Your Mixcloud profile is your shop window for everything you do on the platform. It represents who you are, what you create and what you represent. Something that fans and potential fans can peek into, listen to your mixes and possibly follow you. Therefore, a big part of your Mixcloud experience is being able to curate a profile that grabs attention and brings listeners in. Every DJ has their own approach, but there are many rules to live by when building your profile.
In this article, we share some key tips and tricks on how to make the most of your Mixcloud profile and grow your community.
But first, what does your Mixcloud profile page look like?
Your profile places your visual identity and presentation at the forefront, with your profile picture placed at the top left corner of your screen and your banner across the top middle of your page. This allows you to take advantage of the real estate and upload some really striking images that will make fans stop in their tracks and check it out, but more on that later.
Under your profile picture is space for you to enter up to five of your social media links. As well as five additional custom links to external websites. Your monetisation options live here too, so as to further encourage fan support. The rest of your page lists all of your shows by the most recent time you uploaded them. Fans can change the order to see your oldest and most popular shows by clicking the dropdown menu named ‘Latest’ in the middle of your screen.
Write an amazing bio
One of the first things to do to make your profile stand out is write a killer bio. You’re allowed 1000 characters; roughly between 150-200 words. Think of your bio as your opening statement for your fans and future followers. You don’t have to use all of these characters. You may think less is more or you can get your message across in fewer words. But you have a bit of room to write a considered bio. The best bios tell fans what to expect from you, the type of content you make and how often you make it.
Use your bio to describe your sound. Tell your fans where in the world you’re based and share the background to your music journey. If you have a regular show on Mixcloud Live, include your stream timings here. Or, add a link to your social media channels. Be clear and concise. If you’re a DJ specialising in Funky House and uploading weekly mixes, make sure that’s stated in your bio. It sets expectations for your fans and gives them something to look forward to from you on a regular basis. Or, if you’re a radio station that broadcasts shows from Monday to Friday, this detail in your bio will let Mixclouders know when you’re live. Voices Radio broadcasts live every week from Tuesday to Sunday and their bio lets fans know this detail.
Create a strong visual identity
Next, upload some amazing artwork for your profile picture and banner to establish yourself as a DJ as well as a brand. To add images, click on your profile picture on the top right hand side of your screen then press ‘Settings.’ This will open up your profile settings which you can change whenever you want. The image should have high resolution with dimensions of 1600px x 900px or 16:9.
Now, you’re probably wondering, what makes good artwork? Here are some things to consider when making your choice:
- Press shots: These are pictures you’ve taken with a professional photographer for the purpose of releasing them to the public. If you’ve had press shots taken, include them in your page to give it an official, professional feel. It also gives your online presence consistency across all of your platforms and it will stick in people’s minds.
- Your DJ/brand logo: You may have a professional logo that you use on your website or other communications. If you do, use it as your profile for that added consistency and to establish your personal brand on the platform.
- A hi-res picture: This could be taken on your phone but make sure the picture is clear and high resolution.
Your profile banner could be an abstract image, your logo or a bigger version of your profile picture. Make sure your banner compliments your picture. Lowlight’s profile picture is his personal logo, while his banner is an image of the night sky, which suits the tone of his Ambient, Chillout and Jazz shows.
Take some time to consider the artwork for your individual mixes as well. Use the criteria above to upload images that speak to what the shows are about, the music played, or a particular vibe you follow.
Try to create a recognisable format that will stick in your fans’ memory. If you’re a radio station, maybe use a particular font when creating individual show artwork so that it remains consistent with your branding. Then, if you take pictures of your hosts or they send over pictures of themselves, you can seamlessly incorporate that into your branding. Foundation FM, for example, highlights their talent with bold pictures over a black background with white lettering. This keeps its profile visually in tune. If you’re a DJ, you can apply the same thinking but with different images that speak to what your shows are about. Guido’s Lounge Café places a white border and font over images revolving around nature and dining, letting fans know exactly what to look forward to.
Organize your content into playlists
Take your page’s creativity further by customizing your shows into playlists. These can be categorised as you wish: genre, mood, type of content, whatever you want! If you have a Pro subscription, you can also change the order of what appears first on your profile to tailor it to your tastes. Playlists will show fans your diversity and professionalism as a DJ. Plus, it gives them easy access to the shows they want from you. With playlists, you’re catering to them a lot closer while making your profile very easy to browse. LoftRadio Vancouver has organized its shows into playlists by genre, year and mood. This has given its 8000 followers a clue of what to expect from the station.
Use Mixcloud Posts to promote your profile
With Mixcloud Pro, you can utilize Posts to spread the message about your profile page. You can welcome new fans and listeners to your page, tell them what you’ve got coming up, share details of your next live stream or new mix series or ask them for feedback. Include what you didn’t put in your profile bio here. Extra bits about your mixes and shows that you want people to know. Posts will also appear on your profile page next to your shows and playlists, so that fans can access every message you send. What’s more, every time you send a Post, your fans get an email notification, so they never miss out. DJ Kavita uses Posts to regularly update her fans about her ‘Funky Fridays’ live streams.
Turn on your monetisation options
A Pro subscription also enables you to make money from your shows through Tips and Creator Subscriptions. To turn on the ability for listeners to tip or subscribe to your profile, click on the ‘Enable Subscriptions’ button on the left hand side of your screen. Or press your profile picture on the top right hand corner of your screen and select ‘Creator Subscriptions.’ Activating the monetisation tools available to you further professionalizes your profile. It encourages your fans to show support for your content.
Make your profile unforgettable
Your Mixcloud profile is an extension of you as a DJ and creator. Make use of it to let people know who you are and the music you play. Along the way, utilise your options to give fans a seamless experience looking at your page and finding what they want. It could be the thing that gets more eyes on your shows and more followers to take on your musical journey.