular, with advertisers ready to take advantage of the trend by placing ads between songs. Ads can be annoying for some listeners because they disrupt the listening experience. They can also be intrusive during quiet night of listening to a podcast. Streaming platforms don't offer any kind of compensation for those who are subjected to ads unless you go premium.

You can get up to three ads while streaming on both Spotify and SoundCloud. Free accounts on Spotify are bombarded with ads. With a premium account, you can get an ad-free listening experience. Instead of playing advertisements between songs, SoundCloud plays them before songs. The ads are few compared to Spotify. This may be because their free plan allows you to enjoy only a limited number of songs. Their paid service, on the other hand, gives you an ad-free, unlimited access to the entire library or tracks.

The Best Musical Platforms for Artists 

Thousands of musical artists sign up on social media every day, but the ones with most exposure get the stage. Before you make up your mind on which platform is the best, you first need to categorize yourself. Are you a new artist or a well-known name? Big artists can use any music platform because people will listen to whatever they put out regardless of it being available only on Tidal for instance. On the other hand, upcoming artists have to put their music out there, meaning uploading it on multiple streaming platforms. While that's the best way to go about it, it's costly, so most new artists can't allow themselves such luxury. Here are some considerations to make before choosing a music platform as a new artist:

• Popularity. Popular music platforms offer you a large audience, but with popularity comes competition. Lots of artists have to compete for the limelight, and it will be challenging for new artists to get their music where they want it to be. Spotify is more popular than SoundCloud, but again, popularity can be a disadvantage. 
• Genres. You should check if a music platform plays your genre of music before you get on it. This is critical because it will give you an indication of the types of people that use it and how much exposure you can get. It will also let you know if you can expect to find other musicians in your genre to collaborate with. Both Spotify and SoundCloud play varying genres of music, with Spotify being a bit more niched. This is important for new artists who play a super niche genre like bedroom indie jazzy pop or something along the lines.
• Quality of listeners. This refers to the ability of people to understand the underlying meaning of music. Quality listeners will provide thoughtful feedback, which the new artists can use to adjust and provide better music. SoundCloud is an established community like platform in the music scene. This is why most new artists start there. Spotify has no commenting feature as of now.
• Price and opportunities. Aside from the exposure that your music can get, you should also consider payment in two ways: the amount you will pay and the amount you will get paid (in the form of royalties). When it comes to royalties, Spotify offers better rates, but SoundCloud has cheaper payment plans. 

Availability Features: Soundcloud VS Spotify

Availability on platforms: Music platforms need to be available on multiple different software, making it possible for users to have access to their playlists regardless of what type of device they are using. This means that users can access their musical libraries from a mobile phone, tablet, smartwatch or a desktop computer, making it more convenient to listen to whatever you want on the go. SoundCloud is only available on the Web, Android, Chromecast, and a few other platforms. Spotify, on the other hand, is readily available on almost all devices, including speakers, gaming consoles, car audio systems, and more. Furthermore, while using Soundcloud, you can only have one account on one device, whereas Spotify premium plans allow you to link up to six accounts.

Availability in regions: A platform of your choice should be available in most regions around the world, which could be an immense help when it come to promoting you music within the local as well as international outreach, garnering as much exposure as such platforms can give you. It also increases the diversity of music available to listeners, allowing them to discover original and exciting new tracks from around the world. Both platforms can come in handy in this case with SoundCloud available in 190 countries and Spotify constantly expanding their range. 

Conclusion

We have dissected the features and qualities of Spotify and SoundCloud, and by now, you should have made a choice. Depending on your status as a listener, a new or an established artist, your choice will be different. Spotify has a diverse library and high quality features, plus its popularity makes it a viable option for both, music listeners as well as content creators. On top of that, Spotify is basically a pioneer when it comes to audio podcasts. However, if you are on a tight budget, considering SoundCloud instead would be a better choice. The same applies if you want an outreach to certain niche of either listeners or other creators.

As a new artist, your choice should be a platform that will increase your exposure, which could be either of the two, however doing so on SoundCloud is easier. Although Spotify has more users and opportunities, the competition is much higher as well. Spotify may be a suitable option if you are somewhat known already, or have a large amount of followers on other social platforms you can link your Spotify account to.

Spotify is your one-stop app to stream music and podcasts. It is home to thousands of albums/EPs and original podcasts in different countries, languages and topics. Safe to say, any artist doing their due diligence can be discovered there. The process of maximizing opportunities on Spotify starts with creating an optimized profile. Others things you can do on the platform include collaborations and getting featured on playlists. Your profile is what people see when they search you up on Spotify. 

Your profile displays your username, picture, latest music, collaborations, and more. Among all these, the most significant is your username. Not only is your username a reflection of who you are and what your brand is, but it is also a one-time decision. That is, it cannot be changed after you save it. Well, technically you can. But if you are a content creator, it's basically a lost cause. You will have to rebrand yourself of every other social media platform to let your followers know your "new you". Unlike the username, the display name can be changed. The display name is the "address" with which users can find you on Spotify. It also appears when people stream your music and playlists.

Reasons to Change Your Username on Spotify 

If your username is too long, contains inappropriate language, or you want to use it for another account, you might want to alter it. Additionally, it could be a good idea to change your username if you want to maintain anonymity for some reason or for a time being (not a good idea for Spotify content creators, this is mainly for the ordinary users).

• Forgetting your username: Between managing different accounts on social media, one is bound to overlook one of them. For a minority of users who can't come up with something on their own (the case usually being every single username they want being taken by someone else) Spotify generates a username, so that you can log into your account. The thing with such usernames is that, they are usually extremely long and difficult to remember by heart. If you forget your username, use either your email address or phone number with a password to log into your account. 
• Have the same name as another artist: Although it is not common on Spotify, it is possible to have the same name as another artist. Imagine the confusion that would cause your followers and fans. Note that no two artists can have the exact same usernames as that's not possible considering sign up options on the platform. But there can be a case where a user is called "laroy" for instance, and there's another user named "Iaroy". See what we mean? One uses L, another - capital "i", but it looks the same, hence the confusion. To rectify this, contact Spotify support and be prepared to provide an artist separation document.
• Cyber Attacks: You are vulnerable to malicious attacks when you use the same username across all social media platforms. That does not erase the importance of having a unique and similar username but it increases the risk of an attack. 

How to Change Your Display Name on Spotify

Display names may play a bigger role when it comes to non-technical discoverability on Spotify than usernames. Editing it is much simpler and can be done anytime (well actually, some time has to pass until you are allowed to change it to something else but you get the point). It's not exactly beneficial to change your display name often. This is because your DP is a "face" of your brand (yourself as an artist), so if you modify it over and over, it becomes difficult for fans as well as prospective fans to find you. However, if you are an ordinary user and want to change it for whatever reason, follow these simple steps:

• Select your profile icon, located in the upper right corner of the Home screen.
• Tap the Settings icon. From the Settings menu, you can customize your user profile to your liking. 
• Tap View profile to see the changes you want to make and adjust them accordingly.
• Select Edit Profile. You can make any adjustments necessary to ensure your profile accurately reflects your identity and preferences. 
• Tap your display name to change it. Select your desired name from the list of options, then tap "Set" to confirm your revised display name.   
• Once you are satisfied with your chosen display name, tap "Save" to make it permanent.       

While changing your display name, you can also edit information on your profile, such as your bio, profile picture, and more. You should be aware that you cannot access your account under your display name. If you lose your display name, the next step is to try other means of accessing your account or resetting your password. You should also check Spotify video content on how to change your display picture, as well as how to modify display name on different devices. 

How to Choose the Appropriate Username and Display Name for Your Spotify Account

Musical artists or thousands of music lovers sign up on Spotify every single day (especially after the platform became available in many countries previously having no access to Spotify). To stand out and become mutuals with people with similar taste in music, you should have a formidable display name that distinguishes you from other users in a certain way. A proper display name is easy to search up. But if it's impossible to search you up after a few try, you will likely not succeed on the platform. Here are a few factors that determine what a proper display name should look like.

• Use a suitable character limit: Imagine if your favorite music had a display name of up to 250 characters. It won't be easy to find them, right? Well, fortunately you can't ever do that on Spotify. The maximum character limit for a display name is 200. Even that's too long. To ensure that you are easily found, use a shorter username. 
• Easy to remember: You can speed up your brand becoming iconic by optimizing your profile, using a memorable display name. It is easier for @nicky to be in your mind than @n1ck4. You could even forget that the number "1" is not the alphabet "I." Don't try to be too quirky perhaps. 
• Use similar names on social media platforms: It is always advisable to adopt a similar name on all the social media platforms you own. This is to ensure that you are easily identified. Using the same profile information, such as your bio, location, and website, on all accounts will help keep your brand consistent and easily recognizable.
• Use a name that is meaningful and sentimental to you: Using your government name as a display name is not a bad idea. However, there are other options you can explore. You could opt for a pet name, a shortened form of your name, or even add special characters to it. Whatever you choose, let your display name mean something to you.
• Test the name: If you are not sure if your display name reflects who you are, or maybe you think it might sound weird, test it with your friends and family. Let them call you by your DP name and ask them to tell you what they think of it. Getting an alternative perspective is when making a decision is always a good thing. 
• You can also select your username/DP using name-generating software. Such programs need you to provide a few details, such as your likes or hobbies, and then come up with a selection of possible usernames tailored just for you. This makes the whole process so much easier. They are usually very easy to navigate. 
• Whatever method choose, avoid being foul or offensive in any way. 

How to Remember Your (User)Name

Making sure that your username is memorable is one of the best strategies to keep it in the mind of others (and yourself). Select a symbol that has personal significance to you or is connected to an activity you find enjoyable. To make it simpler to remember, you can also try making a username that is similar to your given name. You can also link your username to a word, phrase, or a line from music. This will make it simpler for you to remember and less probable for someone to guess. Actually, just write it down.

Save your name and password in Google Chrome or on your mobile. Google is convenient because you can save your username and password for websites so you don't have to remember or enter them each time you visit a site. It is impenetrable and encrypted, so your personal information is safe. A great option when you are on multiple social media or other websites at the same time and they demand you log in manually (not social media websites but sometimes even that can be the case).

Two-step Verification on Spotify 

Speaking of safety, a two-step verification adds an extra layer of security to your account by requiring a second form of authentication when you log in, such as a code sent to your phone or email. Using this method protects your account from being accessed by someone who has obtained your username and password. When attempting to log into a Spotify account, a user is required to enter a code sent to a registered mobile device. This code is a unique one-time password that ensures the user is the one attempting to access the account. It helps protect against unauthorized access.

Conclusion

You might outgrown your current username/DP, or it may no longer reflect your identity. Whatever the case, updating your Spotify username/DP is a simple task that only takes a few minutes. To ensure your username is unique and easy to remember, consider customizing in accordance to who you are as an artist or a person. You can change your Spotify account username by accessing your account settings from the app, selecting the "Edit Profile" option and entering your newly chosen username. Make sure to save your changes before exiting the page.