Elevate Your Audio: Seven Top Tips for Audio in Short-Format Video
By Chelsi Walsh
TikTok has changed the social media game as we know it. Platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube concentrate on short-format, vertical video as their primary drivers for impressions and reach. TikTok’s influence also extends into the importance of music and sound as contributing factors to the success of a video. However, as a brand, you might be asking questions like, can I use trending music on a business account? How can I find the right background music for my posts? Should I have a creator account instead of a business account? We can help you answer these questions and more.
Here are seven top tips for increasing your Short-format content audio game.
Platforms like Instagram (Meta), Tiktok, and YouTube offer an audio bank for content creation with songs approved for usage.
Explore the audio libraries on social media platforms and become familiar with your choices. Putting in research and knowing your options will make the editing process much faster. Remember that audio libraries vary between creator and business accounts based on copyright standards! Always go with the safe choice, and choose music directly from the editing feature on your account.
Use high-quality-trending audio on all your content, including music or voice-overs.
Audio can make or break your performance. Be sure to invest time in getting to know your equipment, and remember, a good quality mic will work wonders on your content. Learning how to use a basic lapel mic for your smartphone and being cautious of the distance you are speaking from the camera will make editing a breeze and your final product shine.
Choose music that aligns with your brand standards.
Audio should be consistent when representing your brand online in video format. Take note of the music you hear on Instagram, Tiktok, and YouTube and explore music that will match your brand standards. A great way to do this is to save music on-app and take note of its genre, mood, and style. As your list grows, you will notice parallels that will help you to create these music guidelines.
Collaborate with a musician on your next campaign.
If you’re looking for great music to match your next campaign, consider partnering with a local artist or TikTok musician. Similar to an influencer collaboration, you are able to work with a creator to make something unique for your message while also creating an excellent cross-promotion opportunity! For inspiration, see Root’s past collaborations with a number of Canadian musicians, including one with Shawn Mendes in 2019.
Search public domain music and find pieces you can use for free!
Music becomes public domain 70 years after an artist’s death (although this varies, so be careful!). Examples of music you’ll find in a public domain library include Carmina Burana (this is a car commercial favourite) or Old MacDonald had a Farm (maybe not anyone’s top choice). All public domain songs are archived, so scan through this list, and who knows what gems you will find!
Pay a monthly subscription for access to quality music.
There are many fantastic subscription services where professional musicians upload their music for use with a monthly subscription fee. Search through endless options from all over the world in varying styles and genres. Some great royalty-free hubs include Envato Elements and Epidemic Music.
When in doubt, use a business account!
Creator accounts have more trending music options on platforms like TikTok and Instagram. That said, choosing to use a business account and using the music available in the library provided will keep you out of trouble. No one wants their account banned or struck with a copyright claim!
Now you’re ready to elevate your audio game on social media!
Chelsi Walsh is a Social Media Strategist with VERB Interactive — a leader in digital marketing, specializing in solutions for the travel and hospitality industry. Find out more at www.verbinteractive.com.
